ישעיהו, פרק מ״ג, פסוק י״ח

The history of the Israelites is filled with great miracles, yet a profound shift is on the horizon. The focus is turning away from a glorious past toward a future redemption that will completely overshadow everything that came before it. The primary approach among commentators is that the call to stop focusing on historical wonders is aimed directly at the Exodus from Egypt. There is no longer a need to marvel at past events, because the future redemption and the gathering of the exiles will be so massive. The people will be entirely occupied with thanking God for the present, naturally pushing the past aside [רש"י, רד"ק, שד"ל, מצודת דוד]. This idea parallels Jeremiah's prophecy, which describes how the standard oath of the people will change from swearing by God who brought the Israelites out of Egypt, to swearing by God who brought them out of the northern lands [רד"ק, שד"ל].

While some commentators view the repeated phrasing in the prophecy as emphasizing the same idea in different words [רד"ק, מצודת דוד], others find precise distinctions in both the required human actions and the historical periods. In terms of action, one instruction targets the outward act of speaking, while the other addresses internal observation, deep thought, and the focus of the heart [אבן עזרא, מצודת ציון, רש"י]. Regarding the historical eras, an early tradition suggests that one part of the prophecy hints at the periods of subjugation under foreign empires, while the other refers specifically to the Exodus from Egypt [רד"ק].

A more complex approach divides these historical events by their fundamental nature. The earliest events represent the very first link in the nation's history, which is the redemption from Egypt. Although this era featured clear, open miracles, it happened in the distant past and easily fades from memory. Therefore, the people are told to stop trying to recall it. The subsequent events refer to redemptions that happened closer to the present, such as the return from Babylon. While more recent, the miracles of this era were hidden within the natural order, requiring deep observation and thought to recognize. Therefore, the people are told to stop searching for them. God's ultimate message is that the new redemption will seamlessly combine the best aspects of both. It will happen in the present, requiring no effort to remember a distant past, and His miracles will be completely open and obvious to the senses, requiring no deep search to find them hidden within nature [מלבי"ם].