As previously discussed, the Shelah Hakadosh described the function of Karban Todah as an offering of exchange. It is brought after being saved from captivity, desert, sea and illness. The idea was to learn about the Karban Todah and daven with more awareness by the Karbanos, specifically Karban Todah and Mizmor Lisodah, with the intention to exchange this seemingly harsh and difficult times, to a time of Rachamim, compassion; in a world of Mashiach revealed , for the redemption of the hostages and for a complete redemption expedited for us all biezras Hashem.
In Divrei Hayamim the verses describe Menashe being taken captive and bound by the army officers of Assyria.
“He responded to Hashem with prayer:
וּכְהָצֵר לוֹ חִלָּה אֶת־פְּנֵי יְהוָה אֱלֹהָיו וַיִּכָּנַע מְאֹד מִלִּפְנֵי אֱלֹהֵי אֲבֹתָיו, In his distress, he entreated Hashem, Elokim and humbled himself greatly before The Elokim of his fathers.[1]
וַיִּתְפַּלֵּל אֵלָיו וַיֵּעָתֶר לוֹ וַיִּשְׁמַע תְּחִנָּתוֹ וַיְשִׁיבֵהוּ יְרוּשָׁלִַם לְמַלְכוּתוֹ וַיֵּדַע מְנַשֶּׁה כִּי יְהוָה הוּא הָאֱלֹהִים
He prayed to Him, and He granted his prayer, heard his plea, and returned him to Yerushalayim to his kingdom. Then Menashe knew that Hashem alone is Elokim.
Afterward he built the outer wall of the City of David west of Gichon in the wadi on the way to the Fish Gate, and it encircled Ophel; he raised it very high. He also placed army officers in all the fortified towns of Yehudah.
He rebuilt the altar of the Hashem and offered on its sacrifices of well-being [Shlamim] and thanksgiving,[Todah] and commanded the people of Yehudah to worship Hashem the Elokim of Israel.”
Rashi says the reason Menashe brought a karban Todah was because Hashem restored him to Yerushalayim and his Malchus. שהביא קרבן תודה והתוודה להקב”ה שהשיבו לירושלים ולמלכותו
Q: Why doesn’t Rashi say the reason he brought a Karban Torah was because he was saved from captivity? Instead he describes his offering of Todah due to being restored to Yerushalyim and to his Malchus.
In reading the pesukim, there is first a clear transformation, Teshuvah process he does internally; he humbled himself and davened until it was clear and Menashe knew with clarity : ;כִּי יְהוָה הוּא הָאֱלֹהִים, Hashem is the ONLY source of powers, The Elokim. He restores the proper balance in the world, when it is revealed that Hashem is a Unity, The Only Source of Power.
I think that part of that process, of attaching to Hashem in this manner also includes the sense of urgency for the restoration of Yerushalayim and the Malchus of Mashiach Ben David; as an expression of Hashem’s revealed Unity. It seems to me that Menashe did not only want to be released from the physical captivity of his enemies, he wanted a full restoration despite his past terrible mistakes. This was his Mashiach moment, that we can use to to seek full restoration to a world of Mashiach in which we too can bring an offering of Todah to Hashem.
May Hashem restore all our captives immediately to their homes , and all of Klal Yisrael to be restored to our true status of Mamleches Kohanim, Goy Kadosh, in Yerushalayim restored with a Shechina restored , Hashem’s Unity revealed , B’mhaira Biyameinu; in a world of Mashiach
[1] Divrei Hayamim II, 33:12-16
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Neil Wernick