ישעיהו, פרק מ״ב, פסוק י״ח

A prophetic call rings out demanding the impossible, asking the deaf to hear and the blind to see. This is not a reference to physical impairments but a sharp metaphor designed to shake a people out of their spiritual slumber. By challenging them to activate their dormant inner senses, the message seeks to explain the root cause of their ongoing troubles.

The primary approach among commentators is that this warning is directed at the Israelites. Their deafness and blindness represent minds and hearts that have been sealed shut [אבן עזרא]. They actively block their ears from absorbing God's word and the rebukes of the prophets, while shutting their eyes to His commandments and miracles [מצודת דוד, צאינה וראינה]. This raises a question regarding why these specific terms are applied to them. Just as a piece of wood or stone cannot be called blind because it never possessed the potential for sight, nations that never received prophecy cannot be faulted for spiritual blindness. A person is only considered blind or deaf if they inherently possess the ability to see or hear. The Israelites are equipped with profound inner senses, including an intellectual eye to perceive God's wonders and an inner ear to absorb prophecy. Because they consciously choose to ignore these gifts, they bear the blame [מלבי״ם, אברבנאל].

The demand is clear. They must open their ears to God's message and look with deep, focused attention [מצודת ציון] to recognize the immense good He is preparing to bring to the world. By reflecting on how past prophecies have already materialized, they can trust that future promises of redemption will also be fulfilled, which should motivate them to correct their behavior [רד״ק, שטיינזלץ]. Yet a tragic irony unfolds. Instead of awakening, the Israelites not only remain willfully disconnected, but they turn against the messengers, accusing the prophets themselves of being the ones who are truly blind and deaf [רד״ק, אברבנאל, צאינה וראינה].

In contrast to this perspective, another approach suggests the warning is actually directed at the other nations of the world. According to this view, God is challenging the nations to open their eyes and witness the ultimate redemption of the Israelites. When that time comes, the nations will clearly see that this salvation was not the result of Israel's own might. During their long exile, the Israelites were weak, humiliated, and entirely passive, much like people who cannot see or hear. Therefore, their sudden rescue will be unmistakably recognized as the direct work of God alone [שד״ל].