We learned in the Mishnah that four winds blow in the world, and the Holy One, blessed be He, will raise one spirit to establish the body to include four spirits, as it is written, "Come from the four winds, O breath" (or: spirit) (Yechezkel 37:9). It is not written, 'in the four,' but, "from the four winds," for it will be composed of the four of them. We learned that this spirit (or: wind) is the wind that procreates, the wind that eats and drinks. And there is no difference between this world and the days of Messiah's coming, save the delivery from servitude to the empires alone, and there is no difference between this world and the resurrection of the dead, save cleanliness and the attainment of knowledge. Rav Nachman added longevity.
Rav Yosef asks if the days of Messiah's coming and the resurrection of the dead are the same. He responded, No, as we have learned that the building of the Temple precedes the gathering of the exiles, which precedes the resurrection of the dead. The resurrection of the dead is the last act of all. We know this from the verse, "Hashem builds Jerusalem, He gathers together the outcasts of Yisrael. He heals the broken-hearted, and binds up their wounds" (Tehilim 147:2-3). This refers to the resurrection of the dead, which is the healing of the brokenhearted and their dead. First He builds Jerusalem; then He gathers the outcasts of Yisrael; last of all, He heals the brokenhearted.
We have learned that the gathering of the exiles preceded the raising of the dead by forty years, as it is written, "And Isaac was forty years old." What is to be made of these forty years? According to Rav Kahana, Rabbi Broka said, How many troubles, how many wars waged against the children of Yisrael will there be from the gathering of the exiles until the resurrection of the dead. He who escapes them is happy, as it is written, "And at that time your people shall be delivered, every one who shall be found written in the book" (Daniel 12:1). Rabbi Yehuda said that this teaches us, "Many shall purify themselves, and make themselves white, and be tried" (Ibid. 10). Rabbi Yitzchak added, "and will refine them as silver is refined, and will try them as gold is tried" (Zecharyah. 13:9). During these very days, there will be days when people will say, "I have no pleasure in them" (Kohelet 12:1). And from the time the troubles disappear until the resurrection of the dead there will be forty years.
Rav Huna said, Come and behold, "For the children of Yisrael walked forty years in the wilderness because they obeyed not the voice of Hashem" (Joshua 5:6). In this verse, it is the same. Rabbi Yosef said, Everything that was said is the same, but for one thing. At the end of forty years, when the troubles pass away and the wicked are exterminated, the dead, the dwellers of the dust, shall live. Why? Because it is written, "affliction shall not rise up the second time" (Nehemiah 1:9). They had their fill with what they had. After the resurrection of the dead, the world will be settled, as it is written, "on that day Hashem shall be One and His Name One" (Zecharyah 14:9).
Rabbi Elazar ben Arach was sitting and was exceedingly sad. Rabbi Yehoshua came before him and asks why the appearance of the candlelight of the world had become dark. He said, Great fear entered me, for I see how the companions versed in the Mishnah have responded on whom the spirit of saints dwells. They said that redemption will be in the sixth millennium. This was well said, but I see a longer time for the dwellers of the dust, who shall wait until the four hundred and eighth year of the sixth millennium, when they will rise. For this reason, the companions were stimulated by the verse that referred to the dwellers of the dust as the children of Chet, for Chet alludes to their rising after four hundred and eight (Heb. Chet Tav) years. As it is written, "In the year of this Jubilee you shall return every man to his possession" (Vayikra 25:13), when this (Heb. hazot) shall be finished. [The numerical value of Hazot is 5,408, as the Hei of Hazot alludes to the Hei (= 5) thousands; and Zot is 408 in numerical value]. Then, "you shall return every man to his possession," means that the body will return to its soul, which is its possession and lot.
(Further) Rabbi Yehoshua said, This time should not be difficult for you, as we have learned that there are three classes, the Completely Righteous, the Completely Wicked, and the Average. The completely righteous will rise with the resurrection of the dead of the land of Yisrael a few years earlier, namely, at the fortieth year after the gathering of the exiles. In the end, everybody will rise at the four hundred and eighth year of the sixth millennium. Who will merit this length of time? He who will keep the precepts at that time. For that reason, I am sad.
He said to him, Rabbi, we have studied the verse, "Let there be light," (Beresheet 1:2) which means let there be secret, because Light is the secret of redemption. [And the numerical value of Or ('light') is Raz ('secret'). Thus, the verse, "let there be light," hints that the time of redemption will be a secret unknown to all men. Again, he said that through repentance everyone will rise from the dead early]. Rabbi Yehoshua said, Unless you said so, we would not have left an opening for those waiting daily for redemption, as it is written, "a store of salvation" (Isaiah 33:6). What is this "salvation"? It alludes to those who seek salvation daily.
