Ha'azinu: The Penultimate Parsha

(1) Give ear, O heavens, let me speak; Let the earth hear the words I utter! (2) May my discourse come down as the rain, My speech distill as the dew, Like showers on young growth, Like droplets on the grass. (3) For the name of the LORD I proclaim; Give glory to our God!

• To what audience is Moses speaking in the first words of Parshat Ha'azinu?
• Why do you think Moses chooses to compare his final speech to rain?

My doctrine shall smite the rebellious like heavy rain; but shall be enjoyed with pleasantness by those who receive instruction, as the dew: my words shall be like the downfalling rain of the wind that breathes upon the grass in the month of Marchesvan, and as the droppings of the latter rain which water the springing herbage of the earth in Nisan.

• How does the Targum take the tone of the text in a totally new direction?
• Why do you think the Targumist chooses to insert these months into the text?

יערוף כמטר לקחי, “may my discourse come down as rain;” the words that I am going to address to you are not meaningless, but just as the value of the rain when it comes down to earth is not immediately visible and felt as a benefit, nonetheless eventually it is responsible for the growing and ripening of the fruit on the trees, and its benefit becomes evident.”

• Why do you think Moses would be interested in the long-term value of Torah study?
• Other than water, what else do fruit/trees need to grow?

(1) "May my discourse come down as the rain" - Here my teachings will pour down and flow without interruption like rain for those who understand and are prepared to receive it from the fountain, the source of wisdom. (2) "My speech distill as the dew" - and it too will contribute in accordance with the information which has been revealed to ordinary people. Even though these scraps of information are sparse, they are as useful to the recipients as is dew for the grass. The reason is that both in quantity and quality it is "like showers on young growth" intelligent people can discern wonderful insights by listening to these words of mine; "Like droplets on the grass" - being coarse, unrefined grass, it is a simile for coarse unrefined people. Even the most ordinary, uneducated people will acquire some knowledge by listening to what I have to say. It will help them to recognize and appreciate their Maker.

• How does the Sforno compare the teaching of Torah to natural water cycles?
• What do you like about this metaphor? What don't you like

R. Abahu said: "The day of rain is of great importance, even more so than the day of resurrection; for the day of resurrection is only for the righteous, while rain falls for all alike, for the righteous as well as for the wicked."

• According to R. Abahu, why is the day of rain so important?
• Where is this metaphor strong and where is it weak?

And Rabbi Ḥanina bar Idi said: Why are matters of Torah likened to water, as it is written: “Ho, everyone who thirsts, come for water” (Isaiah 55:1)? This verse comes to tell you: Just as water leaves a high place and flows to a low place, so too, Torah matters are retained only by one whose spirit is lowly, i.e., a humble person.

• What does it mean for Torah only to be retained by one with a lowly spirit?
• What relationship do the high and low places have in this sugya?

“And Moses led Israel onward from the Red Sea, and they went out into the wilderness of Shur; and they went three days in the wilderness, and found no water” (Exodus 15:22). Those who interpret verses metaphorically said that water here is referring to nothing other than Torah, as it is stated metaphorically, concerning those who desire wisdom: “Ho, everyone who thirsts, come for water” (Isaiah 55:1). The baraita continues: The verse means that since the Jews traveled for three days without hearing any Torah they became weary, and therefore the prophets among them arose and instituted for them that they should read from the Torah each Shabbat, and pause on Sunday, and read again on Monday, and pause on Tuesday and Wednesday, and read again on Thursday, and pause on Shabbat eve, so they would not tarry three days without hearing the Torah.

• How does this piece of Talmud change the way you view weekly Torah readings?
• How does this reorient an ongoing theme of the people kvetching?