Parshas Behukosai (5776)

What is "The Pride of Your Power"?

The Torah writes (Leviticus 26:19):

And I will break the pride of your power; and I will make your heaven as iron, and your earth as brass.

Rashi (ibid) explains:

This is a reference to the Temple; for thus does it state, (Ezekiel 24:21) “Behold I will profane my sanctuary, the excellency of your strength”.

Sforno (ibid) explains:

by the destruction of the Tabernacle in Shiloh. Compare Psalms 78:60 “He forsook the Tabernacle of Shiloh, the tent He had set among men.”

Rashbam (ibid) explains:

as we read in verse 26 בשברי לכם מטה לחם, “when I will break your proud glory,” (economic independence)

Baal Haturim (ibid) explains:

"pride" - numerical value of "that is the Temple"; "the pride of your power" - numerical value of "Jerusalem"

The Talmud (Gittin 37a) explains (as per Rashi):

Rabbi Yosef learns - these are the rich people of Judah

Whom did G-d make a covenant with?

The Torah (Leviticus 26:45) writes:

But I will for their sakes remember the covenant of their ancestors, whom I brought forth out of the land of Egypt in the sight of the nations, that I might be their God: I am the LORD.

Rashi (ibid) explains:

THE COVENANT OF THE ANCESTORS — i. e. of the twelve Tribes (cf. Sifra)

Haemek Davar (ibid) explains:

... the covenant which was made with Moses was on behalf of all future generations and now [the Torah] adds that regarding their livelihood in the land of their enemies He will also watch them because of the remember of the covenant with the first generation which was taken out from the Land of Egypt

(see Sefer Shaarei Aharon for further discussion of these opinions)

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