Beha'alotcha: Spirit over Strength - Zecharyah’s Eternal Message

Zecharya 2:14 - 4:7  

לֹ֤א בְחַ֙יִל֙ וְלֹ֣א בְכֹ֔חַ כִּ֣י אִם־בְּרוּחִ֔י אָמַ֖ר ה צְבָקוֹת׃

Not by might, nor by power, but by My spirit—said the L-RD of Hosts.

In this week’s Haftorah, the Navi Zecharya receives a vision of the golden Menorah of the Bais HaMikdash. The Menorah is described as having an elaborate design with a bowl of oil feeding into tubes that bring oil into its seven lamps. In addition to the bowls of oil, two olive trees provide the oil for the Menorah. Zecharya sees oil as miraculously flowing into the Menorah on its own. 

The Alshich explains that the Menorah represents the Jewish nation which, although seemingly composed of disparate parts like the Menorah’s arms, is united at the base. Our diverse groups will ultimately unite under the direction of Moshiach. The menorah’s gold color alludes to the purity that the nation will attain in Messianic times. The seven branches of the Menorah represent our three forefathers and four foremothers who provide spiritual sustenance and uphold our people. 

But what does the spontaneous production of the oil symbolize? The angel responds that just as the oil was produced without human effort, Hashem will bring about the deliverance of our people when He wills it to be so. לֹ֤א בְחַ֙יִל֙ וְלֹ֣א בְכֹ֔חַ כִּ֣י אִם־בְּרוּחִ֔י אָמַ֖ר ה צְבָקוֹת׃, not by might, nor by power, but by My spirit—said the L-RD of Hosts (Zecharia 4:6). When we commit ourselves to the pure mesorah as transmitted to us by our holy fathers and mothers, Hashem will provide the ultimate redemption, and we will proudly proclaim the concluding words of the Haftorah - חן חן לה, grace, grace is to her.