Due to what reason was the First Temple destroyed? It was destroyed due to the fact that there were three matters that existed in the First Temple: Idol worship, forbidden sexual relations, and bloodshed...However, considering that the people during the Second Temple period were engaged in Torah study, observance of mitzvot, and acts of kindness, and that they did not perform the sinful acts that were performed in the First Temple, why was the Second Temple destroyed? It was destroyed due to the fact that there was wanton hatred during that period. This comes to teach you that the sin of wanton hatred is equivalent to the three severe transgressions: Idol worship, forbidden sexual relations and bloodshed.
(ד) ה֣וֹי ׀ גּ֣וֹי חֹטֵ֗א עַ֚ם כֶּ֣בֶד עָוֺ֔ן זֶ֣רַע מְרֵעִ֔ים בָּנִ֖ים מַשְׁחִיתִ֑ים עָזְב֣וּ אֶת־ה' נִֽאֲצ֛וּ אֶת־קְד֥וֹשׁ יִשְׂרָאֵ֖ל נָזֹ֥רוּ אָחֽוֹר... (כא) אֵיכָה֙ הָיְתָ֣ה לְזוֹנָ֔ה קִרְיָ֖ה נֶאֱמָנָ֑ה מְלֵאֲתִ֣י מִשְׁפָּ֗ט צֶ֛דֶק יָלִ֥ין בָּ֖הּ וְעַתָּ֥ה מְרַצְּחִֽים׃
(4) Ah, sinful nation! People laden with iniquity! Brood of evildoers! Depraved children! They have forsaken the LORD, Spurned the Holy One of Israel, Turned their backs [on Him]... (21) Alas, she has become a harlot, The faithful city That was filled with justice, Where righteousness dwelt— But now murderers.
(19) Let your misfortune reprove you, Let your afflictions rebuke you; Mark well how bad and bitter it is That you forsake the LORD your God, That awe for Me is not in you —declares the Lord GOD of Hosts.
(א) וַ֭יַּעַן אֱלִיפַ֥ז הַֽתֵּימָנִ֗י וַיֹּאמַֽר... (ז) זְכָר־נָ֗א מִ֤י ה֣וּא נָקִ֣י אָבָ֑ד וְ֝אֵיפֹ֗ה יְשָׁרִ֥ים נִכְחָֽדוּ׃ (ח) כַּאֲשֶׁ֣ר רָ֭אִיתִי חֹ֣רְשֵׁי אָ֑וֶן וְזֹרְעֵ֖י עָמָ֣ל יִקְצְרֻֽהוּ׃ (ט) מִנִּשְׁמַ֣ת אֱל֣וֹקַ יֹאבֵ֑דוּ וּמֵר֖וּחַ אַפּ֣וֹ יִכְלֽוּ׃
(1) Then Eliphaz the Temanite said in reply: ... (7) Think now, what innocent man ever perished? Where have the upright been destroyed? (8) As I have seen, those who plow evil And sow mischief reap them. (9) They perish by a blast from God, Are gone at the breath of His nostrils.
(1) Bildad the Shuhite said in reply: (2) How long will you speak such things? Your utterances are a mighty wind! (3) Will God pervert the right? Will the Almighty pervert justice? (4) If your sons sinned against Him, He dispatched them for their transgression. (5) But if you seek God And supplicate the Almighty, (6) If you are blameless and upright, He will protect you, And grant well-being to your righteous home.
(1) Zophar the Naamathite said in reply: (2) In truth, my thoughts urge me to answer (It is because of my feelings (3) When I hear reproof that insults me); A spirit out of my understanding makes me reply: (4) Do you not know this, that from time immemorial, Since man was set on earth, (5) The joy of the wicked has been brief, The happiness of the impious, fleeting? (6) Though he grows as high as the sky, His head reaching the clouds, (7) He perishes forever, like his dung; Those who saw him will say, “Where is he?”
(21) I am blameless—I am distraught; I am sick of life. (22) It is all one; therefore I say, “He destroys the blameless and the guilty.”
(1) I am disgusted with life; I will give rein to my complaint, Speak in the bitterness of my soul. (2) I say to God, “Do not condemn me; Let me know what You charge me with.
(6) Yet know that God has wronged me; He has thrown up siege works around me. (7) I cry, “Violence!” but am not answered; I shout, but can get no justice.
(7) Why do the wicked live on, Prosper and grow wealthy? (8) Their children are with them always, And they see their children’s children. (9) Their homes are secure, without fear; They do not feel the rod of God. (10) Their bull breeds and does not fail; Their cow calves and never miscarries; (11) They let their infants run loose like sheep, And their children skip about. (12) They sing to the music of timbrel and lute, And revel to the tune of the pipe; (13) They spend their days in happiness, And go down to Sheol in peace.
(2) By God who has deprived me of justice! By Shaddai who has embittered my life! (3) As long as there is life in me, And God’s breath is in my nostrils, (4) My lips will speak no wrong, Nor my tongue utter deceit. (5) Far be it from me to say you are right; Until I die I will maintain my integrity.
(15) Take now behemoth, whom I made as I did you; He eats grass, like the cattle. (16) His strength is in his loins, His might in the muscles of his belly. (17) He makes his tail stand up like a cedar; The sinews of his thighs are knit together. (18) His bones are like tubes of bronze, His limbs like iron rods. (19) He is the first of God’s works; Only his Maker can draw the sword against him. (20) The mountains yield him produce, Where all the beasts of the field play. (21) He lies down beneath the lotuses, In the cover of the swamp reeds. (22) The lotuses embower him with shade; The willows of the brook surround him. (23) He can restrain the river from its rushing; He is confident the stream will gush at his command. (24) Can he be taken by his eyes? Can his nose be pierced by hooks? (25) Can you draw out Leviathan by a fishhook? Can you press down his tongue by a rope? (26) Can you put a ring through his nose, Or pierce his jaw with a barb? (27) Will he plead with you at length? Will he speak soft words to you? (28) Will he make an agreement with you To be taken as your lifelong slave?
(1) Job said in reply to the LORD: (2) I know that You can do everything, That nothing you propose is impossible for You. (3) Who is this who obscures counsel without knowledge? Indeed, I spoke without understanding Of things beyond me, which I did not know. (4) Hear now, and I will speak; I will ask, and You will inform me. (5) I had heard You with my ears, But now I see You with my eyes; (6) Therefore, I recant and relent, Being but dust and ashes.