Mekorot: Haftorah Parshat V'Etchanan - Shabbat Nachamu Isaiah 40: 1-26 הפטרת פרשת ואתחנן, שבת נחמו ישיעהו מ': א'-כ"ו

"Who has measured the waters in the hollow of His hand, and measured out heaven with a span, and meted the dust of the earth with a measure, and weighed the mountains with a scale and the hills with a balance?" (Isaiah 40:12)
This optimistic haftarah is read on "Shabbat Nachamu" (Sabbath of Consolation). It is read following the fast of Tisha B'Av, to bring comfort after Tisha B'Av's sadness.
Isaiah's words ring with optimism and make many allusions to nature. The text reminds us that only God can measure everything. The waters, the soaring mountains, and the dust of the earth, all mentioned in the quotation, are layered in the foreground. The hollow border outlined in gold represents "the hollow of His hand".

תלתא דפורענותא - "three of misfortune"
שבע דנחמתא - "seven of comfort"

אבן עזרא על ישעיהו מ׳:א׳:א׳

(א) נחמו נחמו עמי. נדבקה זאת הפרשה בעבור שהזכיר למעלה כי כל אוצרות המלך גם בניו יגלו לבבל, על כן אחרי זאת הנחמות:

Ibn Ezra on Isaiah 40:1:1

(1) This chapter¹In this remark I. E. seems to consider the whole book of Isaiah as one, and to explain only the connection between the thirty-ninth chapter and the fortieth, without anticipating the question concerning the authorship of the second part, or concerning the period to which c. xl. refers. The prediction of the Babylonian exile (c. xxxix.) is, according to the opinion of I. E. properly followed by prophecies of comfort and happiness, even if those announce the release from some other exile. A similar remark is made by I. E. on the position of the thirteenth chapter. has been placed here for the following reason: in the preceding chapter it is predicted that all the treasures of the King, and even his sons, will be carried away to Babylon; this sad prediction is properly followed by the words of comfort.

Nevuah 1: Consolation

ישעיהו מ׳:א׳-ב׳

(א) נַחֲמ֥וּ נַחֲמ֖וּ עַמִּ֑י יֹאמַ֖ר אֱלֹקֵיכֶֽם׃ (ב) דַּבְּר֞וּ עַל־לֵ֤ב יְרֽוּשָׁלִַ֙ם֙ וְקִרְא֣וּ אֵלֶ֔יהָ כִּ֤י מָֽלְאָה֙ צְבָאָ֔הּ כִּ֥י נִרְצָ֖ה עֲוֺנָ֑הּ כִּ֤י לָקְחָה֙ מִיַּ֣ד ה' כִּפְלַ֖יִם בְּכָל־חַטֹּאתֶֽיהָ׃ (ס)

Isaiah 40:1-2

(1) Comfort, oh comfort My people, Says your God. (2) Speak tenderly to Jerusalem, And declare to her That her term of service is over, That her iniquity is expiated; For she has received at the hand of the LORD Double for all her sins.

איכה א׳:ב׳

(ב) בָּכ֨וֹ תִבְכֶּ֜ה בַּלַּ֗יְלָה וְדִמְעָתָהּ֙ עַ֣ל לֶֽחֱיָ֔הּ אֵֽין־לָ֥הּ מְנַחֵ֖ם מִכָּל־אֹהֲבֶ֑יהָ כָּל־רֵעֶ֙יהָ֙ בָּ֣גְדוּ בָ֔הּ הָ֥יוּ לָ֖הּ לְאֹיְבִֽים׃ (ס)

Lamentations 1:2

(2) Bitterly she weeps in the night, Her cheek wet with tears. There is none to comfort her Of all her friends. All her allies have betrayed her; They have become her foes.

בראשית נ׳:כ״א

(כא) וְעַתָּה֙ אַל־תִּירָ֔אוּ אָנֹכִ֛י אֲכַלְכֵּ֥ל אֶתְכֶ֖ם וְאֶֽת־טַפְּכֶ֑ם וַיְנַחֵ֣ם אוֹתָ֔ם וַיְדַבֵּ֖ר עַל־לִבָּֽם׃

Genesis 50:21

(21) And so, fear not. I will sustain you and your children.” Thus he reassured them, speaking kindly to them.

מצודת דוד על ישעיהו מ׳:ב׳:א׳

(א) על לב. דברים המקובלין על הלב:

Metzudat David on Isaiah 40:2:1

...