What is the opinion of Rabbi Elazar? From the verse, "And many of those who sleep in the dust of the earth shall awake" (Daniel 12:2). It is understood by, "those who sleep," (only some will rise); these are the Righteous (who repented) while they were alive, who will rise early. By how many years do they precede other people? Rabbi Yehuda replied, By two hundred and ten years. Rabbi Yitzchak said, Resh Dalet Yud ('210') years, as it is written, "Out of Jacob shall come (Heb. Yerd, Yud Resh Dalet) a ruler" (Num. 24:19). This indicates that the Righteous precede other men by two hundred and ten years. Rav Nachman said, Precedence depends on how much the body is worn in the dust. Rabbi Yosi said to him, If this be true, then there are many resurrections. All revivals will occur at the same time, as was said in the vision, "and the word was true, and for a long period ahead" (Daniel 10:1).
"And there was a famine in the land, beside the first famine that was in the days of Abraham" (Gen. 26:1). Rabbi Abahu opened the discussion with the verse, "While the king was reclining at his board, my spikenard sent forth its fragrance" (Shir Hashirim 1:12). We learned that the righteous will pass through four eras and four times, each different from the other. During the first, knowledge will increase in the world, and the righteous will conceive what they have not conceived in this world. As we have learned from Rabbi Pinchas, in the future, the perception of the righteous will be greater than that of the ministering angels, as it is written, "as the waters cover the sea" (Isaiah 11:9). During the second time, you shall be occupied. (End of Midrash Hane'elam)
מַתְנִיתִין, תְּנַן אַרְבַּע רוּחוֹת הָעוֹלָם מְנַשְּׁבָן, וְעָתִיד קוּדְשָׁא בְּרִיךְ הוּא לְהִתְעוֹרֵר רוּחַ אֶחָד לְקַיִּים הַגּוּף, שֶׁיְהֵא כְּלוּל מִד' רוּחוֹת. הֲדָא הוּא דִכְתִיב (יחזקאל ל״ז:ט׳) מֵאַרְבַּע רוּחוֹת בֹּאִי הָרוּחַ. בְּאַרְבַּע לָא כְּתִיב אֶלָּא מֵאַרְבַּע רוּחוֹת הָעוֹלָם, שֶׁיְהֵא כָּלוּל מֵאַרְבַּעְתָּם. וְתָאנָא, אוֹתוֹ הָרוּחַ הוּא רוּחַ הַמּוֹלִיד, הוּא הָרוּחַ הָאוֹכֵל וְשׁוֹתֶה. וְאֵין בֵּין הָעוֹלָם הַזְּה לִימוֹת הַמָּשִׁיחַ, אֶלָּא שִׁעְבּוּד מַלְכֻיּוֹת בִּלְבָד. וְאֵין בֵּין עוֹלָם הַזֶּה, לִתְחִיַּית הַמֵּתִים אֶלָּא נְקִיּוּת והַשָּׂגַת יְדִיעָה. רַב נַחְמָן אָמַר וְאֲרִיכוּת יָמִים.
We learned in the Mishnah that four winds blow in the world, and the Holy One, blessed be He, will raise one spirit to establish the body to include four spirits, as it is written, "Come from the four winds, O breath" (or: spirit) (Yechezkel 37:9). It is not written, 'in the four,' but, "from the four winds," for it will be composed of the four of them. We learned that this spirit (or: wind) is the wind that procreates, the wind that eats and drinks. And there is no difference between this world and the days of Messiah's coming, save the delivery from servitude to the empires alone, and there is no difference between this world and the resurrection of the dead, save cleanliness and the attainment of knowledge. Rav Nachman added longevity.
