Chapter 38, Section 1 (פֶּרֶק ל״ח אוֹת א׳)

1. Another explanation: thus said Hashem, the Redeemer of Israel, His Holy One (א. דָּבָר אַחֵר: כֹּה אָמַר יְיָ גּוֹאֵל יִשְׂרָאֵל קְדוֹשׁוֹ)—against whom did Yeshayah say this verse? (כְּנֶגֶד מִי אָמַר יְשַׁעְיָה מִקְרָא זֶה) He said it only concerning Israel (לֹא אָמְרוֹ אֶלָּא כְּנֶגֶד יִשְׂרָאֵל), whom the Holy One Blessed Be He separated from the seventy nations (שֶׁהֶבְדִּילָן הַקָּדוֹשׁ בָּרוּךְ הוּא מִשִּׁבְעִים אוּמוֹת), as it is said: “Israel is holiness to Hashem, the first of His grain” (Jeremiah 2:3) (שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר: קֹדֶשׁ יִשְׂרָאֵל לַי־הוָה רֵאשִׁית תְּבוּאָתֹה). But through our many sins they fell to the depths of the earth (וּבַעֲוֹנוֹתֵינוּ שֶׁרָבוּ נָפְלוּ לְעִמְקֵי אָרֶץ), “She has fallen, she shall rise no more, O virgin of Israel” (Amos 5:2) (נָפְלָה לֹא תוֹסִיף קוּם בְּתוּלַת יִשְׂרָאֵל). And who is destined to raise her? Mashiach (וּמִי עָתִיד לְהַגְבִּיהָ מָשִׁיחַ), who clothes all his enemies in shame and disgrace (שֶׁהוּא מַלְבִּישׁ כָּל אוֹיְבָיו בְּשֵׁת וּכְלִימָּה). And at the time when the nations of the world see him (וּבַזְּמַן שֶׁרוֹאִין אוּמוֹת הָעוֹלָם אוֹתוֹ), they kneel and bow before him (כּוֹרְעִין וּמִשְׁתַּחֲוִין לוֹ), as it is said: “Kings shall see and arise” (Isaiah 49:7) (שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר: מְלָכִים יִרְאוּ וָקָמוּ).