Tanach
Zecharyah 6 זכריה ו׳
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וָאָשֻׁב וָאֶשָּׂא עֵינַי וָֽאֶרְאֶה וְהִנֵּה אַרְבַּע מַרְכָּבוֹת יֹֽצְאוֹת מִבֵּין שְׁנֵי הֶֽהָרִים וְהֶהָרִים הָרֵי נְחֹֽשֶׁת׃
And I turned, and lifted up my eyes, and looked, and, behold, there came out four chariots from between the two mountains; and the mountains were mountains of brass.
And I turned, and lifted up my eyes, and looked, and, behold, there came out four chariots from between the two mountains; and the mountains were mountains of brass.
Rashi
בַּמֶּרְכָּבָה הָרִֽאשֹׁנָה סוּסִים אֲדֻמִּים וּבַמֶּרְכָּבָה הַשֵּׁנִית סוּסִים שְׁחֹרִֽים׃
In the first chariot were red horses; and in the second chariot, black horses;
In the first chariot were red horses; and in the second chariot, black horses;
Rashi
סוסים אדומים. הם שהרכיבו את בבל שהיא אדומה כמו שכתוב אנת הוא ראשה די דהבא (דניאל ב׳:ל״ח):
red horses They were the ones that caused Babylon to mount, for [Babylon] is red, as it is written (Dan. 2:38): “You are the head of gold” [gold having a red tinge].
שחורים. להרכיב את מדי שהשחירה את פניהם של ישראל בימי המן:
black [Horses,] to cause Media to mount, for they blackened the faces of Israel in the days of Haman.
וּבַמֶּרְכָּבָה הַשְּׁלִשִׁית סוּסִים לְבָנִים וּבַמֶּרְכָּבָה הָרְבִעִית סוּסִים בְּרֻדִּים אֲמֻצִּֽים׃
and in the third chariot, white horses; and in the fourth chariot, grizzled, bay horses.
and in the third chariot, white horses; and in the fourth chariot, grizzled, bay horses.
Rashi
לבנים. להרכיב את פרס שבנה את הבית:
white To cause Persia to mount, and Persia built the Temple.
ברודים. המה מנומרים להרכיב את יון שעינו את ישראל במיני גזרות משונות זו מזה:
spotted They are spotted. [Their function is] to cause Greece to mount, [as Greece] oppressed Israel with various kinds of decrees
אמוצים. להרכיב ישמעאל (ס"א אדום) ולא ידעתי מהו ל' אמוצים ויונתן תרגם קטמנין:
ash- colored to cause Edom and Ishmael to mount, but I do not know the expression אֲמֻצִּים. Jonathan rendered: ash-colored.
וָאַעַן וָֽאֹמַר אֶל־הַמַּלְאָךְ הַדֹּבֵר בִּי מָה־אֵלֶּה אֲדֹנִֽי׃
Then I answered and said to the angel who talked with me, What are these, my lord? And the angel answered and said to me.
Then I answered and said to the angel who talked with me, What are these, my lord? And the angel answered and said to me.
וַיַּעַן הַמַּלְאָךְ וַיֹּאמֶר אֵלָי אֵלֶּה אַרְבַּע רוּחוֹת הַשָּׁמַיִם יוֹצְאוֹת מֵֽהִתְיַצֵּב עַל־אֲדוֹן כׇּל־הָאָֽרֶץ׃
These are the four winds of the heavens, which go forth from standing before the Lord of all the earth.
These are the four winds of the heavens, which go forth from standing before the Lord of all the earth.
Rashi
אלה ארבע רוחות השמים. שרי העכו"ם מלכיות הקדמוניות המושלות בד' רוחות השמים:
These are the four corners of the heavens The heavenly princes of the nations that rule over the four corners of the heavens.
יוצאות מהתיצב וגו'. באו לפניו ונתן להם רשות מפיו למשול:
coming forth from standing, etc. They came before Him, and He gave them permission from His mouth to rule.
אֲשֶׁר־בָּהּ הַסּוּסִים הַשְּׁחֹרִים יֹֽצְאִים אֶל־אֶרֶץ צָפוֹן וְהַלְּבָנִים יָצְאוּ אֶל־אַֽחֲרֵיהֶם וְהַבְּרֻדִּים יָצְאוּ אֶל־אֶרֶץ הַתֵּימָֽן׃
That in which are the black horses goes out into the north country; and the white go after them; and the grizzled go towards the south country.
That in which are the black horses goes out into the north country; and the white go after them; and the grizzled go towards the south country.
Rashi
אשר בה הסוסים השחורים יוצאים אל ארץ צפון. להרכיב את מדי ועל האדומים לא כתב יוצאים שכבר כלתה לה ממשלת בבל:
The one [chariot] the black horses were in was going to the northland to cause Media to ride. Concerning the red ones, he does not write that they were going forth because the kingdom of Babylon had already been destroyed.