אָמַר רַב יוֹסֵף וכִי יְמוֹת הַמָּשִׁיחַ וּתְחִיַּית הַמֵּתִים לַאו חַד הוּא. אָמַר לֵיהּ, לא. דִּתְנַן, בֵּית הַמִּקְדָּשׁ קוֹדֶם לְקִבּוּץ גָּלֻיּוֹת, קִבּוּץ גָּלֻיּוֹת, קוֹדֶם לִתְחִיַּית הַמֵּתִים, וּתְחִיַּית הַמֵּתִים הוּא אַחֲרוֹן שֶׁבְּכֻלָּם. מְּנָא לָן, דִּכְתִיב (תהילים קמ״ז:ב׳-ג׳) בּוֹנֵה יְרוּשָׁלַםִ ה' נִדְחֵי יִשְׂרָאֵל יְכַנֵּס הָרוֹפֵא לִשְׁבוּרֵי לֵב וּמְחַבֵּשׁ לְעַצְּבוֹתָם. זוֹ הִיא תְּחִיַּית הַמֵּתִים, שֶׁהִיא הָרְפוּאָה לִשְׁבוּרֵי לֵב עַל מֵתֵיהֶם. בּוֹנֵה יְרוּשָׁלַםִ תְּחִלָּה, וְאַחֲרָיו נִדְחֵי יִשְׂרָאֵל יְכַנֵּס, וְהָרוֹפֵא לִשְׁבוּרֵי לֵב אַחֲרוֹן עַל הַכֹּל.
Rav Yosef asks if the days of Messiah's coming and the resurrection of the dead are the same. He responded, No, as we have learned that the building of the Temple precedes the gathering of the exiles, which precedes the resurrection of the dead. The resurrection of the dead is the last act of all. We know this from the verse, "Hashem builds Jerusalem, He gathers together the outcasts of Yisrael. He heals the broken-hearted, and binds up their wounds" (Tehilim 147:2-3). This refers to the resurrection of the dead, which is the healing of the brokenhearted and their dead. First He builds Jerusalem; then He gathers the outcasts of Yisrael; last of all, He heals the brokenhearted.
תְּנַן, מ' שָׁנָה קוֹדֶם הַקִּבּוּץ גָּלֻיּוֹת לִתְחִיַּית הַמֵּתִים, כִּדְאַמְרִינָן וַיְהִי יִצְּחָק בֶּן אַרְבָּעִים שָׁנָה. הַאי מ' שָׁנָה, מַאי עֲבִידְתַּיְיהוּ. אָמַר רַב כַּהֲנָא אָמַר רִבִּי בְּרוֹקָא, מִקִּבּוּץ גָּלֻיּוֹת עַד תְּחִיַּית הַמֵּתִים, כַּמָּה צָּרוֹת, כַּמָּה מִלְחָמוֹת יִתְעוֹרְרוּ עַל יִשְׂרָאֵל, וְאַשְׁרֵי הַנִּמְלַט מֵהֶם, דִּכְתִיב, (דניאל י״ב:א׳) בָּעֵת הַהִיא יִמָּלֵט עַמְּךָ כָּל הַנִּמְצָּא כָּתוּב בַּסֵּפֶר. רִבִּי יְהוּדָה אָמַר מֵהָכָא, (דניאל י״ב:א׳) יִתְבָּרְרוּ וְיִתְלַבְּנוּ וְיִצָּרְפוּ רַבִּים. רִבִּי יִצְּחָק אָמַר מֵהָכָא, (זכריה י״ג:ט׳) וּצְּרַפְתִּים כִּצְּרוֹף אֶת הַכֶּסֶף וּבְחַנְתִּים כִּבְחוֹן אֶת הַזָּהָב. וּבְאוֹתָם הַיָּמִים, יִהְיוּ יָמִים אֲשֶׁר יֹאמְרוּ (קהלת י״ב:א׳) אֵין לִי בָּהֶם חֵפֶץ, וּמִשָּׁעָה שֶׁיַּעַבְרוּ הַצָּרוֹת עַד תְּחִיַּית הַמֵּתִים מ' שָׁנָה.
We have learned that the gathering of the exiles preceded the raising of the dead by forty years, as it is written, "And Isaac was forty years old." What is to be made of these forty years? According to Rav Kahana, Rabbi Broka said, How many troubles, how many wars waged against the children of Yisrael will there be from the gathering of the exiles until the resurrection of the dead. He who escapes them is happy, as it is written, "And at that time your people shall be delivered, every one who shall be found written in the book" (Daniel 12:1). Rabbi Yehuda said that this teaches us, "Many shall purify themselves, and make themselves white, and be tried" (Ibid. 10). Rabbi Yitzchak added, "and will refine them as silver is refined, and will try them as gold is tried" (Zecharyah. 13:9). During these very days, there will be days when people will say, "I have no pleasure in them" (Kohelet 12:1). And from the time the troubles disappear until the resurrection of the dead there will be forty years.
