“How the Lord has clouded the daughter of Zion in His wrath. He cast the splendor of Israel from the heavens to the earth, and did not remember His footstool on the day of His wrath” (Lamentations 2:1). “Terror [balahot] overwhelms me” (Job 30:15). Rabbi Ḥanina said: The congregation of Israel said before the Holy One blessed be He: In the past, it was I [Israel] who would terrify others, just as it says: “They hastened [vayavhilu] to bring Haman” (Esther 6:14). And another verse says: “I will render you a terror and you will be no more” (Ezekiel 26:21).1This verse is directed to Tyre, as punishment to their actions toward Israel. And it says: “Then the chieftains of Edom were terrified” (Exodus 15:15). Now it has been reversed against me. Rabbi Aḥa said: [This is analogous] to a segment of a pillar that was rolling through a plaza, and it collided with a rock and remained adjacent to it. So, “Your wrath weighs upon me” (Psalms 88:8).2The point is that when God’s wrath, which inflicts terror, came upon Israel, it remained with Israel. “It pursues my virtue [nedivati] like the wind” (Job 30:15), people who are noble minded [nedivim] and are worthy to have redemption come through them, You scatter them like the wind. “And like a cloud, my salvation passes” (Job 30:15), people who are noble minded and are worthy to have salvation come through them, You divert them and cause them to pass like clouds, as it is stated: “How the Lord has clouded the daughter of Zion in His wrath.” And it is written: “Like the nations that the Lord is eliminating from before you [so you will be eliminated]” (Deuteronomy 8:20). Say that just as those were with a priest and a prophet, so, too, these were with a priest and a prophet.3The elimination of the Canaanite nations began with the destruction of Jericho in a process led by priests and by Joshua, a prophet (see Joshua chapter 6). Similarly, Israel’s exile was foretold by Jeremiah, who was both a prophet and a priest (Etz Yosef). Just like those, it was with a shofar and shouting, so, too, these were with a shofar and shouting. And just as these were fourteen, as it is stated: “The Dinites, and the Afaresatekhites, the Tarpelites, the Afaresites, the Arkevites, the Babylonians, the Shushankhites, the Dehites, the Elamites, and the rest of the nations whom the great and honored Asenapar exiled” (Ezra 4:9–10),4The phrase “the rest of the nations” refers to an additional five nations mentioned in II Kings 17:24. These fourteen nations were exiled from their homelands and resettled in Samaria by Sennacherib of Assyria. They were all who remained of the nations that he conquered. say that these, too, were fourteen, as it is written: “On that day, his fortified cities will be like the abandoned forest and the treetop [haamir] that they abandoned” (Isaiah 17:9). What is haamir? It is as stated.5The midrash interprets the word haamir to mean “as stated [haamur],” meaning that the remnant will be as stated earlier in that passage: “There shall be left in it gleanings, as at the beating of an olive tree, two or three berries in the uppermost bough, four or five in the branches of the fruitful tree” (Isaiah 17:6). The verse mentions two, three, four, and five, which equal a total of fourteen. This is an expression of the fact that the remnant will be small in number (Etz Yosef). Rabbi Yehuda ben Rabbi Simon said: As it is stated in the Torah: “Like the nations that the Lord is eliminating from before you [so you will be eliminated]” (Deuteronomy 8:20). Say that just as these were with the collapse of the wall, as it is written: “The wall collapsed in its place” (Joshua 6:20), these, too, were with the collapse of the wall.6See Eikha Rabba, Prologue, 30, where it is asserted that during the Babylonian siege of Jerusalem the wall around the city sank two and a half handbreadths per day until the enemies were able to enter the city. Just as these were with thickets [avim], as it is written: “They go into thickets [be’avim]…and into the rocks” (Jeremiah 4:29),7In the context of the midrash, this is referring to the destruction of other nations. However, the verse in Jeremiah is actually stated regarding the destruction of Israel. Some suggest that since it has been established that the destruction of each is parallel, this verse implies that the destruction of the nations of the world will also be in this manner (Maharzu). Some suggest that the text be emended such that the citation is from Isaiah 19:1 rather than from Jeremiah 4:29 (Etz Yosef). these, too, were with avim, “how the Lord has clouded [ya’iv]…in His wrath.”
“How the Lord has clouded [ya’iv] the daughter of Zion in His wrath.” Rabbi Ḥama bar Rabbi Ḥanina said: How did the Lord condemn in His wrath the daughter of Zion?8Rabbi Ḥama interprets the word ya’iv as to condemn rather than clouded. There are places where they call one who is liable [ḥayava], ayava. Rabbi Shmuel bar Naḥmani said: How did the Lord cause pain [kayev] in His wrath? There are places that call pain [keiva], eiva. The Rabbis say: How did the Lord cloud in His wrath the vision of the daughter of Zion? “He cast the splendor of Israel from the heavens to the earth.” Rabbi Huna and Rabbi Aḥa, in the name of Rabbi Ḥanina son of Rabbi Abahu: This is analogous to a king who had a son. [The son] wept and he placed him on his knees. He wept and he placed him in his arms. He wept and he placed him on his shoulders. He made a mess upon him and he immediately cast him to the ground. His descent was not like his ascent. His ascent was in increments, but his descent was all at once. So too, “I have coddled [tirgalti]9This is from the root reish gimmel lamed, and is an allusion to placing the child on his knees, as the Hebrew word for leg is regel. Ephraim, taking them by their arms” (Hosea 11:3). Then, “I have elevated10This is an allusion to placing the child on his shoulders. Ephraim; Judah has plowed, Jacob has harrowed for him” (Hosea 10:11). Then, “He cast the splendor of Israel from the heavens to the earth.” Another matter, “He cast the splendor of Israel from the heavens to the earth.” Rabbi Yehoshua ben Rabbi Naḥman said: This is analogous to residents of a province who crafted a crown for the king. They provoked him and he tolerated them. They provoked him and he tolerated them. Then the king said to them: ‘Are you not provoking me only due to the crown with which you crowned me? Here it is, thrown in your faces.’ So too, the Holy One blessed be He said to Israel: ‘Are you not provoking Me only due to the image of Jacob that is engraved on My throne? Here it is, thrown in your faces.’ That is: “He cast [the splendor of Israel]11According to this interpretation, “the splendor of Israel” is a reference to that image of Jacob, who was also called Israel. from the heavens to the earth.”
“And did not remember His footstool [hadom raglav],” Rabbi Ḥanina bar Yitzḥak said: The Holy One blessed be He does not remember that blood [hadam] that was between the legs of the elder, as it is stated: “Abraham was ninety-nine years old when he was circumcised on the flesh of his foreskin” (Genesis 17:24). Rabbi Yudan said: [This is analogous] to a king who seized his enemies and killed them, and the residents of his province were dipping their feet in the blood of his enemies. One time, they provoked him and he expelled them from his palace. They said: ‘The king does not remember to our credit that blood in which we dipped our feet, the blood of his enemies.’ So too, Israel said before the Holy One blessed be He: ‘You do not remember to our credit that blood that was in Egypt, as it is stated: “You shall take from the blood and you shall place it on the doorposts and on the lintel”’ (Exodus 12:7). Alternatively, “and did not remember His footstool,” footstool is nothing other than the Temple. That is what is written: “Exalt the Lord our God and prostrate yourselves to His footstool; He is holy” (Psalms 99:5). “On the day of His wrath,” Rabbi Aḥa said: The wrath of the Holy One blessed be He was one day. Had Israel repented, they would have moderated it. “He called in my ears with a loud voice, saying: Those appointed over the city, approach, each with his weapon of destruction in his hand” (Ezekiel 9:1). Until when is the sin of the calf in existence?12Until when will Israel be punished for the sin of the Golden Calf? Rabbi Berekhya, and some say Rabbi Neḥemya ben Elazar, [said]: Until the calves of Yerovam ben Nevat.13Until Yerovam constructed his calves (see I Kings 12:28). That is what is written: “When I will heal Israel, the iniquity of Ephraim and the evildoing of Samaria will be revealed” (Hosea 7:1). The Holy One blessed be He said: ‘I came to heal Israel of the sin of the calf, and the evils of Samaria were revealed.’ Rabbi Yishmael bar Naḥmani said in the name of Rabbi Yoḥanan: Until the destruction of the Temple, as it is written: “Those appointed over the city [pekudot] approach, each with his weapon of destruction in his hand” (Ezekiel 9:1), and it is written: “And on the day of My reckoning, I will reckon [pakadti] their sin upon them” (Exodus 32:34). It is written: “And behold, six men were coming from the way of the Upper Gate, which faces northward, each with his weapon of destruction in his hand, and one man in their midst was clad in linen, with a scribe's inkwell at his waist. They came and they stood beside the bronze altar” (Ezekiel 9:2). It says six here, but were there not five decrees? As it is written: “And to those He said in my earshot: Pass through the city behind him and smite; let your eye not pity and do not have compassion” (Ezekiel 9:5). And it is written: “Slay utterly the elderly, the youth, the young woman and the child, and the women” (Ezekiel 9:6).14The men referred to in Ezekiel 9:2 are angels of destruction, yet there are only five groups of people mentioned in the verse as slated for destruction, so five angels should have sufficed. Rabbi Yoḥanan said: He spoke to the most severe angel in their midst, this is Gavriel, as it is stated: “And one man in their midst was clad in linen, with a scribe's inkwell at his waist” (Ezekiel 9:2).15This angel was one of the six, but it did not actually carry out the destruction. That angel served in three capacities: Scribe, executioner, and a High Priest. A scribe as it is written: “With a scribe's inkwell at his waist.” An executioner, as it is stated: “He destroyed them, delivered them to slaughter.” (Isaiah 34:2).16The verse ascribes this destruction and slaughter to “rage [ketzef],” which is identified as Gavriel (see Shabbat 55a). This destruction took place at a different time than that described in Ezekiel chap. 9. High Priest, as it is stated: “And one man in their midst was clad in linen,” and it is written regarding a priest: “He shall don a sacred linen tunic” (Leviticus 16:4). “Each with his weapon of destruction [mapatzo] in his hand” (Ezekiel 9:1), his weapons, his razing equipment, and his equipment for causing exile. His weapons, “each with his weapon of destruction in his hand,” his razing equipment, “As he renders all the altar stones like shattered limestone” (Isaiah 27:9), his equipment for causing exile, as it is written: “You are a weapon of destruction [mapetz]17This word is related to the word lehafitz, which connotes scattering and dispersal. for Me, weapons of war” (Jeremiah 51:20). And it is written: “They came and they stood beside the bronze altar” (Ezekiel 9:2). Rabbi Yehuda ben Rabbi Simon said: Until the place of its boundary.18The altar in the courtyard of the Temple was stone, not bronze (see Shabbat 55a and Rashi ad loc.), but it served the same functions as the bronze altar in the courtyard of the Tabernacle. One of its functions was to serve as a boundary beyond which non-priests were not permitted to go. The angels described in this verse were also not permitted to go past this demarcation point. The Rabbis say: They stand and call attention the sins of Aḥaz, in whose regard it is written: “The bronze altar will be for me to visit” (II Kings 16:15). What is to visit [levaker]? Rabbi Pinḥas said: He disqualified it and rendered it blemished,19It was as though all the animals sacrificed on it were blemished. just as it says: “The priest shall not deem impure [yevaker]” (Leviticus 13:36). “The Lord said to him [elav]: Pass through the midst of the city…Jerusalem” (Ezekiel 9:4). Elo is written.20The word elav is written without a yod, such that it can be read elo, which means his powerful one. Rabbi Shimon ben Lakish said: to the most severe angel among them, . “You shall set a mark [tav] [upon the foreheads of the men…]” (Ezekiel 9:4). Rav Naḥman said: These are the people who fulfilled the Torah from alef through tav.21The tav was made on the foreheads of the righteous. The Rabbis say: [It connoted] disintegration and dissolution.22The tav was made on the heads of the wicked. Rav said: A tav was placed because it connotes either side: Desolation, desolation [tihi] and live, live [teḥi].23A tav was marked on the foreheads of both the righteous and the wicked, but it connoted different things for different people. Rabbi Ḥanina bar Yitzḥak said: The merit of their ancestors has concluded [tama]. Rabbi Hoshaya sent [a message] to Rabbi Simon, saying: ‘Since you are situated in the household of the Exilarch, why do you not rebuke them?’ He said to him: ‘If only we may be among those of whom it is written, “[the men] that sigh and that cry [for all the abominations that are done in its midst”’ (Ezekiel 9:4).24It is enough for us to be pained at the sin of others, even if we do not rebuke them, and then we will be like those mentioned in the verse in Ezekiel, who were marked for life while the sinners were marked for death. He said to him: ‘But was it not from them that the calamity began? As it is written: “And to those He said in my earshot: [Pass through the city behind him and smite; let your eye not pity and do not have compassion]”’ (Ezekiel 9:5). Rabbi Elazar said: The Holy One blessed be He never associates His name with evil, but rather with good. That is what is written [in this verse]. And to those God said in my earshot is not written here, but rather: “And to those He said in my earshot: Pass through the city behind him and smite; let your eye not pity and do not have compassion.”25The verse uses the pronoun rather than explicitly mentioning God so that His name not be directly associated with destruction. “The elderly, the youth and the maiden, the children and the women you shall kill for destruction, but do not approach any man upon whom is the sign; begin from My Temple” (Ezekiel 9:6). How is it so?26The verse states that the angels were not to kill any man with a sign, indicating that the righteous would be spared, but then states that the destruction was to begin at the Temple, where there were presumably righteous individuals. At that moment, prosecution sprung before the Throne of Glory. It said before Him: ‘Master of the universe: Which of them was killed for the sake of Your name? Which of them had his brain pierced for the sake of Your name? Which of them gave his life for the sake of Your name?’27The heavenly prosecutor argued that the people had not suffered in God’s name and therefore were not really righteous. He said: ‘They do not warrant a writ of condemnation.’ Rabbi Aivu said: The Holy One blessed be He said: ‘Let My Temple be destroyed but let no hand touch the righteous.’28The righteous were to be spared but the Temple itself was to be destroyed . Rabbi Yehuda ben Rabbi Simon said: It and they warrant a writ of condemnation.29According to this view, God accepted the argument of the prosecutor and ruled that both the Temple and the righteous would be destroyed. Rabbi Tanḥuma and Rabbi Abba [said] in the name of Rabbi Abba:30The reference is to two different scholars by the name of Rabbi Abba. The Holy One blessed be He never said a positive statement and recanted, but here He recanted. That is what is written: “Begin with My Temple” (Ezekiel 9:6). Do not read it as My Temple [mikdashi], but rather as My holy ones [mekudashai]: “Begin with My holy ones.” Immediately, what is written: “It was as they were smiting, and I remained and I fell upon my face, and I cried out and said: Alas, Lord God, are You destroying the entire remnant of Israel?” (Ezekiel 9:8). “Remnant” is nothing other than the righteous; therefore he comes and says: “The Lord demolished and had no compassion.”
“The Lord demolished and had no compassion for all the abodes of Jacob; He destroyed, in His ire, the strongholds of the daughter of Judah. He brought them to the ground; He profaned a kingdom and its princes” (Lamentations 2:2). “The Lord demolished and had no compassion for all the abodes of Jacob.” Rabbi Pinḥas said in the name of Rabbi Hoshaya: There were four hundred and eighty synagogues in Jerusalem. From where [is that derived]? “Filled with [mele’ati] justice” (Isaiah 1:21), meleti31The word is written without the alef, such that its numerical value is 480: mem–40, lamed–30, tav–400, yod–ten = 480. However, it should be noted that the word does appear with an alef in extant versions of the book of Isaiah. It is possible that the Sages of the midrash had the word without an alef in their editions (Yefe Anaf). Alternatively, since the alef is not pronounced, it is as though it was written without the alef (Midrash HaMevoar). is written. Each one of them had a school and an academy, a school for Bible and an academy for Mishna. Another matter, “the Lord demolished and had no compassion for all the abodes [neot] of Jacob,” all the pleasant ones [neotav] of Jacob, like Rabbi Yishmael, Rabban Gamliel, Rabbi Yeshevav, Rabbi Yehuda ben Bava, Rabbi Ḥutzpit the disseminator, Rabbi Yehuda the baker, Rabbi Ḥananya ben Teradyon, Rabbi Akiva, ben Azai, and Rabbi Tarfon. Some remove Rabbi Tarfon and insert Rabbi Elazar Ḥarsena. Rabbi Yoḥanan would expound sixty aspects of “the Lord demolished and had no compassion.” Rabbi [Yehuda HaNasi] would expound twenty-four aspects. It is not that Rabbi Yoḥanan was superior to Rabbi [Yehuda HaNasi], but rather, since Rabbi [Yehuda HaNasi] was close to the destruction of the Temple, he would remember, expound, cry, and be consoled.32He would mourn the destruction of the Temple in a more personal way, and the elder Sages with him had personal memories of the Temple and they would all cry. Rabbi Yehuda HaNasi would then cease expounding the ways in which God did not have compassion, and would share words of consolation (Etz Yosef). Rabbi Yoḥanan said: Rabbi [Yehuda HaNasi] would expound: “A star will arise from Jacob” (Numbers 24:17), do not read it as star [kokhav], but rather as fraudulent [kozav]. Rabbi Akiva, when he would look at that bar Koziva,33Shimon bar Kokhva. he would say: ‘This is the messianic king.’ Rabbi Yoḥanan ben Torata said to him: ‘Akiva, grass will grow in your cheeks and he still will not have come.’ Rabbi Yoḥanan said: “The voice is the voice of Jacob [and the hands are the hands of Esau]” (Genesis 27:22), “the voice”—the emperor Hadrian killed eight hundred million people in Beitar.34Thus, “the voice of Jacob” cried out due to the massacre committed by “the hands of Esau” in Beitar (Etz Yosef). Eighty thousand sounders of horns were laying siege to Beitar. Bar Koziva was there, and he had two hundred thousand men with severed fingers.35He would test the courage and commitment of prospective recruits by having them bite off a finger. The Sages sent to him: ‘Until when will you cause Israel to be blemished?’ He said to them: ‘How then can they be tested?’ They said to him: ‘Anyone who does not uproot a Lebanese cedar, let him not be written on your military roster.’36Their strength could be tested by whether or not they could uproot a cedar with their bare hands. He had two hundred thousand of these and two hundred thousand of those. When they would go out to war they would say:37To God. ‘Do not help and do not hinder.’ That is what is written: “Is it not You, God, who had abandoned us, You, God, who would not go out with our armies?” (Psalms 60:12). What would ben Koziva do? He would catch a catapult stone on one of his knees and propel it and kill several of their people.38When the enemy would catapult stones, he would kick them with his knee back to them, and not only would he not be injured, but he would kill several enemy soldiers. This was a demonstration of his incredible strength. It was due to this that Rabbi Akiva said that.39That is why Rabbi Akiva thought he would be the messianic king. For three and a half years, the emperor Hadrian surrounded Beitar. Rabbi Elazar Hamoda'i was there, engaged in his sackcloth and his fasting. Each and every day, he would pray and say: ‘Master of the universe, do not sit in judgment today.’ Ultimately, [Hadrian] made up his mind to return.40Hadrian decided to return to Rome. A certain Cuthite came and found him and said to him: ‘My lord, every day that this chicken wallows in the ashes,41As long as Rabbi Elazar Hamoda’i continues fasting and wearing sackcloth, which is generally also be accompanied by placing ashes on oneself. you will not conquer it. But wait for me, as I will arrange for you to conquer it today.’ Immediately, he entered through the sewer system of the city. He found Rabbi Elazar, who was standing and praying. He made himself look as though he was whispering into the ear of Rabbi Elazar Hamoda'i. They went and told bar Koziva: ‘Your uncle, Rabbi Elazar, seeks to yield the city to Hadrian.’42The Cuthites were enemies of the Jews, and therefore it looked suspicious for the Cuthite to be whispering into Rabbi Elazar’s ear. He sent and had that Cuthite brought [to him]. He said to him: ‘What did you say to him?’ He said to him: ‘If I tell you, the emperor will kill me.43Literally, “that man.” If I do not tell you, you will kill me. But it is preferable that I have myself killed than having the secrets of the empire revealed.’ Ben Koziva thought that he44Rabbi Elazar Hamoda’i. wanted to yield the city. When Rabbi Elazar concluded his prayer, he sent and had him brought. He said to him: ‘What did that Cuthite say to you?’ He said to him: ‘I do not know what he whispered in my ear, and I did not hear anything from him, as I was standing in prayer and I do not know what he was saying.’ Ben Koziva was filled with rage. He gave him one kick with his foot and killed him. A Divine Voice emerged and said: “Woe to the worthless shepherd who abandons the flock; a sword upon his arm and upon his right eye” (Zechariah 11:17). It said to him: ‘You paralyzed the arm of Israel and blinded their right eye; therefore, the arm of this man “will wither and his right eye will go blind”’ (Zechariah 11:17). Immediately, the iniquities caused Beitar to be captured. Ben Koziva was killed and they brought his head to Hadrian. He said: ‘Who killed this one?’ A certain Gontite45According to most commentaries, this is another name for the Cuthites. Some interpret the word to mean soldier. said: ‘I killed this one.’ He said: ‘Go and bring him to me.’46Hadrian asked for the rest of ben Koziva’s body to be brought to him. He went to bring him, and he found a serpent wrapped around his neck. [Hadrian] said to him: ‘Had his God not killed him, who could have overcome him?’ He applied to him the verse: “If not that their Rock had sold them” (Deuteronomy 32:30). They were killing them until the horse was submerged in blood until its nostrils. The blood would roll boulders [weighing] forty se’a and would flow four mil into the sea. And lest you say it is proximate to the sea, it is a distance of four mil from the sea. Hadrian had a large vineyard eighteen mil by eighteen mil, like the distance between Tiberias and Tzippori. He surrounded it with a fence of the slain of Beitar.47This was to fertilize the vineyard with the flesh and blood. He did not issue a decree [allowing the dead] to be buried, until a certain [new] emperor arose and issued a decree in their regard, and they buried them. Rabbi Huna said: The day that the slain of Beitar were brought to burial, [the blessing]: Who is good and does good, was instituted.48The Sages added this blessing to Grace after Meals. Who is good, because they did not decompose, Who does good, because they were brought to burial. Beitar existed for fifty-two years after the destruction of the Temple. Why was it destroyed? Because they kindled lamps over the destruction of the Temple.49Kindling lamps was a sign of celebration. Why did they kindle them? They said: The ruling aristocracy of Jerusalem would sit in the center of the city, and when one of them would ascend to pray,50When a resident of Beitar would ascend to Jerusalem to pray at the Temple. one of them would say to him: ‘Do you wish to become a member of the ruling aristocracy?’ He would say: ‘No.’ ‘Do you wish to become a local governor?’ He would say to him: ‘No.’ [The aristocrat] would say to him: ‘I heard that you have an estate; do you wish to sell it to me?’ He would say to him: ‘I do not intend to do so.’ He would write and send his bill of sale to a member of his household: ‘If so and so comes, do not allow him to enter the estate because he sold it to me.’51After offering the resident of Beitar an elevated status or a position of authority so that he would agree to sell his estate, and being rebuffed nevertheless, the corrupt aristocrats would take matters into their own hands and write false documents of sale on behalf of the Beitar resident. That man would say: ‘If only that man’s leg would have been broken and he would not have ascended to that corner.’52The resident of Beitar whose estate was taken would say: ‘If only I had not come to pray at the Temple.’ That is what is written: “They hunted [tzadu] our steps [from walking in our squares]” (Lamentations 4:18); may the roads be desolate [tzadya] of [people] walking to those plazas.53The people of Beitar hoped that people would stop traveling to the Temple. “Our end approaches” (Lamentations 4:18); the end of that Temple,54They hoped that the Temple would be destroyed. “our days are filled” (Lamentations 4:18); the days of that Temple. They, too, their good did not last, as it is written: “One who rejoices at calamity will not be absolved” (Proverbs 17:5). Rabbi Yoḥanan said: Three hundred babies’ brains were found on a single rock, and three hundred baskets of phylacteries boxes were found in Beitar, each and every one of them holding three se’a. When you arrive at a tally, you find that there were three hundred se’a.55Each basket held three hundred se’a, for a total of nine hundred se’a. Rabban Gamliel said: There were five hundred elementary schools in Beitar, and the smallest among them had no fewer than three hundred children. They would say: ‘If our enemies come against us, we will emerge and stab them with these quills.’ When the iniquities were the cause and the enemies came, they wrapped each and every one of them in his scroll and they burned them, and I am the only one of them who survived. He applied to himself the verse: “My eye distressed my soul…” (Lamentations 3:51). There were two brothers in Kefar Ḥaruva and they would not allow a Roman to pass there whom they did not kill. They said: ‘The entire objective of the matter is to take Hadrian’s crown and place it on Shimon’s head.’56The reference is to Shimon bar Kokhva. The Romans came, and when they went out [to fight them], a certain elder encountered them and said to them: ‘May the Creator come to your aid against them.’ They said to him: ‘Let Him not help and let Him not hinder.’ Immediately, their iniquities were the cause and they were killed. [The Roman soldiers] brought their heads to Hadrian. He said: ‘Who killed these?’ A certain Gontite57According to most commentaries, this is another name for the Cuthites. Some interpret the word to mean soldier. said to him: ‘I killed them.’ He said to him: ‘Go bring me their bodies.’ He went and found a serpent wrapped around their necks. [Hadrian] said: ‘Had their God not killed them, who could have overcome them?’ He applied to them the verse: “If not that their Rock had sold them” (Deuteronomy 32:30). There were two cedars on the Mount of Olives, and beneath one of them there were four stores of sellers of ritually pure items. From one [store], they would take out forty se’a of fledglings each month, which would supply pairs of birds for Israel.58In some instances, one who is ritually impure must sacrifice a pair of birds as part of his purification process; see, e.g., Leviticus 15:29. Mount Shimon would produce three hundred barrels.59Many commentaries suggest that the text should read: Three hundred barrels of wine (see, e.g., Yefe Enayim). Why were they destroyed? If you say it was because of the prostitutes, but was there not only one young woman there and they expelled her? Rabbi Huna said: It is because they would play ball on Shabbat. There were ten thousand towns on the King’s Mountain. Rabbi Elazar ben Ḥarsom owned one thousand of them. Corresponding to them, he had one thousand ships at sea. Three of those towns, Kavul, Shiḥin, and Magdela, their taxes would be taken up to Jerusalem.60Many commentaries assert that the text should read: Taken up to Jerusalem in a wagon (see, e.g., Yefe Enayim). This is an indication that the load was heavy. Why were they destroyed? Kavul, due to strife; Shiḥin, due to sorcery; Magdela, due to prostitution. There were three towns in the south that would produce twice the number of those who departed from Egypt, and they were: Kefar Bish, Kefar Shaḥalayim, and Kefar Dikhrin. Kefar Bish, why was its name called Kefar Bish?61This name literally means “bad village.” Because they did not receive guests. Kefar Shaḥalayim, why was its name called Kefar Shaḥalayim?62Shaḥalayim means cress. Because they would produce numerous children, like cress.63Cress is an edible herb that grows quickly. Kefar Dikhrin, why was its name called Kefar Dikhrin?64Dikhrin means males in Aramaic. Because every woman there would give birth to male [dikhrin] children. Any woman who wished to bear a female would go outside the town and bear a female. Any other woman who wished to bear a male son, would go there and bear a male. But now, when you attempt to plant six hundred thousand reeds there, the space will not suffice.65How could there have been twice that number of people in these towns? Rabbi Yoḥanan said: The Land of Israel has contracted. Rav Huna said: There were three hundred stores of sellers of ritually pure items in Magdela of the Dyers, and three hundred stores of weavers of curtains in Kefar Nimra. Rabbi Yirmeya said in the name of Rabbi Ḥiya bar Abba: There were eighty brothers who were priests, who married eighty sisters who were daughters of priests on one night in Gufna, not including brothers not to sisters, not including sisters not to brothers, not including Levites, and not including Israelites.66Eighty pairs of brothers who were priests married eighty pairs of sisters who were the daughters of priests on one night, and this tally did not include marriages between priestly families in which a single son married a single daughter, and did not include weddings of those who were not priests. The fact that so many weddings occurred on one night indicates how large the population must have been. Eighty thousand young priests were killed over the blood of Zekharya.67Zekharya was a priest and prophet who rebuked the Judean aristocracy for their idolatrous practices and was killed on the Temple Mount; see II Chronicles 24:20–22. Rabbi Yudan asked Rabbi Aḥa: ‘Where did they kill Zekharya, in the Israelite courtyard or the women’s courtyard?’ He said to him: ‘Neither in the Israelite courtyard nor in the women’s courtyard, but rather in the priestly courtyard.’ They did not treat his blood like the blood of a gazelle nor like the blood of a deer. There it is written: “Any man from the children of Israel, or from the strangers who resides among them, who shall hunt game of a beast…he shall [pour out its blood and] cover it with dirt” (Leviticus 17:13). However, here it is written: “For its blood was within it; on a bare rock it placed it. It did not pour it on the ground to cover it with dirt” (Ezekiel 24:7). Why to that extent? “To arouse fury to take vengeance, I placed its blood upon the bare rock that it not be covered” (Ezekiel 24:8). Israel performed seven transgressions on that day: They killed a priest, a prophet, and a judge, they spilled innocent blood, they desecrated the Name, they impurified the Temple courtyard, and it was Shabbat and Yom Kippur. When Nevuzaradan ascended, he saw that the blood of Zekharya was boiling. He said to them: ‘What is this?’ They said to him: ‘It is the blood of bulls and sheep.’ He brought bulls and sheep but [their blood] was not similar. He said to them: ‘If you tell me, fine. But if not, I will comb the flesh of these people with a comb of iron,’ but they did not tell him. When he said this to them,68When he continued to threaten them after realizing that the blood was clearly not the blood of bulls and sheep. they said to him: ‘Why should we conceal it from you? We had a prophet, a priest, who would reprimand us in the name of Heaven, [saying] ‘Accept [my words],’ but we did not accept it from him. Rather, we rose against him and killed him.’ He said to them: ‘I will assuage it.’ He brought the Great Sanhedrin and slaughtered them onto it, but it did not rest.69He slaughtered the members of the Great Sanhedrin over the blood of Zekharya but the blood continued to boil. He slaughtered the lesser Sanhedrin onto it, but it did not rest. He brought young priests and slaughtered them onto it, but it did not rest. He slaughtered schoolchildren onto it, but it did not rest. He said to it: ‘Zekharya, I have eliminated the best of your people. Is it your will that all of them will be eliminated?’ Immediately, it rested. That wicked one contemplated repentance, and said: ‘One who eliminates a single Israelite soul, it is written in his regard: “Whoever sheds the blood of man, his blood will be spilled by man” (Genesis 9:6), this man who eliminated many souls, all the more so.’ Immediately, the Holy One blessed be He became filled with mercy for them, and He intimated to the blood, and it was absorbed in its place. Eighty thousand young priests breached the armies of Nebuchadnezzar with gold shields in their hands.70They escaped the siege imposed by the Babylonian army. They went to the Ishmaelites, who took out salty foods and inflated wineskins. They said to [the Ishmaelites]: ‘Let us drink first.’ They said to them: ‘Eat first and then you will drink.’ After they ate, each and every one of them took the wineskin, placed it in his mouth, and the wind entered his stomach and burst it. That is what is written: “A prophecy of Arabia: In the forest in Arabia you will stay the night, caravans of Dedanites. Bring water to the thirsty. The inhabitants of the land of Teima greeted the wanderer with his bread [for they wandered due to swords, due to the drawn sword and to the bent bow]” (Isaiah 21:13–15). The one who is located “in the forest” of Lebanon “will stay the night.”71The Israelites, particularly the priests, who ordinarily spend time in the “forest of Lebanon,” i.e. the Temple, would stay the night amongst the Arabs. But “caravans of the Dedanites,” is it the way of cousins to act this way?72The Dedanites are identified as the Ishmaelites, who are cousins [benei Dedanaya] of the Israelites. Is this what their Father73God. did to your ancestor? What is written regarding your ancestor? “God opened her eyes and she saw a well of water. She went and filled the skin with water, and gave the lad to drink” (Genesis 21:19). But you did not fulfill: “Bring water to the thirsty.” Was it because it was good for them that they came to you? “For they wandered due to swords” (Isaiah 21:15), it is due to the sword of Nebuchadnezzar that they wandered. “Due to a drawn [netusha] sword” (Isaiah 21:15), it is because they did not observe their Sabbatical Years properly, just as it is said: “But the seventh, you shall leave it fallow and relinquish it [untashtah]” (Exodus 23:11). “And to the bent [derukha] bow” (Isaiah 21:15), it is because they did not observe Shabbat properly, just as it is said: “In those days I saw in Judah some treading [dorekhim] winepresses on the Shabbat” (Nehemiah 13:15). “And due to the rigor of the war” (Isaiah 21:15), because they did not engage in the give and take of the war of Torah, of which it is written: “Therefore, it is said in the book of the Wars of the Lord” (Numbers 21:14). Rabbi Yoḥanan said: From Giveton to Antipatris there were six hundred thousand cities, the smallest of which was Beit Shemesh. That is what is written: “He smote among the men of Beit Shemesh…[and He smote of the people seventy men and fifty thousand men]” (I Samuel 6:19).74This demonstrates that this area was very well populated. Now, there are not even one hundred reeds there. Rabbi Yoḥanan said: Its priestly watch was the smallest of the priestly watches and would produce eighty thousand young priests. How many attacks did Hadrian launch? Two amora’im, one said fifty-two and one said fifty-four. Rabbi Yoḥanan said: Happy is he who saw the downfall of Tadmor. Why? Because it played a role in two destructions.75The destructions of the two Temples. Rabbi Yudan said: In the first destruction it provided eighty thousand archers and in the second it provided forty thousand archers. Rav Huna said: In the latter destruction they were like the first.