אבן עזרא על ישעיהו מ׳:א׳:ג׳

(ג) ומלת נחמו דברי השם לנביאו או לגדולי העם וטעם פעמים דרך מהירות או רגע אחרי רגע:

Ibn Ezra on Isaiah 40:1:3

(3) Comfort, etc. God addresses His prophet or the chiefs of the people. The repetition of the words Comfort ye is to indicate, that the comfort is to be administered immediately or repeatedly.

אבן עזרא על ישעיהו מ׳:ב׳:א׳

(א) דברו. לעולם דבור על לב להסיר העצב והדאגה שעברה, וכן וידבר על לבם (בראשית נ' כ"א):

Ibn Ezra on Isaiah 40:2:1

(1) דברו על לב Speak ye comfortably. The expression דבר על לב speak to the heart means always to speak kindly, so as to remove sorrow and regret for things which have already past; comp. Gen. 50:21.

Sharona Margolin Halickman, "Paying our Dues," (Times of Israel)
When we go to a shiva house, we are “menachem avel”, comforting the mourner, trying to find the right words that speak to their heart. After Tisha B’Av, the month of Av is transformed into Menachem Av, the comforted month of Av. Let’s use this precious time to comfort those who are hurting during these difficult times and see how we can pick up the pieces and lay the foundations for the Third Beit HaMikdash.

מצודת דוד על ישעיהו מ׳:ב׳:ה׳

(ה) כפלים. ר״ל שתי גליות גלות בבל וגלות ראמולוס:

Metzudat David on Isaiah 40:2:5

...

אבן עזרא על ישעיהו מ׳:ב׳:ד׳

(ד) כי נרצה. נשלם ותם, כמו עד ירצה כשכיר יומו [שם י"ד ו'] אז תרצה הארץ (ויקרא כ"ו ל"ד) כטעם תם עונך (איכה ד' כ"ב):

Ibn Ezra on Isaiah 40:2:4

(4) נרצה Is accomplished,¹⁰A. V., Is pardoned. Shall enjoy.¹⁰A. V., Is pardoned. Shall enjoy. that is, is finished and at an end; comp. עד ירצה till he shall accomplish (Job 14:6); תרצה shall accomplish (Levit. 26:34); נרצה עונה has the same meaning as the phrase תם עונן the punishment of thine iniquity is accomplished (Lam. 4:22).

אבן עזרא על ישעיהו מ׳:ב׳:ה׳

(ה) כפלים. מצרות שלקח כל גוי:

Ibn Ezra on Isaiah 40:2:5

(5) Double. Twice as much affliction as other nations had to suffer.

שמות כ״א:ל״ז-כ״ב:ג׳

(לז) כִּ֤י יִגְנֹֽב־אִישׁ֙ שׁ֣וֹר אוֹ־שֶׂ֔ה וּטְבָח֖וֹ א֣וֹ מְכָר֑וֹ חֲמִשָּׁ֣ה בָקָ֗ר יְשַׁלֵּם֙ תַּ֣חַת הַשּׁ֔וֹר וְאַרְבַּע־צֹ֖אן תַּ֥חַת הַשֶּֽׂה׃ (א) אִם־בַּמַּחְתֶּ֛רֶת יִמָּצֵ֥א הַגַּנָּ֖ב וְהֻכָּ֣ה וָמֵ֑ת אֵ֥ין ל֖וֹ דָּמִֽים׃ (ב) אִם־זָרְחָ֥ה הַשֶּׁ֛מֶשׁ עָלָ֖יו דָּמִ֣ים ל֑וֹ שַׁלֵּ֣ם יְשַׁלֵּ֔ם אִם־אֵ֣ין ל֔וֹ וְנִמְכַּ֖ר בִּגְנֵבָתֽוֹ׃ (ג) אִֽם־הִמָּצֵא֩ תִמָּצֵ֨א בְיָד֜וֹ הַגְּנֵבָ֗ה מִשּׁ֧וֹר עַד־חֲמ֛וֹר עַד־שֶׂ֖ה חַיִּ֑ים שְׁנַ֖יִם יְשַׁלֵּֽם׃ (ס)

Exodus 21:37-22:3

(37) When a man steals an ox or a sheep, and slaughters it or sells it, he shall pay five oxen for the ox, and four sheep for the sheep.— (1) If the thief is seized while tunneling, and he is beaten to death, there is no bloodguilt in his case. (2) If the sun has risen on him, there is bloodguilt in that case.—He must make restitution; if he lacks the means, he shall be sold for his theft. (3) But if what he stole—whether ox or ass or sheep—is found alive in his possession, he shall pay double.

