No Weapon Can Prevail
We're all in this together
This week’s Haftarah covers Isaiah 54:11 through 55:5. One of its key verses, which I would like to unpack with the help of Abarbanel, is Isaiah 54:17:
“No weapon made to harm you can prevail. Any tongue that calls you out into judgment, you will prove its fault. This is the birthright of the Lord’s servants, for their innocence is Mine. So says the Lord.”
Abarbanel explains that the nations attempt to impose their religions upon the Jewish people in two different ways.
Some say that anyone who does not follow their religion will be killed. This, Abarbanel says, is the way of the “children of Yishmael.” They use force and violence to compel others to accept their beliefs.
The “wise men of Edom” take a different approach. They use arguments, claims, and questions. They attempt to use their wisdom and reasoning to bring the Jewish people into judgment and undermine their faith.
The prophet therefore responds to both of them.
“No weapon made to harm you can prevail” refers to the children of Yishmael and their use of force.
“Any tongue that calls you out into judgment, you will prove its fault” refers to the children of Edom and the arguments and claims they raise against us.
“This is the birthright of the Lord’s servants, for their innocence is Mine.”
Our protection will not ultimately come through strength or power, nor will it depend upon our ability to defeat every false claim raised against us. It comes from Hashem and from His promise to His people.
Today, we are living through a time in which Jewish disunity is at a peak.
Something deeply important for us to remember is that the troubles we have suffered together, and that we continue to suffer together throughout exile, have come upon us because we are all Jews. And the salvation that we will hopefully experience together, very soon, we will experience because we are Jews.
Irrespective of our differences and debates, what underlies us and binds us together is God’s promise that we will no longer be subject either to the sword of Yishmael or to the judgments of Edom.
That should be our true comfort and salvation.