"The Great Redemption" (65)

"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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65.

Let’s return to our subject. The husk hates this peace, and when it’s granted power from the actions of those below, the husk obscures peace’s light. Thus it’s written, “nor was there any peace for him who went out or came in” (Zecharia 8:10).

But when holiness is at full strength, this peace becomes much stronger. And all of creation enjoys rest and tranquility as a result, since everything derives a lot of tranquility from it. As it’s written, “I'll grant peace in the land and you’ll lie down and no one will frighten you” (Leviticus 26:6).

That will be so because the upper peace will bolster the lower one by enabling it to shine and reveal itself with great power and intensity. But this peace is hidden when the husk darkens (the world). But this weakening (and its aftermath) is what’s referred to by (the phrase) “I‘ll grant peace in the land” (Leviticus 26:6), for that’s (said of the time) when peace will grow stronger and appear by means of the upper one that conjoins with it. It's then that “you’ll lie down and no one will frighten you”. The mystery involved in “you’ll lie down” is the (same) one as “he lay down in that place to sleep” (Genesis 28:11).

It’s said “I’ll remove wild beasts from the land” (in reference to that time) because “the uncircumcised and impure will no longer go to the place of holiness” (Isaiah 52:1); and hence, “the sword will not pass through your land” (either).

Our sages referred to a “peaceful sword” (Ta'anit 22B). But this (irony) is a very great mystery (that comes to explain the following). The evil and people of impurity hate this peace, as I explained in connection with the verse “I’ve long dwelt with those who hate peace” (Psalms 120:6). So whenever the King is moved to redeem His people He removes this vengeful sword from this peace -- the sword that’s alluded to by the term “a two edged sword” (Psalms 149:6). For peace will come to the Jewish Nation and be strengthened with it, and it’s (then to be) referred to as a “peaceful sword”.

And so it’s this sword that's to emerge when impurity grows stronger; but it will overpower it and destroy it. Since this sword is rooted in peace it’s said, “When you come near a city to fight against it, then proclaim peace to it” (Deuteronomy 20:10). Because if they choose to subjugate themselves to peace you, they then have a place; but if they don’t and (choose to) rebel instead, then “strike each of its males with the edge of (this) sword” (Deuteronomy 20:13).

Thus, this is the sword that emerges from this peace. But when the world will be emended this “wild beast” (Leviticus 26:6) will no longer exist. For it’s written that “evil will be swallowed up forever (then)” (Isaiah 25:8), so this sword won’t be needed anymore, as everything will be tranquil and at rest, about which it’s written “his resting place shall be glorious” (Isaiah 11:10).

(c) 2006 Rabbi Yaakov Feldman

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

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