At this R. Isaac fell a-trembling, and said: ‘Verily, it is written, “For three things the earth is disquieted… for a servant when he reigneth, etc.”, that is, when the supramundane principality, who was previously under another ruler, reigns, especially over Israel.’
R. Hama bar Gurya said: ‘When God allows Israel to fall under the oppression of the Gentiles He (God) weeps, as it is written, “My soul weeps in secret places” (Jer. 13, 17).’
R. Judah once visited R. Eleazar. He found him sitting deep in thought, his hand pressed to his mouth in sadness. ‘What are you thinking about?’ he asked. R. Eleazar replied: ‘It says “In the light of the king’s countenance there is life” (Prov. 16, 15), but if our Master is cast down in spirit, and even sighing and weeping, what can his ministers do but follow His example? Therefore it is written, “Behold, their valiant ones (angels) cry without, the angels of peace weep bitterly” (Is. 33, 7). Why do they cry? Because their Lord is within and they are without; because their Lord is in the inner chambers and they are in the outer courts.’
Why are they called “angels of peace”? Are there angels who are not of peace? Yea, verily! For there are emissaries both of stern judgement and of less stern judgement, and there are those whose attribute is justice mingled with mercy, and some who represent mercy only. It is these last who are called “Angels of peace”. Of the lowest degree of heavenly beings it is written, “I clothe the heavens with blackness and I make sackcloth their covering” (Is. 50, 3).
But unto what end do the principalities of the Gentile nations cause God’s children to suffer, seeing that it makes their Master grieve? They only carry out their office and they needs must do the will of their Lord.’
תָּוָוה רִבִּי יִצְחָק וְאָמַר, וַדַּאי כְּתִיב, (משלי ל׳:כ״ב) תַּחַת שָׁלשׁ רָגְזָה אֶרֶץ, וּכְתִיב תַּחַת עֶבֶד כִּי יִמְלוֹךְ. מְמָנָא דְּהֲוָה (ממנא) תְּחוֹת שֻׁלְטָנָא אַחֲרָא, וּמָלִיךְ, וְיָהֲבִין לֵיהּ שֻׁלְטָנָא, וְכָּל שֶׁכֵּן כַּד שָׁלִיט בְּיִשְׂרָאֵל.
At this R. Isaac fell a-trembling, and said: ‘Verily, it is written, “For three things the earth is disquieted… for a servant when he reigneth, etc.”, that is, when the supramundane principality, who was previously under another ruler, reigns, especially over Israel.’
אָמַר רִבִּי חָמָא בַּר גּוּרְיָא, כַּד אֲנָח לְיִשְׂרָאֵל תְּחוֹת שֻׁלְטָנוּתָא דְּאוּמִין, יָתִיב וְגָעֵי וּבָכֵי, הֲדָא הוּא דִּכְתִּיב, (ירמיהו י״ג:י״ז) בְּמִסְתָּרִים תִּבְכֶּה נַפְשִׁי. אָמַר רִבִּי יוֹסֵי, בְּמִסְתָּרִים דַּוְוקָא.
R. Hama bar Gurya said: ‘When God allows Israel to fall under the oppression of the Gentiles He (God) weeps, as it is written, “My soul weeps in secret places” (Jer. 13, 17).’
רִבִּי יְהוּדָה עָאל לְגַבֵּיהּ דְּרִבִּי אֶלְעָזָר, אַשְׁכָּחֵיהּ דְּהֲוָה יָתִיב, וִידֵיהּ בְּפוּמֵיהּ, וַהֲוָה עֲצִיב. אָמַר לֵיהּ, בְּמָאי קָא עָסִיק מֹר. אָמַר לֵיהּ דִּכְתִּיב, (משלי ט״ז:ט״ו) בְּאוֹר פְּנֵי מֶלֶךְ חַיִּים. אִי טַרְנָא עָצִיב, וְכָּל שֶׁכֵּן דְּגָעֵי וּבָכֵי, שַׁמָּשׁוֹי מַאי עַבְדֵי, הֲדָא הוּא דִּכְתִּיב, (ישעיהו ל״ג:ז׳) הֵן אֶרְאֶלָּם צָעֲקוּ חוּצָה. מַאי חוּצָה. מָרֵיהוֹן בְּגוֹ, וְאִינּוּן לְבַר. מָרֵיהוֹן בְּבָתֵּי גָּוָאי, וְאִינּוּן בְּבָתֵּי בָּרָאי. בָּתֵּי גָּוָאי מַאי אִינּוּן. אָמַר רִבִּי יִצְחָק, אִינּוּן מֵעֲשָׂרָה כִּתְרֵי מַלְכָּא.
R. Judah once visited R. Eleazar. He found him sitting deep in thought, his hand pressed to his mouth in sadness. ‘What are you thinking about?’ he asked. R. Eleazar replied: ‘It says “In the light of the king’s countenance there is life” (Prov. 16, 15), but if our Master is cast down in spirit, and even sighing and weeping, what can his ministers do but follow His example? Therefore it is written, “Behold, their valiant ones (angels) cry without, the angels of peace weep bitterly” (Is. 33, 7). Why do they cry? Because their Lord is within and they are without; because their Lord is in the inner chambers and they are in the outer courts.’
מַלְאֲכֵי שָׁלוֹם מַר יִבְכָּיוּן, וְכִי יֵשׁ מַלְאָכִים שֶׁאֵינָם שֶׁל שָׁלוֹם. אָמַר לֵיהּ אִין. תָּא חֲזֵי, אִית מָארֵי דְּדִינָא קַשְׁיָא, וְאִית מָארֵי דְּדִינָא דְּלָא קַשְׁיָא, וְאִית מָארֵי דִּינָא וְרַחֲמָנוּתָא. וְאִית מָארֵי דְּרַחֲמָנוּתָא דְּלֵית בְּהוּ דִּינָא כְּלָל. וְאִלֵּין אִתְקְרוּן מַלְאֲכֵי שָׁלוֹם. וְעַל אִינּוּן דִּלְתַתָּא, כְּתִיב, (ישעיהו נ׳:ג׳) אַלְבִּישׁ שָׁמַיִם קַדְרוּת וְשַׂק אָשִׂים כְּסוּתָם. וּכְתִיב (ישעיהו ל״ד:ד׳) וְנָמַקּוּ כָּל צְבָא הַשָּׁמַיִם.
Why are they called “angels of peace”? Are there angels who are not of peace? Yea, verily! For there are emissaries both of stern judgement and of less stern judgement, and there are those whose attribute is justice mingled with mercy, and some who represent mercy only. It is these last who are called “Angels of peace”. Of the lowest degree of heavenly beings it is written, “I clothe the heavens with blackness and I make sackcloth their covering” (Is. 50, 3).
אִי הָכִי, כָּל אִינּוּן שׁוּלְטָנִין דִּמְמָנָן עַל שְׁאַר עַמִּין, כַּד חָמָאן לְמָרֵיהוֹן עָצִיב, לְמָאי עַבְדִין פָּרוֹכָא לִבְנוֹהִי. אָמַר רִבִּי אֶלְעָזָר, לָא עַבְדִּי אֶלָּא מַאי דְּאִתְפְּקָדוּ, וּרְעוּתָא דְמָרֵיהוֹן עַבְדִּין.
But unto what end do the principalities of the Gentile nations cause God’s children to suffer, seeing that it makes their Master grieve? They only carry out their office and they needs must do the will of their Lord.’