What is the meaning of "Gada"?
Rid: He cut off. This is like "v'Rami ha'Komah Gedu'im" (Yeshayah 10:33).
What does "[Kol] Keren Yisrael" include?
Rav Sadya Gaon: The honor and attribute of Yisrael.
Ibn Ezra: Both kingdoms (Yehudah and Yisrael).
Ri Kara citing Eichah Rabah 2:6: The horns of Kehunah, Leviyah, kingship, Nevu'ah and Torah.
Palgei Mayim: Even after He destroyed the fortresses and they did not repent, He cut off only Keren Yisrael, i.e. the grandeur and authority of Yisrael.
Why did He draw back His right hand?
Rav Sadya Gaon: It was as if He drew it back. Rashi - i.e. He did not fight on behalf of His children.
Ri Kara: Until now, His right hand shielded Yisrael from the nations - "Yemincha Hashem Nedari ba'Ko'ach Yemincha Hashem Tir'atz Oyev" (Shemos 15:6). Now it stood away, and did not help them from the enemy's sword.
R. Avigdor: When the enemies entered Yerushalayim, they tied Bachurim's hands in back of them. Hashem said, I swore "Imo Anochi v'Tzarah" (Tehilim 91:15); also He put His right hand in back. Therefore we say "Lema'an Yechaltzun Yedidecha Hoshi'ah Yemincha va'Aneni" (Tehilim 60:7) - when Hashem will save His nation, He will save His right hand.
What is the meaning of "va'Yiv'ar [b'Yakov]"?
Ibn Ezra: This is Po'el Omed (the action applies only to the subject; it burned, it did not burn something else). 'Af' is omitted (anger burned). It is better to say that the "Chari Af" (mentioned earlier in the verse) burned.
R. Avigdor citing Eichah Rabah 2:7: When punishments come, only Yakov feels [them]. Therefore, at a time of Simchah "Yagel Yakov Yismach Yisrael" (Tehilim 14:7) - Yakov Avinu.
Why does it say "Achlah Saviv"?
Palgei Mayim: Even after He saw that Yisrael did not repent even after He cut off their grandeur and authority and drew back His right hand, He did not burn in Yakov. He burned only around them, i.e. the 10 tribes who were around Yerushalayim, but not in it. He waited; perhaps they will repent.