“He destroyed, in His ire, the strongholds of the daughter of Judah.” Rabbi Yudan said: Each and every castle that was in Jerusalem was not fit to be conquered in any less than forty days. Rabbi Pinḥas said: In any less than fifty days. But since iniquity caused [their downfall], “He destroyed, in His ire, the strongholds of the daughter of Judah, He brought them to the ground.” “He profaned a kingdom and its princes.” “He profaned a kingdom,” this is Israel, just as it says: “You will be for Me a kingdom of priests and a holy nation” (Exodus 19:6). “And its princes,” these are the guardian angels On High. You find that until the enemies came, Jeremiah would say to them: ‘Repent so you will not go into exile.’ They said to him: ‘If the enemies will come, what can they do to us?’ One [Israelite] said: ‘I will surround it with a wall of water.’ Another said: ‘I will surround it with a wall of fire.’ Another said: ‘I will surround it with a wall of iron.’76Each of them boasted that they could accomplish this by invoking the name of an angel (Matnot Kehuna). The Holy One blessed be He said to them: You are using that which is Mine. The Holy One blessed be He rose and changed the names of the angels. The one appointed over water, He tasked over fire; the one appointed over fire, He tasked over iron. They would invoke their names below, but they did not respond to them. That is what is written: “I profaned the sacred princes” (Isaiah 43:28). When the iniquities were the cause and the enemies came, they began invoking: So and so angel, come and perform such and such matter. [The angel] would say to him: ‘It is not within my ability, as I am excluded from it.’ Another matter, “He profaned a kingdom and its princes.” “He profaned a kingdom,” this is Zedekiah king of Judah. “And its princes,” these are the guardian angels On High.
“He severed in his enflamed wrath all the horn of Israel; He retracted His right hand from before the enemy. He burned in Jacob like flaming fire, consuming all around” (Lamentations 2:3). “He severed in his enflamed wrath all the horn of Israel.” There are ten horns: the horn of Abraham, the horn of Isaac, the horn of Joseph, the horn of Moses, the horn of Torah, the horn of priesthood, the horn of Levites, the horn of prophecy, the horn of the Temple, the horn of Israel, and some say, the horn of the Messiah. The horn [keren] of Abraham, as it is stated: “My beloved had a vineyard in a fruitful corner [keren]” (Isaiah 5:1).77The Sages identify the term “beloved” in the verse as referring to Abraham. See, similarly, Eikha Rabba Prologue 24; Eikha Rabba 1:1. The horn of Isaac, as it is stated: “Caught in the thicket by its horns” (Genesis 22:13). The horn of Joseph, as it is stated: “His horns are the horns of aurochs” (Deuteronomy 33:17). The horn of Moses, as it is written: “The skin of his face was radiant [karan]” (Exodus 34:29). The horn of Torah, as it is written: “Rays [karnayim] from His hand to him” (Habakkuk 3:4). The horn of priesthood, as it is written: “His horn is raised high in honor” (Psalms 112:9).78This verse refers to honor [kavod], a term used particularly in regard to priests; see, e.g., Exodus 28:2, 40 (Maharzu). The horn of the Levites, as it is stated: “All of these were sons of Heiman, the king's seer in matters of God, to raise the horn” (I Chronicles 25:5).79The reference is to a family of Levites. The horn of prophecy, as it is written: “My horn is exalted in the Lord” (I Samuel 2:1). The horn of the Temple, as it is written: “From the horns of the aurochs; answer me (Psalms 22:22).80The midrash elsewhere (Midrash Tehillim 102) relates that David prayed to God that He save him from an auroch, and promised to build the Temple in return (Maharzu). The horn of Israel, as it is stated: “He raised a horn for His people” (Psalms 148:14). And some say the horn of the Messiah, as it is stated: “Exalt the horn of His anointed one” (I Samuel 2:10).81The word Messiah [mashiaḥ] literally means “anointed one.” All of them were placed on the heads of the Israelites, and when they sinned they were taken from them. That is what is written: “He severed in His enflamed wrath all the horn of Israel.” They were given to the nations of the world. That is what is written: “Concerning the ten horns that were on its head, and the other that arose, and before which three fell” (Daniel 7:20), and it is written thereafter: “And the ten horns: From this kingdom, ten kings will arise, and another will arise after them, and he will be different from the earlier ones, and he will subdue three kings” (Daniel 7:24). When Israel repents, the Holy One blessed be He will restore them to their place. That is what is written: “All the horns of the wicked I will sever, while the horns of the righteous shall be raised” (Psalms 75:11). The horns that the Righteous One of the world severed, when will He restore them to their place? When the Holy One blessed be He exalts the horn of His anointed one, as it is written: “He will give strength to His king and exalt the glory of His anointed one” (I Samuel 2:10). “He retracted His right hand from before the enemy.” Rabbi Azarya said in the name of Rabbi Yehuda ben Rabbi Simon: When iniquities were the cause and the enemies entered Jerusalem, they took the mighty of Israel and bound their hands behind them. The Holy One blessed be He said: ‘I wrote in the Torah: “I will be with him in distress” (Psalms 91:15), and now My children are wallowing in distress and I am in comfort?’ As it were, “He retracted His right hand.”82The Hebrew phrase in the verse, usually translated “He retracted His right hand,” can also be translated “He put His right hand behind Him.” God does not respond to the atrocities and indignities committed by the enemy to His people, as though His hands are tied behind His back. Ultimately He revealed it to Daniel. That is what is written: “But you, go to the end” (Daniel 12:13). [Daniel] said to Him: ‘To give an accounting?’ The Holy One blessed be He said to him: “And rest” (Daniel 12:13). He said to Him: ‘Will I rest forever?’ He said to him: “You will stand” (Daniel 12:13). He said to Him: ‘With whom, with the righteous or with the wicked?’ He said: “To your fate” (Daniel 12:13), with the righteous. He said to Him: ‘“At the end of days [hayamim]” (Daniel 12:13),83This is when all the dead, righteous and wicked, will arise for judgment. or at the end of the right hand [hayamin]?’84This is when God will reveal His right hand and bring salvation to the righteous. He said to him: ‘To the end of the right hand; that right hand that is subjugated. I put an end to My right hand.85I put an end to the restrictions on My right hand. When I redeem My children, I will have redeemed My right hand.’ That is what David said: “So that Your beloved ones be saved, deliver Your right hand and answer me” (Psalms 60:7).
“He burned in Jacob like flaming fire, consuming all around.” Rabbi Shimon ben Lakish said: When calamity comes, it is only Jacob who senses it. What is the source? “He burned in Jacob like flaming fire.” When good comes, it is only Jacob who senses it. That is what is written: “Jacob will be gladdened and Israel will rejoice” (Psalms 14:7).
“He drew His bow like an enemy; His right hand stood as an adversary, and he killed all delights of the eye. In the tent of the daughter of Zion, He poured out His fury like fire” (Lamentations 2:4). “He drew His bow like an enemy.” Rabbi Aivu said: They did not go to extremes vis-à-vis the attribute of justice, and the attribute of justice, too, did not go to extremes in their regard.86They did not sin in an extreme fashion and they were not punished in an extreme fashion (Etz Yosef). They did not go to extremes vis-à-vis the attribute of justice, as it is stated: “The people were like complainers” (Numbers 11:1). “Complainers” is not written here, but rather, “like complainers.” “The princes of Judah were like those who move boundaries” (Hosea 5:10). “Those who move boundaries” is not written here, but rather, “like those who move boundaries.” “For like a wayward cow [Israel has strayed]” (Hosea 4:16), “For a wayward cow” is not written here, but rather, “like a wayward cow.” The attribute of justice, too, did not go to extremes in their regard. “He drew His bow like an enemy.” “An enemy” is not written here, but rather, “like an enemy.” Another matter, “He drew His bow like an enemy.” This is Pharaoh,87When the verse states that God drew His bow like an enemy, the enemy referenced is Pharaoh. as it is stated: “The enemy said” (Exodus 15:9). “His right hand stood as an adversary,” this is Haman, as it is stated: “A man who is an adversary and an enemy” (Esther 7:6). Another matter, “He drew His bow like an enemy.” This is Esau, as it is written: “Because the enemy said against you” (Ezekiel 36:2).88This chapter in Ezekiel is a continuation of chapter 35, which is directed to Se’ir, which is identified with the offspring of Esau; see, e.g., Genesis 36:8. “And he killed all delights of the eye,” these are children who are as dear to their parents as their eyeball. The Rabbis say: These are the [members of the] Sanhedrin, who are as dear to Israel as the eyeball. “In the tent of the daughter of Zion, He poured out His fury like fire.” There are four instances of pouring that are for good and four instances of pouring that are for bad. Four instances of pouring that are for good, as it is stated: “Upon the house of David and upon the inhabitants of Jerusalem, I will pour a spirit of grace and supplication” (Zechariah 12:10). “It will be, thereafter, that I will pour My spirit upon all flesh…. Also upon the slaves and upon the maidservants in those days I will pour My spirit” (Joel 3:1–2). “I will no longer conceal My face from them, as I have poured My spirit upon the house of Israel, the utterance of the Lord God” (Ezekiel 39:29). And four instances of pouring that are for bad, as it is stated: “He poured His fiery wrath upon him” (Isaiah 42:25). In Ezekiel it is written: “As You pour Your fury upon Jerusalem” (Ezekiel 9:8). It is written: “The Lord vented His fury, He poured out His enflamed wrath” (Lamentations 4:11). And this: “He poured out His fury like fire.”
“The Lord was like an enemy. He demolished Israel, demolished all its palaces, destroyed its strongholds. He multiplied mourning and moaning in the daughter of Judah” (Lamentations 2:5). “The Lord was like an enemy.” Rabbi Aivu said: They did not go to extremes vis-à-vis the attribute of justice, and the attribute of justice, too, did not go to extremes in their regard. They did not go to extremes vis-à-vis the attribute of justice, as it is stated: The people were like complainers” (Numbers 11:1). “Complainers” is not written here, but rather, “like complainers.” “The princes of Judah were like those who move boundaries” (Hosea 5:10). “Those who move boundaries” is not written here, but rather, “like those who move boundaries.” “For like a wayward cow [Israel has strayed]” (Hosea 4:16), “For a wayward cow” is not written here, but rather, “like a wayward cow.” The attribute of justice, too, did not go to extremes in their regard. “He drew His bow like an enemy.” “An enemy” is not written here, but rather, “like an enemy.” “He demolished Israel, demolished all its palaces.” Rabbi Berekhya in the name of Rabbi Ḥelbo in the name of Rabbi Shmuel bar Naḥman: Israel89The Ten Tribes. was exiled to three places. One was on this side of the Sambatyon River,90A river described as carrying stones in its current, so that it was unpassable, except for on Shabbat (see Bereishit Rabba 11:5). as it is written: “To say to the prisoners: Emerge, to those in darkness: Reveal yourselves” (Isaiah 49:9). One, beyond the Sambatyon River: “They will graze along the ways”(Isaiah 49:9); those upon whom a cloud descended and enveloped them. “And on all the bare hills will be their pasture”(Isaiah 49:9), those who were exiled to Daphne in Antioch.91Some suggest an alternate version of the text, based on the Jerusalem Talmud (Sanhedrin 11:5): Israel was exiled to three places: One beyond the Sambatyon River, one to Daphne in Antioch, and one that the cloud descended and covered them… “To say to the prisoners: Emerge,” this is to those who were exiled beyond the Sambatyon River. “To those in darkness: Reveal yourselves,” these are the ones upon whom the cloud descended and covered them. “They will graze along the ways and on all the bare hills will be their pasture,” these are those who were exiled to Daphne in Antioch (Etz Yosef). “He multiplied mourning and moaning in the daughter of Judah;” [the people were] tormented with afflictions.
“He stripped His shrine like a garden; He destroyed His place of assembly. The Lord caused festival and Shabbat to be forgotten in Zion and He scorned king and priest in His furious wrath” (Lamentations 2:6). “He stripped His shrine [suko] like a garden.” Rabbi Ḥama ben Rabbi Ḥanina said: Like a garden whose spring was removed and its greenery turned white. Rabbi Shmuel bar Naḥmani said: Like Adam the first man, just as it says: “He banished the man…” (Genesis 3:24).92Just as Adam was banished from the Garden of Eden, Israel was banished from the Temple (Yefe Anaf). Rabbi Abahu said: Suko is written with the letter sin;93A left dotted shin is found in the text, rather than a samekh. Thus, the word suko is similar to the word assuaged [shakhakha]. once Israel was exiled, the fury of the Holy One blessed be He was assuaged. “The Lord caused festival and Shabbat to be forgotten in Zion.” Is it possible that the Holy One blessed be He caused the festivals and Shabbatot of Israel to be forgotten? Rather, it is the festivals and sabbaths of Yerovam ben Nevat, that he fabricated for them. That is what is written: “In the month that he fabricated from his heart [milibo]” (I Kings 12:33). Milevad is written,94The word in the verse in Kings is written milevad but pronounced milibo. just as it says: “Beside the [milevad] Sabbaths of the Lord” (Leviticus 23:38). “He scorned king and priest in His furious wrath.” “King,” this is Zedekiah. “And priest,” this is Seraya ben Maḥsaya.95Zedekiah and Seraya were the king and High Priest, respectively, at the time of the destruction of the Temple. The destruction took place despite their personal piety (Yefe Anaf).
“The Lord forsook His altar, cursed His Temple; He gave into the hand of the enemy the walls of its palaces. They raised their voice in the House of the Lord, like a day of festival” (Lamentations 2:7) “The Lord forsook His altar.” Rabbi Ḥagai said in the name of Rabbi Yitzḥak: [This is analogous] to the residents of a province who set tables for the king. They provoked him and he tolerated them. The king said to them: ‘Are you not provoking me only due to the table that you set for me? Here it is thrown in your faces.’ So too, the Holy One blessed be He said to Israel: ‘Are you not angering Me only due to the offerings that you sacrificed to Me? Here it is thrown in your faces.’ That is what is written: “The Lord forsook His altar, cursed His Temple.” Rabbi Berekhya, Rabbi Ḥelbo, and Rabbi Aivu said in the name of Rabbi Shmuel bar Naḥmani: You find that at the moment that the gentiles entered the Temple they placed their hands under the nape of their necks, turned their faces upward, and cursed and blasphemed. They crafted an enclosure [masger] of spears with their tips in the ground.96This was in order to imprison the priests that they captured, and to express their contempt for the Temple by sticking their spears into its floor (Midrash HaMevoar). That is what is written: “He gave [hisgir] into the hand of the enemy the walls of its palaces. They raised their voice in the House of the Lord, like a day of festival.” Rabbi Ḥanina, Rabbi Aḥa, and Rabbi Meyasha said in the name of Rabbi Yanai: It was due to that voice that Babylon fell, as it is written: “Fallen, fallen is Babylon, and all the statues of its gods are broken to the ground” (Isaiah 21:9).97A previous verse in the passage states “he will listen very attentively” (Isaiah 21:7), an allusion to the blasphemous statements of the Babylonians (Maharzu). Rabbi Berekhya, Rabbi Ḥelbo, and Rabbi Aivu said in the name of Rabbi Shmuel bar Naḥmani: This kingdom,98Rome. too, did likewise. That is what is written: “They raised their voice in the House of the Lord, like a day of festival.” Rabbi Huna, Rabbi Aḥa, and Rabbi Meyasha [said] in the name of Rabbi Yanai: It too is supposed to fall only due to that voice. That is what is written: “From the sound of Babylon being seized” (Jeremiah 50:46).99The midrash interprets the verse to mean: Due to the sound, Babylon was seized. Rabbi Yehoshua ben Levi said: The sound of troubles, disturbances, and darkness ascends to the great city of Tyre.100Tyre is used here as a reference to Rome. See, in this regard, Bereishit Rabba 61:7. Why? Because the voice of Esau is prosecuting.101There is prosecution against it in heaven due to the ‘voice of Esau,’ the blasphemy of Rome. That is what is written: “The sound of tumult comes from the city, a sound from the Sanctuary: the sound of the Lord exacting retribution upon His enemies” (Isaiah 66:6).
“The Lord resolved to destroy the wall of the daughter of Zion. He drew a line, did not withdraw His hand from demolishing. He caused the rampart and wall to mourn, together they languish” (Lamentations 2:8). “The Lord resolved to destroy the wall of the daughter of Zion.” Rabbi Yoḥanan said: It was not from the proclamation.102God had decided to destroy Jerusalem long before the destruction was announced by the prophets (Matnot Kehuna). That is what is written: “For this city [has been a cause of My wrath and of My anger from the day that they built it until this day, to remove it from My presence]” (Jeremiah 32:31). Rabbi Eilam said: Like a person who is passing in a disgusting place and wrinkles his nose.103The Hebrew word for “My anger” [api] can also be translated “my nose” (Matnot Kehuna). “He drew a line.” There is a line for good and there is a line for bad. For good, “And a line shall be stretched forth over Jerusalem” (Zechariah 1:16). A line for bad, this one: “He drew a line.” “Did not withdraw His hand from demolishing. He caused the rampart and wall to mourn, together they languish,” like that which Rabbi Huna son of Rabbi Aḥa said: A wall and a secondary wall.
“Its gates sank into the ground; He eradicated and broke its bars. Its king and its princes are among the nations; there is no Torah; its prophets, too, could not find a vision from the Lord” (Lamentations 2:9). “Its gates sank into the ground,” Rabbi Huna said in the name of Rabbi Yosei: Gates accorded honor to the Ark; therefore, the enemy did not take control of them. That is what is written: “Lift your heads, gates, [and be lifted up, everlasting doors, that the King of glory may come in]” (Psalms 24:7).104The Gemara (Shabbat 30a) relates that when Solomon sought to bring the Ark into the Temple, the gates would not open until he recited this verse. That is why “its gates sank into the ground; He eradicated and broke its bars.” “Its king and its princes are among the nations; there is no Torah.” If a person will say to you: ‘There is wisdom among the nations,’ believe it. That is what is written: “I will eliminate the wise from Edom, and understanding from the mountain of Esau” (Obadiah 1:8). [If a person will say:] ‘There is Torah among the nations,’ do not believe it, as it is written: “Its king and its princes are among the nations; there is no Torah.” “Its prophets,” these are the false prophets. “Its prophets, too,” these are the true prophets.105The extraneous word “too” indicates that even the real prophets were no longer granted prophecy. These and those “could not find a vision from the Lord.”
“The elders of the daughter of Zion sit on the ground, are silent. They have placed dust on their heads, have girded themselves with sackcloth. The virgins of Jerusalem have lowered their heads to the ground” (Lamentations 2:10). “The elders of the daughter of Zion sit on the ground, are silent.” Rabbi Elazar said: Let the portion of vows not be insignificant in your eyes, as it is on account of the portion of vows that the Great Sanhedrin of Zedekiah were killed. When Yekhonya was exiled, King Nebuchadnezzar appointed him106Zedekiah. over five kings. That is what is written: “Send to the king of Edom, to the king of Moav, to the king of the children of Ammon, to the king of Tyre and to the king of Sidon, in the hand of the messengers who come to Jerusalem to Zedekiah, king of Judah” (Jeremiah 27:3). He would enter and exit before him without permission.107Zedekiah had unfettered access to Nebuchadnezzar. One day, he entered before him and saw that he was ripping the flesh of a hare and eating it raw. [Nebuchadnezzar] said to him: ‘Take an oath to me that you will not publicize this about me,’ and he took an oath to him. On what did he administer the oath to [Zedekiah]? Rabbi Yosei ben Rabbi Ḥanina said: On the inner altar. The five kings were sitting and maligning Nebuchadnezzar before Zedekiah and saying to him: ‘The kingdom is not suitable for Nebuchadnezzar, but rather it is suitable for you, as you are from the offspring of David.’ He, too, maligned Nebuchadnezzar and said: ‘I saw that he was ripping the flesh of a hare and eating it.’ Immediately, they sent [a message] to the king, saying: ‘This Jew who enters and exits before you without permission said about you: I saw that Nebuchadnezzar was ripping the flesh of a hare and eating it.’ That is what is written: “Zedekiah rebelled against the king of Babylon” (II Kings 24:20). Immediately, he108Nebuchadnezzar. came and settled in Daphne of Antioch and the Great Sanhedrin went to greet him. When he saw that they were all men of noble form, he issued a command and had seats of honor brought for them, and he seated them. He said to them: ‘Teach me the Torah.’ Immediately they began reading each and every portion and translating it before him. When they reached the portion of vows: “A man who takes a vow” (Numbers 30:3), he said to them: ‘If he wishes to renege on it, can he or can he not do so?’ They said to him: ‘He can go to a Sage and [the Sage] can nullify his vow for him.’ He said to them: ‘It seems to me that you nullified for Zedekiah the oath that he took to me.’ Immediately, he decreed and had them placed down on the ground. That is what is written: “The elders of the daughter of Zion sit on the ground, are silent.” “They have placed dust [on their heads],” they began mentioning the merit of Abraham, as it is written: “I am dust and ashes” (Genesis 18:27). “Have girded themselves with sackcloth,” they began mentioning the merit of Jacob, as it is written: “He placed sackcloth on his loins” (Genesis 37:34).109The Sages began to pray to God for mercy in the merit of Abraham and Jacob, both of whom took oaths and were careful to fulfill them (Etz Yosef; see Genesis 14:22, 28:20). What did they do to them? They tied their hair to horses’ tails and had them run from Jerusalem to Lod. That is what is written: “The virgins of Jerusalem have lowered their heads to the ground.”110They did so in mourning for the Sages. Alternatively, the Sages are alluded to with the term virgins because of their purity.
“My eyes fail from tears; my innards burn; my liver is poured on the earth over the disaster of the daughter of my people, as the infants and the sucklings faint in the city squares” (Lamentations 2:11). “My eyes fail from tears.” Rabbi Elazar said: Limitations were imposed on the eye.111There is a limit to the functional abilities of the eye; if one cries too much, it will affect his vision (Etz Yosef). [There are tears that are beneficial:] The tear caused by a drug, the tear caused by mustard, and the tear caused by eye balm; and the tear of laughter is the best of all. There are three harmful tears: The tear caused by smoke, the tear caused by weeping, and the tear caused by the lavatory;112This is when one suffers from an intestinal malady. and the tear over a young person is the worst of all. There was an incident involving a certain woman who had a young son who died. She cried over him at nights until her eyelashes fell out. She went to a doctor. He said to her: ‘Apply some of this eye paste and you will feel relief.’ “My liver is poured on the earth.” There was an incident involving a certain man who had a young son who died. He cried over him at nights until his liver dropped. He said: ‘The liver of this man has already dropped, who will cry over him? But it was to no avail for me.’113The man said: I am going to die because of the medical damage caused by my crying, but my crying did not accomplish anything. Similarly, the verse bemoans the effects of the crying in the aftermath of the destruction, which did not accomplish anything, as salvation did not arrive and the Temple remained destroyed.
“To their mothers they say: Where is grain and wine? While fainting like corpses in the city squares, while their souls are poured into their mothers' bosoms” (Lamentations 2:12). “To their mothers they say: Where is grain and wine?” Rabbi Ḥanina said: Five loaves and spiced wine. Rabbi Simon said: Fine loaves and aged wine.114They asked for fine foods, to which they had been accustomed. This fact caused them to suffer even more when even simple foods were no longer available. “While fainting like the wounded in the city squares,” there was a woman who said to her husband: ‘Take a bracelet or an earring and ascend to the marketplace so that if you find something we will eat.’ He went to the marketplace and looked but did not find anything, and he was writhing and he died. She said to her son: ‘See what your father is doing.’ He ascended to the marketplace and saw his father dead, and he was writhing, and he died alongside him. That is what is written: “While fainting like corpses in the city squares,” this is her husband and her eldest son. “While their souls are poured into their mothers' bosoms,” a young son would seek to suckle but would not find milk, and would writhe and die.
“What shall I attest to you, to what shall I liken you, daughter of Jerusalem? To what shall I equate you, and comfort you, virgin daughter of Zion? For your breach is as vast as the sea; who can heal you?” (Lamentations 2:13). “What shall I attest to you [a’idekh], to what shall I liken you?” How many prophets have I sent to warn [he’adti] you! Rabbi [Yehuda HaNasi] and Rabbi Natan, Rabbi [Yehuda HaNasi] said: One prophet in the morning and one prophet at dusk. That is what is written: “The Lord warned Israel and Judah by means of every prophet and every seer” (II Kings 17:13). Rabbi Natan said: Two prophets in the morning and two prophets in the evening. That is what is written: “I sent to you all My servants the prophets daily, time and again” (Jeremiah 7:25); “time,” in the morning, “and again,” in the evening. Another matter, “what shall I attest to you [a’idekh]?” How many plunders have I given you? The plunder of Egypt, the plunder at the sea, the plunder of Siḥon and Og, the plunder of the thirty-one kings. In Arabia they call plunder adita. Another matter, “what shall I attest to you [a’idekh]?” How many communions [viudin] have I communed with you: the Tent of Meeting, Gilgal, Shilo, Nov, Givon, and the two Temples. Another matter, “what shall I attest to you [a’idekh]?” Rabbi [Yehuda HaNasi] says: With how many ornaments have I adorned you! Rabbi Yoḥanan said: Six hundred thousand ministering angels descended with the Holy One blessed be He at Sinai, and there was a crown in the hand of each and every one of them, to crown each and every one of Israel. Rabbi Abba bar Kahana said in the name of Rabbi Yoḥanan: One million two hundred thousand descended; one adorned [an Israelite], and one placed a crown on him. Rabbi Huna of Tzippori said: A weapon belt, just as it says: “He removes the restraints of kings and binds a belt on their waists” (Job 12:18). “To what shall I liken you?” To what nation did I liken you? Which nation did I redeem with a mighty arm and bring upon its enemies ten plagues? For what nation did I split the sea, rain manna, swarm quails, and raise a well of water? Which nation did I envelop with the clouds of glory, bring near Mount Sinai, and give them My Torah? “Daughter of Jerusalem [Yerushalayim], the daughter who fears [yere’a] and is complete [umushlemet] for Me. “To what shall I equate you, and comfort you?” Rabbi Yaakov of Kefar Ḥanan said: When I will equate them to you, I will comfort you. When the day of which it is written: “The Lord will be exalted” (Isaiah 2:11) arrives, then I will comfort you. “Virgin daughter of Zion [tziyon],” children who are distinguished [metzuyanim] through circumcision, through haircuts, and through ritual fringes. “For your breach is as vast as the sea; [who can heal you?]” Rabbi Ḥolfai said: He who is destined to heal the breach in the sea, He will heal you. Rabbi Avin said: He, before whom you recited song at the sea: “This is my God and I will exalt Him” (Exodus 15:2), He will heal you. Rabbi Yehoshua ben Levi said: He will heal your prophets for you.115He will cause the prophets to give real prophecies, rather than the false prophecies that led Israel astray, as indicated in the upcoming section. Alternatively, the meaning is: Who should heal you? Your prophets (see Etz Yosef).
“Your prophets envisioned futility and impropriety for you and did not reveal your iniquity to bring about your rehabilitation. They envisioned for you prophecies of futility and deviance” (Lamentations 2:14). “Your prophets envisioned futility and impropriety for you,” Rabbi Elazar said: Impropriety is stated regarding the prophets of Samaria, as it is stated: “Among the prophets of Samaria I have seen impropriety” (Jeremiah 23:13). Impropriety is stated regarding the prophets of Jerusalem. That is what is written: “Futility and impropriety.” Rabbi Shmuel bar Naḥmani said: Scandal is stated regarding the prophets of Jerusalem, as it is stated: “Among the prophets of Jerusalem I have seen scandal” (Jeremiah 23:14). Scandal is stated regarding the house of Israel, as it is written: “The virgin of Israel has often performed scandal” (Jeremiah 18:13). “And did not reveal your iniquity to bring about your rehabilitation,” they would cure your wounds superficially. “They envisioned for you prophecies of futility and deviance [umaduḥim], it is written madiḥam.116The word maduḥim is written without a yod, such that it can be read madiḥam, meaning those who have pushed them into exile.
“All wayfarers clapped their hands over you; they whistled and shook their heads at the daughter of Jerusalem: Is this the city that was said to be perfect beauty, the joy of the entire earth?” (Lamentations 2:15). They “clapped their hands over you.” Rabbi Yoḥanan said in the name of Rabbi Shimon bar Yoḥai: There was a dome of inventory outside of Jerusalem, and anyone who sought to take inventory would run and take inventory there,117Anyone who wanted to take an accounting of his expenditures or business activity could stop under this dome and make his calculations. so that he would not emerge from Jerusalem upset,118Some commentaries assert that the text should read: So that they would not take inventory in Jerusalem and be upset. This is the version of the text found in Shemot Rabba 52:5 (Etz Yosef). to realize what is written: “The joy of the entire earth.” But now, they “clapped their hands over you; they whistled and shook their heads at the daughter of Jerusalem.” The cities of the nations sing their praise with their mouths. That is what is written: “[Tyre], you said: I am perfect in beauty” (Ezekiel 27:3). But Jerusalem, others recite its praise with their mouths. That is what is written: “Is this the city that was said to be perfect beauty, the joy of the entire earth?” Rabbi Natan said: A merchant ascended to sell wool. He fell asleep and did not sell. He said: Is this [the city] about which you say that it is “the joy of the entire earth”? He awoke and sold it. He said, you spoke well: “The joy of the entire earth.”
“All your enemies opened their mouths wide against you; they whistled and gnashed teeth, they said: We have demolished! Indeed, this is the day for which we hoped; we found, we saw” (Lamentations 2:16). They “opened their mouths wide against you.” Why does peh come before ayin?119The verses in chapter 2 of Lamentations form an alphabetical acrostic, except the verse that begins with peh (verse 16) comes before the verse that begins with ayin (verse 17), despite the fact that ayin precedes peh in the alphabet. Because they would say with their mouths what they had not seen with their eyes.120The word for mouth is peh, whereas the word for eye is ayin. The enemies rejoiced over their projected victory before it even happened.
“The Lord accomplished what He devised: He implemented His statement that He commanded from the days of old; He destroyed and had no compassion. He caused the enemy to rejoice over you, raised the horn of your antagonists” (Lamentations 2:17). “Their heart cried to the Lord: Wall of the daughter of Zion, let tears fall like a stream, day and night; do not give yourself respite, let the apple of your eye not cease” (Lamentations 2:18). “The Lord accomplished what He devised.” Rabbi Ahava son of Rabbi Ze’eira said: From the moment that the Holy One blessed be He said: “If despite this you do not heed Me…I, too, will walk with you casually” (Leviticus 26:18, 24), did He, Heaven forbid, do so? Rather, “the Lord accomplished [what He devised: He implemented [bitza] His statement that He commanded from the days of old].” He compromised.121The term bitzua also means compromise. Rabbi Yaakov of Kefar Ḥanan said: He rent [beza] His raiment. “He caused the enemy to rejoice over you.” Rabbi Aḥa said: In good times, He rejoiced with them, as it is written: “For the Lord will return to rejoice over you for good, as He rejoiced over your fathers” (Deuteronomy 30:9). But in bad times, He causes others to rejoice. That is what is written: “He caused the enemy to rejoice over you, raised the horn of your antagonists.” In that regard it is said: “Their heart cried to the Lord: Wall of the daughter of Zion, [let tears] fall…”122God caused the enemies to rejoice but He did not rejoice with them.
