As they were going along the time for prayer arrived, so they dismounted and said their prayers. While they were praying a serpent wound itself round the legs of the ass of R. Phineas, which thereupon uttered two cries. When they had finished praying R. Phineas said: ‘I can understand my animal being in pain, because earlier in the day, while I was meditating on the Torah, it took me through some filth; hence now it is being hurt. ‘ As they stood up they saw a snake coiled round its legs, whereupon R. Phineas said: “Snake, go and wind yourself round your own hole.” At this the snake dissolved and fell into pieces.
Said R. Eleazar: ‘Is God so particular with the righteous?’ He replied: ‘Verily He is, and He takes note of all their errors, and desires to raise their holiness to a still higher level. This ass has been tormented because it did not guard my holiness, and this snake was a divine messenger. And how many agents has the Almighty, even beasts of the field and even idolaters, as it says, “The Lord shall bring a nation against thee from far, from the ends of the earth” (Deut. 28, 49).’
R. Eleazar asked: ‘Does God ever make an Israelite His agent?’ He replied: ‘Yes: that is, a pious Israelite to punish a wicked one, but not one wicked one to punish another, save when he does so accidentally, as it is written, “but God deliver him into his hand” (Ex. 21, 13), in order to punish both of them.’
Said R. Eleazar: ‘How does God use such Israelites and idolaters as His agents?’ ‘Has not your father told you?’ said R. Phineas. ‘I have never yet asked him,’ he replied.
R. Phineas thereupon began by quoting the verse: “When he giveth quietness who then can condemn?” etc. (Job 34, 29). ‘When God’, he said, ‘gives quietness and ease to a man, who is there that is authorized to injure and malign him? And when He withdraws His watchful providence from him, who can keep watch over him to protect him? And in this God’s ways are “unto a man or a nation alike”- the same for the world or for a people or for an individual.
For when men’s actions are virtuous on earth, then the Right Hand of the Holy One, blessed be He, is active for them above, and many friends and protectors come forward on their behalf above on the right and on the left, and the Left Hand is subdued and kept under control. But when men’s actions on earth are not virtuous, then the Left is awakened, and all those who come from the side of the left with it, and all become agents to inflict harm on men. For all who transgress the precepts of the Law receive a mark on their faces through which they are recognized by those who rise up from the side of the left.
Hence serpents and idolaters, and all who come from the side of the left, are called “agents” in regard to those who bear this mark. Now Israelites, even if their actions are not virtuous, still come from the side of the right, but because the right has been paralysed by their actions the left has power over them, and those who come from the side of the left. Hence the agents chosen for punishing them are serpents and idolaters, and such-like who are from the side of the left, but not other Israelites, even sinners, because they are still from the side of the right.
And if it happens that a sinful Israelite falls into the hand of another Israelite sinner, this is that they may both be punished and be purified by their punishment.’ Said R. Eleazar: ‘Whence do you derive all this?’
He answered: ‘From the incident of the concubine in Gibeah (Judges xx). For though the sinners there were Israelites, God was unwilling that other sinners of Israel should be the instruments for punishing them, and therefore numbers of them fell time after time until all the sinners in the attacking army had perished, and there were left in it only those more righteous ones who could more appropriately execute the work. And even righteous Israelites are made the agents only when the two worlds, the upper and lower, are evenly balanced, and at that time [of the incident of Gibeah] they were not evenly balanced.
Hence sinners of Israel are not made the agents of the King to punish other sinners of Israel, since they do not come from the side of the left. We may illustrate by the following parable. Certain men having offended against the king, an officer was charged to arrest and punish them. One clever fellow among them went and mixed himself with the officer’s men. The officer, however, detected him and said: “Who said you could join us? Are you not one of those who have offended against the king? You shall be punished first.”
So Israel come from the side of the right and do not attach themselves to the left or mingle with it. Sometimes, however, through their sins they cause the Right to be weakened and the Left to be aroused, with all those that belong to it. Should, then, an Israelite try to insinuate himself among them, if they detect him they say: “Are you not one of those who come from the side of the right which is enfeebled because of their sins? Are you not one of those who have sinned against the king? Who allowed you to come amongst us?” So he is punished first. And King Solomon points openly to these people in the words: “What time one man hath power over another to his hurt” (Eccles. 8, 9)-verily to his own hurt, because he is not the agent of the king and does not come from that side.’
