Tanach
Chavakuk 1 חבקוק א׳
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הַמַּשָּׂא אֲשֶׁר חָזָה חֲבַקּוּק הַנָּבִֽיא׃
The burden which Ḥavaqquq the prophet did see.
The burden which Ḥavaqquq the prophet did see.
Rashi
עַד־אָנָה יְהֹוָה שִׁוַּעְתִּי וְלֹא תִשְׁמָע אֶזְעַק אֵלֶיךָ חָמָס וְלֹא תוֹשִֽׁיעַ׃
O Lord, how long shall I cry, and Thou wilt not hear! I cry out to Thee of violence, and Thou wilt not save!
O Lord, how long shall I cry, and Thou wilt not hear! I cry out to Thee of violence, and Thou wilt not save!
Rashi
עַד אָנָה ה׳. צוֹפֶה הָיָה בְּרוּח הַקֹּדֶשׁ שֶׁעָתִיד נְבוּכַדְנֶצַּר לִמְלֹךְ בַּכִּפָּה וְלִהְיוֹת מֵצֵר לְיִשְׂרָאֵל, כָּעִנְיָן שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר בִּנְבוּאָתוֹ ״כִּי הִנְנִי מֵקִים אֶת הַכַּשְׂדִּים וְגוֹ׳״, וְעַל זֹאת הָיָה מִתְאוֹנֵן וּמִתְפַּלֵּל.
O Lord! How long -He foresaw with the Holy Spirit that Nebuchadnezzar was destined to be the ruler of the world and to cause trouble for Israel, as the matter is stated in his prophecy (1:6): “For behold, I raise up the Chaldeans, etc.” He was complaining for this.
אֶזְעַק אֵלֶיךָ חָמָס. אַזְכִּיר לְפָנֶיךָ חָמָס הֶעָשׂוּי לִי וְאֵינְךָ מוֹשִׁיעַ.
I cry out to You of violence I mention before You the violence committed against me, and You do not save me.
לָמָּה תַרְאֵנִי אָוֶן וְעָמָל תַּבִּיט וְשֹׁד וְחָמָס לְנֶגְדִּי וַיְהִי רִיב וּמָדוֹן יִשָּֽׂא׃
Why dost Thou show me iniquity, and cause me to behold mischief? for spoiling and violence are before me: and there is strife; and contention raises its head.
Why dost Thou show me iniquity, and cause me to behold mischief? for spoiling and violence are before me: and there is strife; and contention raises its head.
Rashi
אָוֶן. בִּזָּה וְחָמָס.
iniquity plunder and violence.
וְעָמָל תַּבִּיט. עָמָל זֶה אַתָּה מַבִּיט וְאֵינְךָ עוֹזֵר.
and look upon mischief You look upon this mischief, but You do not help.
וַיְהִי רִיב וּמָדוֹן יִשָּׂא. וְזֶה נְבוּכַדְנֶצַּר הַנּוֹשֵׂא רִיב וּמָדוֹן הֹוֶה וּמִתְקַיֵּם וּמַצְלִיחַ.
and the one who bears quarrel and strife endures And this wicked man who bears quarrel and strife, will live, remain in existence, and prosper.
וַיְהִי. וְיִתְקַיֵּם אוֹתוֹ אֲשֶׁר רִיב וּמָדוֹן יִשָּׂא, כֵּן תַּרְגּוּם יוֹנָתָן.
endures He who bears quarrel and strife will endure. So did Jonathan render.
עַל־כֵּן תָּפוּג תּוֹרָה וְלֹא־יֵצֵא לָנֶצַח מִשְׁפָּט כִּי רָשָׁע מַכְתִּיר אֶת־הַצַּדִּיק עַל־כֵּן יֵצֵא מִשְׁפָּט מְעֻקָּֽל׃
Therefore Tora is slackened, and justice does not go out triumphantly: for the wicked man besets the righteous, so that justice goes out perverted.
Therefore Tora is slackened, and justice does not go out triumphantly: for the wicked man besets the righteous, so that justice goes out perverted.
