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The Prayer of Shigionoth
TANAKH
The prophet Habakkuk's prayer is delivered in a unique musical or poetic style called Shigionoth. The book of Habakkuk, one of the twelve Minor Prophets, includes a prayer that reflects on justice, faith, and mercy.
In the Lions' Den
MIDRASH
The miraculous intervention of an angel transporting Habakkuk to bring food to Daniel in the lions' den highlights divine intervention and the miraculous nature of the event. Louis Ginzberg’s early 20th-century compilation, Legends of the Jews, offers a midrashic expansion on the Book of Daniel, illustrating the miraculous nature of Daniel's survival.
The Lion's Voice in Habakkuk
COMMENTARY
The numerical value of the letters in the name Habakkuk equates to a lion (אריה), and the Midrash interprets that the watchman called with a loud voice like a lion. Ibn Ezra, a prominent medieval Jewish commentator, integrates linguistic analysis and Midrashic interpretation to uncover deeper meanings in the text.
The Necessity of Praise
KABBALAH
Prayer alone is insufficient for manifesting Malkhut; praise is necessary to acknowledge the mystery of life influenced from on high. Moses Cordovero, a 16th-century Kabbalist, uniquely identifies Habakkuk as the son of the Shunamite woman, emphasizing the necessity of praise in addition to prayer.
The Power of Habakkuk's Prayer
TALMUD
Habakkuk's prayer played a crucial role in alleviating the extreme poverty of Torah scholars. The Talmudic tractate Sotah discusses the significance of prayers by biblical figures like Habakkuk in preventing dire poverty among scholars.
The Essence of Torah and Faith
CHASIDUT
The Torah is incomplete without faith, and Habakkuk's assertion that 'the tzaddik lives by his faith' perfects the Torah through faith. Rabbi Nachman of Breslov, a prominent Hasidic master, explores how various prophets and sages have distilled the essence of the Torah into fundamental principles.
Faith or Faithfulness?
JEWISH THOUGHT
The phrase 'ẓaddik beEmunato yiḥyeh' from Habakkuk can mean 'faith' and 'faithfulness' or 'trust' in God. Eliezer Berkovits, a 20th-century Jewish philosopher, explores the deeper meaning of 'emunah' in the context of Jewish belief and the relationship between God and the righteous.
The Mystery of Shigyonot
COMMENTARY
The term 'shigyonot' in Habakkuk's prayer is ambiguous, potentially referring to thoughts, mistakes, or even a type of song or musical instrument. Rabbi Adin Steinsaltz's modern translation and commentary on the Hebrew Bible, the Steinsaltz Tanakh, provides clarity and accessibility to this complex term.
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