Nevuah 2: Restoration/Hashem's Word is Eternal

ישעיהו מ׳:ג׳-ח׳

(ג) ק֣וֹל קוֹרֵ֔א בַּמִּדְבָּ֕ר פַּנּ֖וּ דֶּ֣רֶךְ ה' יַשְּׁרוּ֙ בָּעֲרָבָ֔ה מְסִלָּ֖ה לֵאלֹקֵֽינוּ׃ (ד) כָּל־גֶּיא֙ יִנָּשֵׂ֔א וְכָל־הַ֥ר וְגִבְעָ֖ה יִשְׁפָּ֑לוּ וְהָיָ֤ה הֶֽעָקֹב֙ לְמִישׁ֔וֹר וְהָרְכָסִ֖ים לְבִקְעָֽה׃ (ה) וְנִגְלָ֖ה כְּב֣וֹד ה' וְרָא֤וּ כָל־בָּשָׂר֙ יַחְדָּ֔ו כִּ֛י פִּ֥י ה' דִּבֵּֽר׃ (ס)

(ו) ק֚וֹל אֹמֵ֣ר קְרָ֔א וְאָמַ֖ר מָ֣ה אֶקְרָ֑א כָּל־הַבָּשָׂ֣ר חָצִ֔יר וְכָל־חַסְדּ֖וֹ כְּצִ֥יץ הַשָּׂדֶֽה׃ (ז) יָבֵ֤שׁ חָצִיר֙ נָ֣בֵֽל צִ֔יץ כִּ֛י ר֥וּחַ ה' נָ֣שְׁבָה בּ֑וֹ אָכֵ֥ן חָצִ֖יר הָעָֽם׃ (ח) יָבֵ֥שׁ חָצִ֖יר נָ֣בֵֽל צִ֑יץ וּדְבַר־אֱלֹקֵ֖ינוּ יָק֥וּם לְעוֹלָֽם׃ (ס)

Isaiah 40:3-8

(3) A voice rings out: “Clear in the desert A road for the LORD! Level in the wilderness A highway for our God! (4) Let every valley be raised, Every hill and mount made low. Let the rugged ground become level And the ridges become a plain. (5) The Presence of the LORD shall appear, And all flesh, as one, shall behold— For the LORD Himself has spoken.”

(6) A voice rings out: “Proclaim!” Another asks, “What shall I proclaim?” “All flesh is grass, All its goodness like flowers of the field: (7) Grass withers, flowers fade When the breath of the LORD blows on them. Indeed, man is but grass: (8) Grass withers, flowers fade— But the word of our God is always fulfilled!”

Nevuah 3: G-dly Power and Compassion

ישעיהו מ׳:ט׳-י״א

(ט) עַ֣ל הַר־גָּבֹ֤הַ עֲלִי־לָךְ֙ מְבַשֶּׂ֣רֶת צִיּ֔וֹן הָרִ֤ימִי בַכֹּ֙חַ֙ קוֹלֵ֔ךְ מְבַשֶּׂ֖רֶת יְרוּשָׁלִָ֑ם הָרִ֙ימִי֙ אַל־תִּירָ֔אִי אִמְרִי֙ לְעָרֵ֣י יְהוּדָ֔ה הִנֵּ֖ה אֱלֹקֵיכֶֽם׃ (י) הִנֵּ֨ה אדושם ה' בְּחָזָ֣ק יָב֔וֹא וּזְרֹע֖וֹ מֹ֣שְׁלָה ל֑וֹ הִנֵּ֤ה שְׂכָרוֹ֙ אִתּ֔וֹ וּפְעֻלָּת֖וֹ לְפָנָֽיו׃ (יא) כְּרֹעֶה֙ עֶדְר֣וֹ יִרְעֶ֔ה בִּזְרֹעוֹ֙ יְקַבֵּ֣ץ טְלָאִ֔ים וּבְחֵיק֖וֹ יִשָּׂ֑א עָל֖וֹת יְנַהֵֽל׃ (ס)

Isaiah 40:9-11

(9) Ascend a lofty mountain, O herald of joy to Zion; Raise your voice with power, O herald of joy to Jerusalem— Raise it, have no fear; Announce to the cities of Judah: Behold your God! (10) Behold, the Lord GOD comes in might, And His arm wins triumph for Him; See, His reward is with Him, His recompense before Him. (11) Like a shepherd He pastures His flock: He gathers the lambs in His arms And carries them in His bosom; Gently He drives the mother sheep.

