The other merchant then discoursed on the verse: “As soon as the morning was light, the men were sent away” (Gen. 44, 3). He said: ‘We have learnt that when morning comes and judgement passes away and lovingkindness seeks to awake, then all who come from that side hasten to their place to prepare blessings for the world; and this is the meaning of the words, “the morning is light”, “light” being synonymous with “good”.
Note the following series of grades. “Night” is one grade, as we know. Then “morning light” is another grade, which we also know, a higher grade which always accompanies the other. The sun is a third grade known to us which establishes all and gives light to all. Thus the “morning light” receives light from the sun, and in turn gives light to the night, so that they are all linked with one another. When this “morning light” awakes, all men are gladdened and go about their business.
And now that the day has dawned, it is time for us to go on our way.’ So R. Hiya and R. Jose blessed them and kissed them on their heads and sped them on their way. Said R. Hiya to R. Jose: ‘Blessed be God who has guided our steps aright! Verily, God sent these men to us. Blessed are they who study the Torah and do not neglect it for an instant!’ R. Hiya and R. Jose then left the cave and continued their journey. Said R. Jose: ‘Verily, my heart goes out to those merchants.’ R. Hiya said to him: ‘I am not surprised at this incident, for in the days of R. Simeon even the birds utter wisdom, for his words are known above and below.’
פָּתַח חַבְרִיהּ טָיָיעָא וְאָמַר, (בראשית מה) הַבֹּקֶר אוֹר וְהָאֲנָשִׁים שֻׁלְּחוּ וְגוֹ', מַאי הַבֹּקֶר אוֹר. הָכִי אוֹלִיפְנָא, מַהוּ בֹּקֶר. אֶלָּא בְּזִמְנָא דְּאָתֵי צַפְרָא, וְדִינִין מִתְעַבְּרָן, וְחֶסֶד בָּעָא לְאִתְּעָרָא, כָּל אִינּוּן דְּאַתְיָין מִסִּטְרָא דָּא, מְבַקְּרֵי (ס"א מפקדי) לְאַתְרַיְיהוּ, לְזַמְּנָא בִּרְכָאן לְעָלְמָא. וְדָא הוּא הַבֹּקֶר אוֹר, דְּהָא רַחֲמֵי מִתְיַשְׁבֵי לְעָלְמָא, וְחֶסֶד קָאֵי בְּאַתְרֵיהּ, כְּדֵין הוּא בֹּקֶר אוֹר. וּכְתִיב (בראשית א׳:ד׳) וַיַרְא אֱלֹהִים אֶת הָאוֹר כִּי טוֹב.
The other merchant then discoursed on the verse: “As soon as the morning was light, the men were sent away” (Gen. 44, 3). He said: ‘We have learnt that when morning comes and judgement passes away and lovingkindness seeks to awake, then all who come from that side hasten to their place to prepare blessings for the world; and this is the meaning of the words, “the morning is light”, “light” being synonymous with “good”.
תָּא חֲזֵי, כֹּלָּא הוּא בְּדַרְגִּין יְדִיעָן. לֵילְיָא, הָא יְדִיעָא. בֹּקֶר אוֹר, הָא יְדִיעָא, וְהוּא דַּרְגָּא עִלָּאָה דְּאִשְׁתְּכַח בֵּיהּ תָּדִירָא. אֵימָתַי. כַּד נָהִיר שִׁמְשָׁא. שִׁמְשָׁא יְדִיעָא, וְהוּא דַּרְגָּא עִלָּאָה, דִּמְבַסָּם לְכֹלָּא, וְנָהִיר לְכֹלָּא, כְּמָה דְּאַתְּ אָמֵר, (תהילים פ״ד:י״ב) כִּי שֶׁמֶשׁ וּמָגֵן יְיָ' אֱלֹהִים. וְהַאי בֹּקֶר אוֹר, נָהִיר מִשִׁמְּשָׁא, וְדָא נָהִיר לְלֵילְיָא. בְּגִין כַּךְ, כֹּלָּא תַּלְיָא דָּא בְּדָא. וְהַאי בֹּקֶר אוֹר כַּד אִתְּעַר, כָּל בְּנֵי עָלְמָא אִתְאַחֲדָן בְּאַחֲדוּתָא בְּחֶדְוָתָא, וּמִשְׁתַּכְּחֵי בְּעָלְמָא, וְהַשְׁתָּא הָא נָהִיר יְמָמָא, עִידָּן רְעוּתָא הוּא, לְמֵהַךְ בְּאוֹרְחָא.
Note the following series of grades. “Night” is one grade, as we know. Then “morning light” is another grade, which we also know, a higher grade which always accompanies the other. The sun is a third grade known to us which establishes all and gives light to all. Thus the “morning light” receives light from the sun, and in turn gives light to the night, so that they are all linked with one another. When this “morning light” awakes, all men are gladdened and go about their business.
בְּרִיכוּ לוֹן רִבִּי חִיָּיא וְרִבִּי יוֹסֵי, וְנַשְּׁקוּ לוֹן בְּרֵישַׁיְיהוּ, וְשַׁדָּרוּ לוֹן. אָמַר רִבִּי חִיָּיא לְרִבִּי יוֹסֵי, בְּרִיךְ רַחֲמָנָא, דְּתַקִּין אָרְחָנָא קַמָּן, ודַּאי קוּדְשָׁא בְּרִיךְ הוּא שָׁדַר לוֹן גַּבָּן. זַכָּאִין אִינּוּן דְּמִשְׁתַּדְּלֵי בְּאוֹרַיְיתָא, וְלָא אַרְפִּין מִינָּהּ שַׁעֲתָא חֲדָא. נַפְקוּ רִבִּי חִיָּיא וְרִבִּי יוֹסֵי, וְאַזְלוּ לְאָרְחַיְיהוּ. אָמַר רִבִּי יוֹסֵי, וַדַּאי רְחִימוּתָא דְּלִבָּאי קָשִׁיר בְּאִלֵּין טַיָּיעֵי. אָמַר רִבִּי חִיָּיא, לָא תַּוַּוהְנָא עַל דָּא, דְּהָא בְּיוֹמוֹי דְּרִבִּי שִׁמְעוֹן, אֲפִילּוּ צִפֳּרֵי שְׁמַיָא מְרַחְשָׁן חָכְמְתָא, דְּהָא מִלּוֹי אִשְׁתְּמוֹדְעָן לְעֵילָּא וְתַתָּא.
And now that the day has dawned, it is time for us to go on our way.’ So R. Hiya and R. Jose blessed them and kissed them on their heads and sped them on their way. Said R. Hiya to R. Jose: ‘Blessed be God who has guided our steps aright! Verily, God sent these men to us. Blessed are they who study the Torah and do not neglect it for an instant!’ R. Hiya and R. Jose then left the cave and continued their journey. Said R. Jose: ‘Verily, my heart goes out to those merchants.’ R. Hiya said to him: ‘I am not surprised at this incident, for in the days of R. Simeon even the birds utter wisdom, for his words are known above and below.’