Tanach
Hoshea 11 הושע י״א
Part of: Petuchah, Hosea 10:9
Reading: Hebrew · Simple EnglishHebrew · Faithful translationHebrew onlyHebrew · Simple EnglishHebrew · Faithful translationHebrew onlySimple English onlyFaithful translation onlySide by sideRashi
כִּי נַעַר יִשְׂרָאֵל וָאֹהֲבֵהוּ וּמִמִּצְרַיִם קָרָאתִי לִבְנִֽי׃
When Yisra᾽el was a child, then I loved him, and called my son out of Miżrayim.
When Yisra᾽el was a child, then I loved him, and called my son out of Miżrayim.
Rashi
קָרְאוּ לָהֶם כֵּן הָלְכוּ מִפְּנֵיהֶם לַבְּעָלִים יְזַבֵּחוּ וְלַפְּסִלִים יְקַטֵּרֽוּן׃
As they called them, so they went from them: they sacrificed to the Be῾alim, and burned incense to graven images.
As they called them, so they went from them: they sacrificed to the Be῾alim, and burned incense to graven images.
Rashi
קראו להם כן הלכו מפניהם. כל מה שהנביאים קוראים להם ללמדם דרך הטובה כן הם הפכו עורף לברוח מפניהם:
The more they called to them, the more they went away from them As much as the prophets call to teach them the good way, so did they turn their backs to run away from them.
לבעלים יזבחו. דרך המקרא לדבר כן כמו כרובם כן חטאו לי (לעיל ד) וכאשר יענו אותו כן ירבה (שמות א׳:י״ב):
and they would slaughter sacrifices to the baalim. It is customary for Scripture to speak in this manner. Comp. (above 4:7) “The more they have increased, the more they have sinned against Me”; (Ex. 1:12) “And the more they afflicted them, the more they increased.”
וְאָנֹכִי תִרְגַּלְתִּי לְאֶפְרַיִם קָחָם עַל־זְרוֹעֹתָיו וְלֹא יָדְעוּ כִּי רְפָאתִֽים׃
It was I who taught Efrayim to walk, taking them by their arms; but they knew not that I healed them.
It was I who taught Efrayim to walk, taking them by their arms; but they knew not that I healed them.
Rashi
ואנכי תרגלתי לאפרים קחם וגו'. שלחתי לפניהם מנהיג המרגילם בנחת:
But I sent to train Ephraim, he took them etc. I sent a leader before them who would train them gently.
קחם על זרועותיו. זה משה שנאמר בו (במדבר י״א:י״ב) כאשר ישא האומן את היונק:
he took them on his arms This is Moses, concerning whom it is stated (Num. 11:12): “As the nursing father carries the sucking child.”
תרגלתי. כמו הרגלתי ואין לו דמיון:
The form תִּרְגַּלְתִּי is like הִרגַּלְתִּי, I trained, or accustomed, and there is no similar form in Scripture.
ולא ידעו כי רפאתים. יודעין היו אלא שדשו בעקב עשו עצמם כלא יודעים ואגדה במדרש רבי תנחומא דרשו כלפי בני יוסף כשהביאם לפני יעקב לברכם ראה יעקב רשעים עתידים לצאת מאפרים ירבע' ואחאב ונסתלקה ממנו רוה"ק ויאמר מי אלה (בראשית מ״ח:ח׳-ט׳) בקש יוסף רחמים ושרתה רוח הקודש על יעקב וברכם זהו ואנכי תרגלתי רוחי על יעקב לצורך אפרים ולקחם על זרועותיו:
but they did not know that I healed them They, in fact, knew, but they trod with their heels; they pretended not to know. The Aggadah in the Midrash of Rabbi Tanhuma (Gen. 48:1) expounds it in reference to the sons of Joseph. When he brought them before Jacob to bless them, Jacob perceived wicked men destined to come from Ephraim, viz. Jeroboam and Ahab, and the Holy Spirit left him, “and he said: Who are these?” Joseph prayed for mercy, and the Holy Spirit rested on Jacob and he blessed them. This is the meaning of: And I trained My spirit upon Jacob for Ephraim’s benefit, and he took them on his arms.
