Know Well the Faces of Your Flock Israel Pleads

Midrash Mishlei 27:5

Curated by Arthur·Told by Maggid·

"Know well the faces of your flock, set your heart to the herds" (Proverbs 27:23). This is what Israel replies to the Holy One, blessed be He, saying before Him: 'Master of the worlds, You have known well the faces of Your flock in this world; set Your heart to the herds in the time to come!' And from where do we know that Israel are called "flock"? As it is said (Ezekiel 34:31): "And you, My flock, the flock of My pasture, you are man." And from where do we know that Israel are called "herds"? As it is said (Ezekiel 34:14): "In good pasture I will graze them, and on the high mountains of Israel will be their fold; there they shall lie down, etc." Another interpretation: "set your heart to the herds" - just as the shepherd grazes his herds flock by flock, each apart, so in the time to come Israel are destined to encamp camp by camp.

Themes

ExileRedemptionMessiah

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