Professor Gerald Aranoff
The writer is Professor of Accounting, Ariel University Center of Samaria, Israel.We mourn the murder/assassination/death of Ari Fuld---so painful/sad. We cry today for God’s vengeance as did Jeremiah, Isaiah, and Job in their times.
Jeremiah prophesizes God’s vengeance against Egypt
Jeremiah, after the murder of Gedaliah son of Ahikam, is in Egypt against his will. Jeremiah prophesizes:
“And say to them: “Thus said the Lord of Hosts, the God of Israel: I am sending for My servant King Nebuchadrezzar of Babylon, and I will set his throne over these stones which I have embedded. He will spread out his pavilion שפרירו over them” (Jeremiah 43:10).
Rashi here gives reference to (Job 26:13) "By His wind the heavens שפרה were calmed; His hand pierced the Elusive Serpent נחש בריח”:
Isaiah prophesizes God’s vengeance
“In that day the Lord will punish, With His great, cruel, mighty sword Leviathan the Elusive Serpent נחש בריח — Leviathan the Twisting Serpent; He will slay the Dragon of the sea.” (Isaiah 27:1)
The Malbim says on Isaiah 27:1 “In that day, day of vengeance.”
Rashi states here: ”… “And in that day, a great ram’s horn shall be sounded; and the strayed who are in the land of Assyria and the expelled who are in the land of Egypt shall come and worship the Lord on the holy mount, in Jerusalem” (Isaiah 27:13). The nations are likened to snakes that bite the Leviathan, the snakes are in Egypt, the Leviathan, the serpent, is Assyria; Romans…”
Job prays for God’s vengeance on the wicked.
Job is a magnificent/incredible 42 chapter book in the Bible with speeches by 3 friends, Elihu and God etc. The debate between Job and Bildad shows that Bildad’s words were no comfort to Job, who is in mourning over the death of his sons.
“Bildad the Shuhite said in reply: Dominion and dread are His; He imposes peace in His heights” (Job 25:1-2). “Then Job said in reply: You would help without having the strength; You would deliver with arms that have no power. Without having the wisdom, you offer advice And freely give your counsel” (Job 26:1-3).
Job wants vengeance. Job retorts to Bildad the Shuhite ? “The pillars of heaven שפרה tremble, Astounded at His blast. By His power He stilled the sea; By His skill He struck down Rahab. By His wind the heavens were calmed; His hand pierced the Elusive Serpent נחש בריח” (Job 26:11-13).
Our prayer today
This is our cry today for the murder of Ari Fuld. “In that day the Lord will punish, With His great, cruel, mighty sword Leviathan the Elusive Serpent נחש בריח.”
May it be His Will that we witness the full redemption speedily in our time.