Said R. Eleazar: ‘Verily it is so, since we have learnt that there is a left and there is a right, mercy and judgement, Israel to the right and the idolatrous nations to the left. Israel, although they sin and are humbled, yet they belong to the right and do not cleave to the left nor mingle with it. Therefore it is written, “Save thy right hand and answer us” (Ps. 60, 6), for when the Right Hand is exalted, Israel that cleave to it are exalted and crowned through it, and then the Left Hand and all who come from its side are humbled with it; hence it is written: “Thy right hand, O Lord, breaketh in pieces the enemy” (Ex. 15, 6).’
עַד דַּהֲווֹ אָזְלֵי, מָטָא עִדָּן צְלוֹתָא, נַחְתּוּ וְצַלּוּ. עַד דַּהֲווֹ מְצָלֵי, קַפְטָר חַד חִוְיָא בְּרַגְלוֹי דְּחֲמָרָא, דְּרִבִּי פִּנְחָס. קִסְטָא (ס"א קפטא) וְגָעָא תְּרֵי זִמְנֵי. בָּתַר דְּסִיְּימוּ צְלוֹתָא, אָמַר רִבִּי פִּנְחָס, וַדַּאי צַעֲרָא הוּא לִבְעִירָא דִּילִי, דְּהָא יוֹמָא דָּא אַקְדִּימְנָא, וַהֲוִינָא מַרְחִישׁ בְּאוֹרַיְיתָא, וְאַעְבַּר לִי בַּאֲתַר דְּלִכְלוּכָא שַׁרְיָא, וְהַשְׁתָּא מְצַעֲרֵי לָהּ. קָמוּ וְחָמוּ חַד חִוְיָא קָטִיר אֲרַגְלֵיהּ, אָמַר רִבִּי פִּנְחָס, חִוְיָא חִוְיָא, זִיל וְאַתְחַר (ס"א ואסטר) קוּטְרָךְ, בְּקִטְפוּרָא דְּחוּרָא. אַדְּהָכִי אִתְנְשַׁר חִוְיָא, וְנָפַל קַפְסִירֵי קַפְסִירֵי.
As they were going along the time for prayer arrived, so they dismounted and said their prayers. While they were praying a serpent wound itself round the legs of the ass of R. Phineas, which thereupon uttered two cries. When they had finished praying R. Phineas said: ‘I can understand my animal being in pain, because earlier in the day, while I was meditating on the Torah, it took me through some filth; hence now it is being hurt. ‘ As they stood up they saw a snake coiled round its legs, whereupon R. Phineas said: “Snake, go and wind yourself round your own hole.” At this the snake dissolved and fell into pieces.
אָמַר רִבִּי אֶלְעָזָר, וּמַה כָּל כַּךְ מְדַקְדֵק קוּדְשָׁא בְּרִיךְ הוּא בְּצַדִּיקַיָּיא. אָמַר לֵיהּ, וַדַּאי קוּדְשָׁא בְּרִיךְ הוּא מְדַקְדֵק בְּהוּ בְּצַדִּיקַיָּיא, וְנָטִיר לוֹן, וּבָעָא לְאוֹסְפָא לוֹן קְדוּשָּׁה עַל קְדוּשָּׁתַיְיהוּ וְהַשְׁתָּא הַאי חֲמָרָא, עַל דְּלָא נָטַר קְדוּשָּׁתָא דִּילִי אִצְטָעַר. וְדָא חִוְיָא שְׁלִיחָא הַוְיָא, וְכַמָּה שְׁלוּחִין אִית לֵיהּ לְּקוּדְשָׁא בְּרִיךְ הוּא וּבְכֻלְּהוּ עָבִיד שְׁלִיחוּתֵיהּ, וַאֲפִילּוּ בְּחַיוֹת בָּרָא. הֲדָא הוּא דִכְתִיב, (ויקרא כ״ו:כ״ב) וְשָׁלַחְתִּי בָּכֶם אֶת חַיַּת הַשָּׂדֶה וְשִׁכְּלָה אֶתְכֶם. וַאֲפִילּוּ בְּיַד גּוֹי, הֲדָא הוּא דִכְתִיב, (דברים כ״ח:מ״ט) יִשָֹּׁא יְיָ' עָלֶיךָ גּוֹי מֵרָחוֹק מִקְצֵה הָאָרֶץ.
