1)

Why does he address the Zekenim?

1.

Radak: They saw more, i.e. what passed in their days - "Zekenecha v'Yomeru Lach" (Devarim 32:7).

2.

Malbim: They will remember if such a matter occurred in previous generations.

2)

Why does it add "v'Ha'azinu Kol Yoshevei ha'Aretz"?

1.

Malbim: They will tell this wonder to their children after them.

3)

What does "ha'Haysah Zos" refer to?

1.

Rashi: What is said below. Radak - the prefix Hei introduces a question. Malbim - was it in your days? You lived a long time!

4)

Was this not in the days of their fathers? Also in Egypt, locusts ate everything!

1.

Radak: The locusts in Egypt were only one species. Even though it says "va'Yiten l'Chasil Yevulam [vi'Ygi'am la'Arbeh]", "va'Yavo Arbeh v'Yelek v'Ein Mispar" (Tehilim 78:46, 105:34), Arbeh was primary; the other two merely came with it. Therefore, the Torah mentioned only Arbeh, and they were for [a short] time 1 . Here were four species - Gezem, Arbeh, Yelek and Chasil, and for four years, one after the other. Such an evil did not happen before Yo'el.

2.

Malbim: Makas Arbeh was in the days of their ancestors; but not in the days of their fathers.

3.

Malbim (4): Here there were four species, and each ate what the previous left over. This never occurred before.


1

The primary opinion in the Midrash holds that the first eight Makos were decreed for a week each; Pharaoh asked Moshe to pray to end Arbeh [and Tzfarde'a, Arov and Barad] earlier. (PF)

5)

It says about the locusts in Egypt "v'Acharav Lo Yihyeh Ken" (Shemos 10:14). Below (2:2), it says "Kamohu Lo Nihyah Min ha'Olam" (the locusts in the days of Yo'el were worse)!

1.

Refer to 2:2:5:1-3.

Sefer: Perek: Pasuk:

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