עַל כָּל צָרָה שֶׁלֹּא תָבֹא עַל הַצִּבּוּר, מַתְרִיעִין עֲלֵיהֶן, חוּץ מֵרוֹב גְּשָׁמִים. מַעֲשֶׂה שֶׁאָמְרוּ לוֹ לְחוֹנִי הַמְעַגֵּל, הִתְפַּלֵּל שֶׁיֵּרְדוּ גְשָׁמִים. אָמַר לָהֶם, צְאוּ וְהַכְנִיסוּ תַנּוּרֵי פְסָחִים, בִּשְׁבִיל שֶׁלֹּא יִמּוֹקוּ. הִתְפַּלֵּל, וְלֹא יָרְדוּ גְשָׁמִים. מֶה עָשָׂה, עָג עוּגָה וְעָמַד בְּתוֹכָהּ, וְאָמַר לְפָנָיו, רִבּוֹנוֹ שֶׁל עוֹלָם, בָּנֶיךָ שָׂמוּ פְנֵיהֶם עָלַי, שֶׁאֲנִי כְבֶן בַּיִת לְפָנֶיךָ. נִשְׁבָּע אֲנִי בְשִׁמְךָ הַגָּדוֹל שֶׁאֵינִי זָז מִכָּאן, עַד שֶׁתְּרַחֵם עַל בָּנֶיךָ. הִתְחִילוּ גְּשָׁמִים מְנַטְּפִין. אָמַר, לֹא כָךְ שָׁאַלְתִּי, אֶלָּא גִּשְׁמֵי בוֹרוֹת שִׁיחִין וּמְעָרוֹת. הִתְחִילוּ לֵירֵד בְּזָעַף. אָמַר, לֹא כָךְ שָׁאַלְתִּי, אֶלָּא גִּשְׁמֵי רָצוֹן, בְּרָכָה וּנְדָבָה. יָרְדוּ כְתִקְנָן, עַד שֶׁיָּצְאוּ יִשְׂרָאֵל מִירוּשָׁלַיִם לְהַר הַבַּיִת מִפְּנֵי הַגְּשָׁמִים. בָּאוּ וְאָמְרוּ לוֹ, כְּשֵׁם שֶׁהִתְפַּלַלְתָּ עֲלֵיהֶם שֶׁיֵּרְדוּ כָּךְ הִתְפַּלֵּל שֶׁיֵּלְכוּ לָהֶן. אָמַר לָהֶן, צְאוּ וּרְאוּ אִם נִמְחֵת אֶבֶן הַטּוֹעִים. שָׁלַח לוֹ שִׁמְעוֹן בֶּן שָׁטָח, אִלְמָלֵא חוֹנִי אַתָּה, גּוֹזְרַנִי עָלֶיךָ נִדּוּי. אֲבָל מָה אֶעֱשֶׂה לְּךָ, שֶׁאַתָּה מִתְחַטֵּא לִפְנֵי הַמָּקוֹם וְעוֹשֶׂה לְךָ רְצוֹנְךָ כְּבֵן שֶׁהוּא מִתְחַטֵּא עַל אָבִיו וְעוֹשֶׂה לוֹ רְצוֹנוֹ. וְעָלֶיךָ הַכָּתוּב אוֹמֵר (משלי כג), יִשְׂמַח אָבִיךָ וְאִמֶּךָ וְתָגֵל יוֹלַדְתֶּךָ:
The mishna adds: In general, they cry out on account of any trouble that should not befall the community, a euphemism for trouble that may befall the community, except for an overabundance of rain. Although too much rain may be disastrous, one does not cry out over it, because rain is a sign of a blessing. The mishna relates: An incident occurred in which the people said to Ḥoni HaMe’aggel: Pray that rain should fall. He said to them: Go out and bring in the clay ovens used to roast the Paschal lambs, so that they will not dissolve in the water, as torrential rains are certain to fall. He prayed, and no rain fell at all. What did he do? He drew a circle on the ground and stood inside it and said before God: Master of the Universe, Your children have turned their faces toward me, as I am like a member of Your household. Therefore, I take an oath by Your great name that I will not move from here until You have mercy upon Your children and answer their prayers for rain. Rain began to trickle down, but only in small droplets. He said: I did not ask for this, but for rain to fill the cisterns, ditches, and caves with enough water to last the entire year. Rain began to fall furiously. He said: I did not ask for this damaging rain either, but for rain of benevolence, blessing, and generosity. Subsequently, the rains fell in their standard manner but continued unabated, filling the city with water until all of the Jews exited the residential areas of Jerusalem and went to the Temple Mount due to the rain. They came and said to him: Just as you prayed over the rains that they should fall, so too, pray that they should stop. He said to them: Go out and see if the Claimants’ Stone, a large stone located in the city, upon which proclamations would be posted with regard to lost and found articles, has been washed away. In other words, if the water has not obliterated the Claimants’ Stone, it is not yet appropriate to pray for the rain to cease. Shimon ben Shetaḥ, the Nasi of the Sanhedrin at the time, relayed to Ḥoni HaMe’aggel: Were you not Ḥoni, I would have decreed that you be ostracized, but what can I do to you? You nag [mitḥatei] God and He does your bidding, like a son who nags his father and his father does his bidding without reprimand. After all, rain fell as you requested. About you, the verse states: “Let your father and your mother be glad, and let her who bore you rejoice” (Proverbs 23:25).
וְכֵן מָצִינוּ בִּימֵי הוֹרְדוֹס שֶׁהָיוּ עוֹסְקִין בְּבִנְיַן בֵּית הַמִּקְדָּשׁ וְהָיוּ יוֹרְדִין גְּשָׁמִים בַּלַּיְלָה לְמָחָר נָשְׁבָה הָרוּחַ וְנִתְפַּזְּרוּ הֶעָבִים וְזָרְחָה הַחַמָּה וְיָצְאוּ הָעָם לִמְלַאכְתָּן וְיָדְעוּ שֶׁמְּלֶאכֶת שָׁמַיִם בִּידֵיהֶם:
And we likewise found that in the days of Herod that they were occupied in the building of the Temple, and rain would fall at night. And the next day the wind would blow, the clouds would disperse, the sun would shine, and the people would go out to their work. And as rain would fall only at a time when it would not interfere with their labor, the nation knew that the work of Heaven was being performed by their hands.
