פרשת דברים תשכ"א - הפטרה לשבת חזון

"Hear, heavens, and listen, earth." Moshe said, "Listen, heavens, and hear, earth" (Devarim 32). Why did Isaiah change the phrase? Our rabbis discussed this matter and there are many midrashim in the parsha of Haazinu [where Moshe's original phrase appeared] in Sifri. But the chachamim disagreed with them and said that the true explanation is otherwise: when witnesses come and testify, and their testimonies match, the testimonies are valid, but if the testimonies do not match they are not valid. If Isaiah had not come and given [the language of] "hearing" to the heavens and "listening" to the earth, the heavens would have testified that when they were called on to witness in the days of Moshe, who said "I have called on you to witness today," they were called to perform "listening." But the earth would have testified, "I was called to perform 'hearing,'" and their testimonies would not have matched. Isaiah came and switched the phrases, so both the heavens and the earth could testify regarding "listening" and "hearing."

והאזיני And give ear. Sometimes verbs are derived from nouns, as האזיני, ‘give ear,’ from אׂזֶן ‘ ear.’ .There is in reality no difference between שמע ‘to hear’ and האזן ‘to give ear.’⁹By the additional phrase על דרך פשט in reality, the commentator indicates that he rejects the various remarks of the Midrash about the difference between Is. 1:1 and Deut. 32:1, and likewise the distinction drawn between the synonyms שמע and האזן. (See Yalkut ad locum).—Isaiah begins his prophecy, by addressing those witnesses, that have been pointed out to Israel by Moses, when he said I call heaven and earth to witness against you this day, that you shall soon utterly perish (Deut. 4:26); the time, foretold by Moses, had then come.

The ox knoweth his owner, And the ass his master’s crib; But Israel doth not know, My people doth not consider.

"His owner." [The owner] guides [the ox] in the plowing during the day, and after he has accustomed the ox to the task, it knows [how to perform it]. But the donkey is impervious; it does not know its master until he has fed it. Israel was not clever enough to know, as an ox does, when I called them, "Israel will be your name," and told them some of My laws, and they left Me, as it says (Ezekiel 20:39) "Each man, his idols..." And even after I brought them out of Egypt and fed them the mann and called them My nation, the children of Israel were not even as wise as a donkey. Another explanation: The ox recognizes its master and is fearful of him; it does not change what I have decreed upon it, saying, "I will not plow today." And the donkey does not say to its master, "I will not carry loads today." These animals, which were created to serve you, and do not receive reward if they behave appropriately, nor are they punished if they sin, do not change their ways which I decreed upon them. And Israel, who receive reward if they are worthy, and if they sin receive punishment...! "Did not know." They did not want to know; they knew and they crushed with their heels; and My nation did not pay attention in order to understand.

The ox knoweth his owner, And the ass his master’s crib; But Israel doth not know, My people doth not consider.

Your country is desolate; Your cities are burned with fire; Your land, strangers devour it in your presence, And it is desolate, as overthrown by floods.