Rashi
עַל כֵּן תָּפוּג תּוֹרָה. עַל זֶה שֶׁיִּשְׂרָאֵל רוֹאִין הַצְלָחָתוֹ שֶׁלּוֹ, תָּפִיג וְתַעֲבֹר תּוֹרָה מֵהֶם, וְיִשְׁמְעוּ לוֹ וְיִשְׁתַּחֲווּ לַצּוּרָה בְּבִקְעַת דּוּרָא.
Therefore Torah is slackened Because of this, that Israel sees his [the wicked man’s] success, the Torah will slacken and leave them; and they [Israel] will obey him [the wicked man] and prostrate themselves before the idol in the valley of Dura.
וְלֹא יֵצֵא לָנֶצַח מִשְׁפָּט. הַדָּת לַאֲמִתּוֹ.
and justice does not go out forever I.e., the true decision of the Law.
מַכְתִּיר. סוֹבֵב, כְּמוֹ (תהילים כב:יג) ״אַבִּירֵי בָשָׁן כִּתְּרוּנִי״.
surrounds surrounds, as in (Ps. 22:13): “Strong bulls of Bashan have surrounded me (כִּתְּרוּנִי).”
רְאוּ בַגּוֹיִם וְֽהַבִּיטוּ וְהִֽתַּמְּהוּ תְּמָהוּ כִּי־פֹעַל פֹּעֵל בִּימֵיכֶם לֹא תַאֲמִינוּ כִּי יְסֻפָּֽר׃
Look among the nations, and behold, and be struck with amazement: for a deed will be performed in your days, which you will not believe, though it be told you.
Look among the nations, and behold, and be struck with amazement: for a deed will be performed in your days, which you will not believe, though it be told you.
Rashi
לֹא תַאֲמִינוּ כִּי יְסֻפָּר. זֹאת לָכֶם אֲשֶׁר אֲנִי מֵקִים אֶת הַכַּשְׂדִּים, הָעָם אֲשֶׁר לֹא הָיָה כְּדַאי לְהִבָּרְאוֹת, כְּמוֹ שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר (ישעיהו כג:יג) ״זֶה הָעָם לֹא הָיָה״. הֵם אֶחָד מִשְּׁלֹשָׁה דְבָרִים שֶׁהַקָּדוֹשׁ בָּרוּךְ הוּא כִּבְיָכוֹל מִתְחָרֵט עַל בְּרִיאָתָם, וְעַתָּה יָקוּם וְיִהְיֶה מַר וְנִמְהָר לָרוּץ וְלָלֶכֶת לְמֶרְחֲבֵי אַרְצוֹת כָּל הַגּוֹיִם.
You shall not believe when it is told When this is told to you, that I am setting up the Chaldeans, the people that did not deserve to be created, as it is written (Isa. 23:13): “This people has never been.” They are one of three things whose creation God regrets, and now [they] will rise, and [they] will be bitter, and [they will be] impetuous to run and to march to the breadth of the lands of all the nations.
כִּֽי־הִנְנִי מֵקִים אֶת־הַכַּשְׂדִּים הַגּוֹי הַמַּר וְהַנִּמְהָר הַהוֹלֵךְ לְמֶרְחֲבֵי־אֶרֶץ לָרֶשֶׁת מִשְׁכָּנוֹת לֹּא־לֽוֹ׃
For, lo, I raise up the Kasdim, a bitter and impetuous nation, who shall march through the breadth of the land, to possess the dwelling places that are not theirs.
For, lo, I raise up the Kasdim, a bitter and impetuous nation, who shall march through the breadth of the land, to possess the dwelling places that are not theirs.
אָיֹם וְנוֹרָא הוּא מִמֶּנּוּ מִשְׁפָּטוֹ וּשְׂאֵתוֹ יֵצֵֽא׃
They are terrible and dreadful: their justice and their dignity shall proceed of themselves.
They are terrible and dreadful: their justice and their dignity shall proceed of themselves.