מַעֲשֶׂה שֶׁשָּׁלְחוּ לְחוֹנִי הַמְעַגֵּל וְכוּ׳ תָּנוּ רַבָּנַן פַּעַם אַחַת יָצָא רוֹב אֲדָר וְלֹא יָרְדוּ גְּשָׁמִים שָׁלְחוּ לְחוֹנִי הַמְעַגֵּל הִתְפַּלֵּל וְיֵרְדוּ גְּשָׁמִים הִתְפַּלֵּל וְלֹא יָרְדוּ גְּשָׁמִים עָג עוּגָה וְעָמַד בְּתוֹכָהּ כְּדֶרֶךְ שֶׁעָשָׂה חֲבַקּוּק הַנָּבִיא שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר עַל מִשְׁמַרְתִּי אֶעֱמֹדָה וְאֶתְיַצְּבָה עַל מָצוֹר וְגוֹ׳
§ The mishna taught: An incident occurred in which the people sent a message to Ḥoni HaMe’aggel. This event is related in greater detail in the following baraita. The Sages taught: Once, most of the month of Adar had passed but rain had still not fallen. They sent this message to Ḥoni HaMe’aggel: Pray, and rain will fall. He prayed, but no rain fell. He drew a circle in the dust and stood inside it, in the manner that the prophet Habakkuk did, as it is stated: “And I will stand upon my watch and set myself upon the tower, and I will look out to see what He will say to me, and what I shall answer when I am reproved” (Habakkuk 2:1). This verse is taken to mean that Habakkuk fashioned a kind of prison for himself where he sat.
אָמַר לְפָנָיו רִבּוֹנוֹ שֶׁל עוֹלָם בָּנֶיךָ שָׂמוּ פְּנֵיהֶם עָלַי שֶׁאֲנִי כְּבֶן בַּיִת לְפָנֶיךָ נִשְׁבָּע אֲנִי בְּשִׁמְךָ הַגָּדוֹל שֶׁאֵינִי זָז מִכָּאן עַד שֶׁתְּרַחֵם עַל בָּנֶיךָ הִתְחִילוּ גְּשָׁמִים מְנַטְּפִין אָמְרוּ לוֹ תַּלְמִידָיו רַבִּי רְאִינוּךְ וְלֹא נָמוּת כִּמְדוּמִּין אָנוּ שֶׁאֵין גְּשָׁמִים יוֹרְדִין אֶלָּא לְהַתִּיר שְׁבוּעָתְךָ
Ḥoni said before God: Master of the Universe, Your children have turned their faces toward me, as I am like a member of Your household. Therefore, I take an oath by Your great name that I will not move from here until you have mercy upon Your children and answer their prayers for rain. Rain began to trickle down, but only in small droplets. His students said to him: Rabbi, we have seen that you can perform great wonders, but this quantity of rain is not enough to ensure that we will not die. It appears to us that a small amount of rain is falling only to enable you to dissolve your oath, but it is not nearly enough to save us.
אָמַר לֹא כָּךְ שָׁאַלְתִּי אֶלָּא גִּשְׁמֵי בּוֹרוֹת שִׁיחִין וּמְעָרוֹת יָרְדוּ בְּזַעַף עַד שֶׁכׇּל טִפָּה וְטִפָּה כִּמְלֹא פִּי חָבִית וְשִׁיעֲרוּ חֲכָמִים שֶׁאֵין טִפָּה פְּחוּתָה מִלּוֹג אָמְרוּ לוֹ תַּלְמִידָיו רַבִּי רְאִינוּךְ וְלֹא נָמוּת כִּמְדוּמִּין אָנוּ שֶׁאֵין גְּשָׁמִים יוֹרְדִין אֶלָּא לְאַבֵּד הָעוֹלָם
Ḥoni said to God: I did not ask for this, but for rain to fill the cisterns, ditches, and caves. Rain began to fall furiously, until each and every drop was as big as the mouth of a barrel, and the Sages estimated that no drop was less than a log in size. His students said to him: Rabbi, we have seen that you can call on God to perform miracles and we will not die, but now it appears to us that rain is falling only to destroy the world.
אָמַר לְפָנָיו לֹא כָּךְ שָׁאַלְתִּי אֶלָּא גִּשְׁמֵי רָצוֹן בְּרָכָה וּנְדָבָה יָרְדוּ כְּתִיקְנָן עַד שֶׁעָלוּ כׇּל הָעָם לְהַר הַבַּיִת מִפְּנֵי הַגְּשָׁמִים אָמְרוּ לוֹ רַבִּי כְּשֵׁם שֶׁהִתְפַּלַּלְתָּ שֶׁיֵּרְדוּ כָּךְ הִתְפַּלֵּל וְיֵלְכוּ לָהֶם אָמַר לָהֶם כָּךְ מְקוּבְּלַנִי שֶׁאֵין מִתְפַּלְּלִין עַל רוֹב הַטּוֹבָה
Ḥoni again said before God: I did not ask for this harmful rain either, but for rain of benevolence, blessing, and generosity. Subsequently, the rains fell in their standard manner, until all of the people sought higher ground and ascended to the Temple Mount due to the rain. They said to him: Rabbi, just as you prayed that the rains should fall, so too, pray that they should stop. He said to them: This is the tradition that I received, that one does not pray over an excess of good.
אַף עַל פִּי כֵן הָבִיאוּ לִי פַּר הוֹדָאָה הֵבִיאוּ לוֹ פַּר הוֹדָאָה סָמַךְ שְׁתֵּי יָדָיו עָלָיו וְאָמַר לְפָנָיו רִבּוֹנוֹ שֶׁל עוֹלָם עַמְּךָ יִשְׂרָאֵל שֶׁהוֹצֵאתָ מִמִּצְרַיִם אֵינָן יְכוֹלִין לֹא בְּרוֹב טוֹבָה וְלֹא בְּרוֹב פּוּרְעָנוּת כָּעַסְתָּ עֲלֵיהֶם אֵינָן יְכוֹלִין לַעֲמוֹד הִשְׁפַּעְתָּ עֲלֵיהֶם טוֹבָה אֵינָן יְכוֹלִין לַעֲמוֹד יְהִי רָצוֹן מִלְּפָנֶיךָ שֶׁיִּפָּסְקוּ הַגְּשָׁמִים וִיהֵא רֶיוַח בָּעוֹלָם מִיָּד נָשְׁבָה הָרוּחַ וְנִתְפַּזְּרוּ הֶעָבִים וְזָרְחָה הַחַמָּה וְיָצְאוּ הָעָם לַשָּׂדֶה וְהֵבִיאוּ לָהֶם כְּמֵהִין וּפִטְרִיּוֹת
Ḥoni continued: Nevertheless, bring me a bull. I will sacrifice it as a thanks-offering and pray at the same time. They brought him a bull for a thanks-offering. He placed his two hands on its head and said before God: Master of the Universe, Your nation Israel, whom You brought out of Egypt, cannot bear either an excess of good or an excess of punishment. You grew angry with them and withheld rain, and they are unable to bear it. You bestowed upon them too much good, and they were also unable to bear it. May it be Your will that the rain stop and that there be relief for the world. Immediately, the wind blew, the clouds dispersed, the sun shone, and everyone went out to the fields and gathered for themselves truffles and mushrooms that had sprouted in the strong rain.
