ישעיהו, פרק נ״ז, פסוק י״ז

Human greed and the relentless pursuit of wealth are more than mere moral failings; they are destructive forces that tear open a deep divide between humanity and God. This pursuit often provokes a severe divine response, which tragically can lead to even greater human rebellion. The primary approach among commentators views this root failing as a combination of robbery, violence, greed, and unrestrained behavior. Beyond the physical act of theft, it represents a profound selfishness and a constant chase after personal pleasure, which serves as the foundation for all evil actions [שד״ל]. The sin of violence and robbery is uniquely devastating. Although it does not carry a death penalty in the Torah, it completely ruins the foundation of human civilization, much like it brought about the great flood [רד״ק]. The pursuit of money triggers a destructive chain reaction of other sins. It breeds jealousy and hatred, leads to the desecration of the Sabbath and false oaths, and even causes people to eat forbidden foods out of sheer stinginess. Ultimately, this behavior drives the Divine Presence away from a person's table [צאינה וראינה]. Yet, because God's anger is directed specifically at this iniquity, a path to redemption remains open. If a person repents and abandons the sin, His anger will also fade away [מלבי״ם].

God responds to this corruption in two distinct stages. The first is an active punishment, where He delivers a physical blow to the wrongdoer [רש״י, אבן עזרא]. The second stage is a passive punishment, characterized by God hiding His face. He turns His eyes away to avoid seeing the sinner's distress, withholding His mercy [מצודת דוד, אבן עזרא], and entirely removing His Divine Presence from them [צאינה וראינה].

Despite facing both direct punishment and the painful hiddenness of God, the human reaction is often one of stubborn rebellion and a lack of discipline, as people obstinately return to their wicked paths [מצודת ציון, שטיינזלץ, אבן עזרא]. Commentators offer different perspectives on why the punishment fails to deter the sin. One approach suggests that the sinners simply continued to rebel and worship idols despite the punishment and the withdrawal of God's presence, driven by pure stubbornness and a refusal to change [מצודת דוד, רד״ק]. A more psychological perspective argues that it was precisely because God hid His face, leaving the people in exile without clear vision or miracles, that they continued to wander aimlessly in their evil ways [שד״ל]. Alternatively, another view suggests a different flow of events, proposing that this rebellious wandering was not just a reaction, but an additional reason why God became angry and struck the people in the first place [רש״י].