Said R. Eleazar: ‘Is God so particular with the righteous?’ He replied: ‘Verily He is, and He takes note of all their errors, and desires to raise their holiness to a still higher level. This ass has been tormented because it did not guard my holiness, and this snake was a divine messenger. And how many agents has the Almighty, even beasts of the field and even idolaters, as it says, “The Lord shall bring a nation against thee from far, from the ends of the earth” (Deut. 28, 49).’
אָמַר רִבִּי אֶלְעָזָר, וּבִידָא דְּיִשְׂרָאֵל עָבִיד שְׁלִיחוּתָא. אָמַר לֵיהּ, אִין. כְּגוֹן רָשָׁע בִּידָא דְּצַדִּיק. אֲבָל רָשָׁע בִּידָא דְּיִשְׂרָאֵל רָשָׁע אָחֳרָא, לָא עָבִיד בֵּיהּ שְׁלִיחוּתָא, אֶלָּא בְּזִמְנָא דְּאִיהוּ לָא מְכַוְּון בֵּיהּ. הֲדָא הוּא דִכְתִיב, (שמות כ״א:י״ג) וַאֲשֶׁר לֹא צָדָה וְהָאֱלֹהִים אִנָּה לְיָדוֹ. וַאֲשֶׁר לֹא צָדָה דַּיְיקָא, דְּלָא לְקַטָלָא לֵיהּ. דָּא, וְהָאֱלֹהִים אִנָּה לְיָדוֹ, בְּגִין לְאַעְנְשָׁא לְתַרְוַויְּיהוּ.
R. Eleazar asked: ‘Does God ever make an Israelite His agent?’ He replied: ‘Yes: that is, a pious Israelite to punish a wicked one, but not one wicked one to punish another, save when he does so accidentally, as it is written, “but God deliver him into his hand” (Ex. 21, 13), in order to punish both of them.’
אָמַר רִבִּי אֶלְעָזָר, הֵיכִי עָבִיד קוּדְשָׁא בְּרִיךְ הוּא שְׁלִיחוּתָא בִּידָא דְּהָנֵי, וּבִידָא דְּגוֹי. אָמַר לֵיהּ וְאָבוּךְ לָא קָאָמַר לָךְ. אָמַר לֵיהּ עַד לָא שָׁאִילְנָא.
Said R. Eleazar: ‘How does God use such Israelites and idolaters as His agents?’ ‘Has not your father told you?’ said R. Phineas. ‘I have never yet asked him,’ he replied.
פָּתַח וְאָמַר, (איוב ל״ד:כ״ט) וְהוּא יַשְׁקִיט וּמִי יַרְשִׁיעַ וְגוֹ'. וְהוּא יַשְׁקִיט, בְּזִמְנָא דְּקוּדְשָׁא בְּרִיךְ הוּא יָהִיב שְׁקִיטוּ וְשַׁלְוָה לְבַּר נָשׁ, מַאן הוּא רַשַּׁאי לְאַבְאָשָׁא לֵיהּ, וּלְמֶעְבַּד לֵיהּ קַטֵיגוֹרְיָא. וְיַסְתֵּר פָּנִים וּמִי יְשׁוּרֶנּוּ. וּבְזִמְנָא דְּאִיהוּ אַסְתִּיר עֵינֵיהּ מִלְּאַשְׁגְּחָא עָלֵיהּ, מַאן הוּא דְּיִשְׁגַּח עָלֵיהּ, לְנַטְרָא לֵיהּ, וּלְמֶעְבַּד לֵיהּ נְטִירוּ. וְאוֹרְחוֹי דְּקוּדְשָׁא בְּרִיךְ הוּא בְּדָא, עַל גּוֹי, וְעַל אָדָם יַחַד. בֵּין לְעָלְמָא כֹּלָּא, בֵּין לְעַמָּא חַד, בֵּין לְחָד בִּלְחוֹדוֹי.
R. Phineas thereupon began by quoting the verse: “When he giveth quietness who then can condemn?” etc. (Job 34, 29). ‘When God’, he said, ‘gives quietness and ease to a man, who is there that is authorized to injure and malign him? And when He withdraws His watchful providence from him, who can keep watch over him to protect him? And in this God’s ways are “unto a man or a nation alike”- the same for the world or for a people or for an individual.