Nevuah 4: The Proto-Piyyut

ישעיהו מ׳:י״ב-כ״ו

(יב) מִֽי־מָדַ֨ד בְּשָׁעֳל֜וֹ מַ֗יִם וְשָׁמַ֙יִם֙ בַּזֶּ֣רֶת תִּכֵּ֔ן וְכָ֥ל בַּשָּׁלִ֖שׁ עֲפַ֣ר הָאָ֑רֶץ וְשָׁקַ֤ל בַּפֶּ֙לֶס֙ הָרִ֔ים וּגְבָע֖וֹת בְּמֹאזְנָֽיִם׃ (יג) מִֽי־תִכֵּ֥ן אֶת־ר֖וּחַ ה' וְאִ֥ישׁ עֲצָת֖וֹ יוֹדִיעֶֽנּוּ׃ (יד) אֶת־מִ֤י נוֹעָץ֙ וַיְבִינֵ֔הוּ וַֽיְלַמְּדֵ֖הוּ בְּאֹ֣רַח מִשְׁפָּ֑ט וַיְלַמְּדֵ֣הוּ דַ֔עַת וְדֶ֥רֶךְ תְּבוּנ֖וֹת יוֹדִיעֶֽנּוּ׃ (טו) הֵ֤ן גּוֹיִם֙ כְּמַ֣ר מִדְּלִ֔י וּכְשַׁ֥חַק מֹאזְנַ֖יִם נֶחְשָׁ֑בוּ הֵ֥ן אִיִּ֖ים כַּדַּ֥ק יִטּֽוֹל׃ (טז) וּלְבָנ֕וֹן אֵ֥ין דֵּ֖י בָּעֵ֑ר וְחַיָּת֔וֹ אֵ֥ין דֵּ֖י עוֹלָֽה׃ (ס) (יז) כָּל־הַגּוֹיִ֖ם כְּאַ֣יִן נֶגְדּ֑וֹ מֵאֶ֥פֶס וָתֹ֖הוּ נֶחְשְׁבוּ־לֽוֹ׃ (יח) וְאֶל־מִ֖י תְּדַמְּי֣וּן אֵ֑ל וּמַה־דְּמ֖וּת תַּ֥עַרְכוּ לֽוֹ׃ (יט) הַפֶּ֙סֶל֙ נָסַ֣ךְ חָרָ֔שׁ וְצֹרֵ֖ף בַּזָּהָ֣ב יְרַקְּעֶ֑נּוּ וּרְתֻק֥וֹת כֶּ֖סֶף צוֹרֵֽף׃ (כ) הַֽמְסֻכָּ֣ן תְּרוּמָ֔ה עֵ֥ץ לֹֽא־יִרְקַ֖ב יִבְחָ֑ר חָרָ֤שׁ חָכָם֙ יְבַקֶּשׁ־ל֔וֹ לְהָכִ֥ין פֶּ֖סֶל לֹ֥א יִמּֽוֹט׃ (כא) הֲל֤וֹא תֵֽדְעוּ֙ הֲל֣וֹא תִשְׁמָ֔עוּ הֲל֛וֹא הֻגַּ֥ד מֵרֹ֖אשׁ לָכֶ֑ם הֲלוֹא֙ הֲבִ֣ינֹתֶ֔ם מוֹסְד֖וֹת הָאָֽרֶץ׃ (כב) הַיֹּשֵׁב֙ עַל־ח֣וּג הָאָ֔רֶץ וְיֹשְׁבֶ֖יהָ כַּחֲגָבִ֑ים הַנּוֹטֶ֤ה כַדֹּק֙ שָׁמַ֔יִם וַיִּמְתָּחֵ֥ם כָּאֹ֖הֶל לָשָֽׁבֶת׃ (כג) הַנּוֹתֵ֥ן רוֹזְנִ֖ים לְאָ֑יִן שֹׁ֥פְטֵי אֶ֖רֶץ כַּתֹּ֥הוּ עָשָֽׂה׃ (כד) אַ֣ף בַּל־נִטָּ֗עוּ אַ֚ף בַּל־זֹרָ֔עוּ אַ֛ף בַּל־שֹׁרֵ֥שׁ בָּאָ֖רֶץ גִּזְעָ֑ם וְגַם־נָשַׁ֤ף בָּהֶם֙ וַיִּבָ֔שׁוּ וּסְעָרָ֖ה כַּקַּ֥שׁ תִּשָּׂאֵֽם׃ (ס) (כה) וְאֶל־מִ֥י תְדַמְּי֖וּנִי וְאֶשְׁוֶ֑ה יֹאמַ֖ר קָדֽוֹשׁ׃ (כו) שְׂאוּ־מָר֨וֹם עֵינֵיכֶ֤ם וּרְאוּ֙ מִי־בָרָ֣א אֵ֔לֶּה הַמּוֹצִ֥יא בְמִסְפָּ֖ר צְבָאָ֑ם לְכֻלָּם֙ בְּשֵׁ֣ם יִקְרָ֔א מֵרֹ֤ב אוֹנִים֙ וְאַמִּ֣יץ כֹּ֔חַ אִ֖ישׁ לֹ֥א נֶעְדָּֽר׃ (ס)

