Haftarah הַפְטָרָה
About 2500 years ago, the first בֵּית הַמִּקְדָּשׁ (beit ha-mikdash, Holy Temple) was destroyed, and the Jewish people were sent out of Eretz Yisrael. This is called גָּלוּת בָּבֶל (galut Bavel, the exile to Babylonia), and it was a painful experience.
The Jewish people needed comfort, and Yeshayahu the prophet helped provide it. Our haftarah contains some of the supportive things he said.
(ח) בְּשֶׁצֶף קֶצֶף
הִסְתַּרְתִּי פָנַי רֶגַע מִמֵּךְ
וּבְחֶסֶד עוֹלָם רִחַמְתִּיךְ
אָמַר גֹּאֲלֵךְ ה'׃
(ט) כִּי מֵי נֹחַ זֹאת לִי
אֲשֶׁר נִשְׁבַּעְתִּי מֵעֲבֹר מֵי נֹחַ עוֹד עַל הָאָרֶץ
כֵּן נִשְׁבַּעְתִּי מִקְּצֹף עָלַיִךְ וּמִגְּעׇר בָּךְ׃
(8) In slight anger
I hid My face from you for a moment.
But with everlasting hesed (kindness), I will show mercy for you
—said God your Redeemer.
(9) This will be like the waters of Noah to Me.
I swore that the waters of Noah would never again flood the earth.
So too I swear that I will not
be angry with you or rebuke you.
-------------------
-------------------