תָּא חֲזֵי, בְּזִמְנָא דִּבְנֵי נָשָׁא מִתְכַּשְּׁרָן עוֹבָדִין לְתַתָּא, אִתְּעַר לְגַבַּיְיהוּ לְעֵילָּא יְמִינָא דְּקוּדְשָׁא בְּרִיךְ הוּא. כְּדֵין מִתְעָרִין כַּמָה רְחִימִין, כַּמָה נְטוּרֵי עָלְמָא, כַּמָה נְטוּרֵי דְּבַר נָשׁ, מִימִינָא וּמִשְּׂמָאלָא. וּכְדֵין אִתְכַּפְיָא שְׂמָאלָא, וְלָא יַכְלָא לְשַׁלְּטָאָה. וּבְזִמְנָא דִּבְנֵי אֱנָשָׁא לָא מִתְכַּשְּׁרָן עוֹבָדִין לְתַתָּא, שְׂמָאלָא אִתְּעַר, וְכָל אִינּוּן דְּאָתוּ מִסִּטְרָא דִּשְׂמָאלָא, כֻּלְּהוּ אִתְּעֲרוּ, וְכֻלְּהוּ אִתְעָבִידוּ שְׁלוּחִין לְאַבְאָשָׁא לְגַבַּיְיהוּ דִּבְנֵי נָשָׁא. דְּהָא אִינּוּן דְּעָבְרוּ עַל פִּתְגָּמֵי אוֹרַיְיתָא, כֻּלְּהוּ רְשִׁימִין בְּאַנְפַּיְיהוּ, וְאִשְׁתְּמוֹדְעָן לְגַבֵּי אִינּוּן דְּמִתְּעֲרֵי מִסִּטְרָא דִּשְׂמָאלָא.
For when men’s actions are virtuous on earth, then the Right Hand of the Holy One, blessed be He, is active for them above, and many friends and protectors come forward on their behalf above on the right and on the left, and the Left Hand is subdued and kept under control. But when men’s actions on earth are not virtuous, then the Left is awakened, and all those who come from the side of the left with it, and all become agents to inflict harm on men. For all who transgress the precepts of the Law receive a mark on their faces through which they are recognized by those who rise up from the side of the left.
וּבְגִין כָּךְ, חֵיוָותָא וְעוֹבְדֵי עֲבוֹדָה זָרָה, וְכָל אִינּוּן דְּאָתוּ מִסִּטְרָא דִּשְׂמָאלָא, כֻּלְּהוּ אִקְרוּן (נ"א אינון) שְׁלוּחִין, לְגַבֵּי אִינּוּן רְשִׁימִין דְּמִתְּעֲרֵי לְהוּ. וְיִשְׂרָאֵל, אַף עַל גַּב דְּלָא מְכַשְׁרָן עוֹבָדִין, כֻּלְּהוּ מִן סִטְרָא דִּימִינָא קָא אַתְיָין. וּבְגִין דְּאִתְכַּפְיָיא יְמִינָא בְּעוֹבָדַיְיהוּ, שַׁלְטָא עָלַיְיהוּ שְׂמָאלָא, וְכָל אִינּוּן דְּאָתוּ מִסִּטְרָא דִּשְׂמָאלָא, וְעַל דָּא, שְׁלִיחוּתָא בִּידָא דְּחֵיוָותָא וְגוֹי, וְכָל דְּדָמֵי לוֹן, דְּאִינּוּן מִסִּטְרָא דִּשְׂמָאלָא, וְלָא בִּידָא דְּיִשְׂרָאֵל, דְּאַף עַל גַּב דְּחַיָּיבָא אִיהוּ, מִסִּטְרָא דִּימִינָא קָא אָתֵי.
Hence serpents and idolaters, and all who come from the side of the left, are called “agents” in regard to those who bear this mark. Now Israelites, even if their actions are not virtuous, still come from the side of the right, but because the right has been paralysed by their actions the left has power over them, and those who come from the side of the left. Hence the agents chosen for punishing them are serpents and idolaters, and such-like who are from the side of the left, but not other Israelites, even sinners, because they are still from the side of the right.
וְיִשְׂרָאֵל חַיָּיבָא, דְּנָפַל בִּידָא דְּיִשְׂרָאֵל חַיָּיבָא אָחֳרָא, בְּזִמְנָא דְּלָא אִתְכַּוָּון בֵּיהּ, בְּגִין דְּיִתְעֲנְשׁוּ תַּרְוַויְיהוּ, וִיקַבְּלוּן עוֹנְשָׁא לְדַכְּאָה לוֹן. אָמַר רִבִּי אֶלְעָזָר, מְנָלָן. אָמַר לֵיהּ אִינּוּן בִּימִינָא. וְלָא אִתְדְּבָקוּ בִּשְׂמָאלָא, וְלָא אִתְעָרְבוּ בַּהֲדָהּ לְעָלְמִין, וְעַל דָּא, לְזִמְנָא אָחֳרָא אִתְעָבְרוּ.
