Three Times the Nations Gathered Against the Holy One

Yalkut Shimoni on Nach 19:1

Curated by Arthur·Told by Maggid·

"And they gathered together to fight with Joshua" (Joshua 9:2). Rabbi Aibu said in the name of Rabbi Eleazar son of Rabbi Yose the Galilean: in three places the inhabitants of the world contended against the Holy One, blessed be He. One was in the generation of the Dispersion: "And the whole earth was of one language" (Genesis 11:1). And what is meant by "and of one speech" ["devarim achadim"]? They were speaking words of blasphemy against the Holy One, blessed be He [reading "achadim" as words aimed at the One]. And one was in the days of Gog and Magog: "The kings of the earth set themselves, and the rulers take counsel together, against the LORD and against His anointed" (Psalms 2:2). And one was in the days of Joshua, as it says, "And they gathered together to fight with Joshua and with Israel with one mouth ["peh echad"]." What is meant by "one mouth"? That they contended against the Holy One, blessed be He, concerning whom it is said, "Hear, O Israel, the LORD our God, the LORD is One" (Deuteronomy 6:4).

Themes

NationsRebellionMessiah

Continue Reading

2 BaruchThe Vine and the Cedar - The Messiah Destroys the Last EmpireBaruch went to the holy place, the place where the Temple once stood. And sat down on the ruins. The ground where the high priest had once offered sacrifices an2 BaruchThe Messiah Judges the Nations After the StormThis vision comes from 2 Baruch, a work written in the shadow of the destruction of the Second Temple and placed in the mouth of Baruch, the scribe of Jeremiah,Sifrei DevarimGod Led Israel Alone, Set Apart from All NationsIn a fascinating little verse, we get a glimpse of how God saw their unique position in the world. It all comes from Sifrei Devarim, a collection of legal interPesikta RabbatiThey Did Not Say It, but Against the Assembly of IsraelArise, my light, for your light has come, and the glory of the Lord has risen upon you [For behold, darkness will cover the earth, and thick darkness will coverYalkut ShimoniUntil He Comes to Shiloh as in the Future All of the NationsThis comment from the Yalkut Shimoni, the medieval anthology of midrash arranged across the books of the Bible, draws out a messianic reading from Jacob's blessBook of JubileesWhen All Nations Turn to God With Full HeartsThis particular passage is about a time of profound transformation. It paints a picture of people turning towards the Divine, "with all their heart and with all