רַב הוּנָא אָמַר, תָּא חֲזֵי (יהושע ה׳:ו׳) כִּי אַרְבָּעִים שָׁנָה הָלְכוּ בְּנֵי יִשְׂרָאֵל בַּמִּדְבָּר וְגו' אֲשֶׁר לֹא שָׁמְעוּ בְּקוֹל ה', כְּהַאי גַוונָא (גופא) הָכָא. אָמַר רִבִּי יוֹסֵף, כָּל אִלֵּין חַד מִלָּה אָמְרוּ, וּלְסוֹף מ' שָׁנָה שֶׁהַצָּרוֹת יַעַבְרוּ וְהָרְשָׁעִים יִכְלוּ, יִחְיוּ הַמֵּתִים שׁוֹכְנִי עָפָר. מַאי טַעֲמָא, מִשּׁוּם דִּכְתִיב, (נחום א׳:ט׳) לֹא תָקוּם פַּעֲמַיִם צָּרָה, ודַי לָהֶם בַּמֶּה שֶׁעָבְרוּ. וּמִזְּמַן תְּחִיַּית הַמֵּתִים, יִתְיישֵׁב עַלְמָא בְּיִשּׁוּבוֹ, הֲדָא הוּא דִכְתִיב, (זכריה י״ד:ט׳) בַּיּוֹם הַהוּא יִהְיֶה ה' אֶחָד וּשְׁמוֹ אֶחָד.
Rav Huna said, Come and behold, "For the children of Yisrael walked forty years in the wilderness because they obeyed not the voice of Hashem" (Joshua 5:6). In this verse, it is the same. Rabbi Yosef said, Everything that was said is the same, but for one thing. At the end of forty years, when the troubles pass away and the wicked are exterminated, the dead, the dwellers of the dust, shall live. Why? Because it is written, "affliction shall not rise up the second time" (Nehemiah 1:9). They had their fill with what they had. After the resurrection of the dead, the world will be settled, as it is written, "on that day Hashem shall be One and His Name One" (Zecharyah 14:9).
רַבִּי אֶלְעָזָר בֶּן עֲרָךְ, הֲוָה יָתִיב, והֲוה קָא מִצְּטָעֵר בְּנַפְשׁוֹי טָפֵי עֲאל לְקָמֵיה רָבִּי יְהוֹשֻׁעַ. אָמַר לֵיהּ חֵיזוּ נְהִירוּו בּוּצִּינָא דְעֲלְמָא לָמָה חֲשׁוֹכָן. אָמַר לֵיהּ, חֵיזוּ וּדְּחִילוּ סָגִי עֲאל בֵּי, דְּהָא אֲנָא חַמֵי מָה דְאִתְעַרוּ חַבְרָנָא מָארֵי מַתְנִיתָּא, דְּשָׁארַת עֲלָיְיהוּ רוּחַ קַדִּישִׁין. וְהַהוּא דְאִתְעֲרוּ, דְּבְשְׁתִיתָאֵי יְהֵא פּוּרְקָנָא, שָׁפִּיר. אֲבָל אֲנָא חַמֵי אוֹרְכָּא יְתֵירָא עַל אִינוּן דָּיְירָא עַפְרָא, דִּבְאֶלֶף שְׁתִיתָאֵי לִזְמַן (שמות י' ע"א) אַרְבַּע מֵאוֹת וּתְמַנְיָא שְׁנִין מִנֵּיהּ, יִהְיוּ קָיְימִין כָּל דָּיְירֵי עַפְרָא בְּקִיּוּמֵיהוֹן. וּבְגִינֵי כָּךְ אִתְעָרוּ חֲבֵירָנָא, עַל פְּסוּקָא דְּקָרָא לוֹן בְּנֵי חֵת, חֵ"ת, דְּיִתְעָרוּן לְח"ת שָׁנָה, וְהַיְינוּ דִכְתִיב, (ויקרא כ״ה:י״ג) בִּשְׁנַת הַיּוֹבֵל הַזֹּאת תָּשׁוּבוּ אִישׁ אֶל אֲחוּזָתוֹ. כְּשֶׁיִּשְׁתַּלֵּם הַזֹּא"ת, שֶׁהוּא חֲמֵשֶׁת אֲלָפִים ואַרְבַּע מֵאוֹת וּתְמַנְיָא, תָּשׁוּבוּ אִישׁ אֶל אֲחוּזָתוֹ, אֶל נִשְׁמָתוֹ, שֶׁהִיא אֲחוּזָתוֹ ונַחֲלָתוֹ.