והלבנים יצאו אל אחריהם. להרכיב את פרס שתיהן בצפון ומשלו על בבל:
and the white ones went forth after them to cause Persia to mount both of them, in the north, and they ruled over Babylon.
והברודים יצאו אל ארץ התימן. להרכיב את יון ויטלו המלוכ' מיד פרס ובפתרונו לרב סעדיה בדניאל ראיתי מלך הנגב הוא מלך יון:
and the spotted ones went forth to the southland to cause Greece to mount so that Greece should take the kingdom from Persia. In Rav Saadiah’s interpretation of Daniel, the king of the south (11:5) is identified with the king of Greece.
וְהָאֲמֻצִּים יָצְאוּ וַיְבַקְשׁוּ לָלֶכֶת לְהִתְהַלֵּךְ בָּאָרֶץ וַיֹּאמֶר לְכוּ הִתְהַלְּכוּ בָאָרֶץ וַתִּתְהַלַּכְנָה בָּאָֽרֶץ׃
And the bay horses went out, and sought to go that they might walk to and fro through the earth: and he said, Get you hence, walk to and fro through the earth. So they walked to and fro through the earth.
And the bay horses went out, and sought to go that they might walk to and fro through the earth: and he said, Get you hence, walk to and fro through the earth. So they walked to and fro through the earth.
Rashi
והאמוצים יצאו ויבקשו. מלפניו שיהא אורך גדול לממשלתם ללכת בכל הארץ:
And the ash-colored ones went forth and begged of Him that they have a very long rule, to go throughout all the earth.
ויאמר לכו התהלכו בארץ. נתן להם רשות למשול ממשל רב והוא מלכות אדום:
And He said, “Go, walk to and fro on the earth” He gave them permission to rule a great ruling, and that is the kingdom of Edom.
וַיַּזְעֵק אֹתִי וַיְדַבֵּר אֵלַי לֵאמֹר רְאֵה הַיּֽוֹצְאִים אֶל־אֶרֶץ צָפוֹן הֵנִיחוּ אֶת־רוּחִי בְּאֶרֶץ צָפֽוֹן׃ {פ}
Then he cried upon me, and spoke to me, saying, Behold, these that go towards the north country have relieved my spirit in the north country.
Then he cried upon me, and spoke to me, saying, Behold, these that go towards the north country have relieved my spirit in the north country.
Rashi
ראה היוצאים אל ארץ צפון. להרכיב מדי ופרס:
Look, those going forth to the northland to cause Media and Persia to mount.
הניחו את רוחי. שככו את חמתי בבבל שהשחיתו את בלשצר וזרעו של נבוכדנצר הוא שאמר (ישעיהו מ״ח:י״ד) ה' אהבו ויעשה חפצו בבבל וגו':
eased My spirit They caused My anger to subside in Babylon when they destroyed Belshazzar and Nebuchadnezzar’s descendants. This is what Isaiah (48:14) said: “The Lord loves him who shall do His will in Babylon, etc.”
וַיְהִי דְבַר־יְהֹוָה אֵלַי לֵאמֹֽר׃
And the word of the Lord came to me, saying,
And the word of the Lord came to me, saying,
לָקוֹחַ מֵאֵת הַגּוֹלָה מֵחֶלְדַּי וּמֵאֵת טוֹבִיָּה וּמֵאֵת יְדַֽעְיָה וּבָאתָ אַתָּה בַּיּוֹם הַהוּא וּבָאתָ בֵּית יֹאשִׁיָּה בֶן־צְפַנְיָה אֲשֶׁר־בָּאוּ מִבָּבֶֽל׃
Take from the Exiles, from Helday, from Toviyya, and from Yeda῾ya, and come thou on that same day and go into the house of Yoshiyya the son of Żefanya who have come from Bavel;
Take from the Exiles, from Helday, from Toviyya, and from Yeda῾ya, and come thou on that same day and go into the house of Yoshiyya the son of Żefanya who have come from Bavel;
Rashi
לקוח מאת הגולה מחלדי וגו',: אשר באו מבבל. כל האנשים האלה:
Take from the exiles - from Heldai, etc., who have come from Babylon All these people.
וְלָקַחְתָּ כֶֽסֶף־וְזָהָב וְעָשִׂיתָ עֲטָרוֹת וְשַׂמְתָּ בְּרֹאשׁ יְהוֹשֻׁעַ בֶּן־יְהוֹצָדָק הַכֹּהֵן הַגָּדֽוֹל׃
and take from them silver and gold, and make crowns, and set them upon the head of Yehoshua the son of Yehożadaq, the high priest;
and take from them silver and gold, and make crowns, and set them upon the head of Yehoshua the son of Yehożadaq, the high priest;
וְאָמַרְתָּ אֵלָיו לֵאמֹר כֹּה אָמַר יְהֹוָה צְבָאוֹת לֵאמֹר הִנֵּה־אִישׁ צֶמַח שְׁמוֹ וּמִתַּחְתָּיו יִצְמָח וּבָנָה אֶת־הֵיכַל יְהֹוָֽה׃
and speak to him, saying, Thus speaks the Lord of hosts, saying, Behold a man whose name is Żemaĥ, and who shall grow up out of his place; and he shall build the temple of the Lord:
and speak to him, saying, Thus speaks the Lord of hosts, saying, Behold a man whose name is Żemaĥ, and who shall grow up out of his place; and he shall build the temple of the Lord:
Rashi
צמח שמו. הוא זרובבל האמור למעלה הנני מביא את עבדי צמח ועל שם שצמחה גדולתו מעט מעט ויש פותרים אותו במלך המשיח אבל כל הענין הזה מדבר בבית שני:
whose name is the Shoot He is Zerubbabel, mentioned above (3:8): “Behold, I bring My servant, the Shoot,” since his greatness burgeoned little by little. Some interpret this as referring to the King Messiah, but the entire context deals with the [time of the] Second Temple.