שָׁלַח לוֹ שִׁמְעוֹן בֶּן שָׁטַח אִלְמָלֵא חוֹנִי אַתָּה גּוֹזְרַנִי עָלֶיךָ נִידּוּי שֶׁאִילּוּ שָׁנִים כִּשְׁנֵי אֵלִיָּהוּ שֶׁמַּפְתְּחוֹת גְּשָׁמִים בְּיָדוֹ שֶׁל אֵלִיָּהוּ לֹא נִמְצָא שֵׁם שָׁמַיִם מִתְחַלֵּל עַל יָדְךָ
Shimon ben Shetaḥ relayed to Ḥoni HaMe’aggel: If you were not Ḥoni, I would have decreed ostracism upon you. For were these years like the years of Elijah, when the keys of rain were entrusted in Elijah’s hands, and he swore it would not rain, wouldn’t the name of Heaven have been desecrated by your oath not to leave the circle until it rained? Once you have pronounced this oath, either yours or Elijah’s must be falsified.
אֲבָל מָה אֶעֱשֶׂה לְךָ שֶׁאַתָּה מִתְחַטֵּא לִפְנֵי הַמָּקוֹם וְעוֹשֶׂה לְךָ רְצוֹנְךָ כְּבֵן שֶׁמִּתְחַטֵּא עַל אָבִיו וְעוֹשֶׂה לוֹ רְצוֹנוֹ וְאוֹמֵר לוֹ אַבָּא הוֹלִיכַנִי לְרׇחְצֵנִי בְּחַמִּין שׇׁטְפֵנִי בְּצוֹנֵן תֵּן לִי אֱגוֹזִים שְׁקֵדִים אֲפַרְסְקִים וְרִמּוֹנִים וְנוֹתֵן לוֹ וְעָלֶיךָ הַכָּתוּב אוֹמֵר יִשְׂמַח אָבִיךָ וְאִמֶּךָ וְתָגֵל יוֹלַדְתֶּךָ
However, what can I do to you, as you nag God and He does your bidding, like a son who nags his father and his father does his bidding. And the son says to his father: Father, take me to be bathed in hot water; wash me with cold water; give me nuts, almonds, peaches, and pomegranates. And his father gives him. About you, the verse states: “Your father and mother will be glad and she who bore you will rejoice” (Proverbs 23:25).
תָּנוּ רַבָּנַן מָה שָׁלְחוּ בְּנֵי לִשְׁכַּת הַגָּזִית לְחוֹנִי הַמְעַגֵּל וְתִגְזַר אֹמֶר וְיָקׇם לָךְ וְעַל דְּרָכֶיךָ נָגַהּ אוֹר וְתִגְזַר אֹמֶר
The Sages taught: What message did the members of the Chamber of the Hewn Stone, the Great Sanhedrin, send to Ḥoni HaMe’aggel? About you, the verse states: “You shall also decree a matter, and it shall be established for you; and the light shall shine upon your ways. When they cast down, you will say: There is lifting up, for He saves the humble person. He will deliver the one who is not innocent and he will be delivered through the cleanness of your hands” (Job 22:28–30).
אַתָּה גָּזַרְתָּ מִלְּמַטָּה וְהַקָּדוֹשׁ בָּרוּךְ הוּא מְקַיֵּים מַאֲמָרְךָ מִלְמַעְלָה וְעַל דְּרָכֶיךָ נָגַהּ אוֹר דּוֹר שֶׁהָיָה אָפֵל הֵאַרְתָּ בִּתְפִלָּתֶךָ
They interpreted: “You shall also decree a matter”; you, Ḥoni, decree from below, and the Holy One, Blessed be He, fulfills your statement from above. “And the light shall shine upon your ways”; a generation that was in darkness, you have illuminated it with your prayer.
כִּי הִשְׁפִּילוּ וַתֹּאמֶר גֵּוָה דּוֹר שֶׁהָיָה שָׁפֵל הִגְבַּהְתּוֹ בִּתְפִלָּתֶךָ וְשַׁח עֵינַיִם יוֹשִׁעַ דּוֹר שֶׁשַּׁח בַּעֲוֹנוֹ הוֹשַׁעְתּוֹ בִּתְפִלָּתֶךָ יְמַלֵּט אִי נָקִי דּוֹר שֶׁלֹּא הָיָה נָקִי מִלַּטְתּוֹ בִּתְפִלָּתֶךָ וְנִמְלַט בְּבֹר כַּפֶּיךָ מִלַּטְתּוֹ בְּמַעֲשֵׂה יָדֶיךָ הַבְּרוּרִין
“When they cast down, you will say: There is lifting up”; a generation that was cast down, you lifted it up with your prayer. “For He saves the humble person”; a generation that was humble in its transgression, you saved it through your prayer. “He will deliver the one who is not innocent”; a generation that was not innocent, you have delivered it through your prayer. “And he will be delivered through the cleanness of your hands”; you have delivered an undeserving generation through the clean work of your hands.
אָמַר רַבִּי יוֹחָנָן כׇּל יָמָיו שֶׁל אוֹתוֹ צַדִּיק הָיָה מִצְטַעֵר עַל מִקְרָא זֶה שִׁיר הַמַּעֲלוֹת בְּשׁוּב ה׳ אֶת שִׁיבַת צִיּוֹן הָיִינוּ כְּחֹלְמִים אָמַר מִי אִיכָּא דְּנָיֵים שִׁבְעִין שְׁנִין בְּחֶלְמָא
§ The Gemara relates another story about Ḥoni HaMe’aggel. Rabbi Yoḥanan said: All the days of the life of that righteous man, Ḥoni, he was distressed over the meaning of this verse: “A song of Ascents: When the Lord brought back those who returned to Zion, we were like those who dream” (Psalms 126:1). He said to himself: Is there really a person who can sleep and dream for seventy years? How is it possible to compare the seventy-year exile in Babylonia to a dream?
יוֹמָא חַד הֲוָה אָזֵל בְּאוֹרְחָא חַזְיֵיהּ לְהָהוּא גַּבְרָא דַּהֲוָה נָטַע חָרוּבָא אֲמַר לֵיהּ הַאי עַד כַּמָּה שְׁנִין טָעֵין אֲמַר לֵיהּ עַד שִׁבְעִין שְׁנִין אֲמַר לֵיהּ פְּשִׁיטָא לָךְ דְּחָיֵית שִׁבְעִין שְׁנִין אֲמַר לֵיהּ הַאי גַּבְרָא עָלְמָא בְּחָרוּבָא אַשְׁכַּחְתֵּיהּ כִּי הֵיכִי דִּשְׁתַלוּ לִי אֲבָהָתִי שְׁתַלִי נָמֵי לִבְרָאִי
One day, he was walking along the road when he saw a certain man planting a carob tree. Ḥoni said to him: This tree, after how many years will it bear fruit? The man said to him: It will not produce fruit until seventy years have passed. Ḥoni said to him: Is it obvious to you that you will live seventy years, that you expect to benefit from this tree? He said to him: That man himself found a world full of carob trees. Just as my ancestors planted for me, I too am planting for my descendants.
