Haftorah: "Let those who Love Him be like the Sun Going Forth"

Haftorah: "Let those who Love Him be like the Sun Going Forth"

הרב אברהם ריבלין, המשגיח הרוחני לשעבר

The prophetess Devorah concludes her famous song with the pasuk, "So may all Your enemies be destroyed, O Hashem! And let those who love Him be like the sun going forth in its might (gevurah)." (Shoftim 5:31) What is the connection between the sun and the difference between the enemies of Hashem and those who love Him? And what is special about, "the sun going forth in its might?"

Most of the commentators on this pasuk emphasize the fact that the sun does not shine immediately with all its strength, but rather rises gradually, until it reaches its might. (Radak, Metzudat David, Malbim) It is possible that the contrast between the beginning of the pasuk and its end hints to an idea that we raised in last week's Haftorah. "The righteous begin with affliction and end with tranquility, while the wicked begin with tranquility and end with affliction." (Rashi Bereishit 27:29 based on Bereishit Rabbah 69:4) Sisera's mother awaits the great victory and the distribution of booty, and in the course of this comes the destruction -- "So may all Your enemies be destroyed, O Hashem!" However, Am Yisrael -- from their troubles that are described at length in the Song of Devorah -- will come to the complete redemption. "The redemption of Israel will come at first little by little." (Yerushalmi Brachot 1:1) This is the comparison: "Those who love Him [will merit redemption] like the sun going forth in its might" -- little by little, but steadily.

On a superficial level, the sun's strength and might in warming the earth are active. Gevurah, as well, on a superficial level, is an outward demonstration of strength and power. But we know that the deeper idea of gevurah lies in the exact opposite direction. "Who is mighty? One who conquers his inclination." (Avot 4:1) The concept of gevurah in the service of G-d relates primarily to forces of restraint, self-control, and internalizing of abilities. Indeed, when we look at the sources about the gevurah of the sun, it seems that there is always an idea of hiding, covering and concealing. Something "goes forth" from a hiding place into the open. Thus, in our pasuk, "as the sun going forth in its might"; in David's songs in Tehillim, "He has set up a tent for the sun, which  is like a groom going forth from his bridal chamber" (Tehillim 19:6-7); in Chazal's statement, "G-d took the sun out of its case." (Bava Metzia 86b)

What is the function of the case and the bridal chamber? Why does the sun always "go forth?" In science, it is known that the precise location of the earth relative to the sun is what ensures life on the earth. If the sun were a little closer to the earth, it would burn it and not allow any existence of life on it. The tent, the chamber and the case; the covering of the sun at night and its going out little by little -- their role is to subdue and to stop the burning strength of the sun so that it should not destroy life with its heat -- "nothing is hidden from its heat." Rather, it should warm in a measured manner, one that builds life and forms it.

These two motions are expressed in the phrase, "His koach (strength) and gevurah (might)." Contrary to convention, koach and gevurah are not similar concepts that demonstrate power, but rather opposing traits that form a balance. Koach is the force that bursts forth, while gevurah is the ability to withold, subdue, and control the force so that it will not destroy and burn. This is the meaning of the phrase in the Shabbat davening, "koach u'gevurah natan bahem." Rav Kook similarly writes about the bracha on thunder, "His koach and gevurah fill the world." (Olat Re'iyah vol. I, p. 383):

The loftiest awareness [of the Creation] is when we recognize the multitude of obstacles that stand at every step from the natural forces themselves when they collide with one another, were it not for Divine Providence, which places a limit and boundary to every force, saying, "You may come till here" -- only till the boundary that will facilitate the improvement of the Creation, and not its destruction.

The gevurah of the sun -- the koach of self-restraint and conquest are expressed not only in nature but also in ethics: "Those who are insulted and do not insult, hear their disgrace and do not answer ... about them Scripture states, "Let those who love Him be like the sun going forth with its might." What is the connection between the sun and those who are insulted and do not insult back? The sun is the first being in the world that was insulted, since the moon complained and said, "Two kings cannot use one crown!" (cf. Chulin 60b), and the sun -- was silent! "It rejoices like a mighty warrior to run the course."

May we, also, merit to be the lovers of G-d: "Let those that love Him -- be like the sun going forth in its might."

 

 

קוד השיעור: 3670

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