Rabbi Elazar ben Arach was sitting and was exceedingly sad. Rabbi Yehoshua came before him and asks why the appearance of the candlelight of the world had become dark. He said, Great fear entered me, for I see how the companions versed in the Mishnah have responded on whom the spirit of saints dwells. They said that redemption will be in the sixth millennium. This was well said, but I see a longer time for the dwellers of the dust, who shall wait until the four hundred and eighth year of the sixth millennium, when they will rise. For this reason, the companions were stimulated by the verse that referred to the dwellers of the dust as the children of Chet, for Chet alludes to their rising after four hundred and eight (Heb. Chet Tav) years. As it is written, "In the year of this Jubilee you shall return every man to his possession" (Vayikra 25:13), when this (Heb. hazot) shall be finished. [The numerical value of Hazot is 5,408, as the Hei of Hazot alludes to the Hei (= 5) thousands; and Zot is 408 in numerical value]. Then, "you shall return every man to his possession," means that the body will return to its soul, which is its possession and lot.
(עוד) אָמַר רִבִּי יְהוֹשֻׁעַ לא תִּקְשֵׁי לָךְ הַאי, דְּהָא תָּנִינָן ג' כִּתּוֹת הֵן, שֶׁל צַּדִּיקִים גְּמוּרִים ושֶׁל רְשָׁעִים גְּמוּרִים וְשֶׁל בֵּינוֹנִים. צַּדִּיקִים גְּמוּרִים יְקוּמוּן בְּקִימָה שֶׁל מֵתֵי אֶרֶץ יִשְׂרָאֵל, מֵהַיּוֹם כַּמָּה שָׁנִים, שֶׁהֵם קוֹדְמִים בַּתְּחִלָּה, בִּשְׁנַת הָאַרְבָּעִים שֶׁל קִבּוּץ גָּלֻיּוֹת. וְהָאַחֲרוֹנִים כֻּלָּם, לִזְמַן אַרְבַּע מֵאוֹת וּשְׁמֹנֶה שָׁנָה לְאֶלֶף הַשִּׁשִּׁי, כִּדְקָאֲמָרָן. מַאן יִזְכֶּה לְהַאי אָרְכָּא, מַאן יִתְקַיִּים בְּקִיּוּם דָּתֵיהּ בֵּין הַאי זִמְנָא, וְעַל דָּא אִצְּטַעֵירְנָא בְּנַפְשָׁאי.
(Further) Rabbi Yehoshua said, This time should not be difficult for you, as we have learned that there are three classes, the Completely Righteous, the Completely Wicked, and the Average. The completely righteous will rise with the resurrection of the dead of the land of Yisrael a few years earlier, namely, at the fortieth year after the gathering of the exiles. In the end, everybody will rise at the four hundred and eighth year of the sixth millennium. Who will merit this length of time? He who will keep the precepts at that time. For that reason, I am sad.
אָמַר לֵיהּ, רִבִּי, הָא תָּנִינָן, (בראשית א׳:ג׳) יְהִי אוֹר, יְהִי רָ"ז. חָזַר ואָמַר, בִּתְשׁוּבָה יִתְקַדַּם כֹּלָּא. אָמַר רִבִּי יְהוֹשֻׁעַ, אִי לָאו דְּאֲמַרְתְּ הָכִי, אַחְסִימְנָא פּוּמִין לְמִצְּפֵּי פּוּרְקָנָא כָּל יוֹמָא, דִּכְתִיב, (ישעיהו ל״ג:ו׳) חֹסֶן יְשׁוּעוֹת. מַהוּ יְשׁוּעוֹת, אֵלּוּ הַמְצַּפִּים יְשׁוּעוֹת בְּכָל יוֹם.
He said to him, Rabbi, we have studied the verse, "Let there be light," (Beresheet 1:2) which means let there be secret, because Light is the secret of redemption. [And the numerical value of Or ('light') is Raz ('secret'). Thus, the verse, "let there be light," hints that the time of redemption will be a secret unknown to all men. Again, he said that through repentance everyone will rise from the dead early]. Rabbi Yehoshua said, Unless you said so, we would not have left an opening for those waiting daily for redemption, as it is written, "a store of salvation" (Isaiah 33:6). What is this "salvation"? It alludes to those who seek salvation daily.