יָתֵיב קָא כָּרֵיךְ רִיפְתָּא אֲתַאי לֵיהּ שִׁינְתָּא נִים אַהְדַּרָא לֵיהּ מְשּׁוּנִּיתָא אִיכַּסִּי מֵעֵינָא וְנִים שִׁבְעִין שְׁנִין כִּי קָם חַזְיֵיהּ לְהָהוּא גַּבְרָא דְּהוּא קָא מְלַקֵּט מִינַּיְיהוּ אָמַר לֵיהּ אַתְּ הוּא דִּשְׁתַלְתֵּיהּ אֲמַר לֵיהּ בַּר בְּרֵיהּ אֲנָא אֲמַר לֵיהּ שְׁמַע מִינַּהּ דִּנְיַימִי שִׁבְעִין שְׁנִין חֲזָא לַחֲמָרְ[תֵּ]יהּ דְּאִתְיְילִידָא לַיהּ רַמְכֵי רַמְכֵי
Ḥoni sat and ate bread. Sleep overcame him and he slept. A cliff formed around him, and he disappeared from sight and slept for seventy years. When he awoke, he saw a certain man gathering carobs from that tree. Ḥoni said to him: Are you the one who planted this tree? The man said to him: I am his son’s son. Ḥoni said to him: I can learn from this that I have slept for seventy years, and indeed he saw that his donkey had sired several herds during those many years.
אֲזַל לְבֵיתֵיהּ אֲמַר לְהוּ בְּרֵיהּ דְּחוֹנִי הַמְעַגֵּל מִי קַיָּים אֲמַרוּ לֵיהּ בְּרֵיהּ לֵיתֵאּ בַּר בְּרֵיהּ אִיתֵאּ אֲמַר לְהוּ אֲנָא חוֹנִי הַמְעַגֵּל לָא הֵימְנוּהוּ אֲזַל לְבֵית הַמִּדְרָשׁ שַׁמְעִינְהוּ לְרַבָּנַן דְּקָאָמְרִי נְהִירָן שְׁמַעְתָּתִין כְּבִשְׁנֵי חוֹנִי הַמְעַגֵּל דְּכִי הָוֵי עָיֵיל לְבֵית מִדְרְשָׁא כֹּל קוּשְׁיָא דַּהֲווֹ לְהוּ לְרַבָּנַן הֲוָה מְפָרֵק לְהוּ אָמַר לְהוּ אֲנָא נִיהוּ וְלָא הֵימְנוּהוּ וְלָא עָבְדִי לֵיהּ יְקָרָא כִּדְמִבְּעֵי לֵיהּ חֲלַשׁ דַּעְתֵּיהּ בְּעָא רַחֲמֵי וּמִית אָמַר רָבָא הַיְינוּ דְּאָמְרִי אִינָשֵׁי אוֹ חַבְרוּתָא אוֹ מִיתוּתָא
Ḥoni went home and said to the members of the household: Is the son of Ḥoni HaMe’aggel alive? They said to him: His son is no longer with us, but his son’s son is alive. He said to them: I am Ḥoni HaMe’aggel. They did not believe him. He went to the study hall, where he heard the Sages say about one scholar: His halakhot are as enlightening and as clear as in the years of Ḥoni HaMe’aggel, for when Ḥoni HaMe’aggel would enter the study hall he would resolve for the Sages any difficulty they had. Ḥoni said to them: I am he, but they did not believe him and did not pay him proper respect. Ḥoni became very upset, prayed for mercy, and died. Rava said: This explains the folk saying that people say: Either friendship or death, as one who has no friends is better off dead.
אַבָּא חִלְקִיָּה בַּר בְּרֵיהּ דְּחוֹנִי הַמְעַגֵּל הֲוָה וְכִי מִצְטְרִיךְ עָלְמָא לְמִיטְרָא הֲווֹ מְשַׁדְּרִי רַבָּנַן לְגַבֵּיהּ וּבָעֵי רַחֲמֵי וְאָתֵי מִיטְרָא זִימְנָא חֲדָא אִיצְטְרִיךְ עָלְמָא לְמִיטְרָא שַׁדּוּר רַבָּנַן זוּגָא דְּרַבָּנַן לְגַבֵּיהּ לְמִבְעֵי רַחֲמֵי דְּנֵיתֵי מִיטְרָא אֲזוּל לְבֵיתֵיהּ וְלָא אַשְׁכְּחוּהּו אֲזוּל בְּדַבְרָא וְאַשְׁכְּחוּהּ דַּהֲוָה קָא רָפֵיק יְהַבוּ לֵיהּ שְׁלָמָא
§ The Gemara relates another story, this time about Ḥoni HaMe’aggel’s descendants, who were also renowned for their righteous deeds. Abba Ḥilkiyya was the son of Ḥoni HaMe’aggel’s son. And when the world was in need of rain they would send Sages to him, and he would pray for mercy, and rain would fall. Once the world was in need of rain, and the Sages sent a pair of Sages to him so that he would pray for mercy and rain would fall. They went to his house but they did not find him there. They went to the field and found him hoeing the ground. They greeted him,
וְלָא אַסְבַּר לְהוּ אַפֵּיהּ בְּפַנְיָא כִּי הֲוָה מְנַקֵּט צִיבֵי דְּרָא צִיבֵי וּמָרָא בְּחַד כַּתְפָּא וּגְלִימָא בְּחַד כַּתְפָּא כּוּלַּהּ אוֹרְחָא לָא סָיֵים מְסָאנֵי כִּי מָטֵי לְמַיָּא סָיֵים מְסָאנֵיהּ כִּי מְטָא לְהִיזְמֵי וְהִיגֵי דַּלִּינְהוּ לְמָנֵיהּ כִּי מְטָא לְמָתָא נָפְקָה דְּבֵיתְהוּ לְאַפֵּיהּ כִּי מִיקַּשְּׁטָא כִּי מְטָא לְבֵיתֵיהּ עַלַּת דְּבֵיתְהוּ בְּרֵישָׁא וַהֲדַר עָיֵיל אִיהוּ וַהֲדַר עָיְילִי רַבָּנַן יְתֵיב וּכְרֵיךְ רִיפְתָּא וְלָא אֲמַר לְהוּ לְרַבָּנַן תּוּ כְּרוּכוּ פְּלַג רִיפְתָּא לְיָנוֹקֵי לְקַשִּׁישָׁא חֲדָא וּלְזוּטְרָא תְּרֵי
but he did not return their greetings. Toward evening, as he was gathering firewood, he placed the wood and hoe on one shoulder and his cloak on the other shoulder. Along the entire way he did not wear his shoes, but when he reached water he put on his shoes. When he reached an area filled with shrubs and thorns he lifted up his clothes. When he reached the city, his wife came out to greet him, adorned with finery. When he reached his house, his wife entered first, he entered afterward, and afterward the two Sages entered. He sat and ate bread, but he did not say to the Sages: Come and eat, as was customary and polite. He divided bread to his children; to the elder child he gave one piece and to the younger one he gave two.