“Arise, cry out at night, at the beginning of the watches, pour out your heart like water before the face of the Lord. Lift up your hands to Him for the life of your infants, who are faint with hunger at the head of every street” (Lamentations 2:19). “Arise, cry out at night, at the beginning of the watches.” Rabbi [Yehuda HaNasi] says: There are four watches during the night and four watches during the day. The ona is one twenty-fourth of the et,123The text should read: The ona is one twenty-fourth of an hour (Etz Yosef). and the et is one twenty-fourth of the ona. The rega is one twenty-fourth of the et. How long is a rega? Rabbi Berekhya said in the name of Rabbi Ḥelbo: As long as it takes to say it. The Rabbis say: Like the blink of an eye. Shmuel said: One fifty-six thousand five hundred and forty-eighth of an hour; that is a rega. Rabbi Natan said: There are three watches during the night. Rabbi Zerika and Rabbi Ami said in the name of Rabbi Shimon ben Lakish: One verse says: “At midnight I rise to give You thanks” (Psalms 119:62), and one verse says: “My eyes precede the night watches” (Psalms 119:148). How can these two verses be reconciled? Rabbi Ḥizkiya, and some say Rabbi Zerika and Rabbi Ami: One said the source according to Rabbi [Yehuda HaNasi] and one says the source according to Rabbi Natan. The one who says the source according to Rabbi [Yehuda HaNasi], it works out well.124There are four watches during the night, two before midnight and two after midnight. Thus, if one rises at midnight, that is still before two of the nightly watches. These verses can thus be a source for the opinion of Rabbi Yehuda HaNasi that the night is divided into four watches. The one who says the source according to Rabbi Natan: “At the beginning of the middle watch” (Judges 7:19).125If there is a middle watch, there must be an odd number of watches. This can serve as a source for the opinion of Rabbi Natan that the night is divided into three watches. But Rabbi Natan, how does he interpret “at midnight”? Rather, at times “at midnight,” and at times: “My eyes precede the night watches.”126The two verses do not both mean the same thing, as according to Rabbi Yehuda HaNasi. Rather, King David, the author of Psalms, is stating that at times he awoke at midnight, and at times even earlier, before two of the three nightly watches. What would [David] do? When David would conduct his meal alone, he would eat until nine hours of the day, sleep until the beginning of the middle watch, and arise and engage in Torah study. When David would eat a feast of kings, he would eat until the evening, sleep until midnight, and arise and engage in Torah study from midnight onward. In any case, dawn would not arrive with David asleep. That is what David said: “Awaken, my soul, awaken, harp and lyre; I will wake the dawn” (Psalms 57:9). Let my honor awaken before the honor of my Creator; my honor is nothing before the honor of my Creator. “I will wake the dawn,” I wake the dawn, the dawn does not awaken me. Rabbi Pinḥas said in the name of Rabbi Elazar bar Menaḥem: A lyre was placed under his head and he would rise and play it at night. Rabbi Levi said: A lyre was suspended over David’s bed. When midnight arrived, the north wind would come and the lyre would play on its own. That is what is written: “It was as the instrument played” (II Kings 3:15). It is not written here “It was as he played the instrument,” but rather: “It was as the instrument played,” the instrument played on its own. When David would hear its sound, he would arise and engage in Torah study. [People] would say: If David king of Israel is engaging in Torah study, all the more so for us. They immediately would begin engaging in Torah study. How does Rabbi interpret the verse of Rabbi Natan? Rabbi Huna said: The end of the second and the beginning of the third, which constitutes the midpoint [metavḥot] of the night. Rabbi Mani said: Had it said “middle [tikhonot],”127Had the verse used the plural term for “middle” that would allow for it to be interpreted in accordance with Rabbi Yehua HaNasi, who holds that the night is divided into four watches. that would be correct. But does it not say “middle [tikhona]”?128This term is singular. The first is not counted, as until then, the time has not yet arrived.129The concept of dividing the night into periods of time called watches parallels when an earthly king would have soldiers standing guard. The first quarter of the night is not yet the time for guards, because people are still awake.
“See, Lord, and look to whom You have done this. Shall women eat their fruit, the infants of their nurturing? Shall the priest and the prophet be slain in the Temple of the Lord?” (Lamentations 2:20). “See, Lord, and look.” There was an incident involving Doeg ben Yosef, who died and left a young son to his mother. She would measure him with handbreadths and would donate his weight in gold to Heaven each and every year. When the besieging armies surrounded Jerusalem, his mother slaughtered him with her own hands and ate him. Jeremiah was lamenting before the Omnipresent and saying: “[See, Lord…] to whom You have done this; shall women eat their fruit, the infants of their nurturing?” The Divine Spirit responded to him: “Shall the priest and the prophet be slain in the Temple of the Lord?” This is Zekharya ben Yehoyada.
“Lad and elder lay on the ground in the streets, my young women and my young men fell by the sword. You killed on the day of Your wrath, You slaughtered, had no compassion” (Lamentations 2:21). They “lay on the ground in the streets…” It is written: “I am filled with the wrath of the Lord; I am too weary to contain it. Pour onto the baby in the street and onto the gathering of youths, for men and women alike will be captured, the elderly with those whose days are numbered” (Jeremiah 6:11). Therefore, they “lay on the ground in the streets.”
“You have called, as on the appointed day, my fears from all around, and there was no refugee or remnant on the day of the Lord’s wrath. Those whom I nurtured and reared, my enemy annihilated” (Lamentations 2:22). “You have called, as on the appointed day, my fears [megurai] from all around.” What is megurai? It is from within my house.130This is expounded from the word gur, meaning reside. The gentile servants within my own house have turned against me. Rabbi Elazar son of Rabbi Marinos said: People who prepared my pots of dessert came against me. “There was no refugee or remnant on the day of the Lord’s wrath.” Rabbi Ḥiya taught: Corresponding to the sons and daughters that you will have, the sin will eliminate them. “Whom I nurtured and reared” is not written here, but rather, “whom I nurtured and reared, my enemy annihilated.”131The meaning of this statement and proof text is difficult, and commentaries have offered different explanations. Some suggest that the meaning is that sin caused the death of children corresponding to the total number; if one person had two children, for example, one died; if another person had four children, two of them would die. The proof from the verse is that “reared [ribiti]” is written with a yod, such that it can be read as “numerous [ribui].” The more children one had, the more would die (Yefe Anaf). End of the Second Alphabetical Acrostic
הָהְפַּךְ עָלַי בַּלָּהוֹת (איוב ל, טו), אָמַר רַבִּי חֲנִינָא אָמְרָה כְּנֶסֶת יִשְׂרָאֵל לִפְנֵי הַקָּדוֹשׁ בָּרוּךְ הוּא, לְשֶׁעָבַר הָיִיתִי אֲנִי מַבְהֶלֶת לַאֲחֵרִים, כְּמָה דְאַתְּ אָמַר (אסתר ו, יד): וַיַּבְהִלוּ לְהָבִיא אֶת הָמָן, וְכָתוּב אֶחָד אוֹמֵר (יחזקאל כו, כא): בַּלָּהוֹת אֶתְּנֵךְ וְאֵינֵךְ, וְאוֹמֵר (שמות טו, טו): אָז נִבְהֲלוּ אַלּוּפֵי אֱדוֹם, וְעַכְשָׁיו הֲפוּכָה עָלַי, אָמַר רַבִּי אַחָא לְחֶלְיוֹ שֶׁל עַמּוּד, שֶׁהָיְתָה מִתְהַפֶּכֶת בְּתוֹךְ הַפְּלַטְיָא, וְהִטִּיסָה בִּצְרוֹר וְנִסְמְכָה, כָּךְ (תהלים פח, ח): עָלַי סָמְכָה חֲמָתֶךָ. תִּרְדֹּף כָּרוּחַ נְדִבָתִי. בְּנֵי אָדָם שֶׁהֵם נְדִיבִים וּרְאוּיִין לָבֹא לִי גְאֻלָּה עַל יְדֵיהֶם, אַתְּ מְרַדְּפָן כָּרוּחַ. וּכְעָב עָבְרָה יְשֻׁעָתִי, בְּנֵי אָדָם שֶׁהֵם נְדִיבִים וּרְאוּיִים לָבֹא לִי יְשׁוּעָה עַל יְדֵיהֶם, אַתְּ מְסִיטָן וּמַעֲבִירָן כְּעָבִים, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר: אֵיכָה יָעִיב בְּאַפּוֹ ה' אֶת בַּת צִיּוֹן. וּכְתִיב (דברים ח, כ): כַּגּוֹיִם אֲשֶׁר ה' מַאֲבִיד מִפְּנֵיכֶם, תֹּאמַר מָה אֵלּוּ בְּכֹהֵן וְנָבִיא אַף אֵלּוּ בְּכֹהֵן וְנָבִיא, וּמָה אֵלּוּ בְּשׁוֹפָר וּבִתְרוּעָה כָּךְ אֵלּוּ בְּשׁוֹפָר וּבִתְרוּעָה, וּמָה אֵלּוּ בְּאַרְבָּעָה עָשָׂר, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר (עזרא ד, ט): דִּינָיֵא וַאֲפַרְסַתְכָיֵא טַרְפְּלָיֵא אֲפָרְסָיֵא אַרְכְּוָיֵא בָבְלָיֵא שׁוּשַׁנְכָיֵא דְּהָיֵא עֵלְמָיֵא, וּשְׁאָר אֻמַּיָּא דִּי הַגְלִי אָסְנַפַּר רַבָּא וְיַקִּירָא, תֹּאמַר אַף אֵלּוּ בְּאַרְבָּעָה עָשָׂר, דִּכְתִיב (ישעיה יז, ט): בַּיּוֹם הַהוּא יִהְיוּ עָרֵי מָעֻזּוֹ כַּעֲזוּבַת הַחֹרֶשׁ וְהָאָמִיר, מַהוּ הָאָמִיר רַבִּי פִּנְחָס אָמַר כִּדְאִימְרֵי. רַבִּי יְהוּדָה בְּרַבִּי סִימוֹן אָמַר כָּאָמוּר בַּתּוֹרָה, דִּכְתִיב: כַּגּוֹיִם אֲשֶׁר ה' מַאֲבִיד מִפְּנֵיכֶם. תֹּאמַר מָה אֵלּוּ בִּנְפִילַת הַחוֹמָה, דִּכְתִיב (יהושע ו, כ): וַתִּפֹּל הַחוֹמָה תַּחְתֶּיהָ, אַף אֵלּוּ בִּנְפִילַת חוֹמָה, מָה אֵלּוּ בְּעָבִים, דִּכְתִיב (ירמיה ד, כט): בָּאוּ בֶּעָבִים וּבַכֵּפִים, אַף אֵלּוּ בֶּעָבִים אֵיכָה יָעִיב בְּאַפּוֹ.
“How the Lord has clouded the daughter of Zion in His wrath. He cast the splendor of Israel from the heavens to the earth, and did not remember His footstool on the day of His wrath” (Lamentations 2:1).
“Terror [balahot] overwhelms me” (Job 30:15). Rabbi Ḥanina said: The congregation of Israel said before the Holy One blessed be He: In the past, it was I [Israel] who would terrify others, just as it says: “They hastened [vayavhilu] to bring Haman” (Esther 6:14). And another verse says: “I will render you a terror and you will be no more” (Ezekiel 26:21).1This verse is directed to Tyre, as punishment to their actions toward Israel. And it says: “Then the chieftains of Edom were terrified” (Exodus 15:15). Now it has been reversed against me. Rabbi Aḥa said: [This is analogous] to a segment of a pillar that was rolling through a plaza, and it collided with a rock and remained adjacent to it. So, “Your wrath weighs upon me” (Psalms 88:8).2The point is that when God’s wrath, which inflicts terror, came upon Israel, it remained with Israel.
“It pursues my virtue [nedivati] like the wind” (Job 30:15), people who are noble minded [nedivim] and are worthy to have redemption come through them, You scatter them like the wind. “And like a cloud, my salvation passes” (Job 30:15), people who are noble minded and are worthy to have salvation come through them, You divert them and cause them to pass like clouds, as it is stated: “How the Lord has clouded the daughter of Zion in His wrath.”
And it is written: “Like the nations that the Lord is eliminating from before you [so you will be eliminated]” (Deuteronomy 8:20). Say that just as those were with a priest and a prophet, so, too, these were with a priest and a prophet.3The elimination of the Canaanite nations began with the destruction of Jericho in a process led by priests and by Joshua, a prophet (see Joshua chapter 6). Similarly, Israel’s exile was foretold by Jeremiah, who was both a prophet and a priest (Etz Yosef). Just like those, it was with a shofar and shouting, so, too, these were with a shofar and shouting. And just as these were fourteen, as it is stated: “The Dinites, and the Afaresatekhites, the Tarpelites, the Afaresites, the Arkevites, the Babylonians, the Shushankhites, the Dehites, the Elamites, and the rest of the nations whom the great and honored Asenapar exiled” (Ezra 4:9–10),4The phrase “the rest of the nations” refers to an additional five nations mentioned in II Kings 17:24. These fourteen nations were exiled from their homelands and resettled in Samaria by Sennacherib of Assyria. They were all who remained of the nations that he conquered. say that these, too, were fourteen, as it is written: “On that day, his fortified cities will be like the abandoned forest and the treetop [haamir] that they abandoned” (Isaiah 17:9). What is haamir? It is as stated.5The midrash interprets the word haamir to mean “as stated [haamur],” meaning that the remnant will be as stated earlier in that passage: “There shall be left in it gleanings, as at the beating of an olive tree, two or three berries in the uppermost bough, four or five in the branches of the fruitful tree” (Isaiah 17:6). The verse mentions two, three, four, and five, which equal a total of fourteen. This is an expression of the fact that the remnant will be small in number (Etz Yosef). Rabbi Yehuda ben Rabbi Simon said: As it is stated in the Torah: “Like the nations that the Lord is eliminating from before you [so you will be eliminated]” (Deuteronomy 8:20). Say that just as these were with the collapse of the wall, as it is written: “The wall collapsed in its place” (Joshua 6:20), these, too, were with the collapse of the wall.6See Eikha Rabba, Prologue, 30, where it is asserted that during the Babylonian siege of Jerusalem the wall around the city sank two and a half handbreadths per day until the enemies were able to enter the city. Just as these were with thickets [avim], as it is written: “They go into thickets [be’avim]…and into the rocks” (Jeremiah 4:29),7In the context of the midrash, this is referring to the destruction of other nations. However, the verse in Jeremiah is actually stated regarding the destruction of Israel. Some suggest that since it has been established that the destruction of each is parallel, this verse implies that the destruction of the nations of the world will also be in this manner (Maharzu). Some suggest that the text be emended such that the citation is from Isaiah 19:1 rather than from Jeremiah 4:29 (Etz Yosef). these, too, were with avim, “how the Lord has clouded [ya’iv]…in His wrath.”
אֵיכָה יָעִיב בְּאַפּוֹ ה' אֶת בַּת צִיּוֹן. אָמַר רַבִּי חָמָא בַּר רַבִּי חֲנִינָא אֵיךְ חַיֵּיב ה' בְּרוּגְזֵיהּ יָת בַּת צִיּוֹן. אִית אַתְרָא דְּצָוְוחִין לְחַיָּיבָא עֲיָיבָא. רַבִּי שְׁמוּאֵל בַּר נַחְמָנִי אָמַר, אֵיךְ כַּיֵּיב ה' בְּרוּגְזֵיהּ. אִית אַתְרָא דְּצַוְוחִין לְכֵיבָא עֵייבָא. וְרַבָּנָן אָמְרִין אֵיךְ שַׁיֵּים ה' בְּרוּגְזֵיהּ יָת בַּת צִיּוֹן. הִשְׁלִיךְ מִשָּׁמַיִם אֶרֶץ תִּפְאֶרֶת יִשְׂרָאֵל, רַבִּי הוּנָא וְרַבִּי אַחָא בְּשֵׁם רַבִּי חֲנִינָא בְּרֵיהּ דְּרַבִּי אַבָּהוּ, מָשָׁל לְמֶלֶךְ שֶׁהָיָה לוֹ בֵּן, בָּכָה וּנְתָנוֹ עַל אַרְכּוּבוֹתָיו, בָּכָה וּנְתָנוֹ עַל זְרוֹעוֹתָיו, בָּכָה וְהִרְכִּיבוֹ עַל כְּתֵפוֹ, טִנֵּף עָלָיו וּמִיָּד הִשְׁלִיכוֹ לָאָרֶץ, וְלָא הֲוַת מְחוּתִיתֵיהּ כִּמְסוּקִיתֵיהּ, מְסוּקִיתֵיהּ צִיבְחַר צִיבְחַר, וּמְחוּתִיתֵיהּ כּוֹלָּא חֲדָא. כָּךְ (הושע יא, ג): וְאָנֹכִי תִרְגַּלְתִּי לְאֶפְרַיִם קָחָם עַל זְרוֹעֹתָיו. וְאַחַר כָּךְ (הושע י, יא): אַרְכִּיב אֶפְרַיִם יַחֲרוֹשׁ יְהוּדָה יְשַׂדֶּד לוֹ יַעֲקֹב. וְאַחַר כָּךְ: הִשְׁלִיךְ מִשָּׁמַיִם אֶרֶץ תִּפְאֶרֶת יִשְׂרָאֵל. דָּבָר אַחֵר, הִשְׁלִיךְ מִשָּׁמַיִם אֶרֶץ תִּפְאֶרֶת יִשְׂרָאֵל, אָמַר רַבִּי יְהוֹשֻׁעַ בְּרַבִּי נַחְמָן מָשָׁל לִבְנֵי מְדִינָה שֶׁעָשׂוּ עֲטָרָה לַמֶּלֶךְ, הִקְנִיטוּהוּ וּסְבָלָן, הִקְנִיטוּהוּ וּסְבָלָן, אָחַר כָּךְ אָמַר לָהֶם הַמֶּלֶךְ כְּלוּם אַתֶּם מַקְנִיטִין אוֹתִי אֶלָּא בַּעֲבוּר עֲטָרָה שֶׁעִטַּרְתֶּם לִי, הֵא לְכוֹן טְרוֹן בְּאַפֵּיכוֹן, כָּךְ אָמַר הַקָּדוֹשׁ בָּרוּךְ הוּא לְיִשְׂרָאֵל, כְּלוּם אַתֶּם מַקְנִיטִין אוֹתִי אֶלָּא בִּשְׁבִיל אִיקוּנִין שֶׁל יַעֲקֹב שֶׁחֲקוּקָה עַל כִּסְאִי, הֵא לְכוֹן טְרוֹן בְּאַפֵּיכוֹן, הֱוֵי: הִשְׁלִיךְ מִשָּׁמַיִם אֶרֶץ וגו'.
“How the Lord has clouded [ya’iv] the daughter of Zion in His wrath.” Rabbi Ḥama bar Rabbi Ḥanina said: How did the Lord condemn in His wrath the daughter of Zion?8Rabbi Ḥama interprets the word ya’iv as to condemn rather than clouded. There are places where they call one who is liable [ḥayava], ayava. Rabbi Shmuel bar Naḥmani said: How did the Lord cause pain [kayev] in His wrath? There are places that call pain [keiva], eiva. The Rabbis say: How did the Lord cloud in His wrath the vision of the daughter of Zion?
“He cast the splendor of Israel from the heavens to the earth.” Rabbi Huna and Rabbi Aḥa, in the name of Rabbi Ḥanina son of Rabbi Abahu: This is analogous to a king who had a son. [The son] wept and he placed him on his knees. He wept and he placed him in his arms. He wept and he placed him on his shoulders. He made a mess upon him and he immediately cast him to the ground. His descent was not like his ascent. His ascent was in increments, but his descent was all at once. So too, “I have coddled [tirgalti]9This is from the root reish gimmel lamed, and is an allusion to placing the child on his knees, as the Hebrew word for leg is regel. Ephraim, taking them by their arms” (Hosea 11:3). Then, “I have elevated10This is an allusion to placing the child on his shoulders. Ephraim; Judah has plowed, Jacob has harrowed for him” (Hosea 10:11). Then, “He cast the splendor of Israel from the heavens to the earth.”
Another matter, “He cast the splendor of Israel from the heavens to the earth.” Rabbi Yehoshua ben Rabbi Naḥman said: This is analogous to residents of a province who crafted a crown for the king. They provoked him and he tolerated them. They provoked him and he tolerated them. Then the king said to them: ‘Are you not provoking me only due to the crown with which you crowned me? Here it is, thrown in your faces.’ So too, the Holy One blessed be He said to Israel: ‘Are you not provoking Me only due to the image of Jacob that is engraved on My throne? Here it is, thrown in your faces.’ That is: “He cast [the splendor of Israel]11According to this interpretation, “the splendor of Israel” is a reference to that image of Jacob, who was also called Israel. from the heavens to the earth.”
וְלֹא זָכַר הֲדֹם רַגְלָיו, אָמַר רַבִּי חֲנִינָא בַּר יִצְחָק, אֵין הַקָּדוֹשׁ בָּרוּךְ הוּא זוֹכֵר אוֹתוֹ הַדָּם שֶׁל בֵּין רַגְלָיו שֶׁל זָקֵן, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר (בראשית יז, כד): וְאַבְרָהָם בֶּן תִּשְׁעִים וָתֵשַׁע שָׁנָה בְּהִמֹּלוֹ בְּשַׂר עָרְלָתוֹ, אָמַר רַבִּי יוּדָן לְמֶלֶךְ שֶׁתָּפַשׂ אֶת שׂוֹנְאָיו וַהֲרָגָן, וְהָיוּ בְּנֵי הַמְדִינָה מְפַרְכְּסִין בְּדַם שׂוֹנְאָיו, פַּעַם אַחַת הִקְנִיטוּהוּ וּדְחָפָן וְהוֹצִיאָן חוּץ לַפָּלָטִין, אָמְרוּ אֵין הַמֶּלֶךְ נִזְכַּר לָנוּ אוֹתוֹ הַדָּם שֶׁהָיִינוּ מְפַרְכְּסִין בְּדַם שׂוֹנְאָיו, כָּךְ אָמְרוּ יִשְׂרָאֵל לִפְנֵי הַקָּדוֹשׁ בָּרוּךְ הוּא, אֵין אַתְּ נִזְכַּר לָנוּ אוֹתוֹ הַדָּם שֶׁבְּמִצְרַיִם, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר (שמות יב, ז): וְלָקְחוּ מִן הַדָּם וְנָתְנוּ עַל שְׁתֵּי הַמְּזוּזֹת וְעַל הַמַּשְׁקוֹף. דָּבָר אַחֵר, וְלֹא זָכַר הֲדֹם רַגְלָיו, אֵין הֲדֹם זֶה אֶלָּא בֵּית הַמִּקְדָּשׁ, הֲדָא הוּא דִכְתִיב (תהלים צט, ה): רוֹמְמוּ ה' אֱלֹהֵינוּ וְהִשְׁתַּחֲווּ לַהֲדֹם רַגְלָיו קָדוֹשׁ הוּא. בְּיוֹם אַפּוֹ, אָמַר רַבִּי אַחָא יוֹם אֶחָד הָיָה חֲרוֹן אַפּוֹ שֶׁל הַקָּדוֹשׁ בָּרוּךְ הוּא, וְאִלּוּ עָשׂוּ יִשְׂרָאֵל תְּשׁוּבָה פָּשְׁרוּ. (יחזקאל ט, א): וַיִּקְרָא בְאָזְנַי קוֹל גָּדוֹל לֵאמֹר קָרְבוּ פְּקֻדּוֹת הָעִיר וְאִישׁ כְּלִי מַשְׁחֵתוֹ בְּיָדוֹ, עַד הֵיכָן חֶטְאוֹ שֶׁל עֵגֶל קַיָּם, רַבִּי בֶּרֶכְיָה וְאָמְרֵי לָהּ רַבִּי נְחֶמְיָה בֶּן אֶלְעָזָר עַד עֲגָלָיו שֶׁל יָרָבְעָם בֶּן נְבָט, הֲדָא הוּא דִכְתִיב (הושע ז, א): כְּרָפְאִי לְיִשְׂרָאֵל וְנִגְלָה עֲוֹן אֶפְרַיִם וְרָעוֹת שֹׁמְרוֹן, אָמַר הַקָּדוֹשׁ בָּרוּךְ הוּא בָּאתִי לְרַפְּאוֹת לְיִשְׂרָאֵל מֵחֶטְאוֹ שֶׁל עֵגֶל, וְנִגְלָה רָעוֹת שֹׁמְרוֹן. רַבִּי יִשְׁמָעֵאל בַּר נַחְמָנִי בְּשֵׁם רַבִּי יוֹחָנָן אָמַר עַד חֻרְבַּן בֵּית הַמִּקְדָּשׁ, דִּכְתִיב: קָרְבוּ פְּקֻדּוֹת הָעִיר וְאִישׁ כְּלִי מַשְׁחֵתוֹ בְּיָדוֹ, וּכְתִיב (שמות לב, לד): וּבְיוֹם פָּקְדִי וּפָקַדְתִּי עֲלֵיהֶם חַטָּאתָם. כְּתִיב (יחזקאל ט, ב): וְהִנֵּה שִׁשָּׁה אֲנָשִׁים בָּאִים מִדֶּרֶךְ שַׁעַר הָעֶלְיוֹן אֲשֶׁר מָפְנֶה צָפוֹנָה וְאִישׁ כְּלִי מַפָּצוֹ בְּיָדוֹ וְאִישׁ אֶחָד בְּתוֹכָם לָבֻשׁ בַּדִּים וְקֶסֶת הַסֹּפֵר בְּמָתְנָיו וַיָּבֹאוּ וַיַּעַמְדוּ אֵצֶל מִזְבַּח הַנְּחשֶׁת. כְּתִיב הָכָא: וְהִנֵּה שִׁשָּׁה, וַהֲלֹא חָמֵשׁ גְּזֵרוֹת הֵן, דִּכְתִיב (יחזקאל ט, ה): וּלְאֵלֶּה אָמַר בְּאָזְנַי עִבְרוּ בָעִיר אַחֲרָיו וְהַכּוּ אַל תָּחֹס עֵינְכֶם וְאַל תַּחְמֹלוּ. וּכְתִיב (יחזקאל ט, ו): זָקֵן בָּחוּר וּבְתוּלָה וְטַף וְנָשִׁים תַּהַרְגוּ לְמַשְׁחִית, אָמַר רַבִּי יוֹחָנָן לְמַלְאָךְ קָשֶׁה שֶׁבֵּינֵיהֶם אָמַר, זֶה גַּבְרִיאֵל, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר (יחזקאל ט, ב): וְאִישׁ אֶחָד בְּתוֹכָם לָבֻשׁ בַּדִּים וְקֶסֶת הַסֹּפֵר בְּמָתְנָיו, שְׁלשָׁה דְּבָרִים הָיָה אוֹתוֹ מַלְאָךְ מְשַׁמֵּשׁ, קֶסְנָטוֹר, סְפֶּקְלָטוֹר, וְכֹהֵן גָּדוֹל. קֶסְנָטוֹר, דִּכְתִיב: וְקֶסֶת הַסֹּפֵר בְּמָתְנָיו. סְפֶּקְלָטוֹר, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר (ישעיה לד, ב): הֶחֱרִימָם נְתָנָם לַטָּבַח. וְכֹהֵן גָּדוֹל, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר: וְאִישׁ אֶחָד בְּתוֹכָם לָבֻשׁ בַּדִּים, וּכְתִיב בְּכֹהֵן (ויקרא טז, ד): כְּתֹנֶת בַּד קֹדֶשׁ יִלְבָּשׁ. וְאִישׁ כְּלִי מַפָּצוֹ בְּיָדוֹ, מָאנֵי זַיְינֵיהּ, מָאנֵי סִיתוֹרְיָיתָה, וּמָאנֵי גָּלוּתֵיהּ. מָאנֵי זַיְינֵיהּ: וְאִישׁ כְּלִי מַפָּצוֹ בְּיָדוֹ. וּמָאנֵי סִיתוֹרְיָיתָה (ישעיה כז, ט): בְּשׂוּמוֹ כָּל אַבְנֵי מִזְבֵּחַ כְּאַבְנֵי גִר מְנֻפָּצוֹת. וּמָאנֵי גָּלוּתֵיהּ, דִּכְתִיב (ירמיה נא, כ): מַפֵּץ אַתָּה לִי כְּלֵי מִלְחָמָה. וּכְתִיב: וַיָּבֹאוּ וַיַּעַמְדוּ אֵצֶל מִזְבַּח הַנְּחשֶׁת, רַבִּי יְהוּדָה בְּרַבִּי סִימוֹן אָמַר עַד מְקוֹם מְחִיצָתוֹ. וְרַבָּנָן אָמְרֵי עוֹמֵד וּמַזְכִּיר חֲטָאִין שֶׁל אָחָז, דִּכְתִיב בֵּיהּ (מלכים ב טז, טו): וּמִזְבַּח הַנְּחשֶׁת יִהְיֶה לִי לְבַקֵּר, מַהוּ לְבַקֵּר, אָמַר רַבִּי פִּינְחָס פְּסָלוֹ וַעֲשָׂאוֹ בַּעֲלֵי מוּמִין, כְּמָה דְאַתְּ אָמַר (ויקרא יג, לו): לֹא יְבַקֵּר הַכֹּהֵן. (יחזקאל ט, ד): וַיֹּאמֶר ה' אֵלָו עֲבֹר בְּתוֹךְ הָעִיר יְרוּשָׁלָיִם, אֵלוֹ כְּתִיב, אָמַר רַבִּי שִׁמְעוֹן בֶּן לָקִישׁ לַמַּלְאָךְ הַקָּשֶׁה שֶׁבָּהֶן [אמר זה גבריאל]. וְהִתְוִיתָ תָּו, רַב נַחְמָן אָמַר אֵלּוּ בְּנֵי אָדָם שֶׁקִּיְּמוּ אֶת הַתּוֹרָה מֵאָלֶ"ף וְעַד תָּי"ו. וְרַבָּנָן אָמְרֵי חִתּוּכִין וּפִסְפָּס. וְרַב אָמַר עַל שֶׁנִּתְּנָה בְּכָל צַד תָּי"ו, תִּיהֵי תִּיהֵי וּתְחֵי תְחֵי. אָמַר רַבִּי חֲנִינָא בַּר יִצְחָק תַּמָּה זְכוּת אֲבוֹתֵיהֶן. רַבִּי הוֹשַׁעְיָא שָׁלַח וְאָמַר לְרַבִּי סִימוֹן בִּשְׁבִיל שֶׁאַתְּ שָׁרוּי בְּבֵיתוֹ שֶׁל קָצִין מִפְּנֵי מָה אֵין אַתָּה מוֹכִיחָן, אָמַר לוֹ הַלְּוַאי נֶהֱוֵי מֵאוֹתָן שֶׁכָּתוּב בָּהֶן הַנֶּאֱנָחִים וְהַנֶּאֱנָקִים, אָמַר לוֹ וַהֲלֹא מֵהֶן הִתְחִילָה הַפֻּרְעָנוּת, דִּכְתִיב (יחזקאל ט, ה): וּלְאֵלֶּה אָמַר בְּאָזְנַי, אָמַר רַבִּי אֶלְעָזָר לְעוֹלָם אֵין הַקָּדוֹשׁ בָּרוּךְ הוּא מְיַחֵד שְׁמוֹ עַל הָרָעָה אֶלָּא עַל הַטּוֹבָה, הֲדָא הוּא דִכְתִיב וּלְאֵלֶּה אָמַר אֱלֹהִים בְּאָזְנַי, אֵין כְּתִיב כָּאן, אֶלָּא וּלְאֵלֶּה אָמַר בְּאָזְנַי עִבְרוּ בָעִיר אַחֲרָיו וְהַכּוּ אַל תָּחֹס עֵינְכֶם וְאַל תַּחְמֹלוּ, זָקֵן בָּחוּר וּבְתוּלָה טַף וְנָשִׁים תַּהַרְגוּ לְמַשְׁחִית וְעַל כָּל אִישׁ אֲשֶׁר עָלָיו הַתָּו אַל תִּגַּשׁוּ וּמִמִּקְדָּשִׁי תָּחֵלּוּ. וְהֵיאַךְ זֶה, אֶלָּא בְּאוֹתָהּ שָׁעָה קָפְצָה קָטֵיגוֹרְיָא לִפְנֵי כִסֵּא הַכָּבוֹד, אָמְרָה לְפָנָיו רִבּוֹן הָעוֹלָם אֵיזֶה מֵהֶן נֶהֱרַג עַל שְׁמֶךָ, אֵיזֶה מֵהֶן נִפְצַע מֹחוֹ עַל שְׁמֶךָ, אֵיזֶה מֵהֶן נָתַן נַפְשׁוֹ עַל שְׁמֶךָ, אָמַר אֵין בָּהֶם כְּדֵי שְׁטָר. רַבִּי אַיְּבוּ אָמַר, אָמַר הַקָּדוֹשׁ בָּרוּךְ הוּא יֶחֱרַב בֵּית הַמִּקְדָּשׁ וְאַל תִּגַּע יַד בַּצַּדִּיקִים. רַבִּי יְהוּדָה בְּרַבִּי סִימוֹן אָמַר הוּא וְהֵם יֵשׁ בָּהֶם כְּדֵי שְׁטָר. רַבִּי תַּנְחוּמָא וְרַבִּי אַבָּא בְּשֵׁם רַבִּי אַבָּא, מֵעוֹלָם לֹא אָמַר הַקָּדוֹשׁ בָּרוּךְ הוּא דָּבָר טוֹב וְחוֹזֵר בּוֹ, וְכָאן חָזַר בּוֹ, הֲדָא הוּא דִכְתִיב (יחזקאל ט, ו): וּמִמִּקְדָּשִׁי תָּחֵלּוּ, אַל תִּקְרֵי וּמִמִּקְדָּשִׁי אֶלָּא וּמִמְקֻדָּשַּׁי תָּחֵלּוּ. מִיָּד מַה כְּתִיב: וַיָּחֵלּוּ בָּאֲנָשִׁים הַזְּקֵנִים אֲשֶׁר לִפְנֵי הַבָּיִת. וּכְתִיב: וַיֹּאמֶר אֲלֵיהֶם טַמְּאוּ אֶת הַבַּיִת וּמַלְאוּ אֶת הַחֲצֵרוֹת חֲלָלִים צֵאוּ וְיָצְאוּ וְהִכּוּ בָעִיר. וּכְתִיב (יחזקאל ט, ח): וַיְהִי כְּהַכּוֹתָם וְנֵאשֲׁאַר אָנִי וָאֶפְּלָה עַל פָּנַי וָאֶזְעַק [קול גדול] וָאֹמַר אֲהָהּ אֲדֹנָי אֱלֹהִים הֲמַשְׁחִית אַתָּה אֵת כָּל שְׁאֵרִית יִשְׂרָאֵל, וְאֵין שְׁאֵרִית אֶלָּא צַדִּיקִים, לְכָךְ בָּא וְאָמַר: בִּלַּע ה' וְלֹא חָמַל וגו'.
