Haftarah of Parshat Ki Tavo - 5760

"In its Time, I Will Hasten It"
Yeshayahu 60:22

The Haftarah of Parshat Ki Tavo is the sixth of the "Haftarot of Consolation," in the series of seven such Haftarot.  Both the Ashkenazic and Sefardic communities take this Haftarah from the Book of Yeshayahu, beginning with "Perek"/Chapter 60, "Passuk"/Verse 1, through (and including) the last "Passuk" in the "Perek," 60:22.

Introduction

In the conversation that Avudraham constructs from these Haftarot, the "Shiva  D'Nechemta," among HaShem, His Prophets and the People of Israel, this is the one in   which the theme of the Haftarah is the return of the People of Israel in the Time of the Mashiach, from Exile.  None of the commentators; that is, neither RASHI, RADAK nor Metzudat David, extend this idea of "Return" to "Techiyat HaMetim," the Resuscitation of the Dead, and their Return to the Jewish People, though that idea is fundamental in the faith of Judaism.

RASHI, in particular, Master of the Commentators, lived at the time of the First Crusade,  when the Holy Land was a prize contested by the Christians and the Muslims, while the Jewish People were about as far as possible from having dominance in the Land of  Israel.  Whereas, in our own time, when G-d for His own reasons has been good to us, and we are in possession of major portions of the Land of Israel (unless we give it  back), we can very well think of and act upon the idea of "Kibbutz Galuyot," Ingathering of the Exiles.  We can also imagine the Coming of the "Mashiach," and how that  transcendent event would affect us.  "Techiyat HaMetim," though very hard to imagine, is not totally beyond us, because it is associated with the "Mashiach," that is the traditional understanding of the Thirteenth Principle of the RAMBAM.

The RAMBAM writes, in the thirteenth of the "Ani Ma'amin's," the following:  "I believe with complete faith that there will be a Resuscitation of the Dead whenever the "Ratzon," the "Will," emanates from the Creator, Blessed is His Name, forever and ever."

One of the indications that "Techiyat HaMetim" might be part of the theme of the  Haftarah is that its time period is clearly the time of the "Mashiach," because references are made to the Holy Temple, which is to be rebuilt by the "Mashiach" and, as  mentioned above, that is the time period in which we believe that the Resuscitation of the Dead will occur.

Another indication is that there are two references in the Haftarah to the "Ratzon," the Will, of HaShem, that the RAMBAM mentions as a pre-requisite for the occurrence of that great and mysterious, frightening but much hoped-for event.

Translation and Commentary on the Haftarah

Yeshayahu 60:1

"Arise and shine, for your light is come,
And the Glory of HaShem shines upon you."  

The City of Jerusalem is illuminated with a great light, representing happiness. (RADAK)

Perhaps this is the "light" that was "ganuz," hidden and set aside for the Righteous (Bereshit Rabbah 3:6), after the original Creation of light.

Yeshayahu 60:2

"For, behold, darkness shall cover the earth,
And thick darkness the nations,
But upon you Hashem will shine,
And His Glory will be seen over you."  

The world will be full of troubles.  But the Divine Presence will rest upon you.  (Metzudat David)

Yeshayahu 60:3

"And nations shall walk by your light, 
And Kings by the radiance of your shining." 

They will learn the Ways of HaShem from you. (Metzudat David)

Yeshayahu 60:4

"Lift up your eyes round-about and see:
They are all gathered together, and come to you;
Your sons come from afar,
And your daughters on the side."  

The separate reference to "daughters," in the context of "Techiyat HaMetim," may refer to such incidents as mentioned in the Talmud, Masechet Gitin, where an incident is recounted that a boatload of young, female Jewish captives were being transported by the Romans for immoral purposes.  They asked the wisest among them, "Will HaShem bring us back for "Olam HaBa," the World-to-Come, if we jump overboard and drown ourselves?"  They were answered, HaShem says "I will bring them back from Bashan, I will bring them back from the depths of the sea," that HaShem will retrieve Jews from anywhere, even from the crematoria of Auschwitz.

Yeshayahu 60:5

"Then you will see and be radiant,
Your heart will throb and become enlarged;
Because the abundance of the sea shall be returned to you,
The wealth of the nations shall come to you."  

