"The Great Redemption" (50)

"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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50.

You need to know that it’s said concerning this, “He’ll judge among the nations, He’ll fill the places with the dead bodies; He’ll shatter heads over many countries” (Psalms 110:6), which alludes to the mystery of the purple garment upon which the names of those martyred by the government were engraved (see Zohar 1, p. 39A). For their legions will be instigated then to act accordingly with Moshiach Ben Yoseph, and also to raise up the aforementioned good. That’s when there’ll be a “shatter(ed) head” -- Sama-el’s, for “He’ll shatter heads”, referring to Sama-el. It’s also said that “G-d’s enemies will be broken into pieces” (1 Samuel 2:10). Indicating two (enemies, and they are) Sama-el above and Gog below him.

At first G-d will harden their hearts and allow them to bolster their spirits and feel strong, as He did to Pharaoh in Egypt. Afterwards, though, He’ll cut them off and defeat them with His great might.

The term “shatter” here connotes bringing down and felling, as in “they spend their days in wealth, and go down to the netherworld in a moment” (Job 21:13). (What that means to say is that) they’ll gather strength in order to ascend, as I indicated. But they’ll surrender and fall down because of the power of the mighty strength (that G-d will exhibit against them). For at first “He’ll thunder upon them from Heaven” (1 Samuel 2:10), which indicates that it was referring to this phenomenon, and it’s (also) written, “He who sits in Heavens will laugh” (Psalms 2:4).

So in truth, “He’ll thunder upon them from Heaven” refers to the fall of Sama-el from up above, while “He’ll judge among the nations” (refers to the fall of Gog) down below. He’ll then “give strength to His king”, Moshiach Ben Yoseph. He’ll (need to) “give (him) strength” so that Moshiach Ben Yoseph doesn’t weaken before the wicked Armilus; and (G-d will) “raise the horns of his anointed” (1 Samuel 2:10), Moshiach Ben David, when the rectification is complete.

(c) 2006 Rabbi Yaakov Feldman

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

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