THE SHIPS OF KITTIM, PART 2
“[Bilaam] declaimed his parable and said, ‘Oh! Who will survive when he imposes these! There will be big ships from the place of Kittim, and they will afflict Assyria … but it, too, will be forever destroyed.’” (Bamidbar 24:23-24)
The possuk, “Oh! Who will survive when he imposes these” is widely understood to refer to the travails of the Messianic Period. The Sforno, for example, says this possuk is similar to the Gemara (Sanhedrin 98b) which says, “Let [Moshiach] come, but let me not be there when he comes (because of the suffering at that time.)”
In the aftermath of October 7, 2023, a fleet of American warships was dispatched by American President Joe Biden to the Eastern Mediterranean, ostensibly to protect Israel and prevent the Gaza conflict from widening. At that time, I wrote an article entitled, “The Ships of Kittim,” identifying this incident with the prophesy of Bilaam. Just last week, one of our readers recalled that article, with the comment that “it is even more relevant now!”
I am very grateful to this reader. In fact, the fleet now surrounding “Assyria” (which is modern Iran) is many times larger than the fleet sent by President Biden in 2023, and contemporary events seem to be in amazing conformity with the prophesy of Bilaam.
What, in fact, are these “big ships from Kittim?”
Onkelos (himself a Roman convert) identifies “Kittim” with Rome. Rashi says, “Kittites … are Romans.” Ramban says, “big ships will come from the place of the Kittim, those being the Romans.” Rome stands for the entire Western Culture, who are the descendants of Esav, our primordial enemy who destroyed Bayis Shaini and sent us into our present Golus.
Ramban continues: “Now, [Bilaam] concludes his words with the destruction of the Kittim (Romans) because they are [the nation represented by] the fourth [and final] beast [of Daniel’s dream], which is to be destroyed by the hand of the Moshiach, as [Scripture] states…. And this matter is known from the words of our Sages, that the fourth beast that Daniel saw is Rome, which exiled us, and that is [the kingdom] that will be destroyed by the hand of Moshiach [in the End of Days].” (Artscroll Ramban on Bamidbar 24:24)
My friends, please pay close attention: “Targum Yonason explains that, in the End of Days, a huge fleet of ships will depart from ‘Italy’ (referring to Edom, the Western World) and they will fight against the legions of Yishmoel (the Arab nations). In the end, both of them – Edom and Yishmoel – will fall into the hands of Moshiach and be obliterated … and Yishmoel will be destroyed.” (Translation from Redemption Unfolding)
A huge fleet is now surrounding and attacking Iran/Persia. This seems to be in accordance with the prophesy of Bilaam, but there is a question, because, at least for the moment, the fleet is on our side. If this fleet represents Edom attacking Assyria/Yishmoel, then how do we understand that it is apparently friendly toward us?
Here is a possible solution.
First, we are – as a result of two thousand years of Golus Edom – very much absorbed into the Kingdom of Edom. We will be extricated only at the Geulah Shelemah. Secondly, we do not know where the current war is going. President Trump – the friend of Israel – will not be President forever.
Today, the inheritance of Edom/Rome has passed to the United States, as the leader of the Western World. We have to remember that “Rome” is the “fourth beast,” the hated power which destroyed Bayis Shaini. They are the ones who sent us into Golus, and they are the ones who have tortured us during this entire Golus. During some periods, we have experienced the sword of Esav and during some periods the “kiss of Esav.” Esav is always dangerous, but the “kiss” may be even more dangerous than the sword!
As this mighty fleet battles the “legions of Yishmoel” before our very eyes, can we doubt that we are seeing prophesy unfold? With gratitude to President Trump, we must not lose sight of the fact that our victory will come solely through the hand of Moshiach ben Dovid.
Please remember Mitzraim. When we left Mitzraim, we had thought we were free forever, but, at the Yam Suf, we were suddenly surrounded by the vicious enemies we had thought we had left behind! Victory seemed to turn to catastrophe until Moshe told us, “Do not fear! Stand fast and see the salvation of Hashem that He will perform for you today.” (Shemos 14:13) Then, Nachshon ben Aminadav walked into the sea and it split for us!
We cannot allow ourselves to believe that the Ships of Kittim will save us. Know that our salvation comes from Above. “On high, may merit be pleaded upon … us for a safeguard of peace. May we receive a bracha from Hashem and kindness from the G-d of our salvation and find favor and good understanding in the eyes of G-d and man.” (Mishlei 3:4)
We are now surrounded by mighty events, which may be the prelude to a world of truth and salvation. May we be worthy of seeing the Ultimate Consolation with the coming of Moshiach ben Dovid, the final destruction of all our enemies and the revelation of the Bais Hamikdosh, soon in our days!
GLOSSARY
Bais Hamikdosh: the Holy Temple
Bayis Shaini: the Second Temple
Esav: the twin brother of Jacob, our primordial enemy
Geula Shelema: Final Redemption
Golus: Exile
Golus Edom: the Exile of Rome, the present exile of the Children of Israel
Mitzraim: Ancient Egypt
Possuk: sentence in the Torah
Yam Suf: the Sea of Reeds, where the Egyptians surrounded our ancestors
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