יחזקאל, פרק ל״ז, פסוק י״ח

A prophet often performs tangible, symbolic actions in plain sight to capture the attention of the onlookers and spark their curiosity. By acting out a vivid metaphor, the prophet prompts the people to ask questions, which in turn opens the door to a profound revelation about the nation's future and the process of redemption. Watching the prophet write on pieces of wood and then hold them together, the natural reaction of the people is to demand an explanation [רד״ק, ביאור שטיינזלץ]. They want to know the meaning behind the physical metaphor and the purpose of the two pieces of wood he is grasping in his hands [מצודת דוד, ביאור שטיינזלץ, מלבי״ם].

This inquiry leads directly into a vision concerning the unification of the tribes in the End of Days. The primary approach among commentators explains that joining the pieces of wood symbolizes the unfolding stages of redemption, rooted in the tradition of two distinct messianic leaders. The process begins with the rise of a leader from the lineage of Joseph, who will govern the Ten Tribes, gather the scattered exiles, and fight the wars of God. During this time, the tribes of Judah and Benjamin will also unite under his banner and leadership. Through this miraculous process, all the tribes will seamlessly forge together into a single, complete nation [מלבי״ם, אברבנאל].

Offering a distinctly different perspective, another viewpoint focuses on the personal identity of the prophet himself. In this reading, the onlookers questioning him are not the general public, but specifically his fellow priests. Because the prophet is a priest, the people from his own tribe are the ones addressing him. The tribe of Levi was historically set apart exclusively for holy service, making it inappropriate for them to engage in political rule or matters of kingship, a principle later illustrated by the historical fall of the Hasmonean dynasty when they claimed the royal crown. Therefore, the priests are asking a fundamental question of principle: since they have no role in royal politics, they wonder why he is involving himself in a symbolic act that represents the unification of earthly kingdoms [אהבת יהונתן].