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The Wolf Will Dwell with the Lamb: Difference between revisions
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[[File:הרבי וגר זאב עם כבש.jpg|thumb]] | [[File:הרבי וגר זאב עם כבש.jpg|thumb|An exhibit demonstrating the prophecy "The wolf will dwell with the lamb" passing before the Rebbe during a parade (Lag BaOmer 5744/1984)]] | ||
In the prophecy of Isaiah it is stated '''"The wolf will dwell with the lamb, and the leopard will lie down with the young goat; and the calf and the young lion and the fatling together; and a little child shall lead them"'''. The simple meaning of this prophecy is that in the future era, all animals will abandon their corrupted nature and will stop preying on others, as the Torah states: "I will remove harmful beasts from the land." | In the prophecy of Isaiah it is stated '''"The wolf will dwell with the lamb, and the leopard will lie down with the young goat; and the calf and the young lion and the fatling together; and a little child shall lead them"'''. The simple meaning of this prophecy is that in the future era, all animals will abandon their corrupted nature and will stop preying on others, as the Torah states: "I will remove harmful beasts from the land." | ||
The Rambam explains the inner meaning of this prophecy in his work Yad HaChazaka in Hilchot Melachim: "And that which is said in Isaiah 'the wolf will dwell with the lamb and the leopard will lie down with the young goat' is a parable and riddle. The meaning is that Israel will dwell securely with the wicked gentiles who are compared to wolves and leopards, as it says 'a wolf of the deserts will spoil them' and 'a leopard watches over their cities,' and they will all return to the true faith, and will not steal or destroy, but will eat permissible food peacefully with Israel, as it is said 'and the lion will eat straw like the ox.'" | The Rambam explains the inner meaning of this prophecy in his work Yad HaChazaka in Hilchot Melachim: "And that which is said in Isaiah 'the wolf will dwell with the lamb and the leopard will lie down with the young goat' is a parable and riddle. The meaning is that Israel will dwell securely with the wicked gentiles who are compared to wolves and leopards, as it says 'a wolf of the deserts will spoil them' and 'a leopard watches over their cities,' and they will all return to the true faith, and will not steal or destroy, but will eat permissible food peacefully with Israel, as it is said 'and the lion will eat straw like the ox.'" | ||
[[File:זאב עם כבש.jpg|thumb]] | [[File:זאב עם כבש.jpg|thumb|Wolf and Lamb]] | ||
== Literal Meaning or "Parable and Riddle" == | == Literal Meaning or "Parable and Riddle" == | ||
Regarding the fulfillment of this prophecy, the Rambam writes: "And that which is said in Isaiah 'the wolf will dwell with the lamb and the leopard will lie down with the young goat' - is a parable and riddle, that Israel will dwell securely with the wicked gentiles who are compared to wolves and leopards," etc. On the surface, it appears that according to the Rambam, this prophecy will not be fulfilled literally but is a "parable and riddle" (however, during the visit of the Admor of Skulya to the Rebbe in 5741, the Rebbe said that the Rambam's intention is not that this prophecy will not be fulfilled literally, but rather that it certainly has an inner interpretation as a "parable and riddle," and will certainly be fulfilled according to its inner interpretation, and if a student will prove that it also has a literal meaning - then it will be fulfilled literally as well). But according to the opinion of some Rishonim (the Ramban and others) who hold that in the future there will be a change in the natural order of the world, it is understood that this prophecy will be fulfilled literally. | Regarding the fulfillment of this prophecy, the Rambam writes: "And that which is said in Isaiah 'the wolf will dwell with the lamb and the leopard will lie down with the young goat' - is a parable and riddle, that Israel will dwell securely with the wicked gentiles who are compared to wolves and leopards," etc. On the surface, it appears that according to the Rambam, this prophecy will not be fulfilled literally but is a "parable and riddle" (however, during the visit of the Admor of Skulya to the Rebbe in 5741, the Rebbe said that the Rambam's intention is not that this prophecy will not be fulfilled literally, but rather that it certainly has an inner interpretation as a "parable and riddle," and will certainly be fulfilled according to its inner interpretation, and if a student will prove that it also has a literal meaning - then it will be fulfilled literally as well). But according to the opinion of some Rishonim (the Ramban and others) who hold that in the future there will be a change in the natural order of the world, it is understood that this prophecy will be fulfilled literally. | ||