בְּחַבְלֵי אָדָם אֶמְשְׁכֵם בַּעֲבֹתוֹת אַהֲבָה וָאֶהְיֶה לָהֶם כִּמְרִימֵי עֹל עַל לְחֵיהֶם וְאַט אֵלָיו אוֹכִֽיל׃
I drew them with human cords, with leading strings of love: and I was to them as they that lift off the yoke from their jaws, and I held food out to them.
I drew them with human cords, with leading strings of love: and I was to them as they that lift off the yoke from their jaws, and I held food out to them.
Rashi
בחבלי אדם. הייתי מושכם תמיד בחבלים רכים אשר ימשוך בהם אדם את בנו כלומר במשיכת רחמים וכן תרגום יונתן:
with cords of a man I constantly drew them with tender cords with which a man draws his son; i.e., drawing mercifully. Jonathan, too, rendered it in this manner.
ואהיה להם כמרימי עול על לחיהם. כאיכרים הטובים המרימי' עול בידיהם ע"י לווחים להקל מעל הפרה החורשת כן הייתי עמם בכל צרה להקל מעליהן (ל"א סא"א) כמרימי עול על לחיהם כאכרים המרימים עול מעל צואר השור ע"י שמאריכין את הכלונס שהעול נתן בראשו להקל מעל הפרה החורשת כן הייתי עמם בכל צרה להקל מעליה' כן תרגם יונתן כאיכר' טבא ומוריך בלחיאתהון:
and I was to them like those who lift the yoke on their bridles I.e., like the good farmers who lift the yoke with their hands through bridles to lighten it for the cow that is plowing. So was I with them in every trouble, to make it lighter for them. Another explanation: like those who lift the yoke on their bridles Like the farmers who lift the yoke off the neck of the cow or the ox by lengthening the peg upon which the yoke is placed, to lighten it for the plowing cow. So was I with them in every trouble to make it lighter for them. So did Jonathan render it: like a good farmer [who makes it lighter for the shoulders of the oxen and lengthens their bridles.]
ועל לחיהם. ל' לחי של מבוי:
on their bridles Heb. אוֹכִיל, an expression of a stake of an alley.
ואט אליו אוכיל. הטיתי לו כח להכיל עול היסורין ויונתן תרגם על שם שסיפק להם מזונות במדבר:
and I extended to him the ability to bear I extended him the strength to bear the yoke of the torments. Jonathan renders: referring to His supplying them food in the desert.
לֹא יָשׁוּב אֶל־אֶרֶץ מִצְרַיִם וְאַשּׁוּר הוּא מַלְכּוֹ כִּי מֵאֲנוּ לָשֽׁוּב׃
He should not have returned to the land of Miżrayim; nor should Ashshur have been their king.
He should not have returned to the land of Miżrayim; nor should Ashshur have been their king.
Rashi
לא ישוב אל ארץ מצרים. הבטחתיו לא תוסיפו לראותם עוד וגו' (שמות י״ד:י״ג) ומה הועיל הרי על כרחו אשור הוא מלכו הרי חטאו וגרמו להם להיות עבדים לאשור על כי מאנו לשוב:
He shall not return to the land of Egypt I promised him (Ex. 14:13): “you shall no longer continue to see them etc.” Now what did it avail? Against his will, Assyria is his king. They sinned and brought about that they should be vassals to Assyria since they refused to repent.
וְחָלָה חֶרֶב בְּעָרָיו וְכִלְּתָה בַדָּיו וְאָכָלָה מִֽמֹּעֲצוֹתֵיהֶֽם׃
Because they refused to return, the sword shall abide in his cities, and shall consume his branches, and devour them, because of their own counsels.
Because they refused to return, the sword shall abide in his cities, and shall consume his branches, and devour them, because of their own counsels.