אֲמַר לַהּ לִדְבֵיתְהוּ יָדַעְנָא דְּרַבָּנַן מִשּׁוּם מִיטְרָא קָא אָתוּ נִיסַּק לְאִיגָּרָא וְנִיבְעֵי רַחֲמֵי אֶפְשָׁר דְּמִרַצֵּי הַקָּדוֹשׁ בָּרוּךְ הוּא וְיֵיתֵי מִיטְרָא וְלָא נַחְזֵיק טֵיבוּתָא לְנַפְשִׁין סַקוּ לְאִיגָּרָא קָם אִיהוּ בַּחֲדָא זָוִיתָא וְאִיהִי בַּחֲדָא זָוִיתָא קְדוּם סְלוּק עֲנָנֵי מֵהָךְ זָוִיתָא דִּדְבֵיתְהוּ כִּי נָחֵית אֲמַר לְהוּ אַמַּאי אֲתוֹ רַבָּנַן אֲמַרוּ לֵיהּ שַׁדַּרוּ לַן רַבָּנַן לְגַבֵּי דְּמָר לְמִיבְעֵי רַחֲמֵי אַמִּיטְרָא אֲמַר לְהוּ בָּרוּךְ הַמָּקוֹם שֶׁלֹּא הִצְרִיךְ אֶתְכֶם לְאַבָּא חִלְקִיָּה
Abba Ḥilkiyya said to his wife: I know that these Sages have come due to the rain. Let us go up to the roof and pray for mercy. Perhaps the Holy One, Blessed be He, will be appeased, and it will rain, and we will not receive credit ourselves for the rainfall. They went up to the roof. He stood in one corner and she stood in the other corner. Clouds began to form on that side where his wife stood. When he descended, he said to the Sages: Why have the Sages come? They said to him: The other Sages have sent us to the Master, so that you should pray for mercy for rain. He said to them: Blessed is God, Who did not require you to petition Abba Ḥilkiyya, as the sky has filled with clouds and rain is certainly on its way.
אֲמַרוּ לֵיהּ יָדְעִינַן דְּמִיטְרָא מֵחֲמַת מָר הוּא דַּאֲתָא אֶלָּא לֵימָא לַן מָר הָנֵי מִילֵּי דִּתְמִיהָא לַן מַאי טַעְמָא כִּי יָהֵיבְנָא לְמָר שְׁלָמָא לָא אַסְבַּר לַן מָר אַפֵּיהּ אֲמַר לְהוּ שְׂכִיר יוֹם הֲוַאי וְאָמֵינָא לָא אֶיפַּגַּר וּמַאי טַעְמָא דְּרָא מָר צִיבֵי אַחַד כַּתְפֵּיהּ וּגְלִימָא אַחַד כַּתְפֵּיהּ אֲמַר לְהוּ טַלִּית שְׁאוּלָה הָיְתָה לְהָכִי שְׁאַלִי וּלְהָכִי לָא שְׁאַלִי
They said to him: We know that the rain has come on the Master’s account. However, let the Master please say and explain to us these aspects of your behavior that are puzzling to us: What is the reason that when we greeted the Master, the Master did not return our greeting? He said to them: I am a day laborer, hired for the day, and I said to myself that I may not delay my work to answer you. They further inquired: And what is the reason that the Master carried the firewood on one shoulder and his cloak on the other shoulder? He said to them: It was a borrowed robe. I borrowed it for this purpose, to wear it, and I did not borrow it for that purpose, to place wood on it.
מַאי טַעְמָא כּוּלַּהּ אוֹרְחָא לָא סָיֵים מָר מְסָאנֵיהּ וְכִי מָטֵי לְמַיָּא סָיֵים מְסָאנֵיהּ אֲמַר לְהוּ כּוּלַּהּ אוֹרְחָא חָזֵינָא בְּמַיָּא לָא קָא חָזֵינָא מַאי טַעְמָא כִּי מְטָא מָר לְהִיזְמֵי וְהִיגֵי דַּלִּינְהוּ לְמָנֵיהּ אֲמַר לְהוּ זֶה מַעֲלֶה אֲרוּכָה וְזֶה אֵינוֹ מַעֲלֶה אֲרוּכָה
The Sages continued to ask Abba Ḥilkiyya about his unusual behavior. What is the reason that the entire way the Master did not wear his shoes, but when he reached water he put on his shoes? He said to them: The entire way I can see and take care where I walk, and therefore there is no need for me to wear out my shoes, but in the water I cannot see. Therefore, I put on my shoes to avoid hurting myself. They asked: What is the reason that when the Master reached shrubs and thorns, he lifted up his clothes? He said to them: This flesh will heal if it is scratched by thorns, but this garment will not heal if it is torn.
מַאי טַעְמָא כִּי מְטָא מָר לְמָתָא נָפְקָא דְּבֵיתְהוּ דְּמָר כִּי מִיקַּשְּׁטָא אֲמַר לְהוּ כְּדֵי שֶׁלֹּא אֶתֵּן עֵינַי בְּאִשָּׁה אַחֶרֶת מַאי טַעְמָא עָיְילָא הִיא בְּרֵישָׁא וַהֲדַר עָיֵיל מָר אַבָּתְרַהּ וַהֲדַר עָיְילִינַן אֲנַן אֲמַר לְהוּ מִשּׁוּם דְּלָא בְּדִיקִיתוּ לִי
They further inquired: What is the reason that when the Master reached the city, the Master’s wife came out adorned in her finery? He said to them: She dresses that way so that when I walk through the city I will not set my eyes upon another woman. They asked: What is the reason that she entered first, and afterward the Master entered, and only afterward we entered? He said to them: Because you have not been checked by me. I cannot be sure how you will act, and therefore I did not want you to be alone with my wife.
