1)

What do we learn from "Gam mi'Gavo'ah Yira'u"?

1.

Torah Temimah citing Shabbos 152a: Even a small mound seems like a mountain.

2.

Rav Sadya Gaon: He fears everything tall.

3.

Rashi: He fears to go to the market, lest he stumble on mounds.

4.

Rashi (6, from Eichah Rabah): [Nebuchadnetzar] fears the high One of the world, lest He do to him like he did to early ones [who sought to conquer Yerushalayim, e.g. Sancheriv - PF].

5.

Ibn Ezra #1: Old people lack strength to ascend to high places. The Vov in Yira'u is extra (the conjugation should be singular, for it discusses one man).

6.

Ibn Ezra #2: This refers to the thighs (they fear high places).

7.

Ibn Ezra #3: Man's Ru'ach thinks that he is going to a high place 1 , and he fears the path. The end of the verse proves this - "Ki Holech ha'Adam El Beis Olamo." Also, the previous verses discussed one whose eyes darkened, he does not eat and his voice is not heard. Surely it does not regress to discuss one who fears hills, which is at a lower age!

8.

Rid: Old people fear to sit in high places or ascend to them.

9.

Seforno: "Shomerei ha'Bayis" and "Anshei ha'Chayil" mentioned above (3; the bones and sinews) fear high places.


1

Metzudas David: To Shamayim, to give an accounting of his deeds.

2)

What do we learn from "v'Chaschatim ba'Derech"?

1.

Rav Sadya Gaon and Rashi, from Shabbos 152a: When he travels, he is fretful 1 . Rashi - Chaschatim is a double of the root Chas 2 , like Galgelim, Zalzelim, Kashkeshim. Metzudas Tziyon - the double shows great fear, just like "Adamdam" (Vayikra 13:42) is very Adom (red).

2.

Rashi (6, from Eichah Rabah): Amidst fear, [Nebuchadnetzar] will seek signs whether he will succeed on his way - "Ki Amad Melech Bavel El Em ha'Derech


1

Rid: Due to his weakness.

2

Ibn Ezra: This is like "Tir'u Chasas" (Iyov 6:21).

3)

What do we learn from "v'Yaneitz ha'Shaked"?

1.

Rashi, from Shabbos 152a: This refers to the hip, in which the thigh bone is inserted. In old age his flesh is lean and the hip juts out like a Netz (blossom) on a tree.) Yaneitz is like "Hinatzu ha'Rimonim" (Shir ha'Shirim 7:13); the Aleph is silent. Shaked is an almond tree. Old age comes quickly on him, just like an almond tree buds before all other trees.

2.

Rashi (6, from Eichah Rabah): The Nevu'ah of Yirmeyah, who said "Makel Shaked Ani Ro'eh" (Yirmeyah 1:11) will sprout. There are 21 days from when an almond tree buds until its Peros are finished. So there are 21 days from the 17th of Tamuz until Tish'ah b'Av.

3.

Ibn Ezra #1: V'Yaneitz is Seivah 1 , like "Alsah Netzah" (Bereishis 40:10). Rid - his Seivah will sprout and his hair will turn white, like flowers of almond trees.

4.

Ibn Ezra #2: Ha'Shaked is the male organ. [Its hair] turns white after those of the head and beard.

5.

Ibn Ezra #3, Metzudas David: V'Yaneitz is despising, like "va'Yin'atz b'Za'am Apo" (Eichah 2:6). Ibn Ezra - Shaked is an adjective; its grammatical form is like "v'Hayah Dashen v'Shamen" (Yeshayah 30:23). The power 2 that guards the body's composition, it despises to do so. This is like "Shikdu 3 v'Shimru" (Ezra 8:29), "Shav Shaked Shomer" (Tehilim 127:11), "Namer Shaked Al Areihem" (Yirmeyah 5:6).


1

Magihah (in Toras Chayim): White hair.

2

Metzudas David: It does not want to guard the body any more.

3

Metzudas Tziyon: This is persistent effort.

4)

What do we learn from "va'Yistabel he'Chagav"?

1.

Rashi, from Shabbos 152a: These are the buttocks 1 . They feel like a heavy load; he is overburdened.

2.

Rashi (6, from Eichah Rabah): This is the image that Nebuchadnetzar made - "it was 60 Amos tall and six Amos wide" (Daniel 3:1). If it was only six wide, it cannot stand! How were they able to "erect it in the valley of Dura" (ibid.)? They erected it and it fell, they erected it and it fell, until they brought all the gold of Yerushalayim and poured it [to make a base] on its legs, to fulfill "u'Zhavam l'Nidah Yihyeh" (Yechezkel 7:19).

3.

Rav Sadya Gaon 2 , Rid: [He is bent] even when carrying a trifling load like a locust.

4.

Ibn Ezra #1: The testicles droop down.

5.

Ibn Ezra #2, Metzudas David: It is burdensome for the guardian to bear even a locust, which is light, and all the more so the body! Va'Yistabel is Hispa'el, from the root Saval; when the first letter of the root is Samech or Shin, the Tov of Hispa'el is after the first letter.


