1)

What is "bi'Yvosh Ketzirah Tishavarna"?

1.

Rashi: Ketziri are its roots, like "Teshalach Ketzirah" (Tehilim 80:12). I.e. when [Esav's] small merit, that he honored his father, will be finished, then its branches will be broken.

2.

Rashi, from Bava Basra 10b:We do not accept Tzedakah from Nochri kings, for "bi'Vosh Ketzirah Tishavarna" (when his merits are used up, he will fall)"!

3.

Radak: Ketzir is the branch, like "v'Tal Yalin bi'Ktziri" (Iyov 29:19), "Teshalach Ketzirah Ad Yam." Ketzirah is singular, for the Klal [of branches]. Tishavarna is plural, for the individual branches. This is a metaphor - just like when a tree's branch dries, it is broken by itself, so Yisrael, when the time of their punishment comes, will be broken by itself.

4.

Malbim: Its harvest and branches will dry, because no one oversees to water it.

2)

What is the meaning of "Nashim Ba'os Me'iros Osah"?

1.

Rashi citing Targum Yonasan: A nation as weak as women will burn them. Me'iros is like "v'Lo Sa'iru Mizbechi Chinam" (Mal'achi 1:10). Also Dunash explained that since the trees are dry, it is easy to burn them.

2.

Rashi citing Menachem: [Me'iros] means that they gather 1 , like "Arisi Mori" (Shir ha'Shirim 5:11), "v'Aruha Kol Overei Darech" (Tehilim 80:13).

3.

Radak: Women will come to and burn the branches. Since they are dry, they are only for burning. "Osah" refer to Keneses Yisrael. [The Nimshal is], any nation, even if they are as weak as women, will harm and destroy them.

4.

Malbim: The verse depicts that the orchard became Hefker. First animals grazed there, and later the branches dry and poor women gather them to burn, for illumination. This shows the great desolation and destruction. This is unlike Yisrael, who are compared to a vineyard - even when it is destroyed, the root remains, and it sprouts to become a vineyard again. Nochrim are compared to a place that was destroyed and the branches and roots dried; there is no hope for it.


1

Rashi: Dunash asked, it says "bi'Yvosh Ketzirah" - one does not gather fruits from dry branches!

3)

Why does it say "Ki Lo Am Binos Hu"?

1.

Radak: Now, Yisrael is not a nation of understanding. If it were, it would contemplate itself, and see that all this evil came because it abandoned Hashem.

2.

Malbim: The Nochrim do not have understanding to cure themselves via Teshuvah.

4)

Why will its Maker not have mercy on it?

1.

Radak: Because it does not contemplate its deeds, and does not return to Hashem when evil comes upon it. Therefore, the One who made it and raised it above all nations will not have mercy on it.

5)

Why did Hashem form it?

1.

Radak: He formed Yisrael to be a servant to Him, but he did not do so. Therefore, He will not have mercy or grace on Yisrael, and He hid His face from them, and they will be consumed, and great, evil afflictions will beset it 1 . Perhaps then, it will repent!


1

Radak paraphrases Devarim 31:17.

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