1)

What is the meaning of "b'Avasi v'Esarem"?

1.

Rashi: According to My desire, I constantly afflicted them from Shofet to Shofet, and I handed them over to those who consume them.

2.

Radak: According to My desire, I afflicted them, since they do not accept Musar from Me via My Nevi'im who rebuke them. I afflict them via nations that gathered against them. The root of v'Esarem is Yaser; it is like "Yusar Letz" (Mishlei 9:7). There is a Dagesh in the Samech to beautify the pronunciation, since the first letter of the root (Yud) is omitted, like "Etzak Mayim Al Tzamei", "uva'Makavos Yitzerehu" (Yeshayah 44:3, 12).

3.

Radak citing Targum Yonasan: I brought afflictions on them via My word.

4.

Malbim: When I wanted to afflict and punish them for idolatry, I did not gather against them a group from Yisrael to fight the sinners, for Yisrael did not have Kin'ah against idolatry then, and all the more so now. Therefore, I gathered nations against them - Machaneh Ashur 1 .


1

Why does Malbim call this Amim (plural)? Ashur conquered many lands; perhaps some of the nations conquered served in Ashur's army. (PF)

2)

What do we learn from "v'Usefu Aleihem Amim b'Asram li'Shtei Onosam"?

1.

Rashi: Because they are compared to a calf - "v'Efrayim Eglah Melumadah" (11), therefore their afflictions are compared to a cow. They weary it with plowing, and tie it in the yoke of the plow. The plow harnesses descend on both sides, by the cow's eyes. Targum Yonasan is like this.

2.

Radak: Onosam is like Ma'anisam (furrows). Yehudah and Efrayim are compared to two cows that plow. I said that they will plow well, and they plowed badly. They tied themselves to each other to do evil in Hashem's eyes. Yehoshafat married into Achav's family (Divrei ha'Yamim II, 18:1; his son Yehoram married Achav's daughter). Yehoram was evil in Hashem's eyes; he went in the way of Malchei Yisrael. In his days, Edom rebelled from under Yehudah's authority. Also his son Achazyah (was evil).

3.

Malbim: They tied them to their two furrows. I.e. they put a heavy yoke on them and tied them with ropes, like they tie an ox so it will plow two furrows at once, which [requires] twice the strength of an ox. I.e. they forced them to work more than their strength.

3)

It is written Inosam, and we pronounce it Onosam!

1.

Radak: Aleph, Hei, Vov and Yud are interchangeable.

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