Rashi
מִמֶּנּוּ מִשְׁפָּטוֹ וּשְׂאֵתוֹ יֵצֵא. מִמֶּנּוּ שׁוֹפְטִים, מִמֶּנּוּ מְלָכִים הַמְּטִילִין מַשָּׂא וְאֵימָה עַל הַכֹּל. מִשְׁפָּטִים – יושטיצי״א בְּלַעַ״ז.
from themselves their judgment and their burden shall emanate From them are judges; from them are kings, who cast a burden and a fear upon all. their judgment joustice in O.F:
וְקַלּוּ מִנְּמֵרִים סוּסָיו וְחַדּוּ מִזְּאֵבֵי עֶרֶב וּפָשׁוּ פָּרָשָׁיו וּפָֽרָשָׁיו מֵרָחוֹק יָבֹאוּ יָעֻפוּ כְּנֶשֶׁר חָשׁ לֶאֱכֽוֹל׃
Their horses also are swifter than leopards, and are more fierce than the wolves of the desert: and their horsemen shall spread themselves, and their horsemen shall come from far; they shall fly like a vulture hastening to devour.
Their horses also are swifter than leopards, and are more fierce than the wolves of the desert: and their horsemen shall spread themselves, and their horsemen shall come from far; they shall fly like a vulture hastening to devour.
Rashi
וּפָשׁוּ פָּרָשָׁיו. רַבּוּ פָּרָשָׁיו.
and their riders shall increase Heb. וּפָשוּ.
כֻּלֹּה לְחָמָס יָבוֹא מְגַמַּת פְּנֵיהֶם קָדִימָה וַיֶּאֱסֹף כַּחוֹל שֶֽׁבִי׃
They shall come all of them to do violence; their faces set towards the east: and they shall gather captives like sand.
They shall come all of them to do violence; their faces set towards the east: and they shall gather captives like sand.
Rashi
לְחָמָס יָבוֹא. לִשְׁלֹל וְלָבֹז.
come to commit violence to plunder and to spoil.
מְגַמַּת פְּנֵיהֶם. לְשׁוֹן ״הַגְמִיאִינִי נָא״ (בראשית כד:יז), ״יְגַמֶּא אָרֶץ״ (איוב לט:כד). רָץ בִּמְרוּצָה לְשָׁעָה קַלָּה כִּבְרַת אֶרֶץ, כְּאִלּוּ גָּמָא וְשָׁתָה הָאָרֶץ שֶׁלְּפָנָיו. וְאַף כָּאן ״מְגַמַּת פְּנֵיהֶם״, גְּמִיאַת שְׁאִיפַת פְּנֵיהֶם דּוֹמֶה לְרוּחַ הַקָּדִים עַזָּה שֶׁבָּרוּחוֹת, כֵּן תִּרְגֵּם יוֹנָתָן.
the eagerness of their faces an expression like (Gen. 24: 17) “Give me to swallow, (הַגְמִיאִינִי) I pray you” and (Job 39:24) “He swallows (יְגַמֶּה) the earth.” He runs swiftly - in a short time a distance of a day’s plowing - as though he had swallowed and drunk the earth that is before him. Here, too, the swallowing of their faces; the swallowing, the longing of their faces resembles the east wind, the fiercest of the winds. So did Jonathan render this.
וְהוּא בַּמְּלָכִים יִתְקַלָּס וְרֹזְנִים מִשְׂחָק לוֹ הוּא לְכׇל־מִבְצָר יִשְׂחָק וַיִּצְבֹּר עָפָר וַֽיִּלְכְּדָֽהּ׃
And they shall scoff at kings, and princes shall be a scorn to them: they shall denote every stronghold; for they shall heap dust, and take it.
And they shall scoff at kings, and princes shall be a scorn to them: they shall denote every stronghold; for they shall heap dust, and take it.
Rashi
וְהוּא בַּמְּלָכִים יִתְקַלָּס. מִתְלוֹצֵץ בָּהֶם, וְכָל לְשׁוֹן ׳קַלָּסָה׳ לְשׁוֹן ׳דִּבּוּר׳ הַנִּדְבָּרִים בּוֹ, יֵשׁ לְטוֹב יֵשׁ לְרַע, פרלרי״ץ בְּלַעַ״ז.
And they shall mock the kings shall mock them. Every expression of קַלָּסָה is an expression for the speech of those speaking about another; some [of these speeches] are for good, and some for bad - parledic in O.F.
מִשְׂחָק. כְּמוֹ ׳שְׂחוֹק׳, כְּמוֹ ׳מִשְׁמָר׳, ׳מִסְתָּר׳.
a laughingstock like שְּׂחוֹק, laughter, like מִשְׁמָר, a watch, and מִסְתָּר, a hiding place.