מַאי טַעְמָא כִּי כָּרֵיךְ מָר רִיפְתָּא לָא אֲמַר לַן אֵיתוֹ כְּרוּכוּ מִשּׁוּם דְּלָא נְפִישָׁא רִיפְתָּא וְאָמֵינָא לָא אַחְזֵיק בְּהוּ בְּרַבָּנַן טֵיבוּתָא בְּחִנָּם מַאי טַעְמָא יְהֵיב מָר לְיָנוֹקָא קַשִּׁישָׁא חֲדָא רִיפְתָּא וּלְזוּטְרָא תְּרֵי אֲמַר לְהוּ הַאי קָאֵי בְּבֵיתָא וְהַאי יָתֵיב בְּבֵי כְנִישְׁתָּא
The Sages were not done with their questions. What is the reason that when the Master ate bread, you did not say to us: Come and eat? He replied: Because there is not enough bread for guests, and I said to myself that I should not gain credit from the Sages for nothing, by offering you food I cannot serve you. They asked: What is the reason that the Master gave the older child one piece of bread and the younger child two? He said to them: This older child stays at home, and if he is hungry he can eat at any time, but this younger child sits and studies in the synagogue, and therefore he is hungrier.
וּמַאי טַעְמָא קְדֻים סְלוּק עֲנָנֵי מֵהָךְ זָוִיתָא דַּהֲווֹת קָיְימָא דְּבֵיתְהוּ דְּמָר לַעֲנָנָא דִידֵיהּ מִשּׁוּם דְּאִיתְּתָא שְׁכִיחָא בְּבֵיתָא וְיָהֲבָא רִיפְתָּא לַעֲנִיֵּי וּמְקָרְבָא הֲנָיָיתַהּ וַאֲנָא יָהֵיבְנָא זוּזָא וְלָא מְקָרְבָא הֲנָיָיתֵיהּ אִי נָמֵי הָנְהוּ בִּירְיוֹנֵי דְּהָווּ בְּשִׁיבָבוּתַן אֲנָא בָּעֵי רַחֲמֵי דְּלֵימוּתוּ וְהִיא בָּעֲיָא רַחֲמֵי דְּלִיהְדְּרוּ בִּתְיוּבְתָּא [וַהֲדַרוּ]
The two Sages had one final set of queries for Abba Ḥilkiyya. And what is the reason that the clouds began to form on that side where the Master’s wife stood before your own side? He explained: Because my wife is frequently at home, and she gives bread to the poor, and therefore her provision of benefit to the needy is immediate, i.e., soon after the rains fall she is able to provide the needy with provisions. Accordingly, her prayers are answered without delay. In contrast, I give money to the poor, and consequently, the benefit of my gift is not immediate, i.e., it takes a lot of time before the rainfall results in my ability to give money to the poor. Alternatively, her prayers may have been answered first because when certain hooligans [biryonei] were living in our neighborhood, I prayed that they should die, but she prayed that they should repent. And indeed, they repented.
״הַמֵּגִיס דַּעְתּוֹ כְּלַפֵּי מַעְלָה״ מַאי הִיא? — דִּתְנַן, שָׁלַח לוֹ שִׁמְעוֹן בֶּן שֶׁטַח לְחוֹנִי הַמְעַגֵּל: צָרִיךְ אַתָּה לְהִתְנַדּוֹת, וְאִלְמָלֵא חוֹנִי אַתָּה גּוֹזְרַנִי עָלֶיךָ נִדּוּי, אֲבָל מָה אֶעֱשֶׂה שֶׁאַתָּה מִתְחַטֵּא לִפְנֵי הַמָּקוֹם וְעוֹשֶׂה לְךָ רְצוֹנְךָ, כְּבֵן שֶׁמִּתְחַטֵּא לִפְנֵי אָבִיו וְעוֹשֶׂה לוֹ רְצוֹנוֹ. וְעָלֶיךָ הַכָּתוּב אוֹמֵר: ״יִשְׂמַח אָבִיךָ וְאִמֶּךָ וְתָגֵל יוֹלַדְתֶּךָ״.
What is the source for the third case, one who is arrogant vis-à-vis Heaven? The mishna relates that Ḥoni HaMe’aggel, the circle-drawer, drew a circle and stood inside it, and said that he would not leave the circle until it rained, and he went so far as to make demands in terms of the manner in which he wanted the rain to fall. After it rained, Shimon ben Shataḥ, the Nasi of the Sanhedrin, relayed to Ḥoni HaMe’aggel: Actually, you should be ostracized for what you said, and if you were not Ḥoni, I would have decreed ostracism upon you, but what can I do? You nag God and He does your bidding, like a son who nags his father and his father does his bidding without reprimand. After all, the rain fell as you requested. About you, the verse states: “Your father and mother will be glad and she who bore you will rejoice” (Proverbs 23:25). Apparently, one who is arrogant vis-à-vis Heaven would ordinarily merit excommunication.
על כל צרה שלא תבוא על הציבור מתריעין עליה חוץ מרוב גשמים מעשה שאמרו לחוני המעגל התפלל שירדו גשמים אמר להן צאו והכניסו תנורי פסחים בשביל שלא ימקו והתפלל ולא ירדו גשמים עג עוגה ועמד בתוכה ואמר רבש"ע בניך שמו פניהם עלי שאני כבן בית לפניך נשבע אני בשמך הגדול שאיני זז מיכן עד שתרחם על בניך התחיל הגשמים מנטפין אמר לא כך שאלתי אלא גשמי בורות שיחין ומערות ירדו בזעף אמר לא כך שאלתי אלא גשמי רצון ברכה ונדבה ירדו כתיקנן עד שעלו ישראל מירושלם להר הבית מפני הגשמים אמרו לו כשם שנתפללת עליהן שירדו כך התפלל שילכו להם אמר להן צאו וראו אם נמחית אבן הטועים:
On every evil which does not come upon the community, they keen, except for an [over-]abundance of rains. A happening: They said to Honi the Circler: "Pray that the rains will fall;" he said to them "go and gather the pesah ovens so that they will not dissolve," and he prayed, but the rains did not fall. He circled a circle and stood with in it and said "O master of the world, your children placed their faith in me, for I am as a son of your house, and I swear by Your name that I will not move from here until you have mercy on your children" Soft rain began to fall, and he said "Not for this did I ask, rather for well-rains and ditch-rains and cave-rains!" [The rains] began to fall in tumult. He said, "Not for this did I ask, rather for rains of purpose and blessing and generosity. [The rains] fell according to his prescriptions until all Israel were driven up from Jerusalem to the Temple Mount before the rains. They said to him, "As you prayed for them to fall, now pray for them to go." He said to them, "go and see if the Stone of Errors is erased."
