"The Great Redemption" (6)

"The Great Redemption" by Rabbi Moshe Chaim Luzzatto

-- A Discourse on The End of the Exile and the Beginning of the Great Redemption

Translated by Rabbi Yaakov Feldman
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6.

And the fourth imperfection (brought on) was that of the Jewish Nation being cast into dire poverty and being forced to endure other harsh decrees, including death by the sword and captivity [1].

But in truth, all of that will prove to have been a smelting and refining process; none of the tribulations will have been in vain. They will have come upon (the Jewish Nation) because their sins had empowered the harsh might, and the ministering angels of punishment would have drawn strength from this terrible indictment and continued to do harsh and terribly cruel things to punish them (but for one end alone:) so that (the Jewish Nation) would be healed and to “finish the transgression and put an end to sin” (Daniel 9:24).

As the Jewish Nation will indeed be cleansed of all of its impurities (by then) and its (Heavenly) accusers will longer have nothing else to say against it, for (the forces of impurity) would have inherited their heavenly and earthly portions, they'd have crushed the spirit of the Jewish Nation under terrible pressure and have seized their sustenance from them.

But I won’t go into these matters in detail since it would call for a long explanation. (Instead,) I’ll offer a quick impression of all instances of wisdom involved for the sake of those who understand them, and only reveal more of the astounding wisdom involved when G-d grants me (permission to).

I’ve thus synopsized the four dreadful and frightening imperfections (brought on) by the exile for the wise-hearted as well as their very many consequences. But I won’t expand upon them until we come to the matter of the redemption when I’ll uncover enough of its hidden marvels and wonders for the discerning to understand, with G-d’s help.
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Notes:

[1] Ramchal cites here from to the verse that reads “Thus says G-d: Those who are (destined) for death are to (suffer) death; those who are (destined) for the sword are to (die by) the sword; those who are (destined) for famine are to (die by) famine; and those who are (destined) for captivity are to (suffer) captivity” (Jeremiah 15:2).

(c) 2005 Rabbi Yaakov Feldman

(Feel free to contact me at feldman@torah.org )

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