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   by Jacob Solomon

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PARSHAT EKEV 5767: D'VAR TORAH


'Perhaps you might think that they (the current residents of the Promised Land) are too many: how (Eicha) will I manage to drive them out?' (7:17).

The Hebrew word for 'How' is 'Eicha'. The word Eicha occurs three times in the Torah - all in the Book of Deuteronomy:

Specifically - in Moses' introducing his final address to the Israelites, he bemoans: 'How (Eicha) can I, alone, bear your contentiousness, burdensomeness, and quarrelsomeness!' (1:12) Later on, he encourages them to conquer Canaan - despite their apprehensions, with: 'Perhaps you might think that they are too many: how (Eicha) will I manage to drive them out?' (7:17). And further into the text, he cautions them not to follow in their pagan ways, warning them of wanting to know 'how (Eicha) these people serve their gods, so that I may do likewise' (12:30)

The Lamentations of Jeremiah are collectively known in Hebrew as the Book of Eicha. Like in Deuteronomy - Sefer Devarim - the word Eicha occurs three times, on each occasion heading a new chapter:

1. 'How (Eicha) the city (of Jerusalem), once full of people, sits alone as a widow!' (Lam. 1:1).

2. 'How (Eicha) G-d caused the daughter of Zion to grieve! He threw down from the heavens to the earth…' (Lam. 2:1)

3. 'How (Eicha) the gold has become dim!' (Lam. 4:1)

The three Eicha-s in the Torah may be linked with their opposite numbers in the Book of Eicha in the following way.

'How (Eicha) can I, alone, bear your contentiousness, burdensomeness, and quarrelsomeness!' describes the Israelites' predilection to being awkward. That was even true in situations such as the Exodus, when despite all positive experiences on freedom from slavery, they were within days at loggerheads with one anther to the degree that Moses had to 'sit down to judge the people' whose disputes were waiting for his attention, keeping him busy 'from morning to evening'. (Ex. 18:12). But the Israelites had made little progress since then in their being able to unite positively for the common good - in the long run. 'A house divided does not stand'. Thus the city of Jerusalem lacked unity on the eve of its destruction, and because of its Eicha remained Eicha - a city 'once full of people' remaining 'alone as a widow'.

'Perhaps you might think that they are too many: how (Eicha) will I manage to drive them out?' G-d encourages them with the notion that He may continue to use subtle supernatural means of promoting their well-being and success even as they leave His day to day intensive care in the desert and strive to settle in the Promised Land - as long as they also strive to go according to His teachings. Failure to do so in the long run will set his 'supernatural means' against the Israelites, and on the side of the enemy. This is exemplified by: 'How (Eicha) G-d caused the daughter of Zion to grieve! He threw down from the heavens to the earth…'

And what was their premier offence. Idolatry - ignoring the injunction of being too curious 'how (Eicha) these people serve their gods, so that I may do likewise' Indeed the Prophet Hosea declared: 'I gave you lots of silver and gold' which you used in service to idolatry - Baal. (Hos. 2:10). In consequence: exile: 'How (Eicha) the gold has become dim!'

As the Rabbis put it, G-d punishes midda keneged midda - 'measure for measure'.

Written by Jacob Solomon. Tel 02 673 7998. E-mail: jacobsol@netvision.net.il for any points you wish to raise and/or to join those that receive this Parasha sheet every week.

Parashiot from the First, Second, and Third Series may be viewed on the Shema Yisrael web-site: http://www.shemayisrael.co.il/parsha/solomon/archives/archives.htm

Also by Jacob Solomon:
From the Prophets on the Haftara

Test Yourself - Questions and Answers

e-mail: jacobsol@netvision.net.il

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