Torah Commentary - Ha'azinu
*Commentary courtesy of Menahem Me-Zahav
The name of our Sidrah is derived from its first word: “Ha’azinu Ha’shamaim – Listen, O Heaven - and let me speak, and may the world hear my words -“Ha’azinu Ha’shamayim Va’adabera, Ve’tishmah Ha’aretz Imrei Fih”).
Moses recites his last farewell message - the Song of God - to the people of Israel. It will serve as God’s testament, to all future generations, that in good times, as well as in trying periods, The People of Israel will always be, the People of God.
Our Sidrah is the one before the last in the Torah. We will read the next (and last) Sidrah of “Ve’zot Ha’Bracha”, on Simchat Torah.
Today’s Sidrah of Ha’azinu is a powerful poem. It contains a variety of characteristics, such of a prayer, a promise, a warning, a lesson in history and most notably, that of a boundless praise to God Almighty.
The poem is written in a special format named “The two columns” format. It is based on a multitude of pairs of sentences, where each pair, expresses parallel thoughts.
Here are a few examples:
First (I) “Ask your father and he will inform you” & “She’al Avicha Ve’Yagedcha”
(II) “Your elders and they will tell you” (Deuter. 32:7) “Zekeinecha, Ve’yomru Lach”
Second (I) “He (God) set him (Israel) atop the highlands” & “Yarkiveihu Al Bamotei Aretz”
(II) “He feasted on the harvest of the world” “Va’yochal Tnuvot Ssaday”
Third (I) “He (God) fed him honey from the rock” & “Va’Yenikeihu Dwash Mi’selah”
(II) “oil from the cliff”. (Deuter. 32:13). “Ve’shemen Me’chalmish Tzur”
Ha’azinu - Moses’ final song. Moses has dedicated his life to his people. Forty years earlier when he led them out of Egypt he sang ‘The Song of the Sea’ - Shirat Ha’yam. It was wholly dedicated to God. It praised God for saving His people from the pursuing Egyptian army. Now, 40 years later while camping, on the east bank of the Jordan River - Moses knows that his time is about to end. His faith in God is still as strong as ever. He now sings this final ‘Hymn of Joy’ full of praises to God’s Justice and His Fair Judgment of the world. The Promised Land is so close he can see it, but it is also so far, as he is not destined to get there.
The song of Ha’azinu starts with Moses calling upon heaven and earth to witness God’s loyalty and trustworthiness. “Ha’azinu Ha’shamaim - Listen O Heaven and let me speak, and may the world hear my words…For the name of the Lord I proclaim, give glory to my God. Ha’Tzur - The Rock - He is perfect, All His deeds are Just. He is a faithful God. He is righteous and He is honest” (Deuteronomy 32:1 & 3-4). Moses then declares, that God has always been concerned, about Israel’s well-being. Israel however, constantly demonstrated, its ingratitude and lack of appreciation, for God’s graciousness. Ha’azinu becomes therefore, a stern warning against future transgression. Wrong doings will be punished. The punishment will not be permanent, and the Jewish people will finally be freed from their oppressors. ”…And He (God) will avenge His foes and He will forgive His Land (and) His people” - (Deuteronomy 32:43).
Having completed his song, the Sidrah then concludes with Moses being instructed by God, to ascend
Mt. Nebo - Nevo. He will see the land of Israel from top of the mountain. Having obtained a glimpse of the Promised Land from afar - Moses will then be ready to depart. “Since you (Moses) will see the land from across (The Jordan River) and you will not get there (to the Land), that I (God) am giving to the people of Israel”. (Deuteronomy 32:52).
Haftarah for Shabbat SHUVA. Hosea 14:2-10, Joel 2:15-27 & Micah 7:18-20, Page 1235.
The Shabbat between Rosh Hashna and Yom Kippur, is named Shabbat Shuva. Its Haftarah is unique in its structure, since it is a collection of more than one segment. The name of the above Shabbat Shuva, is taken from the first word of its 1st segment: “Shuva Israel” - “Return O Israel - unto The Lord your God” (Hosea 14:2).
In many communities all 3 segments are been chanted (Namely: Hosea, Joel & Micah).
In some communities, only 2 segments are read. Since Hosea “contributes” its first word (“SHUVA”) to the naming of the Shabbat, “Shabbat Shuva” - Hosea is therefore always the 1st segment to be read.
The chanting of only 2 segments, will be made up of Hosea & Joel or Hosea & Micah.
All three Prophets, Hosea, Joel and Micah lived probably, between 50 to 100 years apart from each other -(during the late 9th to the late 8th Centuries BCE).
The prophecies of Hosea, Joel and Micah are all part of “The Twelve” – “Trei Assar”. Only few prophecies, were left from “the 12 Prophets”, all of which, were accumulated into one Biblical Book.
