Shishi
- Hashem’s punishments to the gentiles: “I will return vengeance upon My enemies and to those who hate Me. My arrow will become drunk with blood. Let all the nations sing the praise of the Jewish people as He will avenge the death of His servants. He will bring retribution to His enemies and appease His land and His people.”
Q&A on Rashi
Parsha Bee – Devarim 32:40–43 (Rashi)
- What gesture does Hashem describe before taking an oath?
Answer: Raising His hand to Heaven. - What does raising His hand signify?
Answer: An oath. - What does “As I live forever” mean?
Answer: Hashem is swearing an oath. - Which earlier verse does Rashi cite as another example of this oath formula?
Answer: “As I live, says Hashem” (Bamidbar 14:28). - What does the lightning of Hashem’s sword refer to?
Answer: Its shining, flashing blade. - What does בְּרַק mean here?
Answer: Shine or flash. - What does “My hand grasps judgment” mean according to the first explanation?
Answer: Hashem applies strict justice to Israel’s enemies. - Why will Hashem judge Israel’s enemies?
Answer: Because they exceeded what Hashem intended when punishing Israel. - Which verse does Rashi quote to support this?
Answer: “I was angry only a little, but they helped to do harm.” - What is the second explanation of “My hand grasps judgment”?
Answer: Hashem holds and applies justice Himself. - What distinction do the Sages draw between Hashem and a human archer?
Answer: A human cannot retrieve an arrow once shot, but Hashem can. - What is Hashem’s “arrow” in this teaching?
Answer: Lightning. - What does “I will bring vengeance upon My adversaries” mean?
Answer: Hashem will punish those who harmed Israel. - What will Hashem do to those who hate Him?
Answer: Repay them. - Whose blood is referred to in verse 42?
Answer: The blood of Israel’s slain. - Upon whom will Hashem’s arrows be intoxicated with blood?
Answer: Israel’s enemies. - Whose flesh will Hashem’s sword consume?
Answer: The enemies’ flesh. - Why will punishment come upon the nations?
Answer: For killing and capturing Jews. - What does “from the first breach of the enemy” mean?
Answer: Hashem remembers every attack on Israel from the very beginning. - Does Hashem punish only for recent sins?
Answer: No, He recalls wrongdoing from the first breach onward. - Who is called upon to sing praise in verse 43?
Answer: The nations. - Why will the nations praise Israel?
Answer: Because Israel remained loyal to Hashem despite suffering. - What quality of Israel will the nations admire?
Answer: Their steadfast faithfulness. - What blood will Hashem avenge?
Answer: The blood of His servants. - What additional crimes will Hashem avenge?
Answer: Robbery and violence against Israel. - Which nations are mentioned in the quoted verse from Yoel?
Answer: Egypt and Edom. - Why are Egypt and Edom punished according to that verse?
Answer: For violence against Judah. - What does וְכִפֶּר mean here?
Answer: To appease or comfort. - What will Hashem appease?
Answer: His land and His people. - Why does His land receive appeasement?
Answer: Because the land shares in the suffering of the people. - What verse does Rashi bring as proof?
Answer: “You have appeased Your land; You have returned the captivity of Jacob.” - According to Rabbi Yehudah, to whom does this section primarily refer?
Answer: Israel. - According to Rabbi Nechemiah, to whom does this section primarily refer?
Answer: The nations. - According to Rabbi Nechemiah, whose vine is the vine of Sodom?
Answer: The nations’. - According to Rabbi Nechemiah, whose punishment is stored up?
Answer: The nations’ punishment. - According to Rabbi Nechemiah, whose foot will stumble?
Answer: The nations’ foot. - According to Rabbi Nechemiah, who says “Where is their God?”
Answer: Israel’s enemies. - Which wicked ruler does Rashi mention as an example?
Answer: Titus. - What will Hashem ultimately reveal?
Answer: His salvation. - What does “See now that it is I” mean?
Answer: Hashem alone brings both punishment and redemption. - What does “I am He” teach?
Answer: Hashem alone controls all events. - Who can stop Hashem?
Answer: No one. - What does “I cause death and grant life” demonstrate?
Answer: Hashem’s complete sovereignty. - What does “I strike, but I heal” teach?
Answer: The One who punishes is also the One who heals. - What does “no one can rescue from My Hand” mean?
Answer: No power can prevent Hashem’s judgment. - According to Rabbi Nechemiah, what does “My place to heaven” refer to?
Answer: The dwelling place of the Shechinah. - Why does Hashem delay punishment?
Answer: Because He lives forever and can punish at the proper time. - What advantage does Hashem have over mortal kings?
Answer: He lives forever and can punish even after generations pass. - What major transition occurs in these verses?
Answer: The song moves from punishment to vindication and redemption. - What is the central message of the end of Ha’azinu?
Answer: Hashem will ultimately avenge Israel, defeat their enemies, and bring comfort and redemption to His people.
Bonus: What declaration stands at the heart of this section?
Answer: “See now that it is I! I am He, and there is no god with Me.”