“And did not remember His footstool [hadom raglav],” Rabbi Ḥanina bar Yitzḥak said: The Holy One blessed be He does not remember that blood [hadam] that was between the legs of the elder, as it is stated: “Abraham was ninety-nine years old when he was circumcised on the flesh of his foreskin” (Genesis 17:24). Rabbi Yudan said: [This is analogous] to a king who seized his enemies and killed them, and the residents of his province were dipping their feet in the blood of his enemies. One time, they provoked him and he expelled them from his palace. They said: ‘The king does not remember to our credit that blood in which we dipped our feet, the blood of his enemies.’ So too, Israel said before the Holy One blessed be He: ‘You do not remember to our credit that blood that was in Egypt, as it is stated: “You shall take from the blood and you shall place it on the doorposts and on the lintel”’ (Exodus 12:7). to the most severe angel among them, .
Alternatively, “and did not remember His footstool,” footstool is nothing other than the Temple. That is what is written: “Exalt the Lord our God and prostrate yourselves to His footstool; He is holy” (Psalms 99:5). “On the day of His wrath,” Rabbi Aḥa said: The wrath of the Holy One blessed be He was one day. Had Israel repented, they would have moderated it.
“He called in my ears with a loud voice, saying: Those appointed over the city, approach, each with his weapon of destruction in his hand” (Ezekiel 9:1). Until when is the sin of the calf in existence?12Until when will Israel be punished for the sin of the Golden Calf? Rabbi Berekhya, and some say Rabbi Neḥemya ben Elazar, [said]: Until the calves of Yerovam ben Nevat.13Until Yerovam constructed his calves (see I Kings 12:28). That is what is written: “When I will heal Israel, the iniquity of Ephraim and the evildoing of Samaria will be revealed” (Hosea 7:1). The Holy One blessed be He said: ‘I came to heal Israel of the sin of the calf, and the evils of Samaria were revealed.’ Rabbi Yishmael bar Naḥmani said in the name of Rabbi Yoḥanan: Until the destruction of the Temple, as it is written: “Those appointed over the city [pekudot] approach, each with his weapon of destruction in his hand” (Ezekiel 9:1), and it is written: “And on the day of My reckoning, I will reckon [pakadti] their sin upon them” (Exodus 32:34).
It is written: “And behold, six men were coming from the way of the Upper Gate, which faces northward, each with his weapon of destruction in his hand, and one man in their midst was clad in linen, with a scribe's inkwell at his waist. They came and they stood beside the bronze altar” (Ezekiel 9:2). It says six here, but were there not five decrees? As it is written: “And to those He said in my earshot: Pass through the city behind him and smite; let your eye not pity and do not have compassion” (Ezekiel 9:5). And it is written: “Slay utterly the elderly, the youth, the young woman and the child, and the women” (Ezekiel 9:6).14The men referred to in Ezekiel 9:2 are angels of destruction, yet there are only five groups of people mentioned in the verse as slated for destruction, so five angels should have sufficed. Rabbi Yoḥanan said: He spoke to the most severe angel in their midst, this is Gavriel, as it is stated: “And one man in their midst was clad in linen, with a scribe's inkwell at his waist” (Ezekiel 9:2).15This angel was one of the six, but it did not actually carry out the destruction.
That angel served in three capacities: Scribe, executioner, and a High Priest. A scribe as it is written: “With a scribe's inkwell at his waist.” An executioner, as it is stated: “He destroyed them, delivered them to slaughter.” (Isaiah 34:2).16The verse ascribes this destruction and slaughter to “rage [ketzef],” which is identified as Gavriel (see Shabbat 55a). This destruction took place at a different time than that described in Ezekiel chap. 9. High Priest, as it is stated: “And one man in their midst was clad in linen,” and it is written regarding a priest: “He shall don a sacred linen tunic” (Leviticus 16:4).
“Each with his weapon of destruction [mapatzo] in his hand” (Ezekiel 9:1), his weapons, his razing equipment, and his equipment for causing exile. His weapons, “each with his weapon of destruction in his hand,” his razing equipment, “As he renders all the altar stones like shattered limestone” (Isaiah 27:9), his equipment for causing exile, as it is written: “You are a weapon of destruction [mapetz]17This word is related to the word lehafitz, which connotes scattering and dispersal. for Me, weapons of war” (Jeremiah 51:20).
And it is written: “They came and they stood beside the bronze altar” (Ezekiel 9:2). Rabbi Yehuda ben Rabbi Simon said: Until the place of its boundary.18The altar in the courtyard of the Temple was stone, not bronze (see Shabbat 55a and Rashi ad loc.), but it served the same functions as the bronze altar in the courtyard of the Tabernacle. One of its functions was to serve as a boundary beyond which non-priests were not permitted to go. The angels described in this verse were also not permitted to go past this demarcation point. The Rabbis say: They stand and call attention the sins of Aḥaz, in whose regard it is written: “The bronze altar will be for me to visit” (II Kings 16:15). What is to visit [levaker]? Rabbi Pinḥas said: He disqualified it and rendered it blemished,19It was as though all the animals sacrificed on it were blemished. just as it says: “The priest shall not deem impure [yevaker]” (Leviticus 13:36). “The Lord said to him [elav]: Pass through the midst of the city…Jerusalem” (Ezekiel 9:4). Elo is written.20The word elav is written without a yod, such that it can be read elo, which means his powerful one. Rabbi Shimon ben Lakish said:
“You shall set a mark [tav] [upon the foreheads of the men…]” (Ezekiel 9:4). Rav Naḥman said: These are the people who fulfilled the Torah from alef through tav.21The tav was made on the foreheads of the righteous. The Rabbis say: [It connoted] disintegration and dissolution.22The tav was made on the heads of the wicked. Rav said: A tav was placed because it connotes either side: Desolation, desolation [tihi] and live, live [teḥi].23A tav was marked on the foreheads of both the righteous and the wicked, but it connoted different things for different people. Rabbi Ḥanina bar Yitzḥak said: The merit of their ancestors has concluded [tama].
Rabbi Hoshaya sent [a message] to Rabbi Simon, saying: ‘Since you are situated in the household of the Exilarch, why do you not rebuke them?’ He said to him: ‘If only we may be among those of whom it is written, “[the men] that sigh and that cry [for all the abominations that are done in its midst”’ (Ezekiel 9:4).24It is enough for us to be pained at the sin of others, even if we do not rebuke them, and then we will be like those mentioned in the verse in Ezekiel, who were marked for life while the sinners were marked for death. He said to him: ‘But was it not from them that the calamity began? As it is written: “And to those He said in my earshot: [Pass through the city behind him and smite; let your eye not pity and do not have compassion]”’ (Ezekiel 9:5).
Rabbi Elazar said: The Holy One blessed be He never associates His name with evil, but rather with good. That is what is written [in this verse]. And to those God said in my earshot is not written here, but rather: “And to those He said in my earshot: Pass through the city behind him and smite; let your eye not pity and do not have compassion.”25The verse uses the pronoun rather than explicitly mentioning God so that His name not be directly associated with destruction. “The elderly, the youth and the maiden, the children and the women you shall kill for destruction, but do not approach any man upon whom is the sign; begin from My Temple” (Ezekiel 9:6). How is it so?26The verse states that the angels were not to kill any man with a sign, indicating that the righteous would be spared, but then states that the destruction was to begin at the Temple, where there were presumably righteous individuals. At that moment, prosecution sprung before the Throne of Glory. It said before Him: ‘Master of the universe: Which of them was killed for the sake of Your name? Which of them had his brain pierced for the sake of Your name? Which of them gave his life for the sake of Your name?’27The heavenly prosecutor argued that the people had not suffered in God’s name and therefore were not really righteous. He said: ‘They do not warrant a writ of condemnation.’ Rabbi Aivu said: The Holy One blessed be He said: ‘Let My Temple be destroyed but let no hand touch the righteous.’28The righteous were to be spared but the Temple itself was to be destroyed . Rabbi Yehuda ben Rabbi Simon said: It and they warrant a writ of condemnation.29According to this view, God accepted the argument of the prosecutor and ruled that both the Temple and the righteous would be destroyed.
Rabbi Tanḥuma and Rabbi Abba [said] in the name of Rabbi Abba:30The reference is to two different scholars by the name of Rabbi Abba. The Holy One blessed be He never said a positive statement and recanted, but here He recanted. That is what is written: “Begin with My Temple” (Ezekiel 9:6). Do not read it as My Temple [mikdashi], but rather as My holy ones [mekudashai]: “Begin with My holy ones.” Immediately, what is written: “It was as they were smiting, and I remained and I fell upon my face, and I cried out and said: Alas, Lord God, are You destroying the entire remnant of Israel?” (Ezekiel 9:8). “Remnant” is nothing other than the righteous; therefore he comes and says: “The Lord demolished and had no compassion.”
בִּלַּע ה' וְלֹא חָמַל אֵת כָּל נְאוֹת יַעֲקֹב, רַבִּי פִּנְחָס בְּשֵׁם רַבִּי הוֹשַׁעְיָא אָמַר אַרְבַּע מֵאוֹת וּשְׁמוֹנִים בָּתֵּי כְנֵסִיּוֹת הָיוּ בִּירוּשָׁלַיִם, מִנְיַן (ישעיה א, כא): מְלֵאֲתִי מִשְׁפָּט, מְלֵתִי כְּתִיב, וְכָל אֶחָד וְאֶחָד הָיָה לוֹ בֵּית סֵפֶר וּבֵית תַּלְמוּד, בֵּית סֵפֶר לְמִקְרָא, וּבֵית תַּלְמוּד לְמִשְׁנָה. דָּבָר אַחֵר, בִּלַּע ה' וְלֹא חָמַל אֵת כָּל נְאוֹת יַעֲקֹב, אֶת כָּל נְאוֹתָיו שֶׁל יַעֲקֹב, כְּגוֹן רַבִּי יִשְׁמָעֵאל, וְרַבָּן גַּמְלִיאֵל, וְרַבִּי יְשֵׁבָב, וְרַבִּי יְהוּדָה בֶּן בָּבָא, וְרַבִּי חוּצְפִּית הַמְתוּרְגְּמָן, וְרַבִּי יְהוּדָה הַנַּחְתּוֹם, וְרַבִּי חֲנַנְיָה בֶּן תְּרַדְיוֹן, וְרַבִּי עֲקִיבָא, וּבֶן עֲזַאי, וְרַבִּי טַרְפוֹן. וְאִית דְּמַפְקִין רַבִּי טַרְפוֹן וּמְעַיְילִין רַבִּי אֶלְעָזָר חַרְסְנָה. רַבִּי יוֹחָנָן הֲוָה דָּרֵשׁ שִׁיתִּין אַפִּין בְּבִּלַּע ה' וְלֹא חָמַל, וְרַבִּי הֲוָה דָּרֵישׁ עֶשְׂרִים וְאַרְבָּעָה אַפִּין. וְלֹא דְּרַבִּי יוֹחָנָן יַתִּיר עַל רַבִּי, אֶלָּא רַבִּי עַל יְדֵי שֶׁהָיָה סָמוּךְ לְחֻרְבַּן הַבַּיִת הָיָה נִזְכַּר וְהָיָה דּוֹרֵשׁ וּבוֹכֶה וּמִתְנַחֵם. אָמַר רַבִּי יוֹחָנָן רַבִּי הָיָה דוֹרֵשׁ (במדבר כד, יז): דָּרַךְ כּוֹכָב מִיַּעֲקֹב, אַל תִּקְרֵי כּוֹכָב אֶלָּא כּוֹזָב. רַבִּי עֲקִיבָא כַּד הֲוָה חָמֵי לֵיהּ לְהָדֵין בַּר כּוֹזִיבָא הֲוָה אָמַר הַיְינוּ מַלְכָּא מְשִׁיחָא, אָמַר לֵיהּ רַבִּי יוֹחָנָן בֶּן תּוֹרָתָא עֲקִיבָא יַעֲלוּ עֲשָׂבִים בִּלְחָיֶיךָ וַעֲדַיִן אֵינוֹ בָּא. אָמַר רַבִּי יוֹחָנָן (בראשית כז, כב): הַקֹּל קוֹל יַעֲקֹב, קוֹל אַדְרִיָּאנוּס קֵיסָר הָרַג בְּבֵיתָר שְׁמוֹנִים אֶלֶף רִבּוֹא בְּנֵי אָדָם וּשְׁמוֹנִים אֶלֶף תּוֹקְעֵי קְרָנוֹת הָיוּ צָרִין עַל בֵּיתָר, וְהָיָה שָׁם בֶּן כּוֹזִיבָא, וְהָיוּ לוֹ מָאתַיִם אֶלֶף מְקֻטָּעֵי אֶצְבַּע, שָׁלְחוּ לוֹ חֲכָמִים עַד מָתַי אַתָּה עוֹשֶׂה לְיִשְׂרָאֵל בַּעֲלֵי מוּמִין, אָמַר לָהֶם וְהֵיאַךְ יִבָּדְקוּ, אָמְרוּ לוֹ כָּל מִי שֶׁאֵינוֹ עוֹקֵר אֶרֶז מִלְּבָנוֹן אַל יִכָּתֵב בְּאִסְטְרַטְיָא שֶׁלְּךָ. וְהָיוּ לוֹ מָאתַיִם אֶלֶף מִכָּאן וּמִכָּאן, וּבְשָׁעָה שֶׁהָיוּ יוֹצְאִין לַמִּלְחָמָה הָיוּ אוֹמְרִים לָא תִסְעוֹד וְלָא תַסְכֵּיף, הֲדָא הוּא דִכְתִיב (תהלים ס, יב): הֲלֹא אַתָּה אֱלֹהִים זְנַחְתָּנוּ וְלֹא תֵצֵא אֱלֹהִים בְּצִבְאוֹתֵינוּ. וּמֶה הָיָה עוֹשֶׂה בֶּן כּוֹזִיבָא, הָיָה מְקַבֵּל אַבְנֵי בַּלִּיסְטְרָא בְּאֶחָד מֵאַרְכּוּבוֹתָיו וְזוֹרְקָן וְהוֹרֵג מֵהֶן כַּמָּה נְפָשׁוֹת, וְעַל זֶה אָמַר רַבִּי עֲקִיבָא כָּךְ. שָׁלשׁ שָׁנִים וּמֶחֱצָה הִקִּיף אַדְרִיָאנוּס קֵיסָר לְבֵיתָר, וְהָיָה שָׁם רַבִּי אֶלְעָזָר הַמּוֹדָעִי עָסוּק בְּשַׂקּוֹ וּבְתַעֲנִיתוֹ, וּבְכָל יוֹם וָיוֹם מִתְפַּלֵּל וְאוֹמֵר רִבּוֹנוֹ שֶׁל עוֹלָם אַל תֵּשֵׁב בַּדִּין הַיּוֹם. וּלְבַסּוֹף נָתַן דַּעְתּוֹ לַחֲזֹר, אֲתָא חַד כּוּתָאי וּמְצָאוֹ וְאָמַר לוֹ, אֲדוֹנִי, כָּל יוֹמִין דַּהֲדָא תַּרְנְגוֹלְתָּא מִתְגַּעְגַּע בְּקִיטְמָא לֵית אַתְּ כָּבֵישׁ לָהּ, אֶלָּא הַמְתֵּן לִי דַּאֲנָא עָבֵיד לָךְ דְּתַכְבְּשִׁנָּהּ יוֹמָא דֵין, מִיָּד עָלֵיל בֵּיהּ בְּבוּבֵיהּ דִּמְדִינְתָּא, וְאַשְׁכְּחֵיהּ לְרַבִּי אֶלְעָזָר דַּהֲוָה קָאֵים וּמַצְלֵי, עֲבַד גַּרְמֵיהּ לָחֵישׁ בְּאוּדְנֵיהּ דְּרַבִּי אֶלְעָזָר הַמּוֹדָעִי, אָזְלוּן וְאָמְרוּן לְבַר כוּזִיבָא חֲבִיבָךְ רַבִּי אֶלְעָזָר בָּעֵי לְאַשְׁלָמָא מְדִינְתָּא עִם אַדְרִיָּאנוּס, שְׁלַח וְאַתְיֵיהּ לְהַהוּא כּוּתָאי אֲמַר לֵיהּ מַאי אֲמַרְתְּ לֵיהּ. אֲמַר לֵיהּ אִין אֲנָא אָמַר לָךְ, מַלְכָּא קָטֵיל לֵיהּ לְהַהוּא גַבְרָא, וְאִין לֵית אֲנָא אָמַר לָךְ אַתְּ קָטֵיל לֵיהּ לְהַהוּא גַבְרָא, אֲבָל מוּטָב לִיקְטְלֵיהּ הַהוּא גַבְרָא לְגַרְמֵיהּ וְלָא תִתְפָּרְסִין מִיסְטֵירִין דְּמַלְכוּתָא. בֶּן כּוֹזִיבָא סָבַר בְּדַעְתֵּיהּ דִּבְעֵי לְאַשְׁלָמָא מְדִינְתָּא, כֵּיוָן דַּחֲסַל רַבִּי אֶלְעָזָר צְלוֹתֵיהּ שְׁלַח וְאַיְיתֵיהּ, אֲמַר לֵיהּ מָה אֲמַר לָךְ הָדֵין כּוּתָאי. אֲמַר לֵיהּ לֵית אֲנָא יָדַע מַה לְּחִישׁ לִי בְּאוּדְנָאי וְלָא שְׁמָעֵת לֵיהּ כְּלוּם דַּאֲנָא בִּצְלוֹתִי קָאֵימְנָא, וְלֵית אֲנָא יָדַע מָה הֲוָה אֲמַר. נִתְמַלֵּא רוּגְזֵיהּ לְבֶן כּוֹזִיבָא יְהַב לֵיהּ חַד בְּעִיטָא בְּרַגְלֵיהּ וְקָטְלֵיהּ, יָצְתָה בַּת קוֹל וְאָמְרָה (זכריה יא, יז): הוֹי רֹעִי הָאֱלִיל עֹזְבִי הַצֹּאן חֶרֶב עַל זְרוֹעוֹ וְעַל עֵין יְמִינוֹ, אָמְרָה לוֹ אַתָּה סִמִּיתָ זְרוֹעָן שֶׁל יִשְׂרָאֵל וְסִמִּיתָ עֵין יְמִינָן, לְפִיכָךְ זְרֹעוֹ שֶׁל אוֹתוֹ הָאִישׁ יָבוֹשׁ תִּיבָשׁ וְעֵין יְמִינוֹ כָּהֹה תִּכְהֶה. מִיָּד גָּרְמוּ עֲוֹנוֹת וְנִלְכְּדָה בֵּיתָר וְנֶהֱרַג בֶּן כּוֹזִיבָא, וְאַיתִיאוּ רֵישֵׁיהּ לְגַבֵּי אַדְרִיָּאנוּס, אֲמַר מַאן קָטְלֵיהּ לְדֵין, אֲמַר לֵיהּ חַד גּוּנְתָאי אֲנָא קְטַלְתֵּיהּ לְדֵין, אֲמַר לֵיהּ זִיל וְאַיְיתֵיהּ לִי, אֲזַל וְאַיְיתֵיהּ וְאַשְׁכַּח עַכְנָא כְּרִיכָא עַל צַוָּארֵיהּ, אֲמַר לֵיהּ אִלּוּ לָא אֱלָהֵיהּ קְטָלֵיהּ לְדֵין מַאן הֲוָה יָכֵיל לֵיהּ, וּקְרָא עֲלוֹי (דברים לב, ל): אִם לֹא כִּי צוּרָם מְכָרָם. הָיוּ הוֹרְגִים בָּהֶם עַד שֶׁשָּׁקַע הַסּוּס בְּדָם עַד חָטְמוֹ, וְהָיָה הַדָּם מְגַלְגֵּל אֲבָנִים שֶׁל אַרְבָּעִים סְאָה וְהוֹלֵךְ בַּיָּם אַרְבָּעָה מִילִין. וְאִם תֹּאמַר שֶׁקְּרוֹבָה לַיָּם, וַהֲלֹא רְחוֹקָה מִן הַיָּם אַרְבָּעָה מִילִין. וְכֶרֶם גָּדוֹל הָיָה לוֹ לְאַדְרִיָּאנוּס שְׁמוֹנָה עָשָׂר מִיל עַל שְׁמוֹנָה עָשָׂר מִיל, כְּמִן טְבֶרְיָא לְצִפּוֹרִי, וְהִקִּיפוֹ גָּדֵר מֵהֲרוּגֵי בֵּיתָר, וְלֹא גָּזַר עֲלֵיהֶם שֶׁיִּקָּבְרוּ עַד שֶׁעָמַד מֶלֶךְ אֶחָד וְגָזַר עֲלֵיהֶם וּקְבָרוּם. רַבִּי הוּנָא אָמַר יוֹם שֶׁנִּתְּנוּ הֲרוּגֵי בֵּיתָר לִקְבוּרָה נִקְבְּעָה הַטּוֹב וְהַמֵּטִיב, הַטּוֹב שֶׁלֹא הִסְרִיחוּ וְהַמֵּטִיב שֶׁנִּתְּנוּ לִקְבוּרָה. חֲמִשִּׁים וּשְׁתַּיִם שָׁנָה עָשְׂתָה בֵּיתָר אַחַר חֻרְבַּן הַבַּיִת, וְלָמָּה נֶחְרְבָה עַל שֶׁהִדְלִיקוּ נֵרוֹת לְחֻרְבַּן בֵּית הַמִּקְדָּשׁ, וְלָמָה הִדְלִיקוּ, אָמְרוּ הַבּוּלְיוֹטִין שֶׁבִּירוּשָׁלַיִם הָיוּ יוֹשְׁבִין בְּאֶמְצַע הַמְּדִינָה, וְכַד הֲוָה סָלֵיק חַד מִנְהוֹן לְצַלָּאָה, אֲמַר לֵיהּ בָּעֵית לְעִיבָדָא בּוּלְיוֹטִין, אֲמַר לֵיהּ לָא. בָּעֵית לְאִיעַבְדָא אַרְכוֹנְטִיס, אֲמַר לְהוֹ לָא. אָמְרֵי לֵיהּ מִן בְּגִין דִּשְׁמַעְנָא דְּאִית לָךְ חָדָא אִיסְיָא אַתְּ בָּעֵי מְזַבְּנָא יָתֵיהּ לִי, אֲמַר לֵיהּ לֵית בְּדַעְתִּי, וַהֲוָה כּוֹתֵב וּמַשְׁלַח אוֹנוֹתֵיהּ לְבַר בֵּיתֵיהּ אִין אָתֵי גְּבַר פְּלוֹנִי לָא תִשְׁבְּקִינֵיהּ מֵיעַל לְאִיסְיָא דְּהוּא מַזְבְּנָא לִי. וַהֲוָה אָמַר הַהוּא גַבְרָא הַלְּוַאי אִיתָּבְרַת רַגְלֵיהּ דְּהַהוּא גַבְרָא וְלָא סָלֵיק לְהָדֵין זָוִיתָא, הֲדָא הוּא דִכְתִיב (איכה ד, יח): צָדוּ צְעָדֵינוּ, צָדְיָאה אוֹרְחָא מִלְּהַלָּכָא בְּאִילֵּין פְּלַטְיָיאתָא. קָרַב קִצֵּנוּ, קִיצָא דְּהַהוּא בֵּיתָא. מָלְאוּ יָמֵינוּ, יוֹמָא דְהַהוּא בֵּיתָא. אַף אִינוּן לָא פָּשַׁת לְהוֹן טַב, דִּכְתִיב (משלי יז, ה): שָׂמֵחַ לְאֵיד לֹא יִנָּקֶה. אָמַר רַבִּי יוֹחָנָן שְׁלשׁ מֵאוֹת מוֹחֵי תִּינוֹקוֹת נִמְצְאוּ עַל אֶבֶן אַחַת, וּשְׁלשׁ מֵאוֹת קֻפּוֹת שֶׁל קְצוּצֵי תְּפִלִּין נִמְצְאוּ בְּבֵיתָר, וְכָל אַחַת וְאַחַת מַחֲזֶקֶת שָׁלשׁ סְאִין, וּכְשֶׁאַתָּה בָּא לְחֶשְׁבּוֹן אַתָּה מוֹצֵא שְׁלשׁ מֵאוֹת סְאִין. אָמַר רַבָּן גַּמְלִיאֵל חֲמֵשׁ מֵאוֹת בָּתֵּי סוֹפְרִים הָיוּ בְּבֵיתָר, וְקָטָן שֶׁבָּהֶם לֹא הָיָה פָּחוֹת מִשְּׁלשׁ מֵאוֹת תִּינוֹקוֹת, וְהָיוּ אוֹמְרִים אִם יָבוֹאוּ הַשֹּׂוֹנְאִים עָלֵינוּ בַּמַּכְתְּבִין הַלָּלוּ אָנוּ יוֹצְאִין וְדוֹקְרִין אוֹתָם. וְכֵיוָן שֶׁגָּרְמוּ הָעֲוֹנוֹת וּבָאוּ הַשֹּׂוֹנְאִים כָּרְכוּ כָּל אֶחָד וְאֶחָד בְּסִפְרוֹ וְשָׂרְפוּ אוֹתָם וְלֹא נִשְׁתַּיֵּיר מֵהֶם אֶלָּא אֲנִי וְקָרָא עַל עַצְמוֹ (איכה ג, נא): עֵינִי עוֹלְלָה לְנַפְשִׁי וגו'. שְׁנֵי אַחִין הָיוּ בִּכְפַר חֲרוֹכָא, וְלָא הֲווֹן שָׁבְקִין רוֹמָאֵי עֲבַר תַּמָּן דְּלָא הֲווֹ קַטְלֵי יָתֵיהּ, אָמְרֵי כָּל סַמָּא דְּמִילָה נֵיתֵי כְּלִילָא דְּאַדְרִיָאנוּס וְנֵיתֵיב בְּרֹאשׁוֹ שֶׁל [אלו] שִׁמְעוֹן, דְּהָא רוֹמָאֵי אַתּוּן, מִן דְּנָפְקִין פָּגַע בְּהוֹן חַד סָבָא אֲמַר לְהוֹן בָּרְיָיא בְּסַעֲדֵיכוֹן מִן אִלֵּין, אָמְרוּ לֵיהּ לָא נִסְעוֹד וְלָא נִסְכֵּיף, מִיָּד גָּרְמוּ עֲוֹנוֹת וְנֶהֶרְגוּ, וְאַיְיתִיאוּ רֵישֵׁיהוֹן לְגַבֵּי אַדְרִיָּאנוּס, אֲמַר מָאן קָטֵיל אִילֵין, אֲמַר לֵיהּ חַד גּוּנְתָאי אֲנָא קְטִילַת לְהוֹן, אֲמַר לֵיהּ זִיל אַיְיתֵי לִי פִּיטּוֹמַיְיהוּ, אֲזַל אַשְׁכַּח עַכְנָא כְּרִיכָא עַל צַוָּארֵיהוֹן, אֲמַר אִילּוּ אֱלָהֲהוֹן דְּאִילֵין לָא קָטֵיל לְהוֹן מָאן הֲוָה יָכֵיל לְמִקְטְלִינוֹן, וּקְרָא עֲלֵיהוֹן (דברים לב, ל): אִם לֹא כִּי צוּרָם מְכָרָם. שְׁנֵי אֲרָזִים הָיוּ בְּהַר הַמִּשְׁחָה, וְתַחַת אֶחָד מֵהֶן הָיוּ אַרְבַּע חֲנֻיּוֹת שֶׁל מוֹכְרֵי טְהָרוֹת, וּמִן הָאֶחָד הָיוּ מוֹצִיאִין אַרְבָּעִים סְאָה גּוֹזָלוֹת לְכָל חֹדֶשׁ, וּמֵהֶן הָיוּ יִשְׂרָאֵל מַסְפִּיקִין לַקִּנִּים. טוּר שִׁמְעוֹן הֲוָה מַפִּיק תְּלַת מְאָה גָּרָבִין, וְלָמָּה חָרְבוּ, אִי תֵימָא מִפְּנֵי הַזּוֹנוֹת, וַהֲלֹא לֹא הָיְתָה אֶלָּא רִיבָה אַחַת וְהוֹצִיאוּהָ מִשָּׁם. אָמַר רַבִּי הוּנָא מִשּׁוּם שֶׁהָיוּ מְשַׂחֲקִין בְּכַדּוּר בְּשַׁבָּת. עֲשֶׂרֶת אֲלָפִים עֲיָרוֹת הָיוּ בְּהַר הַמֶּלֶךְ, לְרַבִּי אֶלְעָזָר בֶּן חַרְסוֹם, הָיָה הָאֶלֶף אֶחָד מֵהֶם, וּכְנֶגְדָּן הָיוּ לוֹ אֶלֶף סְפִינוֹת בַּיָּם. שְׁלשָׁה עֲיָרוֹת הָיָה טִימָס שֶׁלָּהֶם עוֹלֶה לִירוּשָׁלַיִם, כָּבוּל, שִׁיחִין, וּמַגְדְּלָא. וְלָמָּה חָרוּב, כָּבוּל, מִפְּנֵי הַמַּחְלֹקֶת. שִׁיחִין, מִפְּנֵי כְשָׁפִים. מַגְדְּלָא, מִפְּנֵי הַזְּנוּת. שְׁלשָׁה עֲיָרוֹת הָיוּ בַּדָּרוֹם וְהָיוּ מוֹצִיאוֹת כִּפְלַיִם כְּיוֹצְאֵי מִצְרַיִם, וְאֵלּוּ הֵן: כְּפַר בִּישׁ, כְּפַר שַׁחֲלַיִם, כְּפַר דִּיכְרִין. כְּפַר בִּישׁ, לָמָּה נִקְרָא שְׁמָהּ כְּפַר בִּישׁ, דְּלָא הֲוַת מְקַבְּלָא אַכְסַנְיָא. כְּפַר שַׁחֲלַיִם, לָמָּה נִקְרָא שְׁמָהּ כְּפַר שַׁחֲלַיִם, דַּהֲווֹ מְרַבְיָן בְּנֵיהוֹן כְּאִילֵין תַּחֲלוּסַיָּיא. כְּפַר דִּיכְרִין, לָמָּה נִקְרָא שְׁמָהּ כְּפַר דִּיכְרִין, דְּכָל אִתְּתָא דַּהֲוַת תַּמָּן הֲוַת יָלְדָה בְּנִין דִּיכְרִין, וְכָל אִתְּתָא דַּהֲוַת בָּעְיָא לְמֵילַד נְקֵבָה, הֲוַת נָפְקָא לְבַר מִן קַרְתָּא וַהֲוַת יָלְדָה נְקֵבָה, וְכָל אִתְּתָא אַחֲרִיתָא דַּהֲוַת בָּעְיָא לְמֵילַד בַּר דְּכַר, הֲוַת אַתְיָא תַּמָּן וַהֲוַת יָלְדָה זָכָר. וְכַדּוּ כַּד אַתְּ נְצַעְהוֹן בְּשִׁתִּין רִבְוָון דְּקַנְיֵי לָא נָסְיָין לְהוֹן. אָמַר רַבִּי יוֹחָנָן קָפְצָה לָהּ אֶרֶץ יִשְׂרָאֵל. רַב הוּנָא אָמַר שְׁלשׁ מֵאוֹת חֲנֻיּוֹת שֶׁל מוֹכְרֵי טְהָרוֹת הָיוּ בְּמַגְדְּלָא דְּצַבָּעַיָּא וּשְׁלשׁ מֵאוֹת חֲנֻיּוֹת שֶׁל אוֹרְגֵי פָּרוֹכוֹת הָיוּ בִּכְפַר נִמְרָה. וְרַבִּי יִרְמְיָה בְּשֵׁם רַבִּי חִיָּא בַּר אַבָּא אָמַר שְׁמוֹנִים אַחִים כֹּהֲנִים הָיוּ נְשׂוּאִים לִשְׁמוֹנִים כֹּהֲנוֹת אֲחָיוֹת, בְּלַיְלָה אֶחָד תְּלוּנְהוּ בַּחֲדָא גַפְנָא, חוּץ מֵאַחִים בְּלֹא אֲחָיוֹת, חוּץ מֵאֲחָיוֹת בְּלֹא אַחִים, חוּץ מִלְוִיִּים וְחוּץ מִיִּשְׂרָאֵל. שְׁמוֹנִים אֶלֶף פִּרְחֵי כְּהֻנָּה נֶהֶרְגוּ עַל דָּמוֹ שֶׁל זְכַרְיָה. רַבִּי יודָן שָׁאַל לְרַבִּי אַחָא הֵיכָן הָרְגוּ אֶת זְכַרְיָה בְּעֶזְרַת יִשְׂרָאֵל אוֹ בְּעֶזְרַת נָשִׁים, אָמַר לוֹ לֹא בְּעֶזְרַת יִשְׂרָאֵל וְלֹא בְּעֶזְרַת נָשִׁים, אֶלָּא בְּעֶזְרַת כֹּהֲנִים, וְלֹא נָהֲגוּ בְּדָמוֹ לֹא כְדַם צְבִי וְלֹא כְדַם אַיָּל, תַּמָּן כְּתִיב (ויקרא יז, יג): וְאִישׁ אִישׁ מִבֵּית יִשְׂרָאֵל אֲשֶׁר יָצוּד צֵיד חַיָּה וגו' וְכִסָּהוּ בֶּעָפָר, בְּרַם הָכָא כְּתִיב (יחזקאל כד, ז): כִּי דָמָהּ בְּתוֹכָהּ הָיָה עַל צְחִיחַ סֶלַע שָׂמָתְהוּ לֹא שְׁפָכַתְהוּ עַל הָאָרֶץ לְכַסּוֹת עָלָיו עָפָר, וְכָל כָּךְ לָמָּה, (יחזקאל כד, ח): לְהַעֲלוֹת חֵמָה לִנְקֹם נָקָם נָתַתִּי אֶת דָּמָהּ עַל צְחִיחַ סֶלַע לְבִלְתִּי הִכָּסוֹת. שֶׁבַע עֲבֵרוֹת עָבְרוּ יִשְׂרָאֵל בְּאוֹתוֹ הַיּוֹם, הָרְגוּ כֹּהֵן וְנָבִיא וְדַיָּן, וְשָׁפְכוּ דַם נָקִי וְחִלְּלוּ אֶת הַשֵּׁם וְטִמְּאוּ אֶת הָעֲזָרָה, וְשַׁבָּת וְיוֹם הַכִּפּוּרִים הָיָה, וְכֵיוָן שֶׁעָלָה נְבוּזַרְאֲדָן חַזְיֵיהּ לִדְמֵיהּ דִּזְכַרְיָה דַּהֲוָה קָא רָתִיחַ, אֲמַר לְהוֹן מַאי הִיא, אָמְרוּ לֵיהּ דַּם פָּרִים וּכְבָשִׂים, אַיְיתֵי פָּרִים וּכְבָשִׂים וְלָא אִידוּם, אַיְיתֵי כָּל מִינֵי דָמִים וְלָא אִידוּם, אֲמַר לְהוֹן אִי אַמְרִיתוּ לִי מוּטָב וְאִי לָא אֲנָא מַסְרֵיקְנָא לְבִישְׂרָא דַּהֲנָךְ אֵינָשֵׁי בְּמַסְרֵיקִין דְּפַרְזְלָא וְלָא אֲמָרוּ לֵיהּ, וְהַשְׁתָּא דַּאֲמַר לְהוֹ הָכֵי אָמְרוּ לֵיהּ מַה נְּכַסֵּי מִינָךְ, נְבִיָּיא כַּהֲנָא הֲוָה לָן וַהֲוָה מוֹכִיחַ לָן לְשׁוּם שְׁמַיָא קַבִּילוּ, וְלָא קַבְּלֵינַן מִינֵיהּ אֶלָּא קָאֵימְנָא עִילָּוֵיהּ וְקַטְלִינַן לֵיהּ. אֲמַר לְהוֹן אֲנָא מְפַיַּיסְנָא לֵיהּ, אַיְיתֵי סַנְהֶדְּרֵי גְדוֹלָה שָׁחַט עִילָּוֵיהּ וְלָא נָח. שָׁחַט סַנְהֶדְּרֵי קְטַנָּה עִילָּוֵיהּ וְלָא נָח. אַיְיתֵי פִּרְחֵי כְּהֻנָּה שָׁחַט עִילָּוֵיהּ וְלָא נָח. שָׁחַט תִּינוֹקוֹת שֶׁל בֵּית רַבָּן עִילָּוֵיהּ וְלָא נָח. אָמַר לוֹ זְכַרְיָה טוֹבִים שֶׁבְּעַמְּךָ אִבַּדְתִּי רְצוֹנְךָ שֶׁיֹּאבְדוּ כֻּלָּם, לְאַלְתָּר נָח. וְהִרְהֵר נְבוּזַרְאֲדָן הָרָשָׁע תְּשׁוּבָה וְאָמַר, וּמַה מִּי שֶׁמְאַבֵּד נֶפֶשׁ אַחַת מִיִּשְׂרָאֵל כָּךְ כְּתִיב בּוֹ (בראשית ט, ו): שֹׁפֵךְ דַּם הָאָדָם בָּאָדָם דָּמוֹ יִשָּׁפֵךְ, אוֹתוֹ הָאִישׁ שֶׁאִבֵּד נְפָשׁוֹת הַרְבֵּה, עַל אַחַת כַּמָּה וְכַמָּה, מִיָּד נִתְמַלֵּא הַקָּדוֹשׁ בָּרוּךְ הוּא רַחֲמִים וְרָמַז לַדָּם וְנִבְלַע בִּמְקוֹמוֹ. שְׁמוֹנִים אֲלָפִים פִּרְחֵי כְּהֻנָּה בָּקְעוּ בַּחֲיָלוֹתָיו שֶׁל נְבוּכַדְנֶאצַּר וּבְיָדָן מָגִינֵּי זָהָב, הָלְכוּ לָהֶם אֵצֶל יִשְׁמְעֵאלִים וְהוֹצִיאוּ לָהֶם מִינֵי מְלוּחִים וְנוֹדוֹת מְנֻפָּחוֹת, אָמְרוּ לָהֶם נִשְׁתֶּה קֳדָמַיי, אָמְרוּ לָהֶם אִכְלוּ קֳדָמַיי וּלְבָתַר כֵּן אַתּוּן שָׁתְיָין, מִן דַּאֲכָלוּן הֲוָה נָסֵיב כָּל חַד וְחַד מִינַיְיהוּ זִיקָא וִיהַב לֵיהּ בְּפוּמֵיהּ וַהֲוָה רוּחָא עָלֵיל בִּכְרֵיסֵהּ וּבָקְעָה לֵיהּ, הֲדָא הוּא דִכְתִיב (ישעיה כא, יג): מַשָֹּׂא בַּעְרָב בַּיַּעַר בַּעְרַב תָּלִינוּ אֹרְחוֹת דְּדָנִים, לִקְרַאת צָמֵא הֵתָיוּ מָיִם ישְׁבֵי אֶרֶץ תֵּימָא בְּלַחְמוֹ קִדְּמוּ נֹדֵד. מִי נָתוּן בְּיַעַר הַלְּבָנוֹן בַּעְרָב תָּלִינוּ, אֶלָּא אֹרְחוֹת דְּדָנִים, אָרְחֲהוֹן דִּבְנֵי דְּדָנַיָּיא עָבְדִין כֵּן, וְכִי כֵן עֲבַד אֲבוּהוֹן לַאֲבוּכוֹן, מַה כְּתִיב בַּאֲבוּכוֹן (בראשית כא, יט): וַיִּפְקַח אֱלֹהִים אֶת עֵינֶיהָ וַתֵּרֶא בְּאֵר מָיִם וַתֵּלֶךְ וַתְּמַלֵא אֶת הַחֵמֶת מַיִם וַתַּשְׁק אֶת הַנָּעַר, וְאַתֶּם לֹא קִיַּמְתֶּם לִקְרַאת צָמֵא הֵתָיוּ מָיִם, וְכִי מִטִּיבוּתְהוֹן אַיְיתָן לְגַבֵּיכוֹן (ישעיה כא, טו): כִּי מִפְּנֵי חֲרָבוֹת נָדָדוּ, מִפְּנֵי חַרְבּוֹ שֶׁל נְבוּכַדְנֶצַּר נָדָדוּ. מִפְּנֵי חֶרֶב נְטוּשָׁה, מִפְּנֵי שֶׁלֹא הָיוּ שׁוֹמְרִים שְׁמִטּוֹתֵיהֶן כָּרָאוּי, כְּמָה דְאַתְּ אָמַר (שמות כג, יא): וְהַשְּׁבִיעִית תִּשְׁמְטֶנָּה וּנְטַשְׁתָּהּ. וּמִפְּנֵי קֶשֶׁת דְּרוּכָה, עַל יְדֵי שֶׁלֹא הָיוּ שׁוֹמְרִים שַׁבָּת כָּרָאוּי, כְּמָה דְאַתְּ אָמַר (נחמיה יג, טו): בַּיָּמִים הָהֵמָה רָאִיתִי בִיהוּדָה דֹרְכִים גִּתּוֹת בַּשַּׁבָּת. וּמִפְּנֵי כֹּבֶד מִלְחָמָה, מִפְּנֵי שֶׁלֹא הָיוּ נוֹשְׂאִין וְנוֹתְנִין בְּמִלְחַמְתָּהּ שֶׁל תּוֹרָה, דִּכְתִיב בָּהּ (במדבר כא, יד): עַל כֵּן יֵאָמַר בְּסֵפֶר מִלְחֲמֹת ה'. דְּאָמַר רַבִּי יוֹחָנָן מִגִּיבְתּוֹן וְעַד אַנְטִיפְרַס שִׁשִּׁים רִבּוֹא עֲיָרוֹת הָיוּ, וּקְטַנָּה שֶׁבָּהֶן זוֹ בֵּית שֶׁמֶשׁ, הֲדָא הוּא דִכְתִיב (שמואל א ו, יט): וַיַּךְ בְּאַנְשֵׁי בֵית שֶׁמֶשׁ וגו', וְכַדּוּן אֲפִלּוּ מֵאָה קָנֵי לֵית בָּהּ. אָמַר רַבִּי יוֹחָנָן מִשְׁמַרְתָּהּ הָיְתָה קְטַנָּה בַּמִּשְׁמָרוֹת, וְהָיְתָה מוֹצִיאָה שְׁמוֹנִים אֶלֶף פְּרָחִים. כַּמָּה פּוּלְמְסָאוֹת עָשָׂה אַדְרִיָּאנוֹס, תְּרֵין אָמוֹרָאִין, חַד אֲמַר חֲמִשִּׁים וּשְׁתַּיִם, וְחַד אֲמַר חֲמִשִּׁים וְאַרְבָּעָה. אָמַר רַבִּי יוֹחָנָן, אַשְׁרֵי מִי שֶׁרָאָה בְּמַפַּלְתָּהּ שֶׁל תַּרְמוֹד, לָמָּה, שֶׁהָיְתָה שֻׁתֶּפֶת בִּשְׁתֵּי חֻרְבָּנוֹת. רַבִּי יוּדָן אָמַר בְּחֻרְבָּן רִאשׁוֹן הֶעֱמִידָה שְׁמוֹנִים אֶלֶף קַשָּׁתִין, וּבַשֵּׁנִי הֶעֱמִידָה אַרְבָּעִים אֶלֶף קַשָּׁתִין. רַב הוּנָא אָמַר בְּחֻרְבָּן אַחֲרוֹן הֵם כָּרִאשׁוֹן.
