Pĕsikta dĕ-Rab Kahăna: R. Kahana's Compilation of Discourses for Sabbaths and Festal Days (JPS Classic Reissues)

PISKA 14

355 PISKA 14 Summary God’s mild reproach of Israel, and the happy consequences of hearkening to Him In His reproach of Israel, God’s manner is mild and conciliatory (Sec. 1). If Israel were only to hearken to Him, their entire being would soon be saturated with God’s teaching (Sec. 2). Israel’s poverty is God’s means of getting Israel to repent. Indeed, God chose Jeremiah, a poor man from the country, knowing that he would reprimand Israel not sharply but gently (Sec. 3). At Sinai, Israel had promised to do God’s will and to hearken to His words. When they made the golden calf, they violated their promise to do His will, but they will still have to hearken—indeed God will have them hearken in the Land or outside the Land. Even after Israel die, their dead bodies and dry bones will be made to hearken. Even if Israel refuse to hearken, yet become one as they were in Egypt, God may still save them as He did in Egypt where they stood shoulder to shoulder as one. For their failure to hearken, however, Israel in exile are now doing for others what they used to do for themselves in the Land, and they find further that in exile obedience to Torah is not as rewarding as it was in the Land (Sec. 4). God’s conduct, however, toward Adam, Pharaoh, and Moses— indeed toward the people of Israel—is cited by way of demonstrating that God does not lack consideration for His people (Sec. 5). 356 PESIKTA DE-RAB KAHANA In their refusal to hearken, Israel, not content to have gone far from God, even chased away others who would have returned to Him (Sec. 6). Still God chose to overlook Israel’s dereliction, regarding the idols that Israel worshiped as nought, as things that have no substance (Sec. 7). 357 Piska 14 Hearken ( Jer. 2:4).1 1. [Elihu said harshly], Therefore, hearken unto me, ye men of understanding : It would be a profanation for God, that He should do wickedness; and for the Almighty, that He should commit iniquity (Job. 34:10). R. Azariah and R. Jonathan bar Haggai, citing R. Samuel bar R. Isaac, said: Rather the “wrathful” speech of the Fathers than the “gentle” speech of their descendants [such as Elihu]. That the “wrathful” speech of the Fathers is endurable, we learn from our Father Jacob: “And Jacob was wroth, and strove with Laban. And Jacob answered and said to Laban: ‘What is my trespass, and what is my sin?’ ” (Gen. 31:36). You might suppose that threats of blows or wounds entered into the argument . In fact, with soothing words Jacob sought to conciliate his fatherin -law.2 On the other hand, that the “gentle” speech of the descendants of the Fathers is not endurable, we may learn from David: “David fled from Naioth in Ramah, and came before Jonathan: ‘What have I done? What is my guilt? And what is my sin before thy father, that he seeketh my life?’ ” (1 Sam. 20:1). Thus, though speaking of possible conciliation, David mentioned Saul’s murderous intent. R. Simon pointed out: Usually, when a son-in-law has been living with his fatherin -law and then is about to leave his father-in-law’s house, is it not likely at the very least that there will be found in his possession some trifling thing [belonging to his father-in-law]? But in regard to this 1. Jer. 2:4–28, etc., is the haftarah of rebuke for Mas‘e, the second of the three Sabbaths preceding the Fast of the Ninth of Ab. 2. “You might suppose that threats . . . father-in-law”—Gen. Rabbah 74:10. 358 PESIKTA DE-RAB KAHANA particular son-in-law—Jacob—not even a needle, not even a pin or two were found in his possession. As Jacob is quoted in Scripture: “Though thou hast rummaged through all my stuff, what single one of all thy household things hast thou found?” (Gen. 31:37). Thereupon the Holy One said to Jacob: As thou livest, with the same mild words of reproach that thou didst speak to thy father-in-law, with those words I shall reproach thy descendants: Thus saith the Lord: What [single] iniquity have your fathers found in Me, that they are gone far from Me? ( Jer. 2...