It is well known that when someone experiences great happiness, a strain is placed on the heart.  We see this from the Bible, where Yosef is returned to Yaakov after a long absence, the "Passuk" says "And his heart grew faint." (Bereshit 45:26)

This would certainly be true if the Dead were brought back to life.

Yeshayahu 60:6

"The load of a caravan of camels will overwhelm you;
All the first-born camels of Midian and Ephah,
All coming from Sheba;
They would carry gold and frankincense,
And praise of G-d would they sing."  

The expressions "caravan of camels," "first-born," "camels of Midian," are all possible allusions to the Biblical account of Yosef, who was sold into slavery by his jealous  brothers over a conflict that could be described as "Who is the first-born?" and was  returned to his father after an absence of twenty two years.  This could be an allusion to people returning from Exile, and certainly, again, to beloved individuals being brought back from the dead.

Yeshayahu 60:7

"All the flocks of Kedar shall be gathered together for you,
The rams of Nevayot will serve you;
They will be brought up willingly upon My altar ("Ratzon Mizbechi"),
And I will glorify My House of Splendor." 

The sheep of Kedar are the best within the family of sheep.  The People of Israel, the "Chosen People," is often pictured as a "flock of sheep."  Likewise are the rams of Nevayot the best within the species of rams.  The reference to "sheep and rams," being brought "willingly upon the altar" seem to point to our forefather Yitzchak who allowed himself to be placed upon the altar by his father Avraham at the Akeidah.  In the end, a ram was substituted for him, but the Midrash says that Yitzchak died from fear, and was brought back to life by G-d.

Yeshayahu 60:8

"Who are these
Who fly like clouds?
And like doves returning to their nests?"  

RADAK explains that the clouds refer to the communities of Israel returning from the Exile in the time of the "Mashiach."

On the Yamim Noraim, Rosh HaShanah and Yom Kippur, we compare human life, in its fleeting aspect, to a cloud, and the Community of Israel is often likened to a dove.  How beautiful a metaphor it would be for the souls of the Jewish People returning to their bodies to picture them as clouds and as doves!

Yeshayahu 60:9

"For the residents of the islands hope in me,
With ships from the Port of Tarshish first,
To bring your children from afar,
In possession of their silver and gold,
For the sake of HaShem your G-d,
And for the Holy One of Israel,
Who has brought upon you glory."  

The reference to Tarshiah may be an allusion to Yonah, who attempted to flee from before G-d to Tarshish.  Swallowed by a great fish, bigger than a "Great White Shark," and as good as dead, he was nevertheless retrieved by HaShem after he did "Teshuvah," Repentance,  from the belly of the fish, to perform his function of Prophecy.

Yeshayahu 60:10

"And strangers shall build up your walls,
And their Kings shall serve you;
For it was in a flash of anger
That I struck you,
But with my full will (bi'retzoni)
Have I showered mercy upon you."  

When the Third Temple is built by the "Mashiach," it will be a spiritual center for all of humanity.  And the Holy City of Jerusalem where it will stand, will be built up with the full cooperation and participation by the nations of the world and their leaders.

For it was with only a momentary flash of anger, relatively speaking, that I punished  you.  But it is with My full will, which we have posited may relate, in addition to defeat of your enemies and in-gathering of the Exiles in the traditional sense, also to  Resurrection of the Dead, that I will show the Ultimate Mercy upon My People, by  bringing the beloved of all their generations back to life.  Such that the reunion of the People of Israel will be not only across space, but across all of time, as well.

Yeshayahu 60:11

"Your gates will be perpetually open, 
Neither by day nor by night will they be closed;
To bring to you the wealth of the nations,
And their Kings, in procession."  

RADAK:

There will be no need to shut your gates, even by night, for there will be peace in the world.

"In procession" - Kings of nations shall appear before the "Mashiach," as servants before their master.

The expression "chayl goyim," the wealth of the nations, may also refer to the "nitzotzot," the sparks of good contained within all nations, that it is the destiny of Israel to bring to the fore.

Yeshayahu 60:12

"For the nation and the Kingdom
That refuses to serve you,
Will be lost;
And such nations, will be utterly destroyed."  

The People of Israel will be recognized as HaShem's standard-bearers throughout history, and the Torah will be recognized as the Word of G-d.

