Saturday of the Second Week of Advent

Saturday of the Second Week of Advent (December 16, 2017)

Gospel (Mat 17:9-13)

9 As they were coming down the mountain, Jesus instructed them, “Tell the vision to no one until the Son of Man has risen from the dead.”

10 And the disciples asked him, “Why then do the scribes say that Elijah must come first?”

11 And he replied, “Elijah is coming and will restore all things. 12 But I tell you that Elijah has already come, and they did not recognize him, but did to him whatever they wished. So also the Son of Man is going to suffer at their hands.” 13 Then the disciples understood that he was talking to them about John the Baptist.

Responsorial Psalm (Psa 80:2-3, 15-16, 18)

2 Oh, give ear, Shepherd of Israel,

[you] who lead Joseph [Israel] like [a shepherd leads] the flock.

You who are enthroned [between] the cherubim [on the ark (viz. Exo 25:22)]

shine forth [i.e., manifest your strength] 3 before Ephraim, and Benjamin and Manasseh [though they not be worthy].

Awake your might;

and it is for you to save us [Ephraim: viz. 1Ki 20:3; Manasseh: viz. 2Ki 13:4, 7, 25; Benjamin: in the days of Mordecai and Esther].

Rashi’s Commentary

Before Ephraim, and Benjamin and Manasseh—When they need your salvation. Although they are wicked and undeserving, awake your might for them. But why? Because it is for you to save us. It is fitting for you and it is incumbent upon you to save, whether guilty or innocent, as it was said to Moses in Egypt (Exo 3:7): “I have seen the misery of my people.” Why is the word for seeing repeated? I see that they are destined to provoke me. Nevertheless, I have seen their misery, because of the oath that I swore to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob.

Ephraim—In the war with Aram, when he besieged Samaria and sent emissaries to Ahab (1Ki 20:3): “Your silver and your gold are mine; your wives and children, even the best, are mine.”

Benjamin—In the time of Xerxes when Mordecai and Esther were in danger, and all Israel depended on them.

Manasseh—In the days of Jehoash the son of Jehoahaz, as it is said (2Ki 13:4, 7): “for he saw the oppression of Israel, etc., for the king of Aram had destroyed them and made them like the dust at threshing.” And he beat him in war three times, as it is said (2Ki 13:25): “Three times Jehoash overcame him and recovered the towns of Israel.”

The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge

These three tribes, in the wilderness, marched immediately after the ark and cherubim, by Divine appointment, to which this appears to be an allusion (Num 2:18-24; 10:22-24).

15 O God of hosts, return [to us] now!

Look down from heaven and see,

and take care of this vine,

16 and the root which your right hand has planted,

and [remember that] over the son [i.e., over Esau, who was a beloved son to his father Isaac] that you have strengthened for yourself [to the vine of Jacob (viz. Gen 40:13)].

Rashi’s Commentary

And the root which your right hand has planted—Which is founded and established, which your right hand has planted, an expression of (Gen 40:13): “and restore you to your office (כנך).”

And over the son that you have strengthened for yourself—And over Esau, who was a beloved son to this father, who would call him, “my son.” You strengthened the vine of Jacob for yourself, as it is said (Gen 27:40): “and you will serve your brother.”

18 Let your hand be upon the man of your right hand [upon Esau, slated for vengeance with your right hand],

[and] upon the son of man whom you made strong for yourself [(Jacob) to establish his habitation in the fat of the land].

Upon the son of man—Whom you made strong for yourself that his habitation should be the fat places of the earth.

Gen 27:40

By your sword you will live

and you will serve your brother.

But when you [have just reason to] grow restless [over the blessings having been appropriated by Jacob (i.e., when Israel transgresses the Law)],

you will throw his yoke

from your neck.

Gen 40:13

Within three more days Pharaoh will lift up your head [with his other attendants] and restore you to your position, and you will put Pharaoh’s cup in his hand, according to your previous custom when you were his cupbearer.

Pharaoh will lift up your head—Lit., will raise your head, an expression of numbering. When he musters his other servants to wait upon him during the meal he will count you also among them.

Your position means your base and your place.

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Liturgical Index

Exo 2:25

And God looked upon the children of Israel, and God took notice of them [i.e., he “took it to heart”].

Exo 3:7

The Lord said, “I have seen the misery of my people who are in Egypt, and have heard their outcry because of their taskmasters, for I have known [i.e., taken to heart] their tribulations.”

For I have known their tribulations—The verb has the same meaning as in (Exo 2:25) “and God took notice of them,” signifying as much as: for I have set my heart upon noticing and have known their tribulations, and I have not hidden my eyes from their distress, nor have I stopped my ears against their cry.

1Ki 20:3

Your silver and your gold are mine; your wives and children, even the best, are mine.

2Ki 13:4, 7, 25

Then Jehoahaz sought the favor of the Lord, and the Lord listened to him, for he saw the oppression of Israel, how the king of Aram oppressed them.

For he left to Jehoahaz of the army not more than fifty horsemen and ten chariots and ten thousand footmen, for the king of Aram had destroyed them and made them like the dust at threshing.

Then Jehoash the son of Jehoahaz took again from Ben-hadad the son of Hazael the towns which he had taken in battle from Jehoahaz his father. Three times Jehoash defeated him and recovered the towns of Israel.

This work, "Saturday of the Second Week of Advent," is a derivative of "The Rashi Chumash" and "The Rashi Ketuvim" by Rabbi Shraga Silverstein used under CC BY 3.0

Torrey, R. A. "Commentary on Psalms 80." "The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge." https://www.studylight.org/commentaries/tsk/psalms-80.html.