ומתחתיו יצמח. מזרע המלוכה:
who will spring up out of his place From royal descent.
וְהוּא יִבְנֶה אֶת־הֵיכַל יְהֹוָה וְהֽוּא־יִשָּׂא הוֹד וְיָשַׁב וּמָשַׁל עַל־כִּסְאוֹ וְהָיָה כֹהֵן עַל־כִּסְאוֹ וַעֲצַת שָׁלוֹם תִּהְיֶה בֵּין שְׁנֵיהֶֽם׃
he shall build the temple of the Lord; and he shall bear the glory, and shall sit and rule upon his throne; and there shall be a priest before his throne: and the counsel of peace shall be between them both.
he shall build the temple of the Lord; and he shall bear the glory, and shall sit and rule upon his throne; and there shall be a priest before his throne: and the counsel of peace shall be between them both.
Rashi
והוא ישא הוד. הוד נשיאות:
and he shall bear glory The glory of the kingship.
וישב. כהן גדול על כסא הכהונה:
And he shall sit The High Priest [shall sit] on the throne of the priesthood.
ועצת שלום וגו'. הנשיא והכהן יאהבו זה את זה:
And a council of peace, etc. The king and the Priest shall love one another.
וְהָעֲטָרֹת תִּֽהְיֶה לְחֵלֶם וּלְטוֹבִיָּה וְלִידַֽעְיָה וּלְחֵן בֶּן־צְפַנְיָה לְזִכָּרוֹן בְּהֵיכַל יְהֹוָֽה׃
But the crowns shall remain for a memorial to Helem, and to Toviyya, and to Yeda῾ya, and to Ḥen the son of Żefanya, in the temple of the Lord.
But the crowns shall remain for a memorial to Helem, and to Toviyya, and to Yeda῾ya, and to Ḥen the son of Żefanya, in the temple of the Lord.
Rashi
והעטרות תהיה לחלם וגו'. מקרא מסורס הוא והעטרות תהיינה בהיכל ה' לזכרון טוב לחלם ולטוביה אשר התנדבו הכסף והזהב ואותן עטרות היו תלויות בחלונות בגובה ההיכל כמו ששנינו במסכת מדות.
And the crowns shall be for Helem, etc. This is a transposed verse. It should be understood as: And the crowns shall be in the Temple of the Lord as a good memorial for Helem and for Tobijah, who donated the silver and the gold. Those crowns were hanging in the windows in the height of the Temple, as we learned in tractate Middoth (36a, 3:8).
חלם הוא חלדי:
for Helem That is Heldai.
וּרְחוֹקִים ׀ יָבֹאוּ וּבָנוּ בְּהֵיכַל יְהֹוָה וִידַעְתֶּם כִּֽי־יְהֹוָה צְבָאוֹת שְׁלָחַנִי אֲלֵיכֶם וְהָיָה אִם־שָׁמוֹעַ תִּשְׁמְעוּן בְּקוֹל יְהֹוָה אֱלֹהֵיכֶֽם׃ {פ}
And they that are far off shall come and build in the temple of the Lord, and you shall know that the Lord of Hosts has sent me to you. And this shall come to pass, if you diligently obey the voice of the Lord your God.
And they that are far off shall come and build in the temple of the Lord, and you shall know that the Lord of Hosts has sent me to you. And this shall come to pass, if you diligently obey the voice of the Lord your God.
Rashi
והיה אם שמוע. והיה לכם הדבר הזה אם שמוע תשמעו וגו':
And it shall come to pass if you hearken And this thing shall come to pass for you if you hearken, etc.
וההרים הרי נחושת. סי' על חוזק מלכיות הללו הבא להם מבין שני ההרים שהוא קשה ואמיץ שאלו ד' מרכבות שלוחי הקב"ה לתת ממשלת לד' מלכיות בבל ומדי יון ואדום:
and the mountains were mountains of copper A sign of the strength of these kingdoms, which came to them from between the two mountains, which are hard and strong, as these four chariots are messengers of the Holy one, blessed be He, to give ruling power to the four kingdoms of Babylon, Media, Greece, and Edom.