What is the question "Mi Chacham v'Yaven Eleh"?
Rashi: Who is a Chacham among you to contemplate all this, and repent to Me?
Radak: After Hoshe'a finished his Nevu'ah, he said 'who is a Chacham to understand all the rebukes that I said until now?'
Malbim: Chachmah is what is received. Binah is what one derives a matter from a matter. One can do so also in matters that he has no tradition from his teachers, e.g. intellectual comparisons in matters based on axioms and sensed matters. However, something that Sechel has no entrance to it, like knowing Hashem's conduct, Hashgachah and all matters of Elokus, one can understand them only if he received introductions, e.g. the cornerstones of Torah and Emunah received from Nevi'im. A Chacham (who received introductions) can build to understand a matter amidst another matter. Da'as (what is known clearly, e.g. what one senses) does not have proofs for the laws of Chachmah.
What do we learn from "Yesharim Darchei Hashem v'Tzadikim Yelchu Vam"?
Radak: This is unlike those who say that Hashem's way cannot be, like Yechezkel said. If you will repent fully, your first abominations will not be mentioned for you. Tzadikim recognize that all His ways are Mishpat. If they see Tzadik v'Ra Lo, he thinks that all is Emes and straight from Hashem. Perhaps he is not a Tzadik in his heart! Hashem tests the heart and investigates kidneys. Or, he afflicts him to benefit him in the world to come, which is the world of reward. If they see Rasha v'Tov Lo, perhaps he did some good deeds, and Hashem pays him in his lifetime so he will perish in his evil in the world to come - "u'Meshalem l'Son'av El Panav Leha'avido" (Devarim 7:10).
Even Sheleimah 1:11: Torah for the Nefesh is like rain for the land. It makes sprout what was seeded. If the heart is good, his fear will increase. If there is a root of gall and wormwood in his heart, Torah will increase the evil.
What do we learn from "u'Fosh'im Yikashlu Vam"?
Rashi: Sinners will stumble because they did not go in Hashem's ways. So Yonason translates 1 .
Radak: They say that no one orders and conducts the world. It is not straight, for evil comes to a Tzadik, and good comes to a Rasha. Therefore, they do not repent from their evil. They pursue their hearts' desires. They stumble and perish.
Radak citing his father: Also when Posh'im return to Hashem's ways, and they were not used to them like Tzadikim, they stumble in them, like one who does not know the path. This refers to Posh'im whose hearts are still in the way of their sin. However, those who repent with a full heart, their G-d helps them not to stumble. Tzadikim in their hearts go on a straight, paved path.
Our text of Yonason says that they will go to Gehinom because they did not go in His ways. (PF)
What do we learn from the adjacency of "Yesharim Darchei Hashem v'Tzadikim Yelchu Vam" to "u'Fosh'im Yikashlu Vam"?
Nazir 23a #1: Two men roasted the Korban Pesach. One ate it to fulfill the Mitzvah; this is a Tzadik going in Hashem's ways. The other stuffed himself with it; he is a Rasha stumbling in Hashem's ways.
Nazir 23a #2: There were two men. Each was in a house with his wife and his sister. One had Bi'ah with his wife; this is a Tzadik walking in Hashem's ways. The other had Bi'ah with his sister; he is a Rasha stumbling in Hashem's ways.
Nazir 23a #3: Lot had Bi'ah with his daughters. They intended for a Mitzvah (to perpetuate mankind); they are Tzidkaniyos walking in Hashem's ways. Lot intended to sin; he is a Rasha stumbling in Hashem's ways.
Bava Basra 89b: A Machak (to scrape off excess above the measure] may not be thin on one side and thick on the other, for the former scrapes off more. Perhaps he will use the thin side when selling, and the thick side when buying! One may not scrape quickly all at once, for this does not scrape off enough, nor very slowly, for this scrapes off too much. (Rather, he sweeps gently, in one or two sweeps). R. Yochanan Ben Zakai feared, if I teach these laws, swindlers might learn how to cheat! If I do not teach them, they might think that Chachamim do not understand their ruses! He taught them, due to our verse.
Malbim: All the complaints that people have about Hashgachah are because they see Tzadik v'Ra Lo, and Rasha v'Tov Lo, and it seems that there is no order, Hashgachah, reward or punishment. One who received the laws of Chachmah, that Hashem oversees and His ways are good and mercy, he understands that Hashem's ways are always straight. The bad order that appears to us is due to those who are conducted. Posh'im stumble in the straight ways, because they did not step properly on the straight path. There is no shortcoming in the path! Tzadikim go straight and do not stumble.