מָה הוּא דַעְתּוֹי דְּרִבִּי אֶלְעָזָר. הַיְינוּ דִכְתִיב, (דניאל י״ב:ב׳) וְרַבִּים מִישֵׁנִי אַדְמַת עָפָר יָקִיצּוּ. מַשְׁמַע דִּכְתִיב מִישֵׁנֵי אֵלּוּ הֵם הַצַּדִּיקִים הַנִּקְדָּמִים בְּחַיִּיהֶם קוֹדֶם זֶה. וְכַמָּה שָׁנִים הֵם נִקְדָּמִים, רִבִּי יְהוּדָה אוֹמֵר מָאתַיִם וְעֶשֶׂר שָׁנִים. רִבִּי יִצְּחָק אוֹמֵר, רד"י שָׁנָה, דִּכְתִיב, (במדבר כ״ד:י״ט) וְיִרְ"ד מִיַּעֲקֹב וְגו'. יר"ד שָׁנָה נִקְדָּמִים הַצַּדִּיקִים לִשְּׁאָר כָּל אָדָם. רַב נַחְמָן אָמַר, לְפִי הַשִּׁיעוּר שֶׁנִּבְלָה בֶּעָפָר. אָמַר לֵיהּ רִבִּי יוֹסֵי, אִם כֵּן הַרְבֵּה תְּחִיּוֹת הֲווּ, אֶלָּא כָּל הַתְּחִיּוֹת יִהְיוּ בְּאוֹתוֹ הַזְּמַן, והַאי דְּאִתְּמָר בְּחָזוֹן (דניאל י׳:א׳) וְאֱמֶת הַדָּבָר וְצָּבָא גָדוֹל.
What is the opinion of Rabbi Elazar? From the verse, "And many of those who sleep in the dust of the earth shall awake" (Daniel 12:2). It is understood by, "those who sleep," (only some will rise); these are the Righteous (who repented) while they were alive, who will rise early. By how many years do they precede other people? Rabbi Yehuda replied, By two hundred and ten years. Rabbi Yitzchak said, Resh Dalet Yud ('210') years, as it is written, "Out of Jacob shall come (Heb. Yerd, Yud Resh Dalet) a ruler" (Num. 24:19). This indicates that the Righteous precede other men by two hundred and ten years. Rav Nachman said, Precedence depends on how much the body is worn in the dust. Rabbi Yosi said to him, If this be true, then there are many resurrections. All revivals will occur at the same time, as was said in the vision, "and the word was true, and for a long period ahead" (Daniel 10:1).
(בראשית כ״ו:א׳) וַיְהִי רָעָב בָּאָרֶץ מִלְּבַד הָרָעָב הָרִאשׁוֹן אֲשֶׁר הָיָה בִּימֵי אַבְרָהָם. רִבִּי אַבָּהוּ פָּתַח וְאָמַר, (שיר השירים א׳:י״ב) עַד שֶׁהַמֶּלֶךְ בִּמְסִבּוֹ נִרְדִּי נָתַן רֵיחוֹ. דְּתָנִינָן, אַרְבַּע תְּקוּפוֹת וְאַרְבַּע זְמַנִּים מְשׁוּנִים זוֹ מִזּוֹ יַעַבְרוּ הַצַּדִּיקִים לֶעָתִיד לָבֹא. הָאֶחָד, אוֹתוֹ זְמַן יִשְׂגֶּא הַחָכְמָה בָּעוֹלָם וְיַשִּׂיגוּ הַשָּׂגָה מַה שֶּׁלֹּא הִשִּׂיגוּ בָּזְה הָעוֹלָם. דְּתָנִינָן, אָמַר רִבִּי פִּנְחָס, הַשָּׂגַת הַצַּדִּיקִים לֶעָתִיד לָבֹא, יוֹתֵר מִמַּלְאֲכֵי הַשָּׁרֵת דִּכְתִיב, (ישעיהו י״א:ט׳) כַּמַּיִם לַיָּם מְכַסִּים. הַשֵּׁנִי תִּתְעַסְּקוּן (חסר) (עד כאן מדרש הנעלם)
"And there was a famine in the land, beside the first famine that was in the days of Abraham" (Gen. 26:1). Rabbi Abahu opened the discussion with the verse, "While the king was reclining at his board, my spikenard sent forth its fragrance" (Shir Hashirim 1:12). We learned that the righteous will pass through four eras and four times, each different from the other. During the first, knowledge will increase in the world, and the righteous will conceive what they have not conceived in this world. As we have learned from Rabbi Pinchas, in the future, the perception of the righteous will be greater than that of the ministering angels, as it is written, "as the waters cover the sea" (Isaiah 11:9). During the second time, you shall be occupied. (End of Midrash Hane'elam)