לְכָל מִבְצָר יִשְׂחָק. אִם אוֹיְבוֹ בְּמִבְצָר חָזָק, יִשְׂחַק לוֹ.
He shall scoff at every fortress If his enemy is in a strong fortress, he scoffs at him.
וַיִּצְבֹּר עָפָר. עָלָיו בְּרֹב חֵילוֹתָיו. כָּל אֶחָד נוֹשֵׂא מַשָּׂא עָפָר, וַהֲרֵי הִיא לִפְנֵי הַחוֹמָה תֵּל גָּבוֹהַּ וְנִלְחָמִים בָּהּ עַל הָעִיר, וְהִיא שְׁפִיכַת סוֹלְלָה, כִּי כְֻּלָּן מְתֻרְגָּמוֹת ״וַיִּצְבֹּר עֲלָהּ מְלֵיתָא״, וְאַף הִיא לְשׁוֹן ׳מִלּוּא׳ שֶׁהָיָה בְּעִיר דָּוִד. הוּא תֵּל גָּבוֹהַּ וְנִלְחָמִים בָּהּ, שֶׁעַל רֹאשָׁהּ מִגְדָּל בָּנוּי וְשִׁפּוּעוֹ מְשַׁפֵּעַ לַצְּדָדִין, וּסְבִיבוֹת מַרְגְּלוֹתָיו חוֹמָה נְמוּכָה לְהַחֲזִיק הֶעָפָר מִלִּפֹּל.
he piles up earth upon it with his many armies, each one carrying a load of earth. It [the pile] is before the wall as a high mound, and they [the Chaldeans] battle from upon it. This is called שְׁפִיכַת סוֹלְלָה, pouring a siege mound (cf. Isa. 37:33), for all of them are translated into Aramaic: וְיִצְבּוֹר עֲלָה מְלֵיתָא, and he piled upon it a filling. This is an expression of Milo, for in the city of David there was a high mound, and they would battle upon it. Atop the mound was built a tower whose slant was inclined to the sides, and around its base was a low wall to prevent the earth from falling.
אָז חָלַף רוּחַ וַֽיַּעֲבֹר וְאָשֵׁם זוּ כֹחוֹ לֵאלֹהֽוֹ׃
Then he shall vanish, and be gone like the wind, bearing his guilt: such is the strength imputed to his god.
Then he shall vanish, and be gone like the wind, bearing his guilt: such is the strength imputed to his god.
Rashi
אָז חָלַף רוּחַ. אָז בִּרְאוֹתוֹ דַּרְכּוֹ צָלְחָה, רוּחַ חוֹלֶפֶת וְעוֹבֶרֶת עָלָיו, רוּחַ אַשְׁמָה. וּמַהוּ הָרוּחַ? זֶה כֹחוֹ לֵאלֹהוֹ – הַכֹּחַ הַזֶּה הוּא נוֹתֵן לֵאלֹהוֹ, וְאָמַר: אֱלֹהַי עָשָׂה לִי כָּל הַחַיִל הַזֶּה.
Then a spirit goes further Then, when they see their way prospering, a spirit of guilt goes further and passes over them. Now what is the spirit? this strength they attribute to their god This strength they attribute to their god, and they say, “My god acquired all this wealth for me.” Says the prophet, “Now, You, why should You remain silent to all this?”
הֲלוֹא אַתָּה מִקֶּדֶם יְהֹוָה אֱלֹהַי קְדֹשִׁי לֹא נָמוּת יְהֹוָה לְמִשְׁפָּט שַׂמְתּוֹ וְצוּר לְהוֹכִיחַ יְסַדְתּֽוֹ׃
Art thou not from everlasting, O Lord my God, my Holy One? we shall not die. O Lord, thou hast ordained them for judgment; and, O mighty God, thou hast established them for correction.
Art thou not from everlasting, O Lord my God, my Holy One? we shall not die. O Lord, thou hast ordained them for judgment; and, O mighty God, thou hast established them for correction.
