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Parsha
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Ha'azinu
Ha’azinu is a prophetic song, recited by Moses to the Jewish People, laying out the course of history from Creation until the End of Days and the Messianic Era. In the Torah Scroll, the Song is written in a special format: instead of the standard single column, the text is broken into two narrow columns, each phrase separated from the next by a space:
Listen , O Heavens, and I shall speak; Let the Earth hear the words of my mouth!
My teachings shall fall like rain; My saying shall flow like dew;
Like storm-winds upon vegetation; And like rains upon grass….
The song first recapitulates the past and then foretells the future. G-d granted each nation an identity of its own, but gave a unique mission to Israel. Israel was the recipient of special Divine favor, evident in the way G-d miraculously provided their needs in the barren desert. Instead of showing gratitude, the nation sinks into complacency, forgetting G-d and angering Him with idolatrous behavior – casting aside the service of their true, benevolent Master to worship strange gods who have given them nothing.
In consequence, the Jews are driven into exile, where they are compelled to serve their foes; yet they are spared total annihilation, not by virtue of their own merits but to prevent the impression that there is anyone more powerful than G-d. In the end, the nations who were G-d’s agents to punish Israel will themselves be repaid in kind for their malicious behavior. The End of Days will see the Final Redemption, guaranteed by Divine oath. All of Mankind will praise Israel and seek to cleave to their faith.
Moses and Joshua finish the song; Moses tells the people to take his instruction to heart, remaining faithful to the Torah always.
Finally, G-d instructs Moss to ascend Har Nevo, the mountain in the land of Moab, east of the Jordan, from which he will be shown the entire Land of Israel. There he will pass away and be buried.
Listen , O Heavens, and I shall speak; Let the Earth hear the words of my mouth!
My teachings shall fall like rain; My saying shall flow like dew;
Like storm-winds upon vegetation; And like rains upon grass….
The song first recapitulates the past and then foretells the future. G-d granted each nation an identity of its own, but gave a unique mission to Israel. Israel was the recipient of special Divine favor, evident in the way G-d miraculously provided their needs in the barren desert. Instead of showing gratitude, the nation sinks into complacency, forgetting G-d and angering Him with idolatrous behavior – casting aside the service of their true, benevolent Master to worship strange gods who have given them nothing.
In consequence, the Jews are driven into exile, where they are compelled to serve their foes; yet they are spared total annihilation, not by virtue of their own merits but to prevent the impression that there is anyone more powerful than G-d. In the end, the nations who were G-d’s agents to punish Israel will themselves be repaid in kind for their malicious behavior. The End of Days will see the Final Redemption, guaranteed by Divine oath. All of Mankind will praise Israel and seek to cleave to their faith.
Moses and Joshua finish the song; Moses tells the people to take his instruction to heart, remaining faithful to the Torah always.
Finally, G-d instructs Moss to ascend Har Nevo, the mountain in the land of Moab, east of the Jordan, from which he will be shown the entire Land of Israel. There he will pass away and be buried.