Rashi
וחלה חרב. ותנוח חרב בעריו:
And a sword shall rest in his cities Heb. וְחָלָה, and a sword shall rest in his cities.
וכלתה בדיו ואכלה. וכלתה גבוריו ותאכלם:
and it shall destroy his branches, and it shall consume And it shall destroy his mighty men and consume them. [after Targum Jonathan]
ממועצותיהם. נקוד שני טעמים בו הטיפחא בו הסילוק לפי שהוא דיבור בפני עצמו וכן להחלו דלא יטמא בעל בעמיו (ויקר' כא) וכן לדורותיכם דשמן משחת קודש (שמות ל):
because of their counsels (all these came upon them.) The word מִמֹּעֲצוֹתֵיהֶם is punctuated by two accents: it contains a tipcha and it contains a silluk (sof passuk), since it is a clause by itself. Comp. (Lev. 21:4) לְהֵחַלְוֹ, “for him to become profaned,” of the verse commencing, “A husband shall not contaminate himself.” Similarly, (Ex. 30:3l) לדֹרֹתֵיכֶם, “to your generations,” of the verse dealing with the holy anointing oil.
וְעַמִּי תְלוּאִים לִמְשׁוּבָתִי וְאֶל־עַל יִקְרָאֻהוּ יַחַד לֹא יְרוֹמֵֽם׃
And my people are bent on turning away from me: though they called them to rise, none at all would raise himself.
And my people are bent on turning away from me: though they called them to rise, none at all would raise himself.
Rashi
ועמי תלואים למשובתי. כשהנביאים מלמדים אותם לשוב אלי תלואים הם אם לשוב אם לא לשוב בקושי ישובון אלי:
And My people waver whether to return to Me When the prophets teach them to return to Me, they are in doubt whether to return or not to return; it is with difficulty that they return to Me.
ואל על יקראוהו יחד לא ירומם. ואל הדבר אשר עליו יקראוהו הנביאים יחד לא ירוממוהו עמי ולא יאות לעשותו ויש מפרש ואל על יקראוהו פגעים קשים יפגעום ואל כמו יש לאל ידי (ראשית לא) ואין זאת שהרי נקוד בפתח ואם היה ואל שם דבר היה נקוד בצירי ויונתן תרגם במרעא קשיא יתערעון עשה אל (סא"א על) לשון קשה ולי נראה שפרשתי כהוגן:
and to the matter concerning which they call them, together they do not uphold it And to the matter concerning which the prophets call them, together My people will not uphold it and will not agree to do it. Some explain וְאֶל-עַל יִקְרָאֻהוּ to mean: Harsh happenings shall befall them. The word וְאֶל means the same as (Gen. 31:29) “My hand has power (לְאֵל),” [and the word עַל means the same as עֲלִילוֹת, deeds (Kara). But this is not so since אֶל is vowelized with a “pattah.” [I.e. with a “segol,” called “pattah katan” by the early grammarians.] Were אֶל a noun, it would be vowelized with a “tseireh,” [i.e., אֵל]. Jonathan, however, renders: A harsh happening will befall them. He interprets וְאֶל as an expression of harshness, but it appears to me that I have interpreted it properly.
יחד לא ירומם. כחדא לא יהכון בקומא זקופא:
together they do not uphold [it] [Jonathan renders:] Together they shall not walk erect.
אֵיךְ אֶתֶּנְךָ אֶפְרַיִם אֲמַגֶּנְךָ יִשְׂרָאֵל אֵיךְ אֶתֶּנְךָ כְאַדְמָה אֲשִֽׂימְךָ כִּצְבֹאיִם נֶהְפַּךְ עָלַי לִבִּי יַחַד נִכְמְרוּ נִחוּמָֽי׃
How shall I give thee up, O Efrayim? how shall I surrender thee, O Yisra᾽el? how shall I make thee like Adma; how shall I set thee like Żevoyim? my heart is turned within me, all my compassion is kindled.
