The kings of Israel exemplify this teaching. Because of one meritorious act, they were worthy of maintaining the royal line for four generations. As a reward for destroying the idols, God told Jehu, “Your sons of the fourth generation shall sit on the throne of Israel” (cf. II Kings 10:30, 15:12).
This is difficult to understand. After the fourth generation, their greatness must come to an end no matter what they do. They can do exactly the same thing that merited this royalty in the first place and it will be of no avail. The decree is sealed and they must forfeit the throne after the fourth generation. The decree against their fathers determines their fate.
Although their ancestor earned the throne because of a certain deed, the inheritors cannot use similar merit to remain. They may do the exact same deeds as their ancestor, but these are no longer of any avail. No matter what they do,it has already been decreed that their generation will lose the throne. This is a great wonder. Understand it well.
This teaches us that God’s ways cannot be understood. It may be decreed that one person will not achieve distinction. No matter what merit he has. Yet another person may earn four generations of fame for a single worthy deed. Understand this.
מִן הִתְנַשְּׂאוּת וּגְדֻלָּה אֵין רְאָיָה כְּלָל, כִּי הַהִתְנַשְּׂאוּת הוּא דָּבָר בִּפְנֵי עַצְמוֹ.
Fame and prestige prove nothing. Status is not related to merit.
לִפְעָמִים עוֹשִׂים דָּבָר שֶׁעַל יְדֵי זֶה זוֹכִין לִגְדֻלָּה וְהִתְנַשְּׂאוּת, וְכֵיוָן שֶׁעָלָה – לֹא יֵרֵד.
One deed can result in a rank that, once attained, is never lost.
וּמָצִינוּ בְּמַלְכֵי יִשְׂרָאֵל, שֶׁבִּשְׁבִיל דָּבָר אֶחָד זָכוּ לִמְלוּכָה עַד דּוֹר רְבִיעִי. כְּמוֹ שֶׁכָּתוּב (מְלָכִים־ב י): "בְּנֵי רְבִעִים יֵשְׁבוּ לְךָ עַל כִּסֵּא יִשְׂרָאֵל".
The kings of Israel exemplify this teaching. Because of one meritorious act, they were worthy of maintaining the royal line for four generations. As a reward for destroying the idols, God told Jehu, “Your sons of the fourth generation shall sit on the throne of Israel” (cf. II Kings 10:30, 15:12).
וְדָבָר זֶה בֶּאֱמֶת קָשֶׁה לְהָבִין. עַל־כָּל־פָּנִים זֶה הַדּוֹר רְבִיעִי מֻכְרָח שֶׁיֻּפְסַק אֶצְלוֹ הַגְּדֻלָּה וְהַמְּלוּכָה, וַאֲפִלּוּ אִם יַעֲשֶׂה דָּבָר זֶה שֶׁעָשָׂה זְקֵנוֹ וְיוֹתֵר וְיוֹתֵר מִזֶּה לֹא יוֹעִיל, מֵחֲמַת שֶׁנִּגְזַר כְּבָר שֶׁאֶצְלוֹ יֻפְסַק הַמְּלוּכָה. וְהוּא צָרִיךְ לִסְבֹּל עֹנֶשׁ אֲבוֹתָיו.
This is difficult to understand. After the fourth generation, their greatness must come to an end no matter what they do. They can do exactly the same thing that merited this royalty in the first place and it will be of no avail. The decree is sealed and they must forfeit the throne after the fourth generation. The decree against their fathers determines their fate.
(נִמְצָא שֶׁהוּא פְּלִיאָה נִשְׂגָּבָה מְאֹד, כִּי אֲבוֹתָיו זָכוּ עַל־יְדֵי דָּבָר זֶה לְבַד לִמְלוּכָה עַד דּוֹר רְבִיעִי, וְהַדּוֹר הָרְבִיעִי בְּעַצְמוֹ שֶׁכְּבָר מֻחְזָק בִּמְלוּכָה מֵאֲבוֹתָיו אֵינוֹ מוֹעִיל לוֹ שׁוּם דָּבָר. אֲפִלּוּ אִם יַעֲשֶׂה אוֹתוֹ הַדָּבָר שֶׁעָשָׂה אֲבִי זְקֵנוֹ, לֹא יוֹעִיל לוֹ שֶׁתֻּמְשַׁךְ מַלְכוּתוֹ יוֹתֵר לְדוֹרוֹת שֶׁאַחֲרָיו. וַאֲפִלּוּ אִם יַעֲשֶׂה מַה שֶּׁיַּעֲשֶׂה לֹא יוֹעִיל, מֵאַחַר שֶׁכְּבָר נִגְזַר שֶׁאֶצְלוֹ יֻפְסַק הַמְּלוּכָה, וְהוּא דָּבָר תָּמוּהַּ מְאֹד וְהָבֵן).
Although their ancestor earned the throne because of a certain deed, the inheritors cannot use similar merit to remain. They may do the exact same deeds as their ancestor, but these are no longer of any avail. No matter what they do,it has already been decreed that their generation will lose the throne. This is a great wonder. Understand it well.
וּבֶאֱמֶת אֵין אָנוּ מְבִינִים דַּרְכֵי ה'. עַל־כָּל־פָּנִים נִמְצָא, שֶׁלִּפְעָמִים אֶחָד עוֹשֶׂה דְּבָרִים טוֹבִים הַרְבֵּה, וְאַף־עַל־פִּי־כֵן אֵין לוֹ גְּדֻלָּה מֵחֲמַת שֶׁמֻּכְרָח עַל־פִּי הַגְּזֵרָה שֶׁיֻּפְסַק אֶצְלוֹ הַגְּדֻלָּה כַּנַּ"ל. וְלִפְעָמִים אָדָם זוֹכֶה לִגְדֻלָּה עַל יְדֵי דָּבָר אֶחָד אֲפִלּוּ עַד דּוֹר רְבִיעִי, וְהָבֵן.
This teaches us that God’s ways cannot be understood. It may be decreed that one person will not achieve distinction. No matter what merit he has. Yet another person may earn four generations of fame for a single worthy deed. Understand this.