The Land Rejects Sinners

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1. The Fall and Exile of Shomron

   Rabbi Alex Israel

   Hoshea ben Ella rises to power as an apparent appointment of the Assyrian King, but soon after he joins an anti-Assyrian coalition. While Hoshea does not follow in the footsteps of the kings of Israel and residents of the northern kingdom participate in the Pessah Korban with Hizkiyahu in Jerusalem, this change is too late to stop the destruction and exile of the northern kingdom.

   The Assyrian policy of population transfer is aimed at crushing hostile populations. By dispersing the exiles to far-flung locations, Ashur succeeds in destabilizing and disorienting the defeated. This technique absolutely destroys the internal cohesion of the exiled community and strangles its political opposition. For Israel this policy is a death knell. Domestically, as alien populations are transferred to Shomron, along with a foreign governor, it essentially becomes impossible for Israel to reinstate itself as an independent entity and leads to the disappearance of the ten tribes.

   The people - not only the kings - of Israel chose to go in the ways of the surrounding nations and, just as the Torah warned, God and the land of Israel rejected them.

2. The Shomronim

   Rabbi Alex Israel

   The exile of the ten tribes ultimately leads to their disappearance as a distinct group. The Assyrian policy of population transfer brings in foreigners who worship idols and since the Land of Israel does not tolerate sinners they are attacked by lions. They are saved not by rejectiong the idols, but by accepting God as supreme. The strict monotheism mandated for Jews is different from the level of belief required of other nations. For Israel, icons are absolutely forbidden, even when they serve as intermediaries to God. This is the primary sin for which the inhabitants of Shomron were exiled. However, for other peoples, idolatry and other gods are tolerable as long as God is recognized as the supreme deity, even while other gods are worshipped alongside Him.

   The status of the Shomronim - Samaritans is a long historical debate spanning from the period of the rebuilding of the second Beit HaMikdash, in which they were not permitted to participate, and continuing into the time of the Sages.  

3. King Menashe – An Idolatrous Kingdom

   Rabbi Alex Israel

   Menashe introduces idolatry and bloodshed into Yehuda in ways previously unknown. He accepts complete Assyrian domination and sets the wheels of destruction and exile into motion. Sefer Melakhim ends the description of Menashe on this note. However, Divrei HaYamim describes Menashe being taken into captivity by the Assyrian general, praying to God, repenting, God returning him to his kingdom and Menashe removing the idolatry that he instituted. This enormous gap between the two stories shed light on the different agendas of the two books. Despite his repentance, Menashe's negative influence impacted beyond his reign, and specifically to his son Amon who followed in his evil ways.

4. "Shall He Return to her Again?" - A Collection of Prophecies of Repentance

   Rabbi David Sabato

   In chapter 3, Yirmiyahu presents a prophecy that portrays the difficulty inherent in the repentance of the Jewish People through a parable. Israel is compared to a woman who has left her husband – God - for other men - idols. Such a woman is halakhically forbidden to return to her first husband and that sin pollutes and defiles the Land of Israel. Can Israel possibly return to God?

5. A Repentance Conundrum

   HaTanakh.com Staff

6. Haftara for VaYigash - Living in the Land or Upon the Land

   Rabbi David Silverberg