Rosh Hashanna (25b) Moses and Aaron among his priests and Samuel among them that call on his name. We see therefore that the Scripture places three of the most questionable characters on the same level as three of the the most estimable characters, to show that Jerubaal in his generation is like Moses in his generation, Bedan in his generation is like Aaron in his generation, Jepthah in his generation is like Samuel in his generation, and to teach you that the most worthless, once he has been appointed a leader of the community, is to be accounted like the mightiest of the mighty. Scripture says also: And thou shalt come unto the priests the Levites and to the judge thou shall be in those days. Can we then imagine that a man should go to a judge who is not in his days? This shows that you must be content to go to the judge who is in your days. It also says; Say not, How was it that the former days were better than these.
6 שׁוֹפְטִים
ReplyDelete32 Therefore on that day he was called Jerubbaal, saying: 'Let Baal contend against him, because he hath broken down his altar.
This is referring to Gideon - obviously a worthy and Holy man :
22 And Gideon saw that he was the angel of the LORD; and Gideon said: 'Alas, O Lord GOD! forasmuch as I have seen the angel of the LORD face to face.'
23 And the LORD said unto him: 'Peace be unto thee; fear not; thou shalt not die.'
So why don't David Ben Gurion and Golda Meir get the same respect since they too were appointed leaders of the community?
ReplyDelete"We see therefore that the Scripture places three of the most questionable characters on the same level as three of the the most estimable characters, "
DeleteGideon is in a similar angel vision situation as other Torah greats - Avraham, Yaakov, - he sees the Angel of Hashem face to face.
Why he is a questionable character, i do not know?
Golda Meir - there is basis to call her a questionable character.