עַל כָּל צָרָה שֶׁלֹּא תָבֹא עַל הַצִּבּוּר, מַתְרִיעִין עֲלֵיהֶן, חוּץ מֵרוֹב גְּשָׁמִים. מַעֲשֶׂה שֶׁאָמְרוּ לוֹ לְחוֹנִי הַמְעַגֵּל, הִתְפַּלֵּל שֶׁיֵּרְדוּ גְשָׁמִים. אָמַר לָהֶם, צְאוּ וְהַכְנִיסוּ תַנּוּרֵי פְסָחִים, בִּשְׁבִיל שֶׁלֹּא יִמּוֹקוּ. הִתְפַּלֵּל, וְלֹא יָרְדוּ גְשָׁמִים. מֶה עָשָׂה, עָג עוּגָה וְעָמַד בְּתוֹכָהּ, וְאָמַר לְפָנָיו, רִבּוֹנוֹ שֶׁל עוֹלָם, בָּנֶיךָ שָׂמוּ פְנֵיהֶם עָלַי, שֶׁאֲנִי כְבֶן בַּיִת לְפָנֶיךָ. נִשְׁבָּע אֲנִי בְשִׁמְךָ הַגָּדוֹל שֶׁאֵינִי זָז מִכָּאן, עַד שֶׁתְּרַחֵם עַל בָּנֶיךָ. הִתְחִילוּ גְּשָׁמִים מְנַטְּפִין. אָמַר, לֹא כָךְ שָׁאַלְתִּי, אֶלָּא גִּשְׁמֵי בוֹרוֹת שִׁיחִין וּמְעָרוֹת. הִתְחִילוּ לֵירֵד בְּזָעַף. אָמַר, לֹא כָךְ שָׁאַלְתִּי, אֶלָּא גִּשְׁמֵי רָצוֹן, בְּרָכָה וּנְדָבָה. יָרְדוּ כְתִקְנָן, עַד שֶׁיָּצְאוּ יִשְׂרָאֵל מִירוּשָׁלַיִם לְהַר הַבַּיִת מִפְּנֵי הַגְּשָׁמִים. בָּאוּ וְאָמְרוּ לוֹ, כְּשֵׁם שֶׁהִתְפַּלַלְתָּ עֲלֵיהֶם שֶׁיֵּרְדוּ כָּךְ הִתְפַּלֵּל שֶׁיֵּלְכוּ לָהֶן. אָמַר לָהֶן, צְאוּ וּרְאוּ אִם נִמְחֵת אֶבֶן הַטּוֹעִים. שָׁלַח לוֹ שִׁמְעוֹן בֶּן שָׁטָח, אִלְמָלֵא חוֹנִי אַתָּה, גּוֹזְרַנִי עָלֶיךָ נִדּוּי. אֲבָל מָה אֶעֱשֶׂה לְּךָ, שֶׁאַתָּה מִתְחַטֵּא לִפְנֵי הַמָּקוֹם וְעוֹשֶׂה לְךָ רְצוֹנְךָ כְּבֵן שֶׁהוּא מִתְחַטֵּא עַל אָבִיו וְעוֹשֶׂה לוֹ רְצוֹנוֹ. וְעָלֶיךָ הַכָּתוּב אוֹמֵר (משלי כג), יִשְׂמַח אָבִיךָ וְאִמֶּךָ וְתָגֵל יוֹלַדְתֶּךָ:
The mishna adds: In general, they cry out on account of any trouble that should not befall the community, a euphemism for trouble that may befall the community, except for an overabundance of rain. Although too much rain may be disastrous, one does not cry out over it, because rain is a sign of a blessing. The mishna relates: An incident occurred in which the people said to Ḥoni HaMe’aggel: Pray that rain should fall. He said to them: Go out and bring in the clay ovens used to roast the Paschal lambs, so that they will not dissolve in the water, as torrential rains are certain to fall. He prayed, and no rain fell at all. What did he do? He drew a circle on the ground and stood inside it and said before God: Master of the Universe, Your children have turned their faces toward me, as I am like a member of Your household. Therefore, I take an oath by Your great name that I will not move from here until You have mercy upon Your children and answer their prayers for rain. Rain began to trickle down, but only in small droplets. He said: I did not ask for this, but for rain to fill the cisterns, ditches, and caves with enough water to last the entire year. Rain began to fall furiously. He said: I did not ask for this damaging rain either, but for rain of benevolence, blessing, and generosity. Subsequently, the rains fell in their standard manner but continued unabated, filling the city with water until all of the Jews exited the residential areas of Jerusalem and went to the Temple Mount due to the rain. They came and said to him: Just as you prayed over the rains that they should fall, so too, pray that they should stop. He said to them: Go out and see if the Claimants’ Stone, a large stone located in the city, upon which proclamations would be posted with regard to lost and found articles, has been washed away. In other words, if the water has not obliterated the Claimants’ Stone, it is not yet appropriate to pray for the rain to cease. Shimon ben Shetaḥ, the Nasi of the Sanhedrin at the time, relayed to Ḥoni HaMe’aggel: Were you not Ḥoni, I would have decreed that you be ostracized, but what can I do to you? You nag [mitḥatei] God and He does your bidding, like a son who nags his father and his father does his bidding without reprimand. After all, rain fell as you requested. About you, the verse states: “Let your father and your mother be glad, and let her who bore you rejoice” (Proverbs 23:25).
כתיב והחטה והכסמת לא הכו כי אפילות הנה (שם שם לב), ר' פנחס הכהן בר חמא ור' יהודה בר שלום, ר' פנחס אומר מהו כי אפילות הנה, פלאים עשה בהם הקב"ה, ר' יהודה אומר לקישות היו, אמר לו ר' פנחס והרי כתיב ואת כל עשב השדה הכה הברד (שם שם כה), ואת אומר בשביל שהיו קטנות לא נוכו, אלא פלאים עשה הקב"ה בהם, באותה שעה כיון שראה פרעה כך, אמר למשה התפלל עלי, א"ל (התפאר עלי ואני משלח אותם), במכה הראשונה אמרת לי התפלל עלי, ואני משלח אותם, והתפללתי, ולא שלחת אותם, (למתי אעתיר לך וגו') (שם), א"ל פרעה חטאתי [הפעם] (לה' אלהיכם ולכם) (שמות ט כז), עכשיו אשלחם, כיון ששמע משה כך מה כתיב ויצא משה מעם פרע את העיר ויפרוש כפיו אל ה' וגו' (שם ט לג), ראה מה חביבים צדיקים לפני הקב"ה, שכל מה שהן עושים וגוזרין הקב"ה עושה. אמרו רבותינו מעשה בחוני המעגל שהיה מתפלל שירדו גשמים, עג עוגה ועמד בתוכה, אמר לפניו רבונו של עולם בניך שמו פניהם עלי שהרי אני כבן בית לפניך, נשבע אי בשמך הגדול שאיני זז מכאן עד שתרחם על בניך, מיד ירדו גשמים, ומה אם חוני המעגל שהיה מבני בניו של משה כך, משה בעצמו על אחת כמה וכמה, לפיכך ויחדלו הקולות והברד [ומטר לא נתך ארצה] (שם). ואיכן הוא שרוי, אמרו רבותינו נתלה באויר עד שיבא גוג ומגוג, שנאמר וגשם שוטף ואבני אלגביש וגו' (יחזקאל לח כב), מיד וירא פרע כי חדל המטר והברד ויוסף לחטוא (שמות שם לד), כך הרשעים כשרואין כשהצרה באה עליהם הם מכניעים עצמן, וכיון שהצרה באה עליו התחיל מקלס להקב"ה כען אנא נבוכדנצר משבח ומרומם ומהדר למלך שמיא וגו' (דניאל ד לד). אמר ר' ברכיה הכהן בשם ר' חלבו בשם ר' שמואל בר נחמן, אילולי שהקב"ה דן לבבות ומחשבות קילס נבוכדנצר בפסוק אחד כשם שקילס דוד בכל ספרו, כיון שראה נבוכדנצר עצמו בגדולה התחיל מתגאה, (אנא) [אנה] נבוכדנצר (שם שם א), הלא דא היא בבל רבתא וגו' (שם שם כז), אמר לו הקב"ה, רשע מה אתה מתגאה, עוד מלתא בפום מלכא וגו' (שם שם כח). כל זמן שהרשעים רואים את הצרה באה עליהם הם מכניעין, כשרואין שהולכת חוזרין לרשעותן, שנאמר וירא פרעה כי חדל וגו' (שמות ט לד). אומות העולם מוסיפין וחוטאין, אבל ישראל תם עונך בת ציון (איכה ד כב), אימתי כשיפקוד עוונה של בית אדום, שנאמר פקד עונך בת אדום (שם), מכאן ואילך אין ישראל גולים אלא הקב"ה מכנסן לירושלים, שנאמר יאמרו גאולי ה' אשר גאלם מיד צר, ומארצות קבצם ממזרח וממערב מצפון ומים (תהלים קז ב ג).