Isaiah 40:12-26

(12) Who measured the waters with the hollow of His hand, And gauged the skies with a span, And meted earth’s dust with a measure, And weighed the mountains with a scale And the hills with a balance? (13) Who has plumbed the mind of the LORD, What man could tell Him His plan? (14) Whom did He consult, and who taught Him, Guided Him in the way of right? Who guided Him in knowledge And showed Him the path of wisdom? (15) The nations are but a drop in a bucket, Reckoned as dust on a balance; The very coastlands He lifts like motes. (16) Lebanon is not fuel enough, Nor its beasts enough for sacrifice. (17) All nations are as naught in His sight; He accounts them as less than nothing. (18) To whom, then, can you liken God, What form compare to Him? (19) The idol? A woodworker shaped it, And a smith overlaid it with gold, Forging links of silver. (20) As a gift, he chooses the mulberry— A wood that does not rot— Then seeks a skillful woodworker To make a firm idol, That will not topple. (21) Do you not know? Have you not heard? Have you not been told From the very first? Have you not discerned How the earth was founded? (22) It is He who is enthroned above the vault of the earth, So that its inhabitants seem as grasshoppers; Who spread out the skies like gauze, Stretched them out like a tent to dwell in. (23) He brings potentates to naught, Makes rulers of the earth as nothing. (24) Hardly are they planted, Hardly are they sown, Hardly has their stem Taken root in earth, When He blows upon them and they dry up, And the storm bears them off like straw. (25) To whom, then, can you liken Me, To whom can I be compared? —says the Holy One. (26) Lift high your eyes and see: Who created these? He who sends out their host by count, Who calls them each by name: Because of His great might and vast power, Not one fails to appear.

Michael Fishbane, JPS
The repeated questions confront the listener with the unfathomable majesty of G-d and raise one's sights fro mthe historical to the cosmological level. The work of human hands is put in perspective, and the desire to create forms of G-d from the world of His creation is mocked. With profound stylistic effect, the anthropomorphic imagery provides a didactic device whereby all pretensions to see or understand divinity are transcended.

רש"י על שמות א׳:א׳

(א) ואלה שמות בני ישראל. אַעַ"פִּ שֶׁמְּנָאָן בְּחַיֵּיהֶם בִּשְׁמוֹתָם, חָזַר וּמְנָאָם בְּמִיתָתָם, לְהוֹדִיעַ חִבָּתָם, שֶׁנִּמְשְׁלוּ לְכוֹכָבִים, שֶׁמּוֹצִיאָם וּמַכְנִיסָם בְּמִסְפַּר וּבִשְׁמוֹתָם (שמות רבה), שֶׁנֶּ' "הַמּוֹצִיא בְמִסְפָּר צְבָאָם לְכֻלָּם בְּשֵׁם יִקְרָא" (ישעיהו מ'):

Rashi on Exodus 1:1

(1) ואלה שמות בני ישראל NOW THESE ARE THE NAMES OF THE CHILDREN OF ISRAEL — Although scripture has already enumerated them by name whilst they were living, when they went down into Egypt (Genesis 46:8-27), it again enumerates them when it tells us of their death, thus showing how dear they were to God — that they are compared to the stars which also God brings out and brings in by number and name when they cease to shine, as it is said, (Isaiah 40:26) “He bringeth out their host by number, He calleth them all by name” (Exodus Rabbah 1:3; Tanchuma Yashan 1:1:2).

Resources:

Rabbi Chaim Strauchler, Yishayahu (Torah in Motion)
Rav Mosheh Lichtenstein, "Themes and Ideas in the Haftara: VaEtchanan: Shabbat Nachamu" (Yeshivat Har Etzion)
Sharona Margolin Halickman, "Paying our Dues," (Times of Israel)
Michael Fishbane, JPS Bible Commentary: Haftarot
Rabbi Mendel Dubov, Companion to the Weekly Haftorah