“The Lord demolished and had no compassion for all the abodes of Jacob; He destroyed, in His ire, the strongholds of the daughter of Judah. He brought them to the ground; He profaned a kingdom and its princes” (Lamentations 2:2).
“The Lord demolished and had no compassion for all the abodes of Jacob.” Rabbi Pinḥas said in the name of Rabbi Hoshaya: There were four hundred and eighty synagogues in Jerusalem. From where [is that derived]? “Filled with [mele’ati] justice” (Isaiah 1:21), meleti31The word is written without the alef, such that its numerical value is 480: mem–40, lamed–30, tav–400, yod–ten = 480. However, it should be noted that the word does appear with an alef in extant versions of the book of Isaiah. It is possible that the Sages of the midrash had the word without an alef in their editions (Yefe Anaf). Alternatively, since the alef is not pronounced, it is as though it was written without the alef (Midrash HaMevoar). is written. Each one of them had a school and an academy, a school for Bible and an academy for Mishna.
Another matter, “the Lord demolished and had no compassion for all the abodes [neot] of Jacob,” all the pleasant ones [neotav] of Jacob, like Rabbi Yishmael, Rabban Gamliel, Rabbi Yeshevav, Rabbi Yehuda ben Bava, Rabbi Ḥutzpit the disseminator, Rabbi Yehuda the baker, Rabbi Ḥananya ben Teradyon, Rabbi Akiva, ben Azai, and Rabbi Tarfon. Some remove Rabbi Tarfon and insert Rabbi Elazar Ḥarsena.
Rabbi Yoḥanan would expound sixty aspects of “the Lord demolished and had no compassion.” Rabbi [Yehuda HaNasi] would expound twenty-four aspects. It is not that Rabbi Yoḥanan was superior to Rabbi [Yehuda HaNasi], but rather, since Rabbi [Yehuda HaNasi] was close to the destruction of the Temple, he would remember, expound, cry, and be consoled.32He would mourn the destruction of the Temple in a more personal way, and the elder Sages with him had personal memories of the Temple and they would all cry. Rabbi Yehuda HaNasi would then cease expounding the ways in which God did not have compassion, and would share words of consolation (Etz Yosef).
Rabbi Yoḥanan said: Rabbi [Yehuda HaNasi] would expound: “A star will arise from Jacob” (Numbers 24:17), do not read it as star [kokhav], but rather as fraudulent [kozav]. Rabbi Akiva, when he would look at that bar Koziva,33Shimon bar Kokhva. he would say: ‘This is the messianic king.’ Rabbi Yoḥanan ben Torata said to him: ‘Akiva, grass will grow in your cheeks and he still will not have come.’ Rabbi Yoḥanan said: “The voice is the voice of Jacob [and the hands are the hands of Esau]” (Genesis 27:22), “the voice”—the emperor Hadrian killed eight hundred million people in Beitar.34Thus, “the voice of Jacob” cried out due to the massacre committed by “the hands of Esau” in Beitar (Etz Yosef). Eighty thousand sounders of horns were laying siege to Beitar. Bar Koziva was there, and he had two hundred thousand men with severed fingers.35He would test the courage and commitment of prospective recruits by having them bite off a finger. The Sages sent to him: ‘Until when will you cause Israel to be blemished?’ He said to them: ‘How then can they be tested?’ They said to him: ‘Anyone who does not uproot a Lebanese cedar, let him not be written on your military roster.’36Their strength could be tested by whether or not they could uproot a cedar with their bare hands. He had two hundred thousand of these and two hundred thousand of those. When they would go out to war they would say:37To God. ‘Do not help and do not hinder.’ That is what is written: “Is it not You, God, who had abandoned us, You, God, who would not go out with our armies?” (Psalms 60:12). What would ben Koziva do? He would catch a catapult stone on one of his knees and propel it and kill several of their people.38When the enemy would catapult stones, he would kick them with his knee back to them, and not only would he not be injured, but he would kill several enemy soldiers. This was a demonstration of his incredible strength. It was due to this that Rabbi Akiva said that.39That is why Rabbi Akiva thought he would be the messianic king.
For three and a half years, the emperor Hadrian surrounded Beitar. Rabbi Elazar Hamoda'i was there, engaged in his sackcloth and his fasting. Each and every day, he would pray and say: ‘Master of the universe, do not sit in judgment today.’ Ultimately, [Hadrian] made up his mind to return.40Hadrian decided to return to Rome. A certain Cuthite came and found him and said to him: ‘My lord, every day that this chicken wallows in the ashes,41As long as Rabbi Elazar Hamoda’i continues fasting and wearing sackcloth, which is generally also be accompanied by placing ashes on oneself. you will not conquer it. But wait for me, as I will arrange for you to conquer it today.’ Immediately, he entered through the sewer system of the city. He found Rabbi Elazar, who was standing and praying. He made himself look as though he was whispering into the ear of Rabbi Elazar Hamoda'i. They went and told bar Koziva: ‘Your uncle, Rabbi Elazar, seeks to yield the city to Hadrian.’42The Cuthites were enemies of the Jews, and therefore it looked suspicious for the Cuthite to be whispering into Rabbi Elazar’s ear. He sent and had that Cuthite brought [to him]. He said to him: ‘What did you say to him?’ He said to him: ‘If I tell you, the emperor will kill me.43Literally, “that man.” If I do not tell you, you will kill me. But it is preferable that I have myself killed than having the secrets of the empire revealed.’
Ben Koziva thought that he44Rabbi Elazar Hamoda’i. wanted to yield the city. When Rabbi Elazar concluded his prayer, he sent and had him brought. He said to him: ‘What did that Cuthite say to you?’ He said to him: ‘I do not know what he whispered in my ear, and I did not hear anything from him, as I was standing in prayer and I do not know what he was saying.’ Ben Koziva was filled with rage. He gave him one kick with his foot and killed him. A Divine Voice emerged and said: “Woe to the worthless shepherd who abandons the flock; a sword upon his arm and upon his right eye” (Zechariah 11:17). It said to him: ‘You paralyzed the arm of Israel and blinded their right eye; therefore, the arm of this man “will wither and his right eye will go blind”’ (Zechariah 11:17). Immediately, the iniquities caused Beitar to be captured. Ben Koziva was killed and they brought his head to Hadrian. He said: ‘Who killed this one?’ A certain Gontite45According to most commentaries, this is another name for the Cuthites. Some interpret the word to mean soldier. said: ‘I killed this one.’ He said: ‘Go and bring him to me.’46Hadrian asked for the rest of ben Koziva’s body to be brought to him. He went to bring him, and he found a serpent wrapped around his neck. [Hadrian] said to him: ‘Had his God not killed him, who could have overcome him?’ He applied to him the verse: “If not that their Rock had sold them” (Deuteronomy 32:30).
They were killing them until the horse was submerged in blood until its nostrils. The blood would roll boulders [weighing] forty se’a and would flow four mil into the sea. And lest you say it is proximate to the sea, it is a distance of four mil from the sea. Hadrian had a large vineyard eighteen mil by eighteen mil, like the distance between Tiberias and Tzippori. He surrounded it with a fence of the slain of Beitar.47This was to fertilize the vineyard with the flesh and blood. He did not issue a decree [allowing the dead] to be buried, until a certain [new] emperor arose and issued a decree in their regard, and they buried them. Rabbi Huna said: The day that the slain of Beitar were brought to burial, [the blessing]: Who is good and does good, was instituted.48The Sages added this blessing to Grace after Meals. Who is good, because they did not decompose, Who does good, because they were brought to burial.
Beitar existed for fifty-two years after the destruction of the Temple. Why was it destroyed? Because they kindled lamps over the destruction of the Temple.49Kindling lamps was a sign of celebration. Why did they kindle them? They said: The ruling aristocracy of Jerusalem would sit in the center of the city, and when one of them would ascend to pray,50When a resident of Beitar would ascend to Jerusalem to pray at the Temple. one of them would say to him: ‘Do you wish to become a member of the ruling aristocracy?’ He would say: ‘No.’ ‘Do you wish to become a local governor?’ He would say to him: ‘No.’ [The aristocrat] would say to him: ‘I heard that you have an estate; do you wish to sell it to me?’ He would say to him: ‘I do not intend to do so.’ He would write and send his bill of sale to a member of his household: ‘If so and so comes, do not allow him to enter the estate because he sold it to me.’51After offering the resident of Beitar an elevated status or a position of authority so that he would agree to sell his estate, and being rebuffed nevertheless, the corrupt aristocrats would take matters into their own hands and write false documents of sale on behalf of the Beitar resident. That man would say: ‘If only that man’s leg would have been broken and he would not have ascended to that corner.’52The resident of Beitar whose estate was taken would say: ‘If only I had not come to pray at the Temple.’ That is what is written: “They hunted [tzadu] our steps [from walking in our squares]” (Lamentations 4:18); may the roads be desolate [tzadya] of [people] walking to those plazas.53The people of Beitar hoped that people would stop traveling to the Temple. “Our end approaches” (Lamentations 4:18); the end of that Temple,54They hoped that the Temple would be destroyed. “our days are filled” (Lamentations 4:18); the days of that Temple. They, too, their good did not last, as it is written: “One who rejoices at calamity will not be absolved” (Proverbs 17:5).
Rabbi Yoḥanan said: Three hundred babies’ brains were found on a single rock, and three hundred baskets of phylacteries boxes were found in Beitar, each and every one of them holding three se’a. When you arrive at a tally, you find that there were three hundred se’a.55Each basket held three hundred se’a, for a total of nine hundred se’a.
Rabban Gamliel said: There were five hundred elementary schools in Beitar, and the smallest among them had no fewer than three hundred children. They would say: ‘If our enemies come against us, we will emerge and stab them with these quills.’ When the iniquities were the cause and the enemies came, they wrapped each and every one of them in his scroll and they burned them, and I am the only one of them who survived. He applied to himself the verse: “My eye distressed my soul…” (Lamentations 3:51).
There were two brothers in Kefar Ḥaruva and they would not allow a Roman to pass there whom they did not kill. They said: ‘The entire objective of the matter is to take Hadrian’s crown and place it on Shimon’s head.’56The reference is to Shimon bar Kokhva. The Romans came, and when they went out [to fight them], a certain elder encountered them and said to them: ‘May the Creator come to your aid against them.’ They said to him: ‘Let Him not help and let Him not hinder.’ Immediately, their iniquities were the cause and they were killed. [The Roman soldiers] brought their heads to Hadrian. He said: ‘Who killed these?’ A certain Gontite57According to most commentaries, this is another name for the Cuthites. Some interpret the word to mean soldier. said to him: ‘I killed them.’ He said to him: ‘Go bring me their bodies.’ He went and found a serpent wrapped around their necks. [Hadrian] said: ‘Had their God not killed them, who could have overcome them?’ He applied to them the verse: “If not that their Rock had sold them” (Deuteronomy 32:30).
There were two cedars on the Mount of Olives, and beneath one of them there were four stores of sellers of ritually pure items. From one [store], they would take out forty se’a of fledglings each month, which would supply pairs of birds for Israel.58In some instances, one who is ritually impure must sacrifice a pair of birds as part of his purification process; see, e.g., Leviticus 15:29. Mount Shimon would produce three hundred barrels.59Many commentaries suggest that the text should read: Three hundred barrels of wine (see, e.g., Yefe Enayim). Why were they destroyed? If you say it was because of the prostitutes, but was there not only one young woman there and they expelled her? Rabbi Huna said: It is because they would play ball on Shabbat.
There were ten thousand towns on the King’s Mountain. Rabbi Elazar ben Ḥarsom owned one thousand of them. Corresponding to them, he had one thousand ships at sea. Three of those towns, Kavul, Shiḥin, and Magdela, their taxes would be taken up to Jerusalem.60Many commentaries assert that the text should read: Taken up to Jerusalem in a wagon (see, e.g., Yefe Enayim). This is an indication that the load was heavy. Why were they destroyed? Kavul, due to strife; Shiḥin, due to sorcery; Magdela, due to prostitution.
There were three towns in the south that would produce twice the number of those who departed from Egypt, and they were: Kefar Bish, Kefar Shaḥalayim, and Kefar Dikhrin. Kefar Bish, why was its name called Kefar Bish?61This name literally means “bad village.” Because they did not receive guests. Kefar Shaḥalayim, why was its name called Kefar Shaḥalayim?62Shaḥalayim means cress. Because they would produce numerous children, like cress.63Cress is an edible herb that grows quickly. Kefar Dikhrin, why was its name called Kefar Dikhrin?64Dikhrin means males in Aramaic. Because every woman there would give birth to male [dikhrin] children. Any woman who wished to bear a female would go outside the town and bear a female. Any other woman who wished to bear a male son, would go there and bear a male. But now, when you attempt to plant six hundred thousand reeds there, the space will not suffice.65How could there have been twice that number of people in these towns? Rabbi Yoḥanan said: The Land of Israel has contracted.
Rav Huna said: There were three hundred stores of sellers of ritually pure items in Magdela of the Dyers, and three hundred stores of weavers of curtains in Kefar Nimra. Rabbi Yirmeya said in the name of Rabbi Ḥiya bar Abba: There were eighty brothers who were priests, who married eighty sisters who were daughters of priests on one night in Gufna, not including brothers not to sisters, not including sisters not to brothers, not including Levites, and not including Israelites.66Eighty pairs of brothers who were priests married eighty pairs of sisters who were the daughters of priests on one night, and this tally did not include marriages between priestly families in which a single son married a single daughter, and did not include weddings of those who were not priests. The fact that so many weddings occurred on one night indicates how large the population must have been.
Eighty thousand young priests were killed over the blood of Zekharya.67Zekharya was a priest and prophet who rebuked the Judean aristocracy for their idolatrous practices and was killed on the Temple Mount; see II Chronicles 24:20–22. Rabbi Yudan asked Rabbi Aḥa: ‘Where did they kill Zekharya, in the Israelite courtyard or the women’s courtyard?’ He said to him: ‘Neither in the Israelite courtyard nor in the women’s courtyard, but rather in the priestly courtyard.’ They did not treat his blood like the blood of a gazelle nor like the blood of a deer. There it is written: “Any man from the children of Israel, or from the strangers who resides among them, who shall hunt game of a beast…he shall [pour out its blood and] cover it with dirt” (Leviticus 17:13). However, here it is written: “For its blood was within it; on a bare rock it placed it. It did not pour it on the ground to cover it with dirt” (Ezekiel 24:7). Why to that extent? “To arouse fury to take vengeance, I placed its blood upon the bare rock that it not be covered” (Ezekiel 24:8).
Israel performed seven transgressions on that day: They killed a priest, a prophet, and a judge, they spilled innocent blood, they desecrated the Name, they impurified the Temple courtyard, and it was Shabbat and Yom Kippur. When Nevuzaradan ascended, he saw that the blood of Zekharya was boiling. He said to them: ‘What is this?’ They said to him: ‘It is the blood of bulls and sheep.’ He brought bulls and sheep but [their blood] was not similar. He said to them: ‘If you tell me, fine. But if not, I will comb the flesh of these people with a comb of iron,’ but they did not tell him. When he said this to them,68When he continued to threaten them after realizing that the blood was clearly not the blood of bulls and sheep. they said to him: ‘Why should we conceal it from you? We had a prophet, a priest, who would reprimand us in the name of Heaven, [saying] ‘Accept [my words],’ but we did not accept it from him. Rather, we rose against him and killed him.’ He said to them: ‘I will assuage it.’ He brought the Great Sanhedrin and slaughtered them onto it, but it did not rest.69He slaughtered the members of the Great Sanhedrin over the blood of Zekharya but the blood continued to boil. He slaughtered the lesser Sanhedrin onto it, but it did not rest. He brought young priests and slaughtered them onto it, but it did not rest. He slaughtered schoolchildren onto it, but it did not rest. He said to it: ‘Zekharya, I have eliminated the best of your people. Is it your will that all of them will be eliminated?’ Immediately, it rested. That wicked one contemplated repentance, and said: ‘One who eliminates a single Israelite soul, it is written in his regard: “Whoever sheds the blood of man, his blood will be spilled by man” (Genesis 9:6), this man who eliminated many souls, all the more so.’ Immediately, the Holy One blessed be He became filled with mercy for them, and He intimated to the blood, and it was absorbed in its place.
Eighty thousand young priests breached the armies of Nebuchadnezzar with gold shields in their hands.70They escaped the siege imposed by the Babylonian army. They went to the Ishmaelites, who took out salty foods and inflated wineskins. They said to [the Ishmaelites]: ‘Let us drink first.’ They said to them: ‘Eat first and then you will drink.’ After they ate, each and every one of them took the wineskin, placed it in his mouth, and the wind entered his stomach and burst it. That is what is written: “A prophecy of Arabia: In the forest in Arabia you will stay the night, caravans of Dedanites. Bring water to the thirsty. The inhabitants of the land of Teima greeted the wanderer with his bread [for they wandered due to swords, due to the drawn sword and to the bent bow]” (Isaiah 21:13–15). The one who is located “in the forest” of Lebanon “will stay the night.”71The Israelites, particularly the priests, who ordinarily spend time in the “forest of Lebanon,” i.e. the Temple, would stay the night amongst the Arabs. But “caravans of the Dedanites,” is it the way of cousins to act this way?72The Dedanites are identified as the Ishmaelites, who are cousins [benei Dedanaya] of the Israelites. Is this what their Father73God. did to your ancestor? What is written regarding your ancestor? “God opened her eyes and she saw a well of water. She went and filled the skin with water, and gave the lad to drink” (Genesis 21:19). But you did not fulfill: “Bring water to the thirsty.” Was it because it was good for them that they came to you? “For they wandered due to swords” (Isaiah 21:15), it is due to the sword of Nebuchadnezzar that they wandered.
“Due to a drawn [netusha] sword” (Isaiah 21:15), it is because they did not observe their Sabbatical Years properly, just as it is said: “But the seventh, you shall leave it fallow and relinquish it [untashtah]” (Exodus 23:11). “And to the bent [derukha] bow” (Isaiah 21:15), it is because they did not observe Shabbat properly, just as it is said: “In those days I saw in Judah some treading [dorekhim] winepresses on the Shabbat” (Nehemiah 13:15). “And due to the rigor of the war” (Isaiah 21:15), because they did not engage in the give and take of the war of Torah, of which it is written: “Therefore, it is said in the book of the Wars of the Lord” (Numbers 21:14).
Rabbi Yoḥanan said: From Giveton to Antipatris there were six hundred thousand cities, the smallest of which was Beit Shemesh. That is what is written: “He smote among the men of Beit Shemesh…[and He smote of the people seventy men and fifty thousand men]” (I Samuel 6:19).74This demonstrates that this area was very well populated. Now, there are not even one hundred reeds there. Rabbi Yoḥanan said: Its priestly watch was the smallest of the priestly watches and would produce eighty thousand young priests.
How many attacks did Hadrian launch? Two amora’im, one said fifty-two and one said fifty-four. Rabbi Yoḥanan said: Happy is he who saw the downfall of Tadmor. Why? Because it played a role in two destructions.75The destructions of the two Temples. Rabbi Yudan said: In the first destruction it provided eighty thousand archers and in the second it provided forty thousand archers. Rav Huna said: In the latter destruction they were like the first.
