The Ramban’s Remarkable Promise About the Future Redemption

This week’s Torah portion, Ha’azinu, contains the remarkable Song of Ha’azinu, which the Ramban describes as a prophetic testimony encompassing the history and future of the Jewish people.

The Ramban writes:

“Behold, this song, which is a true and faithful witness among us, will recount in detail everything that has befallen us... This is clear, for it promises the future redemption... There is no condition in this song of repentance and service; rather, it is a document of testimony that we acted wickedly and corruptly, and that He, blessed be He, will punish us with rebukes of wrath.

“Yet He will not erase our memory; He will return and relent, take vengeance on our enemies with His hard, great, and mighty sword, and atone for our sins for the sake of His Name.

“Therefore, this song is an explicit promise of the future redemption, in spite of the minim. It is for the sake of His great Name, blessed be He.”

A Promise That Hashem Will Not Abandon His People

The Ramban cites as proof the words of Ezekiel:

“I will gather you from the lands where you have been scattered, and I will be sanctified through you before the eyes of the nations. Then you will know that I am Hashem when I act for your sake, for the sake of My Name, and not according to your evil ways and your corrupt deeds, House of Israel.”

According to the Ramban, the Song of Ha’azinu contains an explicit promise of the future redemption. Even after describing periods in which the Jewish people sin, suffer punishment, and endure exile, the song makes clear that Hashem will not allow His people to disappear.

The Ramban continues:

“Thus, this song is an explicit promise of the future redemption, in spite of the minim. This is also what they mentioned in the Sifrei (Ha’azinu 43): ‘Great is this song, for it contains the present, the past, the future, this world, and the World to Come.’

“This is what the verse alludes to when it says (verse 44), ‘Moses came and spoke all the words of this song in the ears of the people.’ It uses the word ‘all’ to teach that it encompasses all that lies ahead for them. Though it is brief in its wording, it explains its many themes.

“And if this song had been a single written prediction from an astrologer, foretelling the end from the beginning, it would still be fitting to believe it because all its words have been fulfilled until now, not one word has failed.

“All the more so do we believe and await with all our hearts the words of Hashem, spoken through His prophet, who was faithful in all His house, and whose equal never existed before or after him, peace be upon him.”

Past, Present, and Future in One Song

The Ramban presents the Song of Ha’azinu as a prophetic testimony about everything that will happen to the Jewish people. Although its words are relatively brief, they contain many layers and encompass the past, present, and future.

He emphasizes that what the song describes has been fulfilled throughout Jewish history and argues that this gives us reason to trust its promises about what is still to come.

For the Ramban, this is one of the great messages of Ha’azinu: exile and suffering are not the end of the Jewish story.

The song describes the Jewish people turning away from Hashem and the consequences that follow. Yet it also declares that Hashem will not erase His people. Ultimately, He will bring redemption and fulfill His promises.

As we approach Yom Kippur, this message carries particular meaning. These are days of teshuvah, reflection, and returning to Hashem. At the same time, Ha’azinu reminds us that beyond our individual spiritual journeys lies a much larger story, one that has unfolded across generations and, according to the Ramban, is moving toward an ultimate redemption.

May we soon merit to witness Hashem’s return to Zion and the complete redemption of Israel.