Israel Tangled in the Kingdoms and Freed by the Ram's Horn

Yalkut Shimoni on Torah 101:7

Curated by Arthur·Told by Maggid·

"And he looked, and behold, a ram afterward [achar]." What is "afterward"? After all the deeds, Israel becomes entangled in transgressions and ensnared in troubles, and in the end they will be redeemed by the horns of the ram, as it is written, "On that day a great shofar shall be sounded" (Isaiah 27:13). Because Abraham our father saw the ram tearing loose from one thicket and becoming entangled in another, the Holy One, blessed be He, said to him: "So are your children destined to be entangled among the kingdoms, from Babylon to Media, and from Media to Greece, and from Greece to Edom, and in the end they will be redeemed by the horns of the ram," as it is written, "And the LORD God will sound the shofar... the LORD... will shield them" (Zechariah 9:14-15). "And Abraham went and took the ram and offered it up as a burnt-offering in place of his son." He said before Him: "Master of the universe, regard the blood of this ram as though it were the blood of Isaac my son being brought near." This is like what we have learned: "Behold, this in place of this; behold, this is the exchange of this; behold, this is the substitute." Rabbi Pinchas said: he said before Him: "Master of the universe, regard the blood of this ram as though I had first offered Isaac my son, and afterward offered the ram in his place," as it is said, "And Jotham his son reigned in his place" (2 Kings 15:7), meaning in his stead. "And Abraham called the name of that place, The LORD will see" (Genesis 22:14). He said before Him: "Master of the universe, when You said to me, 'Take now your son,' I had reason to answer: yesterday You said to me, 'For in Isaac shall your seed be called,' and now You say, 'Take now your son.' Yet I did not do so, but suppressed my mercy to do Your will. May it be Your will that when the children of Isaac come into transgressions, You will remember for them this binding-service and be filled with mercy upon them."

Themes

RedemptionExileMessiah

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