Coming out of the Cave

For R. Judah, R. Jose, and R. Simeon were sitting, and Judah, a son of proselytes, was sitting near them. R. Judah commenced [the discussion] by observing, 'How fine are the works of this people!¹⁵ They have made streets, they have built bridges, they have erected baths.' R. Jose was silent. R. Simeon b. Yohai answered and said, 'All that they made they made for themselves; they built market-places, to set harlots in them; baths, to rejuvenate themselves; bridges, to levy tolls for them.' Now, Judah the son of proselytes went and related their talk,¹⁶ which reached¹⁷ the government. They decreed: Judah, who exalted [us], shall be exalted,¹⁸ Simeon, who censured, let him be executed.. So they went and hid in a cave. A miracle occurred and a carob-tree and a water well were created for them. They would strip their garments and sit up to their necks in sand. The whole day they studied; when it was time for prayers they robed, covered themselves, prayed, and then put off their garments again, so that they should not wear out. Thus they dwelt twelve years in the cave.²³ Then Elijah came and stood at the entrance to the cave and exclaimed, Who will inform the son of Yohai that the emperor is dead and his decree annulled?²⁴ So they emerged. Seeing a man ploughing and sowing, they exclaimed, 'They forsake life eternal and engage in life temporal!' Whatever they cast their eyes upon was immediately burnt up. Thereupon a Heavenly Echo came forth and cried out, 'Have ye emerged to destroy My world: Return to your cave!'²⁵ So they returned and dwelt there twelve months, saying, 'The punishment²⁶ of the wicked in Gehenna is [limited to] twelve months.'²⁷ A Heavenly Echo then came forth and said, 'Go forth from your cave!' Thus.'; they issued: wherever R. Eleazar wounded,²⁸ R. Simeon healed. Said he to him, 'My son! You and I are sufficient for the world.'²⁹ On the eve of the Sabbath before sunset they saw an old man holding two bundles of myrtle and running at twilight. What are these for?' they asked him. 'They are in honour of the Sabbath,' he replied.³⁰ 'But one should suffice you'? — One is for 'Remember-' and one for 'Observe.'³¹ Said he to his son, 'See how precious are the commandments to Israel.' Thereat their minds were tranquilized.