Rashi
אָמַר הַנָּבִיא: וְאַתָּה לָמָּה תַחֲרִישׁ לְכָל זֹאת? הֲלֹא אַתָּה מִקֶּדֶם אֱלֹהַי קְדוֹשִׁי וְכוּ׳. וְזֶה שֶׁכָּתוּב ״לֹא נָמוּת״ – אֶחָד מִתִּקּוּנֵי סוֹפְרִים שֶׁבַּמִּקְרָא הוּא, שֶׁכִּנָּה הַכָּתוּב. וְכֵן (מלאכי א:יג) ״וְהִפַּחְתֶּם אוֹתוֹ״, וְכֵן הַרְבֵּה הַמְפֹרָשִׁים בְּסִפְרֵי. וּלְפִי תִּיוּן הַסּוֹפְרִים זֶה, פֵּרוּשׁוֹ: הֲלֹא אַתָּה אֱלֹהַי מִקֶּדֶם קְדוֹשִׁי? אַל תִּתְּנֵנִי לָמוּת בְּיָדוֹ.
Are You not from everlasting, O Lord, my God, my Holy One? Who shall not die. Now, the reason it is written לֹא נָמוּת we shall not die, is that it is one of the emendations of the scribes in Scripture, by which Scripture euphemizes. Likewise, (Mal. 1:13) “And you sadden it.” And so are many of them [these euphemisms] explained in Sifre (Num. 10:35). According to the emendation of the scribes, this is its explanation: Are you not my God from everlasting, my Holy One? Do not deliver us into their hands to die.
ה׳ לְמִשְׁפָּט שַׂמְתּוֹ. יָדַעְתִּי כִּי לֹא הֶעֱמַדְתּוֹ לָזֶה אֶלָּא לִשְׁפּוֹט אֶת הַמּוֹרְדִים בְּךָ, וּמִכָּל מָקוֹם כָּל זֶה לָמָּה יִתְקַיֵּם? הֲלֹא…
O Lord, You have ordained them for judgment I know that You have set this one [Nebuchadnezzar] up only to judge those who rebel against You. In any case, why should all this come about? Is it not so that...
טְהוֹר עֵינַיִם מֵרְאוֹת רָע וְהַבִּיט אֶל־עָמָל לֹא תוּכָל לָמָּה תַבִּיט בּֽוֹגְדִים תַּחֲרִישׁ בְּבַלַּע רָשָׁע צַדִּיק מִמֶּֽנּוּ׃
Thou art of eyes too pure to behold evil, canst not look on iniquity: why dost Thou look upon them that deal treacherously, and dost hold Thy peace when the wicked devours the man that is more righteous than he?
Thou art of eyes too pure to behold evil, canst not look on iniquity: why dost Thou look upon them that deal treacherously, and dost hold Thy peace when the wicked devours the man that is more righteous than he?
Rashi
טְהוֹר עֵינַיִם אַתָּה מֵרְאוֹת בְּרַע.
[You are] of eyes too pure to behold evil?
וְהַבִּיט. כְּמוֹ ׳וּלְהַבִּיט׳ אֶל עָמָל.
gaze like וּלְהַבִּיט, and to gaze upon iniquity.
צַדִּיק מִמֶּנּוּ. שֶׁהוּא מְסַמֵּא אֶת עֵינֵי צִדְקִיָּהוּ.
one more righteous than he that he will blind the eyes of Zedekiah (II Kings 25:7).
וַתַּעֲשֶׂה אָדָם כִּדְגֵי הַיָּם כְּרֶמֶשׂ לֹא־מֹשֵׁל בּֽוֹ׃
And dost make men like the fishes of the sea, like the creeping things, that have no ruler over them?
And dost make men like the fishes of the sea, like the creeping things, that have no ruler over them?
Rashi
וַתַּעֲשֶׂה אָדָם. לִפְנֵי נְבוּכַדְנֶצַּר הֶפְקֵר כִּדְגֵי הַיָּם, שֶׁכָּל הָרוֹצֶה לָצוּד צוֹדֶה מֵהֶם.
And You have made man before this wicked man - free as the fish of the sea, which anyone who wishes may catch.
כֻּלֹּה בְּחַכָּה הֵֽעֲלָה יְגֹרֵהוּ בְחֶרְמוֹ וְיַאַסְפֵהוּ בְּמִכְמַרְתּוֹ עַל־כֵּן יִשְׂמַח וְיָגִֽיל׃
They take up all of them with the angle, they catch them in their net, and gather them in their drag: therefore they rejoice and are glad.
