1)

Why does she say "Al Tir'uni"?

1.

Rashi: Do not look at me for disgrace. This is like "Ki Ra'u ba'Aron Hashem" (Shmuel I, 6:19; they looked disrespectfully, and Hashem struck them).

2.

Seforno: Do not look at my improper deeds and judge me unfavorably about my heart's intent. I became used to the deeds 1 .

3.

Malbim (Melitzah): Do not see me and think that I am intrinsically black. The blackness that appears on me is for two reasons. Refer to 1:6:2:2, 1:6:3:2.


1

I.e. they are by rote, without intent. (PF)

2)

Why does it say "Shecharchores she'Shezafasni ha'Shamesh"?

1.

Rashi: I am not black and ugly from birth, rather, due to the sun. Such blackness easily whitens, when he stands in the shade.

2.

Malbim (Melitzah): I am subject to time. My existence depends on the sun's motion, as is known. Before the Nefesh descended into a body, it was Divine spirituality. It understandings were not under the laws of time and place and what perceives them. It understood everything suddenly, clearly, without limit or via levels. Via being put in a body, under the sun, time and motion, its understanding is limited. Therefore, it is externally black. The intellect and spiritual light are hidden in it in potential, but are not actualized.

3.

Malbim (Mashal): The sun saw me and looked at me. This is like "Shezafatu Ein Ayah" (Iyov 28:7).

3)

What is the meaning of "Bnei Imi Nicharu Vi"?

1.

Rashi: These are Bnei Mitzrayim, that I grew up among them. They ascended with me in the "Erev Rav" (Shemos 12:38). They scorched me via their enticements.

2.

Malbim (Melitzah): The Nefesh has paternal brothers - intellectual powers with it. They are sons of its Father in Shamayim. It also has maternal brothers, like the Zohar says. Its mother is the body, via which it descended to this world. It became intellect clinging to physicality and mixed with it. Its maternal brothers are imagination, arousal and other bodily powers. They scorched me until I was blackened also internally.

3.

Malbim (Mashal): The blackness went also under my skin a bit, because my mother's sons dried my bones, like "v'Shachan Chararim ba'Midbar" (Yirmeyah 17:6).

4)

What is the significance of guarding the vineyards, but not mine?

1.

Rashi: There, the sun darkened me, and blackened me. I.e. they gave me to serve idolatry, and my vineyard from my fathers, I did not guard it. We find that leaders are called vineyards in Tanach - the Targum of "v'Nasati Lah Es Kerameha mi'Sham" (Hoshe'a 2:17) is va'Amanei Lah Yas Parnasaha. Similarly, it says "Lo Yifneh Derech Keramim" (Iyov 24:18).

2.

Seforno: I made efforts for temporary life [of this world], but not Torah and Mitzvos, amidst shortness of spirit due to occurrences. Therefore, I ruined My deeds.

3.

Malbim (Melitzah): Deeds that one does to attain a goal, this is called guarding a vineyard. When the grapes are ripe, we say that it started to attain the goal. When he stomps the grapes and wine is found in the winepresses, the desired purpose came. (This is both in worldly matters and in Torah matters - "Kerem Hayah li'Ydidi", "Kerem Chemer Anu Lah" (Yeshayah 5:1, 27:2). They put me over other vineyards, i.e. for purposes other than my purpose and happiness, e.g. to attain kingship, wealth, authority, desires


1

I.e. they can apply to objects. (PF)

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