הָרַס בְּעֶבְרָתוֹ מִבְצְרֵי בַת יְהוּדָה, רַבִּי יוּדָן אָמַר כָּל בִּירָה וּבִירָה שֶׁהָיְתָה בִּירוּשָׁלַם לֹא הָיְתָה רְאוּיָה לְהִכָּבֵשׁ פָּחוֹת מֵאַרְבָּעִים יוֹם, רַבִּי פִּנְחָס אָמַר פָּחוֹת מֵחֲמִשִּׁים יוֹם, וְכֵיוָן שֶׁגָּרְמוּ עֲוֹנוֹת הָרַס בְּעֶבְרָתוֹ מִבְצְרֵי בַת יְהוּדָה הִגִּיעַ לָאָרֶץ. חִלֵּל מַמְלָכָה וְשָׂרֶיהָ, חִלֵּל מַמְלָכָה, אֵלּוּ יִשְׂרָאֵל, כְּמָה דְאַתְּ אָמַר (שמות יט, ו): וְאַתֶּם תִּהְיוּ לִי מַמְלֶכֶת כֹּהֲנִים וְגוֹי קָדוֹשׁ. וְשָׂרֶיהָ אֵלּוּ שָׂרִים שֶׁל מַעְלָן, אַתְּ מוֹצֵא עַד שֶׁלֹא בָּאוּ הַשֹּׂוֹנְאִים הָיָה יִרְמְיָה אוֹמֵר לָהֶם עֲשׂוּ תְּשׁוּבָה שֶׁלֹא תֵּלְכוּ בַּגָּלוּת, אָמְרוּ לוֹ אִם יָבֹאוּ הַשֹּׂוֹנְאִים מַה יְּכוֹלִין לַעֲשׂוֹת לָנוּ, חַד אֲמַר אֲנָא מַקֵּיף לָהּ חוֹמַת מַיָּא, וָחֳרִינָא אֲמַר אֲנָא מַקֵּיף לָהּ חוֹמַת נוּרָא, וָחֳרִינָא אֲמַר אֲנָא מַקֵּיף לָהּ חוֹמַת פַּרְזְלָא, אֲמַר לְהוּ הַקָּדוֹשׁ בָּרוּךְ הוּא בְּדִידִי אַתּוּן מִשְׁתַּמְּשִׁין, עָמַד הַקָּדוֹשׁ בָּרוּךְ הוּא וְשִׁנָּה אֶת שְׁמוֹתָם שֶׁל מַלְאָכִים, דְּעַל מַיָא עֲבַד עַל נוּרָא וּדְעַל נוּרָא עֲבַד עַל פַּרְזְלָא, וְהָיוּ מַזְכִּירִין שְׁמוֹתָם מִלְּמַטָּה וְלֹא הָיוּ עוֹנִין לָהֶם, הֲדָא הוּא דִכְתִיב (ישעיה מג, כח): וַאֲחַלֵּל שָׂרֵי קֹדֶשׁ, וְכֵיוָן שֶׁגָּרְמוּ הָעֲוֹנוֹת וּבָאוּ הַשֹּׂוֹנְאִים הִתְחִילוּ מַזְכִּירִין שַׂר פְּלָן אִיתָא עֲבִיד לָן מִילַיָּא פְּלָן, אֲמַר לֵיהּ לֵית בְּחֵילִי דַּאֲנָא מֵירִים מִינַהּ. דָּבָר אַחֵר, חִלֵּל מַמְלָכָה וְשָׂרֶיהָ. חִלֵּל מַמְלָכָה, זֶה צִדְקִיָּה מֶלֶךְ יְהוּדָה, וְשָׂרֶיהָ, אֵלּוּ שָׂרִים שֶׁל מַעְלָה.
“He destroyed, in His ire, the strongholds of the daughter of Judah.” Rabbi Yudan said: Each and every castle that was in Jerusalem was not fit to be conquered in any less than forty days. Rabbi Pinḥas said: In any less than fifty days. But since iniquity caused [their downfall], “He destroyed, in His ire, the strongholds of the daughter of Judah, He brought them to the ground.”
“He profaned a kingdom and its princes.” “He profaned a kingdom,” this is Israel, just as it says: “You will be for Me a kingdom of priests and a holy nation” (Exodus 19:6). “And its princes,” these are the guardian angels On High. You find that until the enemies came, Jeremiah would say to them: ‘Repent so you will not go into exile.’ They said to him: ‘If the enemies will come, what can they do to us?’ One [Israelite] said: ‘I will surround it with a wall of water.’ Another said: ‘I will surround it with a wall of fire.’ Another said: ‘I will surround it with a wall of iron.’76Each of them boasted that they could accomplish this by invoking the name of an angel (Matnot Kehuna). The Holy One blessed be He said to them: You are using that which is Mine. The Holy One blessed be He rose and changed the names of the angels. The one appointed over water, He tasked over fire; the one appointed over fire, He tasked over iron. They would invoke their names below, but they did not respond to them. That is what is written: “I profaned the sacred princes” (Isaiah 43:28). When the iniquities were the cause and the enemies came, they began invoking: So and so angel, come and perform such and such matter. [The angel] would say to him: ‘It is not within my ability, as I am excluded from it.’
Another matter, “He profaned a kingdom and its princes.” “He profaned a kingdom,” this is Zedekiah king of Judah. “And its princes,” these are the guardian angels On High.
גָּדַע בָּחֳרִי אַף כֹּל קֶרֶן יִשְׂרָאֵל. עֶשֶׂר קְרָנוֹת הֵן, קַרְנוֹ שֶׁל אַבְרָהָם, קַרְנוֹ שֶׁל יִצְחָק, קַרְנוֹ שֶׁל יוֹסֵף, קַרְנוֹ שֶׁל משֶׁה, קַרְנָהּ שֶׁל תּוֹרָה, קַרְנָהּ שֶׁל כְּהֻנָּה, קַרְנָהּ שֶׁל לְוִיָה, קַרְנָהּ שֶׁל נְבוּאָה, קַרְנוֹ שֶׁל בֵּית הַמִּקְדָּשׁ, קַרְנוֹ שֶׁל יִשְׂרָאֵל. וְיֵשׁ אוֹמְרִים קַרְנוֹ שֶׁל מָשִׁיחַ. קַרְנוֹ שֶׁל אַבְרָהָם, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר (ישעיה ה, א): כֶּרֶם הָיָה לִידִידִי בְּקֶרֶן בֶּן שָׁמֶן. קַרְנוֹ שֶׁל יִצְחָק, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר (בראשית כב, יג): נֶאֱחַז בַּסְּבַךְ בְּקַרְנָיו, קַרְנוֹ שֶׁל יוֹסֵף, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר (דברים לג, יז): וְקַרְנֵי רְאֵם קַרְנָיו. קַרְנוֹ שֶׁל משֶׁה, דִּכְתִיב (שמות לד, כט): כִּי קָרַן עוֹר פָּנָיו. קַרְנָהּ שֶׁל תּוֹרָה, דִּכְתִיב (חבקוק ג, ד): קַרְנַיִם מִיָּדוֹ לוֹ. קַרְנָהּ שֶׁל כְּהֻנָּה, דִּכְתִיב (תהלים קיב, ט): קַרְנוֹ תָּרוּם בְּכָבוֹד. קַרְנָהּ שֶׁל לְוִיָּה, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר (דברי הימים א כה, ה): כָּל אֵלֶּה בָנִים לְהֵימָן חֹזֶה הַמֶּלֶךְ בְּדִבְרֵי הָאֱלֹהִים לְהָרִים קָרֶן. קַרְנָהּ שֶׁל נְבוּאָה, דִּכְתִיב (שמואל א ב, א): רָמָּה קַרְנִי בַּה'. קַרְנוֹ שֶׁל בֵּית הַמִּקְדָּשׁ, דִּכְתִיב (תהלים כב, כב): וּמִקַּרְנֵי רֵמִים עֲנִיתָנִי, קַרְנוֹ שֶׁל יִשְׂרָאֵל, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר (תהלים קמח, יד): וְיָרֶם קֶרֶן לְעַמּוֹ. וְיֵשׁ אוֹמְרִים קַרְנוֹ שֶׁל מָשִׁיחַ, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר (שמואל א ב, י): וְיִתֶּן עֹז לְמַלְכּוֹ וְיָרֶם קֶרֶן מְשִׁיחוֹ. וְכֻלָּן הָיוּ נְתוּנוֹת בְּרֹאשָׁן שֶׁל יִשְׂרָאֵל, וְכֵיוָן שֶׁחָטְאוּ נִטְּלוּ מֵהֶן, הֲדָא הוּא דִכְתִיב: גָּדַע בָּחֳרִי אַף כֹּל קֶרֶן יִשְׂרָאֵל, וְנִתְּנוּ לְאֻמּוֹת הָעוֹלָם, הֲדָא הוּא דִכְתִיב (דניאל ז, כ): וְעַל קַרְנַיָּא עֲשַׂר דִי בְרֵאשַׁהּ וְאָחֳרִי דִי סִלְקַת וּנְפַלָה מִן קֳדָמַהּ תְּלָת, וּכְתִיב בַּתְרֵיהּ וְקַרְנַיָּא עֲשַׂר מִנַּהּ מַלְכוּתָא עַשְׂרָה מַלְכִין יְקֻמוּן וְאָחֳרָן יְקוּם אַחֲרֵיהֹן וְהוּא יִשְׁנֵא מִן קַדְמָיֵא וּתְלָתָה מַלְכִין יְהַשְׁפִּל. וּכְשֶׁיִּשְׂרָאֵל עוֹשִׂין תְּשׁוּבָה הַקָּדוֹשׁ בָּרוּךְ הוּא מַחֲזִירָן לִמְקוֹמָם, הֲדָא הוּא דִכְתִיב (תהלים עה, יא): וְכָל קַרְנֵי רְשָׁעִים אֲגַדֵּעַ תְּרוֹמַמְנָה קַרְנוֹת צַדִּיק, הַקְּרָנוֹת שֶׁגִּדַּע צַדִּיקוֹ שֶׁל עוֹלָם, אֵימָתַי הוּא מַחְזִירָן לִמְקוֹמָם, לִכְשֶׁיְּרוֹמֵם הַקָּדוֹשׁ בָּרוּךְ הוּא קֶרֶן מְשִׁיחוֹ, דִּכְתִיב (שמואל א ב, י): וְיִתֵּן עֹז לְמַלְכּוֹ וְיָרֵם קֶרֶן מְשִׁיחוֹ. הֵשִׁיב אָחוֹר יְמִינוֹ מִפְּנֵי אוֹיֵב. רַבִּי עֲזַרְיָה בְּשֵׁם רַבִּי יְהוּדָה בְּרַבִּי סִימוֹן אָמַר כֵּיוָן שֶׁגָּרְמוּ עֲוֹנוֹת וְנִכְנְסוּ שׂוֹנְאִים בִּירוּשָׁלַיִם, נָטְלוּ גִּבּוֹרֵיהֶם שֶׁל יִשְׂרָאֵל וְכָפְתוּ יְדֵיהוֹן לַאֲחוֹרֵיהוֹן, אָמַר הַקָּדוֹשׁ בָּרוּךְ הוּא (תהלים צא, טו): עִמּוֹ אָנֹכִי בְצָרָה, כָּתַבְתִּי בַּתּוֹרָה, וְעַכְשָׁיו בָּנַי שְׁרוּיִין בְּצַעַר וַאֲנִי בְּרֶוַח, כִּבְיָכוֹל הֵשִׁיב אָחוֹר יְמִינוֹ, וּלְבַסּוֹף גִּלָּה אוֹתָהּ לְדָנִיּאֵל, הֲדָא הוּא דִכְתִיב (דניאל יב, יג): וְאַתָּה לֵךְ לַקֵּץ, אָמַר לוֹ לִתֵּן דִּין וְחֶשְׁבּוֹן, אָמַר לוֹ הַקָּדוֹשׁ בָּרוּךְ הוּא וְתָנוּחַ. אָמַר לוֹ וַהֲנָחָה לְעוֹלָם, אָמַר לוֹ וְתַעֲמֹד, אָמַר לוֹ עִם מִי, עִם הַצַּדִּיקִים אוֹ עִם הָרְשָׁעִים, אָמַר לוֹ לְגֹרָלְךָ, עִם הַצַּדִּיקִים, אָמַר לוֹ בְּאַחֲרִית הַיָּמִים אוֹ בְּאַחֲרִית הַיָּמִין, אָמַר לוֹ לְקֵץ הַיָּמִין, אוֹתָהּ יָמִין שֶׁהִיא מְשֻׁעְבֶּדֶת קֵץ נָתַתִּי לִימִינִי. גָּאַלְתִּי אֶת בָּנַי גָּאַלְתִּי אֶת יְמִינִי, וְהוּא שֶׁאָמַר דָּוִד (תהלים ס, ז): לְמַעַן יֵחָלְצוּן יְדִידֶיךָ הוֹשִׁיעָה יְמִינְךָ וַעֲנֵנִי.
“He severed in his enflamed wrath all the horn of Israel; He retracted His right hand from before the enemy. He burned in Jacob like flaming fire, consuming all around” (Lamentations 2:3).
“He severed in his enflamed wrath all the horn of Israel.” There are ten horns: the horn of Abraham, the horn of Isaac, the horn of Joseph, the horn of Moses, the horn of Torah, the horn of priesthood, the horn of Levites, the horn of prophecy, the horn of the Temple, the horn of Israel, and some say, the horn of the Messiah.
The horn [keren] of Abraham, as it is stated: “My beloved had a vineyard in a fruitful corner [keren]” (Isaiah 5:1).77The Sages identify the term “beloved” in the verse as referring to Abraham. See, similarly, Eikha Rabba Prologue 24; Eikha Rabba 1:1. The horn of Isaac, as it is stated: “Caught in the thicket by its horns” (Genesis 22:13). The horn of Joseph, as it is stated: “His horns are the horns of aurochs” (Deuteronomy 33:17). The horn of Moses, as it is written: “The skin of his face was radiant [karan]” (Exodus 34:29). The horn of Torah, as it is written: “Rays [karnayim] from His hand to him” (Habakkuk 3:4). The horn of priesthood, as it is written: “His horn is raised high in honor” (Psalms 112:9).78This verse refers to honor [kavod], a term used particularly in regard to priests; see, e.g., Exodus 28:2, 40 (Maharzu). The horn of the Levites, as it is stated: “All of these were sons of Heiman, the king's seer in matters of God, to raise the horn” (I Chronicles 25:5).79The reference is to a family of Levites. The horn of prophecy, as it is written: “My horn is exalted in the Lord” (I Samuel 2:1). The horn of the Temple, as it is written: “From the horns of the aurochs; answer me (Psalms 22:22).80The midrash elsewhere (Midrash Tehillim 102) relates that David prayed to God that He save him from an auroch, and promised to build the Temple in return (Maharzu). The horn of Israel, as it is stated: “He raised a horn for His people” (Psalms 148:14). And some say the horn of the Messiah, as it is stated: “Exalt the horn of His anointed one” (I Samuel 2:10).81The word Messiah [mashiaḥ] literally means “anointed one.”
All of them were placed on the heads of the Israelites, and when they sinned they were taken from them. That is what is written: “He severed in His enflamed wrath all the horn of Israel.” They were given to the nations of the world. That is what is written: “Concerning the ten horns that were on its head, and the other that arose, and before which three fell” (Daniel 7:20), and it is written thereafter: “And the ten horns: From this kingdom, ten kings will arise, and another will arise after them, and he will be different from the earlier ones, and he will subdue three kings” (Daniel 7:24). When Israel repents, the Holy One blessed be He will restore them to their place. That is what is written: “All the horns of the wicked I will sever, while the horns of the righteous shall be raised” (Psalms 75:11). The horns that the Righteous One of the world severed, when will He restore them to their place? When the Holy One blessed be He exalts the horn of His anointed one, as it is written: “He will give strength to His king and exalt the glory of His anointed one” (I Samuel 2:10).
“He retracted His right hand from before the enemy.” Rabbi Azarya said in the name of Rabbi Yehuda ben Rabbi Simon: When iniquities were the cause and the enemies entered Jerusalem, they took the mighty of Israel and bound their hands behind them. The Holy One blessed be He said: ‘I wrote in the Torah: “I will be with him in distress” (Psalms 91:15), and now My children are wallowing in distress and I am in comfort?’ As it were, “He retracted His right hand.”82The Hebrew phrase in the verse, usually translated “He retracted His right hand,” can also be translated “He put His right hand behind Him.” God does not respond to the atrocities and indignities committed by the enemy to His people, as though His hands are tied behind His back.
Ultimately He revealed it to Daniel. That is what is written: “But you, go to the end” (Daniel 12:13). [Daniel] said to Him: ‘To give an accounting?’ The Holy One blessed be He said to him: “And rest” (Daniel 12:13). He said to Him: ‘Will I rest forever?’ He said to him: “You will stand” (Daniel 12:13). He said to Him: ‘With whom, with the righteous or with the wicked?’ He said: “To your fate” (Daniel 12:13), with the righteous. He said to Him: ‘“At the end of days [hayamim]” (Daniel 12:13),83This is when all the dead, righteous and wicked, will arise for judgment. or at the end of the right hand [hayamin]?’84This is when God will reveal His right hand and bring salvation to the righteous. He said to him: ‘To the end of the right hand; that right hand that is subjugated. I put an end to My right hand.85I put an end to the restrictions on My right hand. When I redeem My children, I will have redeemed My right hand.’ That is what David said: “So that Your beloved ones be saved, deliver Your right hand and answer me” (Psalms 60:7).
וַיִּבְעַר בְּיַעֲקֹב כְּאֵשׁ לֶהָבָה אָכְלָה סָבִיב, אָמַר רַבִּי שִׁמְעוֹן בֶּן לָקִישׁ, כְּשֶׁהַפֻּרְעָנוּת בָּאָה אֵין מַרְגִּישׁ בָּהּ אֶלָּא יַעֲקֹב, מַאי טַעְמָא, וַיִּבְעַר בְּיַעֲקֹב כְּאֵשׁ לֶהָבָה. וּכְשֶׁהַטּוֹבָה בָּאָה אֵין מַרְגִּישׁ בָּהּ אֶלָא יַעֲקֹב, הֲדָא הוּא דִכְתִיב (תהלים יד, ז): יָגֵל יַעֲקֹב יִשְׂמַח יִשְׂרָאֵל.
“He burned in Jacob like flaming fire, consuming all around.” Rabbi Shimon ben Lakish said: When calamity comes, it is only Jacob who senses it. What is the source? “He burned in Jacob like flaming fire.” When good comes, it is only Jacob who senses it. That is what is written: “Jacob will be gladdened and Israel will rejoice” (Psalms 14:7).
דָּרַךְ קַשְׁתּוֹ כְּאוֹיֵב, רַבִּי אַיְּבוּ אָמַר הֵן לֹא פָּלְשׁוּ אַחַר מִדַּת הַדִּין אַף מִדַּת הַדִּין לֹא פָּלְשָׁה אַחֲרֵיהֶם. הֵם לֹא פָּלְשׁוּ אַחַר מִדַּת הַדִּין, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר (במדבר יא, א): וַיְהִי הָעָם כְּמִתְאֹנְנִים, מִתְאֹנְנִים אֵין כְּתִיב כָּאן, אֶלָּא כְּמִתְאֹנְנִים, (הושע ה, י): הָיוּ שָׂרֵי יְהוּדָה כְּמַסִּיגֵי גְבוּל, מַסִּיגֵי אֵין כְּתִיב כָּאן, אֶלָּא כְּמַסִּיגֵי, (הושע ד, טז): כִּי כְּפָרָה סֹרֵרָה, כִּי פָרָה סֹרֵרָה אֵין כְּתִיב כָּאן, אֶלָּא כְּפָרָה סֹרֵרָה, וּמִדַּת הַדִּין לֹא פָּלְשָׁה אַחֲרֵיהֶם, דָּרַךְ קַשְׁתּוֹ אוֹיֵב אֵין כְּתִיב כָּאן, אֶלָּא כְּאוֹיֵב. דָּבָר אַחֵר, דָּרַךְ קַשְׁתּוֹ כְּאוֹיֵב, זֶה פַּרְעֹה, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר (שמות טו, ט): אָמַר אוֹיֵב. נִצָּב יְמִינוֹ כְּצָר, זֶה הָמָן, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר (אסתר ז, ו): אִישׁ צַר וְאוֹיֵב. דָּבָר אַחֵר, דָּרַךְ קַשְׁתּוֹ כְּאוֹיֵב, זֶה עֵשָׂו, דִּכְתִיב (יחזקאל לו, ב): יַעַן אָמַר הָאוֹיֵב. וַיַּהֲרֹג כֹּל מַחֲמַדֵּי עָיִן, רַבִּי תַּנְחוּם בַּר יִרְמְיָה אָמַר אֵלּוּ בָנִים שֶׁהֵן חֲבִיבִים עַל אֲבוֹתָם כְּגַלְגַּל הָעַיִן שֶׁלָּהֶם. רַבָּנָן אָמְרֵי אֵלּוּ סַנְהֶדְרִין שֶׁהֵן חֲבִיבִין עַל יִשְׂרָאֵל כְּגַלְגַּל הָעַיִן. בְּאֹהֶל בַּת צִיּוֹן שָׁפַךְ כָּאֵשׁ חֲמָתוֹ, אַרְבַּע שְׁפִיכוֹת הֵן לְטוֹבָה וְאַרְבַּע שְׁפִיכוֹת הֵן לְרָעָה, אַרְבַּע שְׁפִיכוֹת לְטוֹבָה, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר (זכריה יב, י): וְשָׁפַכְתִּי עַל בֵּית דָּוִד וְעַל יוֹשֵׁב יְרוּשָׁלָיִם רוּחַ חֵן וְתַחֲנוּנִים. (יואל ג, א): וְהָיָה אַחֲרֵי כֵן אֶשְׁפּוֹךְ אֶת רוּחִי עַל כָּל בָּשָׂר וגו' וְגַם עַל הָעֲבָדִים וְעַל הַשְּׁפָחוֹת בַּיָּמִים הָהֵמָה אֶשְׁפּוֹךְ אֶת רוּחִי. (יחזקאל לט, כט): וְלֹא אַסְתִּיר עוֹד פָּנַי מֵהֶם אֲשֶׁר שָׁפַכְתִּי אֶת רוּחִי עַל בֵּית יִשְׂרָאֵל נְאֻם אֲדֹנָי אֱלֹהִים. וְאַרְבַּע שְׁפִיכוֹת לְרָעָה, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר (ישעיה מב, כה): וַיִּשְׁפֹּךְ עָלָיו חֵמָה אַפּוֹ. וּבִיחֶזְקֵאל כְּתִיב (יחזקאל ט, ח): בְּשָׁפְכְּךָ אֶת חֲמָתְךָ עַל יְרוּשָׁלָיִם. וּכְתִיב (איכה ד, יא): כִּלָּה ה' אֶת חֲמָתוֹ שָׁפַךְ חֲרוֹן אַפּוֹ. וְהָדֵין: שָׁפַךְ כָּאֵשׁ חֲמָתוֹ.
“He drew His bow like an enemy; His right hand stood as an adversary, and he killed all delights of the eye. In the tent of the daughter of Zion, He poured out His fury like fire” (Lamentations 2:4).
“He drew His bow like an enemy.” Rabbi Aivu said: They did not go to extremes vis-à-vis the attribute of justice, and the attribute of justice, too, did not go to extremes in their regard.86They did not sin in an extreme fashion and they were not punished in an extreme fashion (Etz Yosef). They did not go to extremes vis-à-vis the attribute of justice, as it is stated: “The people were like complainers” (Numbers 11:1). “Complainers” is not written here, but rather, “like complainers.” “The princes of Judah were like those who move boundaries” (Hosea 5:10). “Those who move boundaries” is not written here, but rather, “like those who move boundaries.” “For like a wayward cow [Israel has strayed]” (Hosea 4:16), “For a wayward cow” is not written here, but rather, “like a wayward cow.” The attribute of justice, too, did not go to extremes in their regard. “He drew His bow like an enemy.” “An enemy” is not written here, but rather, “like an enemy.”
Another matter, “He drew His bow like an enemy.” This is Pharaoh,87When the verse states that God drew His bow like an enemy, the enemy referenced is Pharaoh. as it is stated: “The enemy said” (Exodus 15:9). “His right hand stood as an adversary,” this is Haman, as it is stated: “A man who is an adversary and an enemy” (Esther 7:6).
Another matter, “He drew His bow like an enemy.” This is Esau, as it is written: “Because the enemy said against you” (Ezekiel 36:2).88This chapter in Ezekiel is a continuation of chapter 35, which is directed to Se’ir, which is identified with the offspring of Esau; see, e.g., Genesis 36:8. “And he killed all delights of the eye,” these are children who are as dear to their parents as their eyeball. The Rabbis say: These are the [members of the] Sanhedrin, who are as dear to Israel as the eyeball.
“In the tent of the daughter of Zion, He poured out His fury like fire.” There are four instances of pouring that are for good and four instances of pouring that are for bad. Four instances of pouring that are for good, as it is stated: “Upon the house of David and upon the inhabitants of Jerusalem, I will pour a spirit of grace and supplication” (Zechariah 12:10). “It will be, thereafter, that I will pour My spirit upon all flesh…. Also upon the slaves and upon the maidservants in those days I will pour My spirit” (Joel 3:1–2). “I will no longer conceal My face from them, as I have poured My spirit upon the house of Israel, the utterance of the Lord God” (Ezekiel 39:29). And four instances of pouring that are for bad, as it is stated: “He poured His fiery wrath upon him” (Isaiah 42:25). In Ezekiel it is written: “As You pour Your fury upon Jerusalem” (Ezekiel 9:8). It is written: “The Lord vented His fury, He poured out His enflamed wrath” (Lamentations 4:11). And this: “He poured out His fury like fire.”
הָיָה ה' כְּאוֹיֵב, אָמַר רַבִּי אַיְּבוּ הֵן לֹא פָּלְשׁוּ אַחַר מִדַּת הַדִּין, אַף מִדַּת הַדִּין לֹא פָּלְשָׁה אַחֲרֵיהֶם. הֵם לֹא פָּלְשׁוּ אַחַר מִדַּת הַדִּין, דִּכְתִיב: וַיְהִי הָעָם כְּמִתְאֹנְנִים, מִתְאֹנְנִים אֵין כְּתִיב כָּאן אֶלָּא כְּמִתְאֹנְנִים. הָיוּ שָׂרֵי יְהוּדָה כְּמַסִּיגֵי גְבוּל, מַסִּיגֵי אֵין כְּתִיב כָּאן, אֶלָּא כְּמַסִּיגֵי. כִּי כְּפָרָה סֹרֵרָה, פָּרָה סֹרֵרָה אֵין כְּתִיב כָּאן, אֶלָּא כְּפָרָה סֹרֵרָה. אַף מִדַּת הַדִּין לֹא פָּלְשָׁה אַחֲרֵיהֶם, דִּכְתִיב: הָיָה ה' כְּאוֹיֵב, הָיָה ה' אוֹיֵב אֵין כְּתִיב כָּאן, אֶלָּא כְּאוֹיֵב. בִּלַּע יִשְׂרָאֵל בִּלַּע כָּל אַרְמְנוֹתֶיהָ, רַבִּי בְּרֶכְיָה בְּשֵׁם רַבִּי חֶלְבּוֹ בְּשֵׁם רַבִּי שְׁמוּאֵל בַּר נַחְמָן, לִשְׁלשָׁה מְקוֹמוֹת גָּלוּ יִשְׂרָאֵל, אֶחָד לִפְנִים מִן נְהַר סַמְבַּטְיוֹן, דִּכְתִיב (ישעיה מט, ט): לֵאמֹר לַאֲסוּרִים צֵאוּ לַאֲשֶׁר בַּחשֶׁךְ הִגָּלוּ. אֶחָד חוּץ מִן נְהַר סַמְבַּטְיוֹן, עַל דְּרָכִים יִרְעוּ, אֵלּוּ שֶׁיָּרְדוּ עֲלֵיהֶם עָנָן וְהִקִּיפָן. וּבְכָל שְׁפָיִים מַרְעִיתָם, אֵלּוּ שֶׁגָּלוּ לְדָפְנֵי אַנְטוֹכְיָא. וַיֶּרֶב בְּבַת יְהוּדָה תַּאֲנִיָּה וַאֲנִיָּה, סְכוּפִים סְכִיפִים.
“The Lord was like an enemy. He demolished Israel, demolished all its palaces, destroyed its strongholds. He multiplied mourning and moaning in the daughter of Judah” (Lamentations 2:5).
“The Lord was like an enemy.” Rabbi Aivu said: They did not go to extremes vis-à-vis the attribute of justice, and the attribute of justice, too, did not go to extremes in their regard. They did not go to extremes vis-à-vis the attribute of justice, as it is stated: The people were like complainers” (Numbers 11:1). “Complainers” is not written here, but rather, “like complainers.” “The princes of Judah were like those who move boundaries” (Hosea 5:10). “Those who move boundaries” is not written here, but rather, “like those who move boundaries.” “For like a wayward cow [Israel has strayed]” (Hosea 4:16), “For a wayward cow” is not written here, but rather, “like a wayward cow.” The attribute of justice, too, did not go to extremes in their regard. “He drew His bow like an enemy.” “An enemy” is not written here, but rather, “like an enemy.”
“He demolished Israel, demolished all its palaces.” Rabbi Berekhya in the name of Rabbi Ḥelbo in the name of Rabbi Shmuel bar Naḥman: Israel89The Ten Tribes. was exiled to three places. One was on this side of the Sambatyon River,90A river described as carrying stones in its current, so that it was unpassable, except for on Shabbat (see Bereishit Rabba 11:5). as it is written: “To say to the prisoners: Emerge, to those in darkness: Reveal yourselves” (Isaiah 49:9). One, beyond the Sambatyon River: “They will graze along the ways” (Isaiah 49:9); those upon whom a cloud descended and enveloped them. “And on all the bare hills will be their pasture” (Isaiah 49:9), those who were exiled to Daphne in Antioch.91Some suggest an alternate version of the text, based on the Jerusalem Talmud (Sanhedrin 11:5): Israel was exiled to three places: One beyond the Sambatyon River, one to Daphne in Antioch, and one that the cloud descended and covered them… “To say to the prisoners: Emerge,” this is to those who were exiled beyond the Sambatyon River. “To those in darkness: Reveal yourselves,” these are the ones upon whom the cloud descended and covered them. “They will graze along the ways and on all the bare hills will be their pasture,” these are those who were exiled to Daphne in Antioch (Etz Yosef). “He multiplied mourning and moaning in the daughter of Judah;” [the people were] tormented with afflictions.
וַיַּחְמֹס כַּגַּן שֻׂכּוֹ, רַבִּי חָמָא בְּרַבִּי חֲנִינָא אָמַר כְּגִנָּה שֶׁנֶּחְמַס מַעְיָנָהּ וְהִלְבִּין יַרְקָהּ, וְרַבִּי שִׁמְעוֹן בַּר נַחְמָנִי אָמַר כְּאָדָם הָרִאשׁוֹן, כְּמָה דְאַתְּ אָמַר (בראשית ג, כט): וַיְגָרֶשׁ אֶת הָאָדָם וגו'. אָמַר רַבִּי אַבָּהוּ שֻׂכּוֹ כְּתִיב, כֵּיוָן שֶׁגָלוּ יִשְׂרָאֵל שָׁכְכָה חֲמָתוֹ שֶׁל הַקָּדוֹשׁ בָּרוּךְ הוּא. שִׁכַּח ה' בְּצִיּוֹן מוֹעֵד וְשַׁבָּת, אֶפְשָׁר שֶׁהַקָּדוֹשׁ בָּרוּךְ הוּא מְשַׁכֵּחַ מוֹעֲדוֹתֵיהֶם וְשַׁבְּתוֹתֵיהֶם שֶׁל יִשְׂרָאֵל, אֶלָּא מוֹעֲדוֹתָיו וְשַׁבְּתוֹתָיו שֶׁל יָרָבְעָם בֶּן נְבָט שֶׁבָּדָא לָהֶם, הֲדָא הוּא דִכְתִיב (מלכים א יב, לג): בַּחֹדֶשׁ אֲשֶׁר בָּדָא מִלִּבּוֹ. מִלְּבַד כְּתִיב, כְּמָה דְאַתְּ אָמַר (ויקרא כג, לח): מִלְּבַד שַׁבְּתֹת ה'. וַיִּנְאַץ בְּזַעַם אַפּוֹ מֶלֶךְ וְכֹהֵן, מֶלֶךְ זֶה צִדְקִיָּהוּ, וְכֹהֵן זֶה שְׁרָיָה בֶּן מַחְסֵיָה.