And if it happens that a sinful Israelite falls into the hand of another Israelite sinner, this is that they may both be punished and be purified by their punishment.’ Said R. Eleazar: ‘Whence do you derive all this?’
אָמַר רִבִּי אֶלְעָזָר, מְנָא לָן. אָמַר לֵיהּ, תָּא חֲזֵי מִן (שופטים כ) פִּלֶּגֶשׁ בַּגִּבְעָה, דְּאַף עַל גַּב דְּחַיָּיבֵי נִינְהוּ, לָא בָּעָא קוּדְשָׁא בְּרִיךְ הוּא דְּיִתְעָרוּן גַּבַּיְיהוּ חַיָּיבֵי יִשְׂרָאֵל אָחֳרָנִין. וְעַל דָּא מִיתוּ (מישראל) כָּל אִינּוּן זִמְנִין דְּמִיתוּ. עַד דְּכֻלְּהוּ חַיָּיבִין דְּאִתְעֲרוּ לְגַבַּיְיהוּ, מִיתוּ וְאִתְאֲבִידוּ, וְאִשְׁתָּאָרוּ אִינּוּן זַכָּאִין יַתִּיר, דְּיַעַבְדוּן מִלָּה בְּאֹרַח קְשׁוֹט. וְאַף עַל גַּב דְּזַכָּאִין אִינּוּן, לָא אִתְיְיהִיב מִלָּה, אֶלָּא לְאִינּוּן דְּאִתְיְיהִיב. כַּד שְׁקִילָן עָלְמִין כַּחֲדָא, עָלְמָא תַּתָּאָה כְּגַוְונָא דְּעָלְמָא עִלָּאָה, וְהַהוּא זִמְנָא, לָא אִשְׁתְּכָחוּ עָלְמִין שְׁקִילָן כַּחֲדָא.
He answered: ‘From the incident of the concubine in Gibeah (Judges xx). For though the sinners there were Israelites, God was unwilling that other sinners of Israel should be the instruments for punishing them, and therefore numbers of them fell time after time until all the sinners in the attacking army had perished, and there were left in it only those more righteous ones who could more appropriately execute the work. And even righteous Israelites are made the agents only when the two worlds, the upper and lower, are evenly balanced, and at that time [of the incident of Gibeah] they were not evenly balanced.
וְעַל דָּא, חַיָּיבִין דְּיִשְׂרָאֵל לְגַבַּיְיהוּ דְּחַיָּיבִין אָחֳרָנִין, לָאו אִינּוּן שְׁלוּחֵי מַלְכָּא, דְּהָא לָא אַתְיָין מִסִּטְרָא דִּשְׂמָאלָא. מְתַל לִבְנֵי נָשָׁא דְּחָבוּ לְמַלְכָּא, אִתְּעַר סַנְטִירָא לְגַבַּיְיהוּ, לְתַפְשָׂא לוֹן, וּלְאַעְנְשָׁא לוֹן, לְאִינּוּן דְּחָבוּ לְמַלְכָּא. קָם חַכִּים חַד מִנַּיְיהוּ, וְאִתְעֲרַב בַּהֲדֵי בְּנֵי סַנְטִירָא, זָקַף סַנְטִירָא עֵינוֹי וְחָמָא לֵיהּ. אָמַר לֵיהּ מַאן יָהֲבָךְ לְגַבָּן, וְלָאו אַנְתְּ מֵאִינּוּן דְּחָבוּ לְמַלְכָּא, הָא אַנְתְּ אִתְעַנָּשׁ בְּקַדְמִיתָא, שְׁקִילוּ לֵיהּ וְקַטְלוּהוּ.
Hence sinners of Israel are not made the agents of the King to punish other sinners of Israel, since they do not come from the side of the left. We may illustrate by the following parable. Certain men having offended against the king, an officer was charged to arrest and punish them. One clever fellow among them went and mixed himself with the officer’s men. The officer, however, detected him and said: “Who said you could join us? Are you not one of those who have offended against the king? You shall be punished first.”
