Read the two Psukim below and copy them phrase by phrase into your notes. Match up each Hebrew phrase from the Psukim with the English phrase that translates it.
(ב) שִׁמְע֤וּ שָׁמַ֙יִם֙ וְהַאֲזִ֣ינִי אֶ֔רֶץ כִּ֥י ה' דִּבֵּ֑ר בָּנִים֙ גִּדַּ֣לְתִּי וְרוֹמַ֔מְתִּי וְהֵ֖ם פָּ֥שְׁעוּ בִֽ
Listen sky and pay attention earth
Because Hashem has spoken
I raised children and I elevated them
And they rebelled against me
(ג) יָדַ֥ע שׁוֹר֙ קֹנֵ֔הוּ וַחֲמ֖וֹר אֵב֣וּס בְּעָלָ֑יו יִשְׂרָאֵל֙ לֹ֣א יָדַ֔ע עַמִּ֖י לֹ֥א הִתְבּוֹנָֽן׃
an ox knows his master
and a donkey knows his truf
(2) Hear, O heavens, and pay attention earth,
Because Hashem has spoken -
“I raised children and elevated them—
And they have rebelled against Me!
(3) An ox knows its owner,
A donkey its master’s trough - -
Bnei Yisrael don't know,
My people don't pay attention
1. Why do you think Yeshaya is calling Heaven and Earth to be witnesses to what he wants to say to Bnei Yisrael?
A.
B.
2. Who else called Heaven and Earth to witness what he was going to say?
Read the Radak below to help you answer these questions.
Do you have any other ideas about why Yeshaya may have called Heaven and Earth as witnesses?
(א) שמעו שמים. ואמר בפתחו דברי תוכחה שמעו שמים, וכן אמר משה רבינו ע"ה כשבא להוכיח את ישראל אמר האזינו השמים כי הם עדים בין ה' ובין ישראל כמו שכתוב ואעידה בם את השמים ואת הארץ A. לפי שהם קיימין לעולם והדורות הולכין, B. או לפי שאם יעברו על הברית השמים לא יתנו טלם והארץ לא תתן את יבולה
Hard Words
פתחו in his introduction (Yeshaya's intro to this Sefer)
להוכיח - to give Tochacha, rebuke
טלם - their dew
יבולה - their produce
בָּנִים֙ גִּדַּ֣לְתִּי וְרוֹמַ֔מְתִּי וְהֵ֖ם פָּ֥שְׁעוּ בִֽי׃
In your own words, what do you think Yeshaya is saying when he says this phrase?