How shall I give thee up, O Efrayim? how shall I surrender thee, O Yisra᾽el? how shall I make thee like Adma; how shall I set thee like Żevoyim? my heart is turned within me, all my compassion is kindled.
Rashi
אמגנך. אמסרך ביד אויביך כמו אשר מגן צריך (שם יד):
deliver you Heb. אֲמַגֶּנְךָ. Comp. (Gen. 14:20) “Who delivered (מִגֵן) your adversaries.”
נכמרו. נתחממו לשון ארמי וכן עורנו כתנור נכמרו (איכה ה׳:י׳):
My remorse has been kindled Heb. נִכְרְמוּ, are heated. This is an Aramaic expression. Comp. (Lam. 5:10) “Our skin is heated (נִכְמָרוּ) like an oven.”
לֹא אֶֽעֱשֶׂה חֲרוֹן אַפִּי לֹא אָשׁוּב לְשַׁחֵת אֶפְרָיִם כִּי אֵל אָנֹכִי וְלֹא־אִישׁ בְּקִרְבְּךָ קָדוֹשׁ וְלֹא אָבוֹא בְּעִֽיר׃
I will not execute the fierceness of my anger, I will not turn to destroy Efrayim: for I am God, and not man; the Holy One in the midst of thee: and I will not come as an enemy.
I will not execute the fierceness of my anger, I will not turn to destroy Efrayim: for I am God, and not man; the Holy One in the midst of thee: and I will not come as an enemy.
Rashi
לא אשוב. מדברי הטוב אשר אמרתי (ויקרא כו) לא מאסתים ולא געלתים להיות משחית את אפרים:
I will not return from My good word, which I said. (Lev. 26:44) “I have not rejected them nor have I abhorred them,” to destroy Ephraim.
כי אל אנכי. המקיים דבר טובתי ואין מדתי להנחם על הטוב:
for I am God Who keeps His favorable word, and I do not retract the good.
בקרבך קדוש ולא אבוא בעיר. אחרת כבר הבטחתי להשרות שכינתי בקרבך בירושלים ולא אשרה אותה עוד על עיר אחרת ויש מפרש בעיר ל' שנאה כמו (שמואל א כה) ויהי ערך:
I will not enter a city I.e., another city. I have already promised to cause My Shechinah to rest in your midst in Jerusalem, and I will never again cause it to rest on another city. Others explain it as an expression of hatred. Comp. (I Sam. 28:16) “And has become your adversary (וַיְהִי עָרֶךָ).”
אַחֲרֵי יְהֹוָה יֵלְכוּ כְּאַרְיֵה יִשְׁאָג כִּֽי־הוּא יִשְׁאַג וְיֶחֶרְדוּ בָנִים מִיָּֽם׃
They shall walk after the Lord, who shall roar like a lion: when he shall roar, then the children shall come trembling from the west.
They shall walk after the Lord, who shall roar like a lion: when he shall roar, then the children shall come trembling from the west.
Rashi
כאריה ישאג. עוד ישאג להם כאריה שיצאו מן הגליות וילכו אחריו:
He shall roar like a lion He will yet roar to them like a lion that they leave the exile and follow Him.
ויחרדו בנים מים. ויתכנשון גלוותא ממערב':
and the children shall hasten from the west And the exiles shall be gathered from the west. [from Jonathan]
יֶחֶרְדוּ כְצִפּוֹר מִמִּצְרַיִם וּכְיוֹנָה מֵאֶרֶץ אַשּׁוּר וְהוֹשַׁבְתִּים עַל־בָּתֵּיהֶם נְאֻם־יְהֹוָֽה׃ {ס}
They shall come trembling like a bird out of Miżrayim and like a dove out of the land of Ashshur: and I will place them in their houses, says the Lord.
They shall come trembling like a bird out of Miżrayim and like a dove out of the land of Ashshur: and I will place them in their houses, says the Lord.
וממצרים קראתי לבני. ע"י נביאי להדבק בתורתי והם מה עשו:
and from Egypt I called My son through My prophets to cleave to My Torah. But what did they do?...