Yeshayahu 60:13

The glory of Lebanon will come to you,
The cedar, the plane-tree and the box-tree, all together:
To give honor to the Place of My Holiness,
And to My Footstool on Earth I will give honor."  

RADAK:

"My Footstool" - Since the Holy temple is situated in Jerusalem "opposite" the Heavenly Temple in the Heavenly Jerusalem, it is called the "Footstool of G-d."

Yeshayahu 60:14

"And the sons of those that afflicted you,
Will come bowing before you;
And all those that despised you
Shall bow down at the soles of your feet;
And they will call you the City of G-d,
The Sign of the Presence of the Holy One of Israel."  

The world will be turned "upside down," with Israel on top of all the nations of the world.

Yeshayahu 60:15

"Instead of your being abandoned and hated,
And all by yourself,
I will make you an eternal excellence,
The delight of all generations." 

Metzudat David:

In exchange for your being avoided such that no one would even greet you, I will raise you, says HaShem, to the position of rule forever and of being a delight for all future generations.

In line with the inclusion of "Techiyat HaMetim" in the Prophecy of Yeshayahu, the expression "Geon Olam," eternal excellence and "Dor VaDor," "all generations," take on new meaning, where "eternal" is as the word says, and "all generations" may mean for all past generations and for all future generations.

Yeshayahu 60:16

"You will nurse from the milk of the nations, 
And enjoy the wealth of Kings;
And you will know
That I, HaShem, am your Savior,
And your Redeemer is the Mighty One of Jacob."

The face of Yaakov is inscribed eternally on the "Throne of HaShem."  The "Mighty One of Jacob," your Eternal Redeemer, will bring back the Children of Yaakov to partake in this aspect of Yaakov's eternity.  

Yeshayahu 60:17

"For copper I will bring gold,
And for iron, I will bring silver,
And for wood, copper,
And for stone, iron.
And I will make your 'officers,' officers of peace,
And your oppressors, messengers of charity."  

Everything will be upgraded to a higher moral and physical level.  In return for the copper that was stolen from you, they will return gold.  Where you were once taxed, officers will visit you only to inquire after your welfare.  Where you were once oppressed, there will now be gifts of peace. (RADAK and Metzudat David)

Yeshayahu 60:18

"No longer will violence be heard abroad on your land,
Desolation and Destruction within your boundaries;
Now you will call 'Salvation' your walls,
And 'Praise' your gates."  

You will have no need for physical protection in the future; your protecting "walls" are the "Salvation" of G-d, and your "gates," negative forces that kept people out, will be replaced by the beautiful sound of the "Praise of HaShem," drawing people in.

Yeshayahu 60:19

"The sun will no longer provide your light by day,
Nor will the moon your light by night;
But HaShem will be for you an Eternal Light,
And your G-d will be your Glory."  

RADAK and Metzudat David:

You will not need the physical light of the sun and the moon; you will be provided with "spiritual" light by HaShem.

Yeshayahu 60:20

"Neither your sun nor your moon will set,
For HaShem will be for you an Eternal Light,
And the days of your mourning
Shall come to an end."  

Yeshayahu 60:21

"And your nation shall be composed entirely of the Righteous,
Forever will they inherit the earth;
The branch of My planting,
The work of My hands,
In whom I glory."  

The first Mishnah in Pirkei Avot is based on the above verse, wherein the assumption is stated that all Jews have a potential share in Eternal Life in "Olam HaBa," the World-to-Come ( as do Righteous Gentiles).

Yeshayahu 60:22

"The smallest shall become a thousand,
And the least a mighty nation;
I am HaShem,
In its time, I will hasten it."

In the time of the "Mashiach," there will occur a transition.  The People of Israel will go from being the "smallest of the nations" to a "mighty nation."  Now it will literally be true that Avraham will be unable to count the billions of his descendants.  This is certainly easiest to understand if it is "Techiyat HaMetim" that is accounting for this transition.

"I am HaShem" - Who has the ability to do anything (Metzudat David)

"In its time, I will hasten it" - CHAZAL resolve the contradiction between "in its time" and "I will hasten it" by saying, "If they merit it, I will hasten it (the Redemption); otherwise, it will come "in its time."

Rabbi Pinchas Frankel