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Rabbeinu Bachyei uses this thesis to solve one of the most difficult questions that face the student of Tanach. In Melachim (II, 18: 13-15), the navi describes Chizkiyahu’s handling of the threat from Sancheriv, the King of Assyria. Chizkiayhu apologized for his lack of loyalty and agreed to pay whatever duty that Sancheriv would place upon him. This turned out to be 30 gold bars and 300 silver ones, which required him to empty out the royal storehouses and those of the Beit Hamikdash. Following that, we see the intimidating rhetoric used by Assyrian officers to the encircled Jews of Jerusalem. This prompted Chizkiyahu to send an urgent request to the prophet Yeshaya to pray on the people’s behalf before Hashem (ibid. 19: 2-4), which he did in a most moving way (ibid. 15-19). Here we see the approaches of presents/appeasement and prayer.
In Diveri Hayamim (II, 32: 3-8), though, we see a very different story. Chizkiyahu entered into strategic discussions with his officers. They decided to divert the water supply for their advantage, build up the fortifications, and rally the people to be brave in defense of the city. This, of course, is a very different picture, of a king not willing to humble himself but who is willing to fight for the life of the city and its inhabitants. According to Rabbeinu Bachyei, there is no contradiction. It was not one approach or the other. Rather, Chizkiyahu followed Yaakov’s lead and used all three tactics.
Let us end off with a question for our readers. Rabbeinu Bachyei said that at his time, the approach of waging battle had to be taken off the table because of the decree that Jews of exile do not wage war. We can ask: nowadays, that we have an independent sovereign state, and there are no superpowers at war with us, from whom we are not naturally able to protect ourselves (as Chizkiyahu had) – should we take the approach of humbling presents/appeasement off the table?
Rabbis in Midrash
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D'varim Judaism’s Social Vision
Re’eh
Giving is more than an act of generosity—it is an essential part of human dignity that belongs to everyone, rich and poor alike. The ultimate goal of help is to empower others to stand on their own.
Kuzari -Rabbi Ari Shvat Kuzari class 9 - "Seeing is Believing" (parag. 21-30)
These paragraphs elaborate on the theme that seeing and knowing is better than any attempt to prove logically, and begins explaining the difference between Israel and gentiles.
Ein Aya Various Universal Stages of the Geula Process
Rav Kook examines the various stages of redemption, explaining how (in addition to the obvious oft-mentioned stages of ingathering the exiles, reviving the Hebrew language, army, state etc.) the messianic dream of world prosperity, the State of Israel and world unity can and are realistically and logically gradually coming true.
Kuzari -Rabbi Ari Shvat Kuzari class 8- "Answering Questions on the Kuzari's Proof from Mass Revelation
How do we know that the "claim" of mass revelation to 2,000,000 witnesses at Mt. Sinai is really true? This important class answers all of the questions skeptics ask about this claim of the Kuzari.
Ein Aya Armies Still Necessary for Balance & the War Against Wars
Rav Kook explains why the world was originally divided into the various seemingly contradicting ideologies and cultures, in order to develop each one respectively. Swords or armies symbolize how each respective ideology defends themselves, as well as deters their opposing ideologies and cultures. On the other hand, the messianic era will be one of peace, and Rav Kook explains the transition to that stage, which mankind is already undergoing.
