Prophecy and Eastern Mediterranean Tsunami

Nevuos (prophecies) often refer to more than one historical incident. Many of the prophecies often refer to the time immediately near the coming of Mashiach. The current discussion relates to the following prophecies from the books of Yechezkhel and Tzefaniah.

Yechezkhel: 25, 15 - 17: "So says HaShem Elokim, because the Palestinians (Pelishtim) acted with revenge, and they took revenge with contemptible soul, to destroy with eternal enmity: Therefore, so says HaShem Elokim, behold, I am stretching My Hand upon the Palestinians, and I am cutting off (V'hicrati) the Kereisim, and I am Destroying the remnant of the seashore: And I Shall do in their midst great acts of Revenge with Rebukes of Anger, and they shall know that I am HaShem when I Place My Revenge in their midst:"

RaSH"I explains that the area referred to above is in the southwestern part of Eretz Yisrael, referring to Gaza.

Metzudas David explains that the "Kereisim" referred to in the passage refer to a large segment of the Palestinians. They are called "Kereisim", meaning "those that are cut off" because their sins make them liable to be cut off from existence. The people living by the seashore in Gaza, according to him, will be completely wiped out, as a result of their sins.

Tzefaniah: 2, 5 - 7: "Woe to the inhabitants of the sea coast, the nation of Kereisim, the Word of HaShem is upon you, Kina'an, the Land of the Palestinians, and you shall be destroyed without inhabitant: And the sea coast will be meadow pastures for shepards and for flocks of sheep: And the coast will be for the remnant of the House of Yehudah, upon it they shall take delight, in the houses of Ashkelon in the evening they will lie down, for HaShem their G-D Remembered them and returned their captives:"

This second prophecy is similar to the first one. Note the first one prophesizes the disaster right before it discusses a tsunami that will wipe out Tyre (the destruction of Tyre happened after the destruction of the first Beis HaMikdash).

Note: The first quote is the Hebrew from Yechezkhel, the second Tzefaniah.

(פסוק טו) כה אמר א-דני י-ה-ו-ה, יען עשות פלשתים בנקמה; וינקמו נקם בשאט בנפש, למשחית איבת עולם. (פסוק טז) לכן, כה אמר א-דני י-ה-ו-ה, הנני נוטה ידי על פלשתים, והכרתי את כרתים; והאבדתי, את שארית חוף הים. (פסוק יז) ועשיתי בם נקמות גדלות, בתוכחות חמה; וידעו, כי אני י-ה-ו-ה, בתתי את נקמתי, בם. [פ] (פסוק ה) הוי, ישבי חבל הים:גוי כרתים; דבר י-ה-ו-ה עליכם, כנען ארץ פלשתים, והאבדתיך, מאין יושב. (פסוק ו) והיתה חבל הים, נות כרת רעים:וגדרות צאן. (פסוק ז) והיה חבל, לשארית בית יהודה:עליהם ירעון: בבתי אשקלון, בערב ירבצון:כי יפקדם י-ה-ו-ה א-להיהם, ושב שבותם.

Note: Many commentators do subscribe the above prophecies to happening after the first Beis HaMikdash. However, the Jewish prophecies are meant for all time. Again, do not negate these prophecies, as these prophecies apply throughout time! Also, I believe it was the Chasam Sofer who said that any people that have the characteristic of going around in armed bands could be considered part of the Pelishtim (Palestinians), though not descended. Nowadays, there are people like that who also call themselves Palestinians, many of whom live in Gaza. That sounds familiar, just like the "goy keresim"!

Note: The two pictures from the March 7 blog are from wikipedia.