“The Kehatite,” that is what is written: “For My name's sake, I will defer My wrath and for My praise, I will exercise forbearance with you, so as not to eradicate you” (Isaiah 48:9). It is speaking of Israel. “For My name's sake, I will defer My wrath,” this is Israel, upon whom the Holy One blessed be He designated His name: “I am the Lord your God” (Exodus 20:2). And He joined His name10El. with their name, Israel.

That is why He deferred His wrath against Israel, that He did not eliminate them, but rather, He collected from them11He punished them. little by little in exile in order to absolve them. He did not seek to eradicate them, so his name would not be desecrated because of them. As we find when Israel was in Egypt, they rebelled against the Holy One blessed be He and the Holy One blessed be He wished to eliminate them, but He deferred His wrath with them for His name’s sake and did not do so, just as it says: “I said to pour My fury upon them, to spend My wrath upon them within the land of Egypt.

But I acted for My name’s sake, so that it would not be profaned before the eyes of the nations” (Ezekiel 20:8–9). Likewise, when Israel departed, in the wilderness they rebelled against Him, and the Holy One blessed be He sought to eradicate them but He deferred His wrath with them for His name’s sake, as it is stated: “I said to pour My fury upon them [in the wilderness to eradicate them. But I acted for My name’s sake, so that it would not be profaned before the eyes of the nations…]” (Ezekiel 20:13–14).

Likewise, the generation of the wilderness rebelled against the Holy One blessed be He and He sought to eradicate them, but He deferred His wrath with them for His name’s sake, and He took an oath that He would exact retribution against them with the servitude of the kingdoms, but he did not effect eradication, as it is stated: “I said I would pour My fury [upon them…in the wilderness]. But I restrained My hand, [and I acted for the sake of My name, that it not be profaned]” (Ezekiel 20:21–22).

“I also raised My hand [to them in the wilderness, to disperse them among the nations and to scatter them through the lands]” (Ezekiel 20:23). “For My praise, I will exercise forbearance with you” (Isaiah 48:9), so that the name of the Holy One blessed be He will not be profaned through them; He will bring them the sealed redemption, as it is stated: “I will sanctify My great name that was profaned among the nations… I will take you from the nations…[and I will bring you to your land]” (Ezekiel 36:23–24).

Another matter, “I will exercise forbearance [oḥotam] with you” (Isaiah 48:9), because Israel was created to recite the praise of the Holy One blessed be He, just as it says: “This people, I formed for Myself; [they will recite My praise]” (Isaiah 43:21). For that purpose, so that His name would be praised in their midst, the Holy One blessed be He seals it [ḥotma] for good. Just as it says: “Place me as a seal [hotam] upon your heart, as a seal upon your arm” (Song of Songs 8:6).

That caused them not to be eliminated in exile. That is, “so as not to eradicate you.” Another matter, “for My name's sake, I will defer My wrath” (Isaiah 48:9), it is speaking of the Kehatites [hakehati]. To what is the matter comparable?

It is to a king who had a son who joined robbers. They were apprehended and his son was apprehended with them. The king said: ‘What shall I do? Shall I execute the robbers?

That is impossible, as my son is with them. For the sake of my son, I will free them now.’ So, the Levites were the bearers of the Tabernacle. The Holy One blessed be He was looking at Koraḥ and his congregation, who were destined to dispute with Moses and Aaron.

The Holy One blessed be He said: ‘What shall I do to these? To kill them now is impossible, as they are intermingled with the other righteous ones.’ So as not to harm all of them with the attribute of justice, the Holy One blessed be He took half His name, and added ya [yod heh] to it [the word kehat], the Holy One blessed be He rendered it hakehati, heh at the beginning and yod at the end, that is ya, in order to provide them with protection until their day would come. That is, “for My name's sake, I will defer My wrath…” That is why hakehati is written here.