“He stripped His shrine like a garden; He destroyed His place of assembly. The Lord caused festival and Shabbat to be forgotten in Zion and He scorned king and priest in His furious wrath” (Lamentations 2:6).
“He stripped His shrine [suko] like a garden.” Rabbi Ḥama ben Rabbi Ḥanina said: Like a garden whose spring was removed and its greenery turned white. Rabbi Shmuel bar Naḥmani said: Like Adam the first man, just as it says: “He banished the man…” (Genesis 3:24).92Just as Adam was banished from the Garden of Eden, Israel was banished from the Temple (Yefe Anaf). Rabbi Abahu said: Suko is written with the letter sin;93A left dotted shin is found in the text, rather than a samekh. Thus, the word suko is similar to the word assuaged [shakhakha]. once Israel was exiled, the fury of the Holy One blessed be He was assuaged.
“The Lord caused festival and Shabbat to be forgotten in Zion.” Is it possible that the Holy One blessed be He caused the festivals and Shabbatot of Israel to be forgotten? Rather, it is the festivals and sabbaths of Yerovam ben Nevat, that he fabricated for them. That is what is written: “In the month that he fabricated from his heart [milibo]” (I Kings 12:33). Milevad is written,94The word in the verse in Kings is written milevad but pronounced milibo. just as it says: “Beside the [milevad] Sabbaths of the Lord” (Leviticus 23:38). “He scorned king and priest in His furious wrath.” “King,” this is Zedekiah. “And priest,” this is Seraya ben Maḥsaya.95Zedekiah and Seraya were the king and High Priest, respectively, at the time of the destruction of the Temple. The destruction took place despite their personal piety (Yefe Anaf).
זָנַח ה' מִזְבְּחוֹ, רַבִּי חַגַּי בְּשֵׁם רַבִּי יִצְחָק אָמַר, לִבְנֵי מְדִינָה שֶׁעָרְכוּ שֻׁלְחָנוֹת לַמֶּלֶךְ, הִקְנִיטוּהוּ וּסְבָלָן. אָמַר לָהֶם הַמֶּלֶךְ כְּלוּם אַתֶּם מַקְנִיטִין אוֹתִי אֶלָּא בִּשְׁבִיל שֻׁלְחָן שֶׁעֲרַכְתֶּם לִי, הֵא לְכוֹן טְרוֹן בְּאַפֵּיכוֹן. כָּךְ אָמַר הַקָּדוֹשׁ בָּרוּךְ הוּא לְיִשְׂרָאֵל, כְּלוּם אַתֶּם מַכְעִיסִין אוֹתִי אֶלָּא בִּשְׁבִיל קָרְבָּנוֹת שֶׁהִקְרַבְתֶּם לִי, הֵא לְכוֹן טְרוֹן בְּאַפֵּיכוֹן, הֲדָא הוּא דִכְתִיב: זָנַח ה' מִזְבְּחוֹ נִאֵר מִקְדָּשׁוֹ. רַבִּי בְּרֶכְיָה וְרַבִּי חֶלְבּוֹ וְרַבִּי אַיְּבוּ בְּשֵׁם רַבִּי שְׁמוּאֵל בַּר נַחְמָנִי אָמַר, אַתְּ מוֹצֵא בְּשָׁעָה שֶׁנִּכְנְסוּ גּוֹיִם לְבֵית הַמִּקְדָּשׁ נָתְנוּ יְדֵיהֶם תַּחַת עָרְפֵּיהֶם, וְהָפְכוּ פְּנֵיהֶם כְּלַפֵּי מַעְלָה וְחֵרְפוּ וְגִדְּפוּ, וְעָשׂוּ מַסְגֵּר שֶׁל גַּלְיָאסִין שֶׁלָּהֶן וְרֹאשָׁם בָּאָרֶץ, הֲדָא הוּא דִכְתִיב: הִסְגִּיר בְּיַד אוֹיֵב חוֹמֹת אַרְמְנוֹתֶיהָ קוֹל נָתְנוּ בְּבֵית ה' כְּיוֹם מוֹעֵד. רַבִּי חֲנִינָא וְרַבִּי אַחָא וְרַבִּי מְיָאשָׁה בְּשֵׁם רַבִּי יַנַּאי אָמְרֵי, מִכֹּחַ אוֹתוֹ הַקּוֹל נָפְלָה בָּבֶל, דִּכְתִיב (ישעיה כא, ט): נָפְלָה נָפְלָה בָּבֶל וְכָל פְּסִילֵי אֱלֹהֶיהָ שִׁבַּר לָאָרֶץ, רַבִּי בְּרֶכְיָה וְרַבִּי חֶלְבּוֹ וְרַבִּי אַיְּבוּ בְּשֵׁם רַבִּי שְׁמוּאֵל בַּר נַחְמָנִי אָמְרֵי, אַף מַלְכוּת הַזּוֹ כֵּן עָשְׂתָה, הֲדָא הוּא דִכְתִיב: קוֹל נָתְנוּ בְּבֵית ה' כְּיוֹם מוֹעֵד. רַבִּי הוּנָא וְרַבִּי אַחָא וְרַבִּי מְיָאשָׁה בְּשֵׁם רַבִּי יַנַּאי אַף הִיא אֵינָהּ צְרִיכָה לִפֹּל אֶלָּא מִכֹּחַ אוֹתוֹ הַקּוֹל, הֲדָא הוּא דִכְתִיב (ירמיה נ, מו): מִקּוֹל נִתְפְּשָׂה בָבֶל. רַבִּי יְהוֹשֻׁעַ בֶּן לֵוִי אָמַר קוֹל צָרוֹת מַרְגְּשׁוֹת וַאֲפֵלָה עוֹלֶה לִכְרַךְ גָּדוֹל שֶׁל צוֹר, וְלָמָּה, שֶׁקּוֹלוֹ שֶׁל עֵשָׂו מְקַטְרֵג, הֲדָא הוּא דִכְתִיב (ישעיה סו, ו): קוֹל שָׁאוֹן מֵעִיר קוֹל מֵהֵיכָל קוֹל ה' מְשַׁלֵּם גְּמוּל לְאֹיְבָיו.
“The Lord forsook His altar, cursed His Temple; He gave into the hand of the enemy the walls of its palaces. They raised their voice in the House of the Lord, like a day of festival” (Lamentations 2:7)
“The Lord forsook His altar.” Rabbi Ḥagai said in the name of Rabbi Yitzḥak: [This is analogous] to the residents of a province who set tables for the king. They provoked him and he tolerated them. The king said to them: ‘Are you not provoking me only due to the table that you set for me? Here it is thrown in your faces.’ So too, the Holy One blessed be He said to Israel: ‘Are you not angering Me only due to the offerings that you sacrificed to Me? Here it is thrown in your faces.’ That is what is written: “The Lord forsook His altar, cursed His Temple.”
Rabbi Berekhya, Rabbi Ḥelbo, and Rabbi Aivu said in the name of Rabbi Shmuel bar Naḥmani: You find that at the moment that the gentiles entered the Temple they placed their hands under the nape of their necks, turned their faces upward, and cursed and blasphemed. They crafted an enclosure [masger] of spears with their tips in the ground.96This was in order to imprison the priests that they captured, and to express their contempt for the Temple by sticking their spears into its floor (Midrash HaMevoar). That is what is written: “He gave [hisgir] into the hand of the enemy the walls of its palaces. They raised their voice in the House of the Lord, like a day of festival.” Rabbi Ḥanina, Rabbi Aḥa, and Rabbi Meyasha said in the name of Rabbi Yanai: It was due to that voice that Babylon fell, as it is written: “Fallen, fallen is Babylon, and all the statues of its gods are broken to the ground” (Isaiah 21:9).97A previous verse in the passage states “he will listen very attentively” (Isaiah 21:7), an allusion to the blasphemous statements of the Babylonians (Maharzu).
Rabbi Berekhya, Rabbi Ḥelbo, and Rabbi Aivu said in the name of Rabbi Shmuel bar Naḥmani: This kingdom,98Rome. too, did likewise. That is what is written: “They raised their voice in the House of the Lord, like a day of festival.” Rabbi Huna, Rabbi Aḥa, and Rabbi Meyasha [said] in the name of Rabbi Yanai: It too is supposed to fall only due to that voice. That is what is written: “From the sound of Babylon being seized” (Jeremiah 50:46).99The midrash interprets the verse to mean: Due to the sound, Babylon was seized. Rabbi Yehoshua ben Levi said: The sound of troubles, disturbances, and darkness ascends to the great city of Tyre.100Tyre is used here as a reference to Rome. See, in this regard, Bereishit Rabba 61:7. Why? Because the voice of Esau is prosecuting.101There is prosecution against it in heaven due to the ‘voice of Esau,’ the blasphemy of Rome. That is what is written: “The sound of tumult comes from the city, a sound from the Sanctuary: the sound of the Lord exacting retribution upon His enemies” (Isaiah 66:6).
חָשַׁב ה' לְהַשְׁחִית חוֹמַת בַּת צִיּוֹן, אָמַר רַבִּי יוֹחָנָן לֹא מִן הַכְּרוּז, הֲדָא הוּא דִכְתִיב (ירמיה לב, לא): כִּי עַל אַפִּי וגו', אָמַר רַבִּי אִילָם כְּאָדָם שֶׁהוּא עוֹבֵר בְּמָקוֹם מְטֻנָּף וְעוֹקֵם אֶת חָטְמוֹ. נָטָה קָו, יֵשׁ קָו לְטוֹבָה וְיֵשׁ קָו לְרָעָה, לְטוֹבָה (זכריה א, טז): וְקָו יִנָּטֶה עַל יְרוּשָׁלָיִם, וְקָו לְרָעָה דֵּין, נָטָה קָו. לֹא הֵשִׁיב יָדוֹ מִבַּלֵּעַ וַיַּאֲבֶל חֵל וְחוֹמָה יַחְדָּו אֻמְלָלוּ, כְּהַהוּא דְּאָמַר רַבִּי הוּנָא בְּרֵיהּ דְּרַבִּי אַחָא שׁוּרָא וּבַר שׁוּרָא.
“The Lord resolved to destroy the wall of the daughter of Zion. He drew a line, did not withdraw His hand from demolishing. He caused the rampart and wall to mourn, together they languish” (Lamentations 2:8).
“The Lord resolved to destroy the wall of the daughter of Zion.” Rabbi Yoḥanan said: It was not from the proclamation.102God had decided to destroy Jerusalem long before the destruction was announced by the prophets (Matnot Kehuna). That is what is written: “For this city [has been a cause of My wrath and of My anger from the day that they built it until this day, to remove it from My presence]” (Jeremiah 32:31). Rabbi Eilam said: Like a person who is passing in a disgusting place and wrinkles his nose.103The Hebrew word for “My anger” [api] can also be translated “my nose” (Matnot Kehuna).
“He drew a line.” There is a line for good and there is a line for bad. For good, “And a line shall be stretched forth over Jerusalem” (Zechariah 1:16). A line for bad, this one: “He drew a line.”
“Did not withdraw His hand from demolishing. He caused the rampart and wall to mourn, together they languish,” like that which Rabbi Huna son of Rabbi Aḥa said: A wall and a secondary wall.
טָבְעוּ בָאָרֶץ שְׁעָרֶיהָ, רַבִּי הוּנָא בְּשֵׁם רַבִּי יוֹסֵי אָמַר שְׁעָרִים חָלְקוּ כָּבוֹד לָאָרוֹן, לְפִיכָךְ לֹא שָׁלַט בָּהֶם אוֹיֵב, הֲדָא הוּא דִכְתִיב (תהלים כד, ז): שְׂאוּ שְׁעָרִים רָאשֵׁיכֶם, לְפִיכָךְ טָבְעוּ בָּאָרֶץ שְׁעָרֶיהָ אִבַּד וְשִׁבַּר בְּרִיחֶיהָ. מַלְכָּהּ וְשָׂרֶיהָ בַגּוֹיִם אֵין תּוֹרָה. אִם יֹאמַר לְךָ אָדָם יֵשׁ חָכְמָה בַּגּוֹיִם, תַּאֲמֵן, הֲדָא הוּא דִכְתִיב (עובדיה א, ח): וְהַאֲבַדְתִּי חֲכָמִים מֵאֱדוֹם וּתְבוּנָה מֵהַר עֵשָׂו. יֵשׁ תּוֹרָה בַּגּוֹיִם, אַל תַּאֲמֵן, דִּכְתִיב: מַלְכָּהּ וְשָׂרֶיהָ בַגּוֹיִם אֵין תּוֹרָה. נְבִיאֶיהָ, אֵלּוּ נְבִיאֵי שֶׁקֶר. גַּם נְבִיאֶיהָ, אֵלּוּ נְבִיאֵי אֱמֶת, אֵלּוּ וְאֵלּוּ לֹא מָצְאוּ חֲזוֹן מֵה'.
“Its gates sank into the ground; He eradicated and broke its bars. Its king and its princes are among the nations; there is no Torah; its prophets, too, could not find a vision from the Lord” (Lamentations 2:9).
“Its gates sank into the ground,” Rabbi Huna said in the name of Rabbi Yosei: Gates accorded honor to the Ark; therefore, the enemy did not take control of them. That is what is written: “Lift your heads, gates, [and be lifted up, everlasting doors, that the King of glory may come in]” (Psalms 24:7).104The Gemara (Shabbat 30a) relates that when Solomon sought to bring the Ark into the Temple, the gates would not open until he recited this verse. That is why “its gates sank into the ground; He eradicated and broke its bars.”
“Its king and its princes are among the nations; there is no Torah.” If a person will say to you: ‘There is wisdom among the nations,’ believe it. That is what is written: “I will eliminate the wise from Edom, and understanding from the mountain of Esau” (Obadiah 1:8). [If a person will say:] ‘There is Torah among the nations,’ do not believe it, as it is written: “Its king and its princes are among the nations; there is no Torah.”
“Its prophets,” these are the false prophets. “Its prophets, too,” these are the true prophets.105The extraneous word “too” indicates that even the real prophets were no longer granted prophecy. These and those “could not find a vision from the Lord.”
יֵשְׁבוּ לָאָרֶץ יִדְּמוּ זִקְנֵי בַת צִיּוֹן, אָמַר רַבִּי אֶלְעָזָר אַל תְּהִי פָּרָשַׁת נְדָרִים קַלָּה בְּעֵינֶיךָ, שֶׁעַל יְדֵי פָּרָשַׁת נְדָרִים נֶהֶרְגוּ סַנְהֶדְּרֵי גְדוֹלָה שֶׁל צִדְקִיָּהוּ. לְפִי כְּשֶׁגָּלוּ יְכָנְיָה מִנָּהוּ הַמֶּלֶךְ נְבוּכַדְנֶצַּר עַל חֲמִשָּׁה מְלָכִים, הֲדָא הוּא דִכְתִיב (ירמיה כז, ג): וְשִׁלַּחְתָּם אֶל מֶלֶךְ אֱדוֹם וְאֶל מֶלֶךְ מוֹאָב וְאֶל מֶלֶךְ בְּנֵי עַמּוֹן וְאֶל מֶלֶךְ צֹר וְאֶל מֶלֶךְ צִידוֹן בְּיַד מַלְאָכִים הַבָּאִים יְרוּשָׁלָיִם אֶל צִדְקִיָּהוּ מֶלֶךְ יְהוּדָה, וַהֲוָה עָלֵיל וְנָפֵיק בְּלִי רְשׁוּ, יוֹמָא חַד עֲלֵיל לְגַבֵּיהּ וְאַשְׁכְּחֵיהּ דְּתָלֵישׁ בְּשַׂר אַרְנְבָא וְאָכֵיל כְּשֶׁהוּא חַי, אֲמַר לֵיהּ אִישְׁתַּבַּע לִי דְּלֵית אַתְּ מְפַרְסֵם לִי, וְאִישְׁתַּבַּע לֵיהּ. וּבַמֶּה הִשְׁבִּיעוֹ, רַבִּי יוֹסֵי בְּרַבִּי חֲנִינָא אָמַר בְּמִזְבֵּחַ הַפְּנִימִי. וַהֲווֹן חַמְשָׁה מַלְכִין יָתְבִין וּמְפָרְתִין לֵיהּ בִּנְבוּכַדְנֶצַּר קֳדָם צִדְקִיָּהוּ וְאָמְרֵי לֵיהּ לָא יָאֲיָיא לֵיהּ מַלְכוּתָא לִנְבוּכַדְנֶצַּר אֶלָּא לָךְ יָאֲיָיא מַלְכוּתָא דְאַתְּ מִזַּרְעוֹ שֶׁל דָּוִד, אַף הוּא מְפָרְתֵיהּ לִנְבוּכַדְנֶצַּר וַאֲמַר אֲנָא חֲמִיתֵּיהּ דַּהֲוָה תָּלֵישׁ בְּשַׂר אַרְנְבָא וְאָכֵיל, שָׁלְחוּן מִיָּד וַאֲמָרוּן לֵיהּ לְמַלְכָּא הַהוּא יְהוּדָאָה דַּהֲוָה עָלֵיל וְנָפֵיק בְּלִי רְשׁוּ קֳדָמָךְ אֲמַר לָן אֲנָא חֲמִיתֵּיהּ לִנְבוּכַדְנֶצַּר דַּהֲוָה תָּלֵישׁ בְּשַׂר אַרְנְבָא וְאָכֵיל, הֲדָא הוּא דִכְתִיב (מלכים ב כד, כ): וַיִּמְרֹד צִדְקִיָּהוּ בְּמֶלֶךְ בָּבֶל. מִיָּד בָּא וְיָשַׁב בְּדָפְנֵי שֶׁל אַנְטוֹכְיָא, וְיָצְאוּ סַנְהֶדְּרֵי גְדוֹלָה לִקְרָאתוֹ, כֵּיוָן שֶׁרָאָה אוֹתָם שֶׁהֵם כֻּלָּם בְּנֵי אָדָם שֶׁל צוּרָה, גָּזַר וְהוֹצִיאוּ לָהֶם קַתֶּדְּרָאוֹת וְהוֹשִׁיבָן, אָמַר לָהֶם דִּרְשׁוּ לִי אֶת הַתּוֹרָה, מִיָּד הָיוּ קוֹרִין פָּרָשָׁה וּפָרָשָׁה וּמְתַרְגְּמִין אוֹתָהּ לְפָנָיו, וְכֵיוָן שֶׁהִגִּיעוּ לְפָרָשַׁת נְדָרִים (במדבר ל, ג): אִישׁ כִּי יִדֹּר נֶדֶר, אֲמַר לְהוֹן אִי בָּעֵי לְמֶהֱדַר בֵּיהּ, יָכֵיל אוֹ לָאו, אָמְרוּ לוֹ יֵלֵךְ אֵצֶל חָכָם וּמַתִּיר לוֹ אֶת נִדְּרוֹ. אָמַר לָהֶם דּוֹמֶה אֲנִי שֶׁאַתֶּם הִתַּרְתֶּם לְצִדְקִיָּה הַשְּׁבוּעָה שֶׁנִּשְׁבַּע לִי, מִיָּד גָּזַר וְהוֹרִידָן לָאָרֶץ, הֲדָא הוּא דִכְתִיב: יֵשְׁבוּ לָאָרֶץ יִדְּמוּ זִקְנֵי בַת צִיּוֹן. הֶעֱלוּ עָפָר, הִתְחִילוּ מַזְכִּירִין זְכוּתוֹ שֶׁל אַבְרָהָם, דִּכְתִיב (בראשית יח, כז): וְאָנֹכִי עָפָר וָאֵפֶר. חָגְרוּ שַׂקִּים, הִתְחִילוּ מַזְכִּירִין זְכוּתוֹ שֶׁל יַעֲקֹב, דִּכְתִיב (בראשית לז, לד): וַיָּשֶׂם שַׂק בְּמָתְנָיו. מֶה עָשׂוּ לָהֶם קָשְׁרוּ שְׂעָרָן בְּזַנְבֵי סוּסֵיהֶם וְהָיוּ מְרִיצִין אוֹתָם מִירוּשָׁלַיִם וְעַד לוּד, הֲדָא הוּא דִכְתִיב: הוֹרִידוּ לָאֶרֶץ רֹאשָׁן בְּתוּלֹת יְרוּשָׁלָיִם.
“The elders of the daughter of Zion sit on the ground, are silent. They have placed dust on their heads, have girded themselves with sackcloth. The virgins of Jerusalem have lowered their heads to the ground” (Lamentations 2:10).
“The elders of the daughter of Zion sit on the ground, are silent.” Rabbi Elazar said: Let the portion of vows not be insignificant in your eyes, as it is on account of the portion of vows that the Great Sanhedrin of Zedekiah were killed. When Yekhonya was exiled, King Nebuchadnezzar appointed him106Zedekiah. over five kings. That is what is written: “Send to the king of Edom, to the king of Moav, to the king of the children of Ammon, to the king of Tyre and to the king of Sidon, in the hand of the messengers who come to Jerusalem to Zedekiah, king of Judah” (Jeremiah 27:3). He would enter and exit before him without permission.107Zedekiah had unfettered access to Nebuchadnezzar. One day, he entered before him and saw that he was ripping the flesh of a hare and eating it raw. [Nebuchadnezzar] said to him: ‘Take an oath to me that you will not publicize this about me,’ and he took an oath to him. On what did he administer the oath to [Zedekiah]? Rabbi Yosei ben Rabbi Ḥanina said: On the inner altar. The five kings were sitting and maligning Nebuchadnezzar before Zedekiah and saying to him: ‘The kingdom is not suitable for Nebuchadnezzar, but rather it is suitable for you, as you are from the offspring of David.’ He, too, maligned Nebuchadnezzar and said: ‘I saw that he was ripping the flesh of a hare and eating it.’ Immediately, they sent [a message] to the king, saying: ‘This Jew who enters and exits before you without permission said about you: I saw that Nebuchadnezzar was ripping the flesh of a hare and eating it.’ That is what is written: “Zedekiah rebelled against the king of Babylon” (II Kings 24:20).
Immediately, he108Nebuchadnezzar. came and settled in Daphne of Antioch and the Great Sanhedrin went to greet him. When he saw that they were all men of noble form, he issued a command and had seats of honor brought for them, and he seated them. He said to them: ‘Teach me the Torah.’ Immediately they began reading each and every portion and translating it before him. When they reached the portion of vows: “A man who takes a vow” (Numbers 30:3), he said to them: ‘If he wishes to renege on it, can he or can he not do so?’ They said to him: ‘He can go to a Sage and [the Sage] can nullify his vow for him.’ He said to them: ‘It seems to me that you nullified for Zedekiah the oath that he took to me.’ Immediately, he decreed and had them placed down on the ground. That is what is written: “The elders of the daughter of Zion sit on the ground, are silent.” “They have placed dust [on their heads],” they began mentioning the merit of Abraham, as it is written: “I am dust and ashes” (Genesis 18:27). “Have girded themselves with sackcloth,” they began mentioning the merit of Jacob, as it is written: “He placed sackcloth on his loins” (Genesis 37:34).109The Sages began to pray to God for mercy in the merit of Abraham and Jacob, both of whom took oaths and were careful to fulfill them (Etz Yosef; see Genesis 14:22, 28:20). What did they do to them? They tied their hair to horses’ tails and had them run from Jerusalem to Lod. That is what is written: “The virgins of Jerusalem have lowered their heads to the ground.”110They did so in mourning for the Sages. Alternatively, the Sages are alluded to with the term virgins because of their purity.
כָּלוּ בַדְּמָעוֹת עֵינַי, אָמַר רַבִּי אֶלְעָזָר סִיקוֹסִים נִיתַּן לָעַיִן, דִּמְעַת הַסַּם, וְדִמְעַת הַחַרְדָּל, וְדִמְעַת קִילוֹרִית, וְדִמְעַת הַשְֹּׂחוֹק יָפָה מִכֻּלָּן. שְׁלשָׁה דְמָעוֹת רָעוֹת: דִּמְעַת הֶעָשָׁן, וְדִמְעַת הַבְּכִיָה, וְדִמְעַת בֵּית הַכִּסֵּא, וְשֶׁל תִּשְׁחֹרֶת קָשָׁה מִכֻּלָּם. וּמַעֲשֶׂה בְּאִשָּׁה אַחַת שֶׁהָיָה לָהּ בֵּן תִּשְׁחֹרֶת וּמֵת, וְהָיְתָה בּוֹכָה עָלָיו בַּלֵּילוֹת עַד שֶׁנָּשְׁרוּ רִיסֵי עֵינֶיהָ, אָזְלַת לְגַבֵּי אַסְיָיא אֲמַר לַהּ כְּחוּלִי מִן כַּחֲלִי וְאַתְּ מִנַּשְׁמָה. נִשְׁפַּךְ לָאָרֶץ כְּבֵדִי, מַעֲשֶׂה בְּאִישׁ אֶחָד שֶׁהָיָה לוֹ בֵּן תִּשְׁחֹרֶת וּמֵת, וְהָיָה בּוֹכֶה עָלָיו בַּלֵּילוֹת, עַד דִּנְחַת כְּבֵדֵיהּ, אֲמַר כְּבָר כְּבֵדֵיהּ דְּהַהוּא גַבְרָא נְחַת מַאן בָּכֵי עֲלוֹי וְלָא אַהֲנֵית כְּלוּם.
“My eyes fail from tears; my innards burn; my liver is poured on the earth over the disaster of the daughter of my people, as the infants and the sucklings faint in the city squares” (Lamentations 2:11).
“My eyes fail from tears.” Rabbi Elazar said: Limitations were imposed on the eye.111There is a limit to the functional abilities of the eye; if one cries too much, it will affect his vision (Etz Yosef). [There are tears that are beneficial:] The tear caused by a drug, the tear caused by mustard, and the tear caused by eye balm; and the tear of laughter is the best of all. There are three harmful tears: The tear caused by smoke, the tear caused by weeping, and the tear caused by the lavatory;112This is when one suffers from an intestinal malady. and the tear over a young person is the worst of all. There was an incident involving a certain woman who had a young son who died. She cried over him at nights until her eyelashes fell out. She went to a doctor. He said to her: ‘Apply some of this eye paste and you will feel relief.’
“My liver is poured on the earth.” There was an incident involving a certain man who had a young son who died. He cried over him at nights until his liver dropped. He said: ‘The liver of this man has already dropped, who will cry over him? But it was to no avail for me.’113The man said: I am going to die because of the medical damage caused by my crying, but my crying did not accomplish anything. Similarly, the verse bemoans the effects of the crying in the aftermath of the destruction, which did not accomplish anything, as salvation did not arrive and the Temple remained destroyed.
לְאִמּוֹתָם יֹאמְרוּ אַיֵּה דָּגָן וָיָיִן, רַבִּי חֲנִינָא אָמַר גְּלוּסְקִין וְקוֹנְטִיטוֹן, וְרַבִּי סִימוֹן אָמַר גְּלוּסְקִין וַחֲמַר עַתִּיק. בְּהִתְעַטְּפָם כְּחָלָל בִּרְחֹבוֹת עִיר, הֲוַת אִתְּתָא אָמְרָה לְבַעְלָהּ סַב לָךְ חַד שִׁירָא אוֹ חַד קְדָשׁ וְסַק לְשׁוּקָא אִי מַשְׁכַּחְתְּ כְּלוּם וַאֲנַן אָכְלִין, הֲוָה סָלֵיק לְשׁוּקָא וַחֲמֵי וְלָא אַשְׁכַּח כְּלוּם, וַהֲוָה מְפַרְפֵּר וּמָאִית, וְהִיא אָמְרָה לִבְרָהּ חֲמִי מָה עָבֵיד אֲבוּךְ, סָלֵיק לְשׁוּקָא וַחֲמָא אֲבוּהִי מִית וַהֲוָה מְפַרְפֵּר וּמִית עֲלוֹהִי. הֲדָא הוּא דִכְתִיב: בְּהִתְעַטְּפָם כֶּחָלָל בִּרְחֹבוֹת עִיר, הַיְינוּ בַּעְלָהּ וּבְנָהּ הַגָּדוֹל. בְּהִשְׁתַּפֵּךְ נַפְשָׁם אֶל חֵיק אִמּוֹתָם, הֲוָא בְּרָא זְעֵירָא בָּעֵי לְמֵינַק וְלָא מַשְׁכַּח חָלָב וּמְפַרְפֵּר וּמִית.
“To their mothers they say: Where is grain and wine? While fainting like corpses in the city squares, while their souls are poured into their mothers' bosoms” (Lamentations 2:12).
“To their mothers they say: Where is grain and wine?” Rabbi Ḥanina said: Five loaves and spiced wine. Rabbi Simon said: Fine loaves and aged wine.114They asked for fine foods, to which they had been accustomed. This fact caused them to suffer even more when even simple foods were no longer available. “While fainting like the wounded in the city squares,” there was a woman who said to her husband: ‘Take a bracelet or an earring and ascend to the marketplace so that if you find something we will eat.’ He went to the marketplace and looked but did not find anything, and he was writhing and he died. She said to her son: ‘See what your father is doing.’ He ascended to the marketplace and saw his father dead, and he was writhing, and he died alongside him. That is what is written: “While fainting like corpses in the city squares,” this is her husband and her eldest son. “While their souls are poured into their mothers' bosoms,” a young son would seek to suckle but would not find milk, and would writhe and die.