1

Ibn Ezra: Some say that the Ches in Chagav is in place of an Ayin. This is wrong. The only letters that are interchangeable are Aleph, Hei, Vov and Yud, for sometimes they are silent.

2

According to the Magihah in Toras Chayim.

5)

What is "v'Safer ha'Aviyonah"?

1.

Rav Sadya Gaon, from Shabbos 152a: It is desire (Rashi - for women). (Lust ceases.)

2.

Rashi (6, from Eichah Rabah): This is Zechus Avos. The support from your ancestors will be annulled. Aviyonah is based on Av.

3.

Ibn Ezra #1: Some say that Aviyonah is a person's Ru'ach. Metzudas David - it is Batel, i.e. it leaves him.

4.

Ibn Ezra #2: Hafer is always Po'el Yotzei (it acts on others). Here, it annuls the counselor (the Ru'ach) from its counsels. The middle letter of the root is Yud, like "Kiyem Divrei ha'Purim" (Esther 9:32).

5.

Seforno: The path of descent to loss annuls desire for food, Bi'ah and other matters.

6)

What is the grammatical form of "Aviyonah"?

1.

Rashi: It is like "v'Lo Avisem" (Devarim 1:26), "Ta'avti li'Shu'asecha" (Tehilim 119:174) (Metzudas Tziyon - "Lo Avah Yabmi" - Devarim 25:7).

2.

Rashi (6, from Eichah Rabah): It is based on Av.

3.

Ibn Ezra #1: It is the female form of Evyon.

4.

Ibn Ezra #2, Metzudas Tziyon #1: The root is Binah. The Aleph is extra, like the Aleph in "v'He'eznichu", "Ekdach" (Yeshayah 19:6, 54:12) and "uv'Ezro'a" (Yirmeyah 32:21). It is an adjective for the Ru'ach, which has Binah.

5.

Rashbam: Aviyonah comes from Ta'avah, just like Evyon from Avah and Tzivyon from Tzavah. The Hei is because it is feminine.

6.

Rid: It is like "v'Lo Avu Shemo'ah" (Yeshayah 28:12). The Yud is in place of the last letter of the root.

7)

What do we learn from "Ki Holech ha'Adam El Beis Olamo"?

1.

Rashi, from Shabbos 152a: In the world to come] every Tzadik has a dwelling according to his honor.

2.

Rashi (6, from Eichah Rabah): Yisrael, who are called Adam - "Adam Atem" (Yechezkel 36:37), they (i.e. Avraham) came from Bavel, and they returned to Bavel.

3.

Ibn Ezra, Metzudas David: Beis Olamo is the grave, where he will live forever. Ibn Ezra - sometimes Olam is not forever 1 , e.g. "v'Yashav Sham Ad Olam" (Shmuel I, 1:22), "va'Avado l'Olam" (Shemos 21:6).

4.

R. Avigdor: Holech is written Chaser (without a Vov), to hint that one who dies on Erev Shabbos (Yom Shishi), he goes immediately to Beis Olamo 2 . There are seven words in "Ach Besaro Alav Yich'av v'Nafsho Alav Te'eval" (Iyov 14:22), to teach that all seven days of Aveilus, the Neshamah returns to its place and mourns over the person. Therefore, the custom is to light a lamp morning and evening in the house where the Mes died - "Ner Hashem Nishmas Adam" (Mishlei 20:27).

5.

Seforno: "Ki" - because man heads to "Beis Mo'ed l'Chol Chai" (Iyov 30:23), I told you to remember your Creator before all of this (1).


1

Also here, he can leave the grave at the time of Techiyas ha'Mesim. (PF)

2

Kesuvos 103b: If one dies on Erev Shabbos, this is a good sign. Rashi - he enters immediately to rest.

8)

Why does it say "v'Savevu va'Shuk ha'Sofdim"?

1.

Rashi (6, from Eichah Rabah): Galus Yechanyah was 11 years before Tzidkiyah's kingship 1 . When Nebuchadnetzar brought Galus Tzidkiyah in chains, Galus Yechanyah were forced, with the rest of the city, to greet the victorious king. Everyone asked the captives about his relatives. They answered "Asher la'Maves la'Maves va'Asher la'Cherev la'Cherev" (Yirmeyah 15:2). They praised [Nebuchadnetzar] with one hand, and the other hand slapped in eulogy over their brothers and children.

2.

Ibn Ezra: [The eulogizers will go around the market 2 ] when they bring him to burial - "Yisa'uhu Al Kasef Yisbeluhu" (Yeshayah 46:7)..

3.

Seforno: People telling his deeds will go around the market. Chazal said 'do things that people will retell in front of your bier' (Shabbos 153a).


1

Seemingly, he means before Galus Tzidkiyah. The Midrash does not discuss the time in between. Perhaps the text of Rashi should say 'Kadma Galus Yechanyah Likras Galus Tzidkiyah' (PF).

2

Metzudas David: To arouse lamentation.

Sefer: Perek: Pasuk:

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