כַּךְ יִשְׂרָאֵל מִסִּטְרָא דִּימִינָא קָא אַתְיָין, וְלָא אִתְדָּבָקוּ בִּשְׂמָאלָא, וְלָא אִתְעָרְבוּ בַּהֲדָהּ לְעָלְמִין. וְכַד אִינּוּן גַּרְמִין בְּחוֹבַיְיהוּ, דְּאִתְכַּפְיָא יְמִינָא, וְאִתְּעַר שְׂמָאלָא וְכָל אִינּוּן דְּאָתוּ מִסִּטְרֵיהּ, אִי חַד מִיִשְׂרָאֵל קָם לְאִתְעָרְבָא בַּהֲדַיְיהוּ, אִשְׁתְּמוֹדְעָן בֵּיהּ, אַמְרֵי לֵיהּ לָאו אַנְתְּ מֵאִינּוּן דְּקָא אַתְיָין מִסִּטְרָא דִּימִינָא, דְּאִתְכַּפְיָא מֵחוֹבַיְיהוּ, וְלָאו אַנְתְּ מֵאִינּוּן דְּחָבוּ לְמַלְכָּא מַאן יָהֲבָךְ לְגַבָּן. אִשְׁתְּכַח דְּאִיהוּ אִתְעַנָּשׁ בְּקַדְמִיתָא. וּשְׁלֹמֹה מַלְכָּא צָוַוח לָקֳבְלַיְיהוּ, וְאָמַר (קהלת ח׳:ט׳) עֵת אֲשֶׁר שָׁלַט הָאָדָם בְּאָדָם לְרַע לוֹ. לְרַע לוֹ וַדַּאי, בְּגִין דְּלָאו שְׁלִיחָא דְּמַלְכָּא אִיהוּ, וְלָא אָתֵי מֵהַהוּא סִטְרָא.
So Israel come from the side of the right and do not attach themselves to the left or mingle with it. Sometimes, however, through their sins they cause the Right to be weakened and the Left to be aroused, with all those that belong to it. Should, then, an Israelite try to insinuate himself among them, if they detect him they say: “Are you not one of those who come from the side of the right which is enfeebled because of their sins? Are you not one of those who have sinned against the king? Who allowed you to come amongst us?” So he is punished first. And King Solomon points openly to these people in the words: “What time one man hath power over another to his hurt” (Eccles. 8, 9)-verily to his own hurt, because he is not the agent of the king and does not come from that side.’
אָמַר רִבִּי אֶלְעָזָר ודַּאי הָכִי הוּא, דְּהָא תָּנֵינָן, דְּאִית יְמִינָא וְאִית שְׂמָאלָא, רַחֲמֵי וְדִינָא, יִשְׂרָאֵל (לימינא), וְעוֹבְדֵי עֲבוֹדַה זָרָה לִשְׂמָאלָא. יִשְׂרָאֵל אַף עַל גַּב דְּחַיָּיבֵי נִינְהוּ, וְאִתְכַּפְיָין, אִינּוּן בִּימִינָא, וְלָא אִתְדַּבְּקָן בִּשְׂמָאלָא, וְלָא אִתְעָרְבוּן בַּהֲדָהּ לְעָלְמִין. וּבְגִין כָּךְ כְּתִיב, (תהילים ס׳:ז׳) הוֹשִׁיעָה יְמִינְךָ וַעֲנֵנִי. דְּכַד אִסְתַּלָּק יְמִינָא יִשְׂרָאֵל דְּאִתְדַבְּקוּן בַּהֲדֵיהּ, יִסְתַּלְּקוּן וְיִתְעַטְּרוּן בֵּיהּ. כְּדֵין אִתְכַּפְיָא שְׂמָאלָא, וְכָל אִינּוּן דְּאָתוּ מִסִּטְרֵיהּ, הֲדָא הוּא דִכְתִיב, (שמות ט״ו:ו׳) יְמִינְךָ יְיָ' תִּרְעַץ אוֹיֵב.
Said R. Eleazar: ‘Verily it is so, since we have learnt that there is a left and there is a right, mercy and judgement, Israel to the right and the idolatrous nations to the left. Israel, although they sin and are humbled, yet they belong to the right and do not cleave to the left nor mingle with it. Therefore it is written, “Save thy right hand and answer us” (Ps. 60, 6), for when the Right Hand is exalted, Israel that cleave to it are exalted and crowned through it, and then the Left Hand and all who come from its side are humbled with it; hence it is written: “Thy right hand, O Lord, breaketh in pieces the enemy” (Ex. 15, 6).’