They take up all of them with the angle, they catch them in their net, and gather them in their drag: therefore they rejoice and are glad.
Rashi
כֻּלֹּה בְּחַכָּה הֵעֲלָה. כָּל הָאָדָם זֶה נְבוּכַדְנֶצַּר הֶעֱלָה בְּחַכָּה שֶׁלּוֹ.
He takes all of them up with the fishhook This wicked man takes up all people with his fishhook.
יְגֹרֵהוּ. לְשׁוֹן ״אָגְרָה בַקָּצִיר״ (משלי י:ה), ״נֶהֶרְסוּ מַמְּגֻרוֹת״ (יואל א:יז).
catches them an expression of (Prov. 6:8) “Gathers (אָגְרָה) her food in the harvest,” and (Joel 1: 17) “Granaries (מַמְּגֻרוֹת) are demolished.”
עַל־כֵּן יְזַבֵּחַ לְחֶרְמוֹ וִֽיקַטֵּר לְמִכְמַרְתּוֹ כִּי בָהֵמָּה שָׁמֵן חֶלְקוֹ וּמַאֲכָלוֹ בְּרִאָֽה׃
Therefore they sacrifice to their net, and burn incense to their drag; because by them their portion is fat, and their food plenteous.
Therefore they sacrifice to their net, and burn incense to their drag; because by them their portion is fat, and their food plenteous.
Rashi
יְזַבֵּחַ לְחֶרְמוֹ. לַעֲבוֹדָה זָרָה שֶׁהוּא אוֹמֵר שֶׁהִיא כּוֹבֶשֶׁת הַכֹּל לְפָנָיו.
he sacrifices to his net To his god, for he says that it conquers everyone before him.
בָּהֵמָּה. כְּמוֹ ׳בָּהֶם׳, בִּשְׁבִילָם.
through them This is similar to בהם, because of them.
בְּרִיאָה. שְׁמֵנָה.
a fatling fat.
הַעַל כֵּן יָרִיק חֶרְמוֹ וְתָמִיד לַהֲרֹג גּוֹיִם לֹא יַחְמֽוֹל׃ {ס}
Shall they therefore empty their net, and not spare to slay the nations continually?
Shall they therefore empty their net, and not spare to slay the nations continually?
Rashi
הַעַל כֵּן יָרִיק חֶרְמוֹ. יֵשׁ תְּמִיהוֹת הַרְבֵּה הַמִּתְקַיֶּמֶת, כְּמוֹ ״הֲנִגְלֹה נִגְלֵיתִי״ דְּעֵלִי (שמואל א ב:כז), ״הֲרוֹאֶה אַתָּה״ (שם ב טו:כז), אַף כָּאן: הֲנִרְאֶה בְּעֵינֶיךָ שֶׁעַל כֵּן הוּא מַצְלִיחַ כָּל שָׁעָה? שֶׁיָּרִיק חֶרְמוֹ עַל הַכֹּל וְלָצוּד צֵיד. יָרִיק – כְּמוֹ (תהלים לה:ג) ״הָרֵק חֲנִית״, ״וַיָּרֶק אֶת חֲנִיכָיו״ (בראשית יד:יד), מִזְדַּיֵּן בְּחֶרְמוֹ.
Because of this does he arm himself with his net There are many interrogative forms that are affirmative, e.g., (I Sam. 2:27) “Did I appear?” concerning Eli, and (II Sam. 15:27) “Do you see?” Here, too: Does it appear in Your eyes that because of this he prospers every time, in that he arms himself with his net over everyone and to hunt game? arms himself As in (Gen. 14:14) “And he armed (וַיָּרֶק) his trained men” and (Ps. 35:3): “Arm yourself (הָרֵק) with a spear.” He arms himself with his net.
הַמַּשָּׂא אֲשֶׁר חָזָה. ״מַטַּל נְבוּאֲתָא״, מַה שֶּׁנָּשָׂא וְקִבֵּל בְּרוּחַ הַקֹּדֶשׁ.
The prophecy Heb. הַמַשָּׂא. The burden of prophecy - what he bore and received by the Holy Spirit. [after Jonathan]