מָה אֲעִידֵךְ מָה אֲדַמֶּה לָּךְ, כַּמָּה נְבִיאִים הֵעַדְתִּי בָּכֶם, רַבִּי וְרַבִּי נָתָן, רַבִּי אָמַר נָבִיא אֶחָד בַּבֹּקֶר וְנָבִיא אֶחָד בֵּין הָעַרְבַּיִם, הֲדָא הוּא דִכְתִיב (מלכים ב יז, יג): וַיָּעַד ה' בְּיִשְׂרָאֵל וּבִיהוּדָה בְּיַד כָּל נְבִיאֵי כָל חֹזֶה. רַבִּי נָתָן אָמַר שְׁנֵי נְבִיאִים בְּשַׁחֲרִית וּשְׁנֵי נְבִיאִים בְּעַרְבִית, הֲדָא הוּא דִכְתִיב (ירמיה ז, כה): וָאֶשְׁלַח לָכֶם אֶת כָּל עֲבָדַי הַנְּבִיאִים יוֹם הַשְׁכֵּם וְשָׁלֹחַ, הַשְׁכֵּם בַּבֹּקֶר וְשָׁלֹחַ בָּעֶרֶב. דָּבָר אַחֵר, מָה אֲעִידֵךְ, רַבִּי יוֹנָתָן אָמַר כַּמָּה בִּזּוֹת נָתַתִּי לָכֶם, בִּזַּת מִצְרַיִם, וּבִזַּת הַיָּם, וּבִזַּת סִיחוֹן וְעוֹג, בִּזַּת שְׁלשִׁים וְאֶחָד מְלָכִים. אָמַר רַבִּי לֵוִי בַּעֲרַבְיָא צָוְוחִין לְבִיזְּתָא, עֲדִיתָא. דָּבָר אַחֵר, מָה אֲעִידֵךְ, כַּמָּה וִעוּדִין וִעַדְתִּי בָּכֶם, אֹהֶל מוֹעֵד, וְגִלְגָּל, וְשִׁילֹה, וְנֹב, וְגִבְעוֹן, וּבֵית עוֹלָמִים שְׁנַיִם. דָּבָר אַחֵר, מָה אֲעִידֵךְ, רַבִּי אוֹמֵר כַּמָּה קִשּׁוּטִין קִשַּׁטְתִּי אֶתְכֶם, אָמַר רַבִּי יוֹחָנָן שִׁשִּׁים רִבּוֹא מַלְאֲכֵי הַשָּׁרֵת יָרְדוּ עִם הַקָּדוֹשׁ בָּרוּךְ הוּא בְּסִינַי וַעֲטָרָה בְּיַד כָּל אֶחָד וְאֶחָד לְעַטֵּר כָּל אֶחָד וְאֶחָד מִיִּשְׂרָאֵל. רַבִּי אַבָּא בַּר כַּהֲנָא בְּשֵׁם רַבִּי יוֹחָנָן אָמַר מֵאָה וְעֶשְׂרִים רִבּוֹא יָרְדוּ, אֶחָד מְקַשְּׁטוֹ, וְאֶחָד מַלְבִּישׁוֹ עֲטָרָה. רַבִּי הוּנָא דְּצִפּוֹרִי אָמַר זוֹנִי, כְּמָה דְאַתְּ אָמַר (איוב יב, יח): מוּסַר מְלָכִים פִּתֵּחַ וַיֶּאְסֹר אֵזוֹר בְּמָתְנֵיהֶם, מָה אֲדַמֶּה לָךְ, לְאֵיזוֹ אֻמָּה דִּמִּיתִי אֶתְכֶם, לְאֵיזוֹ אֻמָּה גָּאַלְתִּי בְּיָד חֲזָקָה וְהֵבֵאתִי עַל אוֹיְבֶיהָ עֶשֶׂר מַכּוֹת, לְאֵיזוֹ אֻמָּה קָרַעְתִּי הַיָּם, וְהוֹרַדְתִּי אֶת הַמָּן, וְהִגַּזְתִּי אֶת הַשְֹּׂלָו, וְהֶעֱלֵיתִי לָהֶם אֶת הַבְּאֵר. לְאֵיזוֹ אֻמָּה הִקַּפְתִּי עַנְנֵי כָבוֹד, וְקֵרַבְתִּי לִפְנֵי הַר סִינַי, וְנָתַתִּי לָהֶם תּוֹרָתִי. הַבַּת יְרוּשָׁלָיִם, הַבַּת שֶׁיְּרֵאָה וּמֻשְׁלֶמֶת לִי. מָה אַשְׁוֶה לָּךְ וַאֲנַחֲמֵךְ; רַבִּי יַעֲקֹב דִּכְפַר חָנָן אָמַר לִכְשֶׁאַשְׁוֶה לָךְ אֲנַחֲמֵךְ, לִכְשֶׁיַּגִּיעַ אוֹתוֹ הַיּוֹם שֶׁכָּתוּב בּוֹ (ישעיה ב, יא): וְנִשְׂגַּב ה' לְבַדּוֹ, בְּאוֹתָהּ שָׁעָה אֲנַחֲמֵךְ. בְּתוּלַת בַּת צִיּוֹן, בָּנִים הַמְצֻיָּנִין בְּמִילָה, וּבְתִגְלַחַת, וּבְצִיצִית. כִּי גָדוֹל כַּיָּם שִׁבְרֵךְ, אָמַר רַבִּי חוֹלְפָאי מִי שֶׁהוּא עָתִיד לְרַפְּאוֹת שִׁבְרוֹ שֶׁל יָם, הוּא יִרְפָּא לָךְ. אָמַר רַבִּי אָבִין מִי שֶׁאֲמַרְתֶּם לוֹ שִׁירָה עַל הַיָּם (שמות טו, ב): זֶה אֵלִי וְאַנְוֵהוּ, הוּא יִרְפָּא לָךְ. רַבִּי יְהוֹשֻׁעַ בֶּן לֵוִי אָמַר יִרְפָּא לָךְ נְבִיאַיִךְ.
“What shall I attest to you, to what shall I liken you, daughter of Jerusalem? To what shall I equate you, and comfort you, virgin daughter of Zion? For your breach is as vast as the sea; who can heal you?” (Lamentations 2:13).
“What shall I attest to you [a’idekh], to what shall I liken you?” How many prophets have I sent to warn [he’adti] you! Rabbi [Yehuda HaNasi] and Rabbi Natan, Rabbi [Yehuda HaNasi] said: One prophet in the morning and one prophet at dusk. That is what is written: “The Lord warned Israel and Judah by means of every prophet and every seer” (II Kings 17:13). Rabbi Natan said: Two prophets in the morning and two prophets in the evening. That is what is written: “I sent to you all My servants the prophets daily, time and again” (Jeremiah 7:25); “time,” in the morning, “and again,” in the evening.
Another matter, “what shall I attest to you [a’idekh]?” How many plunders have I given you? The plunder of Egypt, the plunder at the sea, the plunder of Siḥon and Og, the plunder of the thirty-one kings. In Arabia they call plunder adita.
Another matter, “what shall I attest to you [a’idekh]?” How many communions [viudin] have I communed with you: the Tent of Meeting, Gilgal, Shilo, Nov, Givon, and the two Temples.
Another matter, “what shall I attest to you [a’idekh]?” Rabbi [Yehuda HaNasi] says: With how many ornaments have I adorned you! Rabbi Yoḥanan said: Six hundred thousand ministering angels descended with the Holy One blessed be He at Sinai, and there was a crown in the hand of each and every one of them, to crown each and every one of Israel. Rabbi Abba bar Kahana said in the name of Rabbi Yoḥanan: One million two hundred thousand descended; one adorned [an Israelite], and one placed a crown on him. Rabbi Huna of Tzippori said: A weapon belt, just as it says: “He removes the restraints of kings and binds a belt on their waists” (Job 12:18).
“To what shall I liken you?” To what nation did I liken you? Which nation did I redeem with a mighty arm and bring upon its enemies ten plagues? For what nation did I split the sea, rain manna, swarm quails, and raise a well of water? Which nation did I envelop with the clouds of glory, bring near Mount Sinai, and give them My Torah? “Daughter of Jerusalem [Yerushalayim], the daughter who fears [yere’a] and is complete [umushlemet] for Me.
“To what shall I equate you, and comfort you?” Rabbi Yaakov of Kefar Ḥanan said: When I will equate them to you, I will comfort you. When the day of which it is written: “The Lord will be exalted” (Isaiah 2:11) arrives, then I will comfort you.
“Virgin daughter of Zion [tziyon],” children who are distinguished [metzuyanim] through circumcision, through haircuts, and through ritual fringes.
“For your breach is as vast as the sea; [who can heal you?]” Rabbi Ḥolfai said: He who is destined to heal the breach in the sea, He will heal you. Rabbi Avin said: He, before whom you recited song at the sea: “This is my God and I will exalt Him” (Exodus 15:2), He will heal you. Rabbi Yehoshua ben Levi said: He will heal your prophets for you.115He will cause the prophets to give real prophecies, rather than the false prophecies that led Israel astray, as indicated in the upcoming section. Alternatively, the meaning is: Who should heal you? Your prophets (see Etz Yosef).
נְבִיאַיִךְ חָזוּ לָךְ שָׁוְא וְתָפֵל, רַבִּי אֶלְעָזָר אָמַר נֶאֱמַר בִּנְבִיאֵי שׁוֹמְרוֹן תִּפְלָּה, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר (ירמיה כג, יג): וּבִנְבִיאֵי שֹׁמְרוֹן רָאִיתִי תִפְלָה, וְנֶאֱמַר בִּנְבִיאֵי יְרוּשָׁלָיִם תִּפְלָה, הֲדָא הוּא דִכְתִיב שָׁוְא וְתָפֵל. רַבִּי שְׁמוּאֵל בַּר נַחְמָנִי אָמַר נֶאֱמַר בִּנְבִיאֵי יְרוּשָׁלָיִם שַׁעֲרוּרִיָה, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר (ירמיה כג, יד): וּבִנְבִיאֵי יְרוּשָׁלָיִם רָאִיתִי שַׁעֲרוּרָה, וְנֶאֱמַר בְּבֵית יִשְרָאֵל שַׁעֲרוּרִיָה, דִּכְתִיב (ירמיה יח, יג): שַׁעֲרֻרִת עָשְׂתָה מְאֹד בְּתוּלַת יִשְׂרָאֵל. וְלֹא גִלּוּ עַל עֲוֹנֵךְ לְהָשִׁיב שְׁבוּתֵךְ, דַּהֲווֹ מָאסְיָין מַחֲתִין לָךְ עַל אַפּוֹי. וַיֶּחֱזוּ לָךְ מַשְׂאוֹת שָׁוְא וּמַדּוּחִים, וּמַדּוּחִם כְּתִיב.
“Your prophets envisioned futility and impropriety for you and did not reveal your iniquity to bring about your rehabilitation. They envisioned for you prophecies of futility and deviance” (Lamentations 2:14).
“Your prophets envisioned futility and impropriety for you,” Rabbi Elazar said: Impropriety is stated regarding the prophets of Samaria, as it is stated: “Among the prophets of Samaria I have seen impropriety” (Jeremiah 23:13). Impropriety is stated regarding the prophets of Jerusalem. That is what is written: “Futility and impropriety.” Rabbi Shmuel bar Naḥmani said: Scandal is stated regarding the prophets of Jerusalem, as it is stated: “Among the prophets of Jerusalem I have seen scandal” (Jeremiah 23:14). Scandal is stated regarding the house of Israel, as it is written: “The virgin of Israel has often performed scandal” (Jeremiah 18:13). “And did not reveal your iniquity to bring about your rehabilitation,” they would cure your wounds superficially. “They envisioned for you prophecies of futility and deviance [umaduḥim], it is written madiḥam.116The word maduḥim is written without a yod, such that it can be read madiḥam, meaning those who have pushed them into exile.
סָפְקוּ עָלַיִךְ כַּפַּיִם, רַבִּי יוֹחָנָן בְּשֵׁם רַבִּי שִׁמְעוֹן בַּר יוֹחָאי אָמַר, כִּפָּה שֶׁל חֶשְׁבּוֹנוֹת הָיְתָה חוּץ לִירוּשָׁלַיִם וְכָל מִי שֶׁהָיָה רוֹצֶה לְחַשֵּׁב הָיָה רָץ וּמְחַשֵּׁב שָׁם, שֶׁלֹא יֵצֵא חוּץ לִירוּשָׁלַיִם מִצְטָעֵר, לְקַיֵּם מַה שֶּׁנֶּאֱמַר: מָשׂוֹשׂ לְכָל הָאָרֶץ, וְעַכְשָׁיו סָפְקוּ עָלַיִךְ כַּפַּיִם שָׁרְקוּ וַיָּנִיעוּ רֹאשָׁן עַל בַּת יְרוּשָׁלָיִם. כְּרַכֵּי הָאֻמּוֹת הֵן אוֹמְרִים שִׁבְחָן בְּפִיהֶם, הֲדָא הוּא דִכְתִיב (יחזקאל כז, ג): אַתְּ אָמַרְתְּ אֲנִי כְּלִילַת יֹפִי, אֲבָל יְרוּשָׁלָיִם אֲחֵרִים אוֹמְרִים שִׁבְחָהּ בְּפִיהֶם, הֲדָא הוּא דִכְתִיב: הֲזֹאת הָעִיר שֶׁיֹּאמְרוּ כְּלִילַת יֹפִי. רַבִּי נָתָן אָמַר פְּרַקְמַטּוּטָא סָלֵיק לְזַבָּנָא עַמְרַיָא, דְּמַךְ וְלָא זַבַּן, אֲמַר דֵּין דְּאַתּוּן אָמְרִין מָשׂוֹשׂ לְכָל הָאָרֶץ, קְרַן וְזַבֵּין, אֲמַר טָבְאוּת אַמְרִיתּוּ מָשׂוֹשׂ לְכָל הָאָרֶץ.
“All wayfarers clapped their hands over you; they whistled and shook their heads at the daughter of Jerusalem: Is this the city that was said to be perfect beauty, the joy of the entire earth?” (Lamentations 2:15).
They “clapped their hands over you.” Rabbi Yoḥanan said in the name of Rabbi Shimon bar Yoḥai: There was a dome of inventory outside of Jerusalem, and anyone who sought to take inventory would run and take inventory there,117Anyone who wanted to take an accounting of his expenditures or business activity could stop under this dome and make his calculations. so that he would not emerge from Jerusalem upset,118Some commentaries assert that the text should read: So that they would not take inventory in Jerusalem and be upset. This is the version of the text found in Shemot Rabba 52:5 (Etz Yosef). to realize what is written: “The joy of the entire earth.” But now, they “clapped their hands over you; they whistled and shook their heads at the daughter of Jerusalem.”
The cities of the nations sing their praise with their mouths. That is what is written: “[Tyre], you said: I am perfect in beauty” (Ezekiel 27:3). But Jerusalem, others recite its praise with their mouths. That is what is written: “Is this the city that was said to be perfect beauty, the joy of the entire earth?”
Rabbi Natan said: A merchant ascended to sell wool. He fell asleep and did not sell. He said: Is this [the city] about which you say that it is “the joy of the entire earth”? He awoke and sold it. He said, you spoke well: “The joy of the entire earth.”
פָּצוּ עָלַיִךְ פִּיהֶם, לָמָּה הִקְדִּים פ"ה לְעי"ן, לְפִי שֶׁהָיוּ אוֹמְרִים בְּפִיהֶם מַה שֶּׁלֹּא רָאוּ בְּעֵינֵיהֶם.
“All your enemies opened their mouths wide against you; they whistled and gnashed teeth, they said: We have demolished! Indeed, this is the day for which we hoped; we found, we saw” (Lamentations 2:16).
They “opened their mouths wide against you.” Why does peh come before ayin?119The verses in chapter 2 of Lamentations form an alphabetical acrostic, except the verse that begins with peh (verse 16) comes before the verse that begins with ayin (verse 17), despite the fact that ayin precedes peh in the alphabet. Because they would say with their mouths what they had not seen with their eyes.120The word for mouth is peh, whereas the word for eye is ayin. The enemies rejoiced over their projected victory before it even happened.
עָשָׂה ה' אֲשֶׁר זָמַם, רַבִּי אַהֲבָה בְּרֵיהּ דְּרַבִּי זְעֵירָא אָמַר, מִשָּׁעָה שֶׁאָמַר הַקָּדוֹשׁ בָּרוּךְ הוּא (ויקרא כו, יח): וְאִם עַד אֵלֶּה לֹא תִשְׁמְעוּ לִי וגו' וְהָלַכְתִּי אַף אֲנִי עִמָּכֶם בְּקֶרִי, שֶׁמָּא כָּךְ עָשָׂה חַס וְשָׁלוֹם, אֶלָּא עָשָׂה ה' וגו', פַּשּׁוֹרֵי מְפַשַּׁר. רַבִּי יַעֲקֹב דִּכְפַר חָנָן אֲמַר בְּזַע פַּרְפּוֹרִין שֶׁלּוֹ. וַיְשַׂמַּח עָלַיִךְ אוֹיֵב, אָמַר רַבִּי אַחָא בַּטּוֹבָה הוּא שָׂמֵחַ עִמָּהֶם, דִּכְתִיב (דברים ל, ט): כִּי יָשׁוּב ה' לָשׂוּשׂ עָלֶיךָ לְטוֹב כַּאֲשֶׁר שָׂשׂ עַל אֲבֹתֶיךָ, אֲבָל בָּרָעָה מְשַׂמֵּחַ הוּא אֲחֵרִים, הֲדָא הוּא דִכְתִיב: וַיְשַׂמַּח עָלַיִךְ אוֹיֵב הֵרִים קֶרֶן צָרָיִךְ, וְעַל זֶה נֶאֱמַר: צָעַק לִבָּם אֶל ה' חוֹמַת בַּת צִיּוֹן הוֹרִידִי וגו'.
“The Lord accomplished what He devised: He implemented His statement that He commanded from the days of old; He destroyed and had no compassion. He caused the enemy to rejoice over you, raised the horn of your antagonists” (Lamentations 2:17).
“Their heart cried to the Lord: Wall of the daughter of Zion, let tears fall like a stream, day and night; do not give yourself respite, let the apple of your eye not cease” (Lamentations 2:18).
“The Lord accomplished what He devised.” Rabbi Ahava son of Rabbi Ze’eira said: From the moment that the Holy One blessed be He said: “If despite this you do not heed Me…I, too, will walk with you casually” (Leviticus 26:18, 24), did He, Heaven forbid, do so? Rather, “the Lord accomplished [what He devised: He implemented [bitza] His statement that He commanded from the days of old].” He compromised.121The term bitzua also means compromise. Rabbi Yaakov of Kefar Ḥanan said: He rent [beza] His raiment.
“He caused the enemy to rejoice over you.” Rabbi Aḥa said: In good times, He rejoiced with them, as it is written: “For the Lord will return to rejoice over you for good, as He rejoiced over your fathers” (Deuteronomy 30:9). But in bad times, He causes others to rejoice. That is what is written: “He caused the enemy to rejoice over you, raised the horn of your antagonists.” In that regard it is said: “Their heart cried to the Lord: Wall of the daughter of Zion, [let tears] fall…”122God caused the enemies to rejoice but He did not rejoice with them.
קוּמִי רֹנִּי בַלַּיְלָה לְרֹאשׁ אַשְׁמֻרוֹת, רַבִּי אוֹמֵר אַרְבַּע אַשְׁמוּרוֹת בַּלַּיְלָה, וְאַרְבַּע מִשְׁמָרוֹת בַּיּוֹם. הָעוֹנָה אֶחָד מֵעֶשְׂרִים וְאַרְבָּעָה לְעֵת, וְהָעֵת אֶחָד מֵעֶשְׂרִים וְאַרְבָּעָה לְעוֹנָה, הָרֶגַע אֶחָד מֵעֶשְׂרִים וְאַרְבָּעָה לְעֵת, וְכַמָּה הוּא רֶגַע, רַבִּי בֶּרֶכְיָה בְּשֵׁם רַבִּי חֶלְבּוֹ אָמַר כְּדֵי לְאָמְרוֹ. וְרַבָּנָן אָמְרֵי כְּהֶרֶף עַיִן. וּשְׁמוּאֵל אָמַר אֶחָד מֵחֲמֵשֶׁת רִבּוֹא וְשֵׁשֶׁת אֲלָפִים וַחֲמֵשׁ מֵאוֹת וְאַרְבָּעִים וּשְׁמוֹנָה לְשָׁעָה, זֶה הוּא רֶגַע. רַבִּי נָתָן אָמַר שָׁלשׁ אַשְׁמוּרוֹת בַּלָּיְלָה. רַבִּי זְרִיקָא וְרַבִּי אַמֵּי בְּשֵׁם רַבִּי שִׁמְעוֹן בֶּן לָקִישׁ אָמַר כָּתוּב אֶחָד אוֹמֵר (תהלים קיט, סב): חֲצוֹת לַיְלָה אָקוּם לְהוֹדוֹת לָךְ, וְכָתוּב אֶחָד אוֹמֵר (תהלים קיט, קמח): קִדְּמוּ עֵינַי אַשְׁמֻרוֹת, כֵּיצַד יִתְקַיְּמוּ שְׁנֵי כְתוּבִים, רַבִּי חִזְקִיָּה וְאָמְרֵי לָהּ רַבִּי זְרִיקָא וְרַבִּי אַמֵּי, חַד אֲמַר טַעְמֵיהּ דְּרַבִּי, וְחַד אֲמַר טַעְמֵיהּ דְּרַבִּי נָתָן, מַאן דְּאָמַר טַעְמָא דְרַבִּי, הָא נִיחָא. מַאן דְּאָמַר טַעְמָא דְרַבִּי נָתָן (שופטים ז, יט): רֹאשׁ אַשְׁמֹרֶת הַתִּיכוֹנָה. וְרַבִּי נָתָן מַה מְּקַיֵּם חֲצוֹת לַיְלָה, אֶלָּא פְּעָמִים חֲצוֹת לַיְלָה, וּפְעָמִים קִדְּמוּ עֵינַי אַשְׁמֻרוֹת. וְאֵיךְ עֲבִידָא, בְּשָׁעָה שֶׁדָּוִד אוֹכֵל סְעוּדַת עַצְמוֹ אוֹכֵל עַד תֵּשַׁע שָׁעוֹת וְיָשֵׁן עַד רֹאשׁ אַשְׁמֹרֶת הַתִּיכוֹנָה וְעוֹמֵד וְעוֹסֵק בַּתּוֹרָה, וּבְשָׁעָה שֶׁדָּוִד אוֹכֵל סְעוּדַת מְלָכִים, אוֹכֵל עַד הָעֶרֶב וְיָשֵׁן עַד חֲצוֹת, וְעוֹמֵד וְעוֹסֵק בַּתּוֹרָה מֵחֲצוֹת לַיְלָה וּלְמַטָּה, בֵּין כָּךְ וּבֵין כָּךְ לֹא הָיָה הַשַּׁחַר בָּא וְדָוִד יָשֵׁן, וְהוּא שֶׁאָמַר דָּוִד (תהלים נז, ט): עוּרָה כְבוֹדִי עוּרָה הַנֵּבֶל וְכִנּוֹר אָעִירָה שָּׁחַר, אִיתְעַר יְקָרִי מִן קֳדָם יְקָרֵיהּ דְּבוֹרְאִי, יְקָרִי לֵית כְּלוּם קֳדָם יְקָרֵיהּ דְּבוֹרְאִי. אָעִירָה שָּׁחַר אֲנָא מְעוֹרֵר שַׁחֲרָא וְלֵית שַׁחֲרָא מְעוֹרֵר לִי. רַבִּי פִּנְחָס בְּשֵׁם רַבִּי אֶלְעָזָר בַּר מְנַחֵם אָמַר כִּנּוֹר הָיָה נָתוּן תַּחַת מְרַאֲשׁוֹתָיו וְהָיָה עוֹמֵד וּמְנַגֵּן בּוֹ בַּלַּיְלָה. אָמַר רַבִּי לֵוִי כִּנּוֹר תָּלוּי לְמַעְלָה מִמִּטָּתוֹ שֶׁל דָּוִד וְכֵיוָן שֶׁהִגִּיעַ חֲצוֹת לַיְלָה רוּחַ צְפוֹנִית מְנַשֶּׁבֶת בּוֹ וְהָיָה מְנַגֵּן מֵאֵלָיו, הֲדָא הוּא דִכְתִיב (מלכים ב ג, טו): וְהָיָה כְּנַגֵּן הַמְנַגֵּן, וְהָיָה כְּנַגֵּן בַּמְנַגֵּן אֵין כְּתִיב כָּאן אֶלָּא וְהָיָה כְּנַגֵּן הַמְנַגֵּן, הַכִּנּוֹר מֵאֵלָיו הָיָה מְנַגֵּן, וּכְשֶׁהָיָה דָּוִד שׁוֹמֵעַ קוֹלוֹ הָיָה עוֹמֵד וְעוֹסֵק בַּתּוֹרָה, וְכֵיוָן שֶׁהָיוּ יִשְׂרָאֵל שׁוֹמְעִים קוֹלוֹ שֶׁל דָּוִד עוֹסֵק בַּתּוֹרָה הָיוּ אוֹמְרִים וּמַה דָּוִד מֶלֶךְ יִשְׂרָאֵל עוֹסֵק בַּתּוֹרָה אָנוּ עַל אַחַת כַּמָּה וְכַמָּה, מִיָּד הָיוּ עוֹסְקִין בַּתּוֹרָה. וּמַה מְּקַיֵּם רַבִּי קְרָיָה דְרַבִּי נָתָן, אָמַר רַבִּי הוּנָא סוֹפוֹ שֶׁל שְׁנִיָּה וְרֹאשָׁהּ שֶׁל שְׁלִישִׁית שֶׁמְתַוְּכוֹת הַלַּיְלָה. אָמַר לוֹ רַבִּי מָנֵי אִלּוּ נֶאֱמַר תִּיכוֹנוֹת יָאוּת הֲוַת, הָא לֹא נֶאֱמַר אֶלָּא תִּיכוֹנָה, קַדְמָיְיתָא לָא מִיתְחַשְּׁבָה, דְּעַד כַּדּוּ לָא אֲתָא עִידָן.
“Arise, cry out at night, at the beginning of the watches, pour out your heart like water before the face of the Lord. Lift up your hands to Him for the life of your infants, who are faint with hunger at the head of every street” (Lamentations 2:19).
“Arise, cry out at night, at the beginning of the watches.” Rabbi [Yehuda HaNasi] says: There are four watches during the night and four watches during the day. The ona is one twenty-fourth of the et,123The text should read: The ona is one twenty-fourth of an hour (Etz Yosef). and the et is one twenty-fourth of the ona. The rega is one twenty-fourth of the et. How long is a rega? Rabbi Berekhya said in the name of Rabbi Ḥelbo: As long as it takes to say it. The Rabbis say: Like the blink of an eye. Shmuel said: One fifty-six thousand five hundred and forty-eighth of an hour; that is a rega. Rabbi Natan said: There are three watches during the night.
Rabbi Zerika and Rabbi Ami said in the name of Rabbi Shimon ben Lakish: One verse says: “At midnight I rise to give You thanks” (Psalms 119:62), and one verse says: “My eyes precede the night watches” (Psalms 119:148). How can these two verses be reconciled? Rabbi Ḥizkiya, and some say Rabbi Zerika and Rabbi Ami: One said the source according to Rabbi [Yehuda HaNasi] and one says the source according to Rabbi Natan. The one who says the source according to Rabbi [Yehuda HaNasi], it works out well.124There are four watches during the night, two before midnight and two after midnight. Thus, if one rises at midnight, that is still before two of the nightly watches. These verses can thus be a source for the opinion of Rabbi Yehuda HaNasi that the night is divided into four watches. The one who says the source according to Rabbi Natan: “At the beginning of the middle watch” (Judges 7:19).125If there is a middle watch, there must be an odd number of watches. This can serve as a source for the opinion of Rabbi Natan that the night is divided into three watches.
But Rabbi Natan, how does he interpret “at midnight”? Rather, at times “at midnight,” and at times: “My eyes precede the night watches.”126The two verses do not both mean the same thing, as according to Rabbi Yehuda HaNasi. Rather, King David, the author of Psalms, is stating that at times he awoke at midnight, and at times even earlier, before two of the three nightly watches. What would [David] do? When David would conduct his meal alone, he would eat until nine hours of the day, sleep until the beginning of the middle watch, and arise and engage in Torah study. When David would eat a feast of kings, he would eat until the evening, sleep until midnight, and arise and engage in Torah study from midnight onward.
In any case, dawn would not arrive with David asleep. That is what David said: “Awaken, my soul, awaken, harp and lyre; I will wake the dawn” (Psalms 57:9). Let my honor awaken before the honor of my Creator; my honor is nothing before the honor of my Creator. “I will wake the dawn,” I wake the dawn, the dawn does not awaken me.
Rabbi Pinḥas said in the name of Rabbi Elazar bar Menaḥem: A lyre was placed under his head and he would rise and play it at night. Rabbi Levi said: A lyre was suspended over David’s bed. When midnight arrived, the north wind would come and the lyre would play on its own. That is what is written: “It was as the instrument played” (II Kings 3:15). It is not written here “It was as he played the instrument,” but rather: “It was as the instrument played,” the instrument played on its own. When David would hear its sound, he would arise and engage in Torah study. [People] would say: If David king of Israel is engaging in Torah study, all the more so for us. They immediately would begin engaging in Torah study.
How does Rabbi interpret the verse of Rabbi Natan? Rabbi Huna said: The end of the second and the beginning of the third, which constitutes the midpoint [metavḥot] of the night. Rabbi Mani said: Had it said “middle [tikhonot],”127Had the verse used the plural term for “middle” that would allow for it to be interpreted in accordance with Rabbi Yehua HaNasi, who holds that the night is divided into four watches. that would be correct. But does it not say “middle [tikhona]”?128This term is singular. The first is not counted, as until then, the time has not yet arrived.129The concept of dividing the night into periods of time called watches parallels when an earthly king would have soldiers standing guard. The first quarter of the night is not yet the time for guards, because people are still awake.
רְאֵה ה' וְהַבִּיטָה, מַעֲשֶׂה בְּדוֹאֵג בֶּן יוֹסֵף שֶׁמֵּת וְהִנִּיחַ בֶּן קָטָן לְאִמּוֹ, וְהָיְתָה מְמַדֶּדֶת אוֹתוֹ בִּטְפָחִים וְנוֹתֶנֶת מִשְׁקָלוֹ זָהָב לַשָּׁמַיִם בְּכָל שָׁנָה וְשָׁנָה, וְכֵיוָן שֶׁהֵקִיפָה מְצוּדָה לִירוּשָׁלַיִם, טְבָחַתּוּ אִמּוֹ בְּיָדֶיהָ וַאֲכָלַתּוּ, וְהָיָה יִרְמְיָה מְקוֹנֵן לִפְנֵי הַמָּקוֹם וְאוֹמֵר לְמִי עוֹלַלְתָּ כֹּה אִם תֹּאכַלְנָה נָשִׁים פִּרְיָם עֹלְלֵי טִפֻּחִים, וְרוּחַ הַקֹּדֶשׁ מְשִׁיבַתּוּ: אִם יֵהָרֵג בְּמִקְדַּשׁ ה' כֹּהֵן וְנָבִיא, זֶה זְכַרְיָה בֶּן יְהוֹיָדָע.
“See, Lord, and look to whom You have done this. Shall women eat their fruit, the infants of their nurturing? Shall the priest and the prophet be slain in the Temple of the Lord?” (Lamentations 2:20).
“See, Lord, and look.” There was an incident involving Doeg ben Yosef, who died and left a young son to his mother. She would measure him with handbreadths and would donate his weight in gold to Heaven each and every year. When the besieging armies surrounded Jerusalem, his mother slaughtered him with her own hands and ate him. Jeremiah was lamenting before the Omnipresent and saying: “[See, Lord…] to whom You have done this; shall women eat their fruit, the infants of their nurturing?” The Divine Spirit responded to him: “Shall the priest and the prophet be slain in the Temple of the Lord?” This is Zekharya ben Yehoyada.
שָׁכְבוּ לָאָרֶץ חוּצוֹת וגו', כְּתִיב (ירמיה ו, יא): וְאֵת חֲמַת ה' מָלֵאתִי נִלְאֵיתִי הָכִיל שְׁפֹךְ עַל עוֹלָל בַּחוּץ וְעַל סוֹד בַּחוּרִים יַחְדָּו כִּי גַם אִישׁ עִם אִשָּׁה יִלָּכֵדוּ זָקֵן עִם מְלֵא יָמִים. לְפִיכָךְ שָׁכְבוּ לָאָרֶץ חוּצוֹת.
“Lad and elder lay on the ground in the streets, my young women and my young men fell by the sword. You killed on the day of Your wrath, You slaughtered, had no compassion” (Lamentations 2:21).
They “lay on the ground in the streets…” It is written: “I am filled with the wrath of the Lord; I am too weary to contain it. Pour onto the baby in the street and onto the gathering of youths, for men and women alike will be captured, the elderly with those whose days are numbered” (Jeremiah 6:11). Therefore, they “lay on the ground in the streets.”
תִּקְרָא כְיוֹם מוֹעֵד מְגוּרַי מִסָּבִיב, מַהוּ מְגוּרַי, מִגּוֹ בֵּיתָאי. אָמַר רַבִּי אֶלְעָזָר בְּרַבִּי מָרִינוֹס בְּנֵי אָדָם שֶׁעָשׂוּ קוֹסֵי פַּרְפֵּירָאן שֶׁלִּי דְּאָתֵי עָלַי. וְלֹא הָיָה בְּיוֹם אַף ה' פָּלִיט וְשָׂרִיד, תָּנֵי רַבִּי חִיָּא כְּנֶגֶד בָּנִים וּבָנוֹת שֶׁיִּהְיוּ לְךָ, יִהְיֶה הַחֵטְא מְאַבְּדָן. אֲשֶׁר טִפַּחְתִּי וְרִבִּיתִי, אֵין כְּתִיב כָּאן, אֶלָּא: אֲשֶׁר טִפַּחְתִּי וְרִבִּיתִי אֹיְבִי כִלָּם. סְלִיק אַלְפָא בֵּיתָא תִּנְיָינָא
“You have called, as on the appointed day, my fears from all around, and there was no refugee or remnant on the day of the Lord’s wrath. Those whom I nurtured and reared, my enemy annihilated” (Lamentations 2:22).
“You have called, as on the appointed day, my fears [megurai] from all around.” What is megurai? It is from within my house.130This is expounded from the word gur, meaning reside. The gentile servants within my own house have turned against me. Rabbi Elazar son of Rabbi Marinos said: People who prepared my pots of dessert came against me.
“There was no refugee or remnant on the day of the Lord’s wrath.” Rabbi Ḥiya taught: Corresponding to the sons and daughters that you will have, the sin will eliminate them. “Whom I nurtured and reared” is not written here, but rather, “whom I nurtured and reared, my enemy annihilated.”131The meaning of this statement and proof text is difficult, and commentaries have offered different explanations. Some suggest that the meaning is that sin caused the death of children corresponding to the total number; if one person had two children, for example, one died; if another person had four children, two of them would die. The proof from the verse is that “reared [ribiti]” is written with a yod, such that it can be read as “numerous [ribui].” The more children one had, the more would die (Yefe Anaf).
End of the Second Alphabetical Acrostic