It is written (in Exod. 9:32): BUT THE WHEAT AND THE SPELT WERE NOT HURT BECAUSE THEY RIPEN LATE. R. Pinhas bar Hama the Priest and R. Judah bar Shallum differ. R. Pinhas says: What is the meaning of BECAUSE THEY RIPEN LATE (rt.: 'PL)? The Holy One performed miracles (rt.: PL') through them. But R. Judah says: They were late crops. R. Pinhas said to him: But look, it is written (in Exod. 9:25): THE HAIL SMOTE EVERY HERB OF THE FIELD; yet you say: Because they were tiny they were not smitten. Rather the Holy One performed miracles through them. At that time, when Pharaoh saw this, he said to Moses: Pray for me. He said to him: {(Exod. 8:5 [9]:) YOU MAY HAVE THIS TRIUMPH OVER ME; so I will let them go.} In the first plague you said to me: Pray for me and I will let them go. Then I prayed, but you did not let them go. {(Exod. 8:5 [9], cont.:) FOR WHAT TIME SHALL I MAKE SUPPLICATION FOR YOU…?} Pharaoh said to him (in Exod. 9:27): [THIS TIME] I HAVE SINNED {AGAINST THE LORD YOUR GOD AND AGAINST YOU.} Now I will let them go. As soon as Moses heard this, what is written (in vs. 33)? SO LEAVING PHARAOH, MOSES WENT OUT OF THE CITY AND SPREAD OUT HIS HANDS UNTO THE LORD. <THEN THE THUNDER AND THE HAIL CEASED>… See how dear the righteous are to the Holy One! For whatever they decide to do, the Holy One does <for them>. Our masters have said (in Ta'an. 3:8): Once upon a time Honi the Circle-Drawer prayed for rain to fall. He drew a circle and stood within it. He said to him: Sovereign of the World, your children have set their faces upon me, for here I am like a house child (i.e., a close friend) before you. I swear by your great name that I will not move from here until you have compassion upon your children. Immediately the rains came down. Now if Honi the Circle-Drawer, who was from the children of the children of Moses < could do> this, how much the more so in the case of Moses himself. Ergo (ibid.): THEN THE THUNDER AND THE HAIL CEASED, [AND NO RAIN CAME POURING DOWN TO EARTH]. And where is it to be found? Our masters have said: It is suspended in the air until Gog and Magog come. It is so stated (concerning Gog in Ezek. 38:22): AND I WILL POUR TORRENTIAL RAIN, HAILSTONES, <FIRE, AND BRIMSTONE UPON HIM AND HIS HOSTS AND THE MANY PEOPLES THAT ARE WITH HIM>. Immediately (after Exod. 9:33 it says in vs. 34): BUT WHEN PHARAOH SAW THAT THE RAIN AND THE HAIL <AND THE THUNDER> HAD CEASED, HE REVERTED TO SINNING. So it is with the wicked. When they see that trouble has come upon them, they humble themselves; but as soon as the trouble passes and one feels relief, they return to their evil deeds. When Nebuchadnezzar saw trouble come upon him, he began giving praise to the Holy One. (Dan. 4:34 [37]:) SO NOW I, NEBUCHADNEZZAR, PRAISE, EXALT, AND HONOR THE KING OF HEAVEN…. R. Berekhyah the Priest said in the name of R. Helbo, <who spoke> in the name of R. Samuel bar Nahman: Were it not for the fact that the Holy One judges the hearts and thoughts, would Nebuchadnezzar have given praise with one verse, just as David gave praise in his whole book? When Nebuchadnezzar saw himself <to have> greatness, he began to boast (in Dan. 4:1 [4] and 27 [30]): I <AM> NEBUCHADNEZZAR,… IS NOT THIS BABYLON THE GREAT < WHICH I HAVE BUILT >…? The Holy One said to him: You wicked man, what are you boasting about? (Vs. 28 [31]:) THE WORDS WERE STILL ON THE KING'S LIPS, <WHEN A VOICE FELL FROM HEAVEN…: THE KINGDOM HAS PASSED FROM YOU>…. As long as the wicked see trouble coming upon them they are humble. When they see that it is going <away>, they return to their wickedness. Thus it is stated (in Exod. 9:34): BUT WHEN PHARAOH SAW THAT <THE RAIN AND THE HAIL AND THE THUNDER> HAD CEASED, <HE REVERTED TO SINNING>. The nations of the world continue to sin, but as for Israel (according to Lam. 4:22): YOUR INIQUITY IS ENDED, O DAUGHTER OF ZION. When? When he attends to the iniquity of the house of Edom, as stated (ibid., cont.): HE HAS ATTENDED TO YOUR INIQUITY, O DAUGHTER OF EDOM. From now on Israel shall never go into exile. Rather the Holy One shall gather them to Jerusalem, as stated (in Ps. 107:2–3): LET THE REDEEMED OF THE LORD SAY SO, THOSE WHOM HE HAS REDEEMED FROM THE HAND OF ADVERSITY; FOR HE HAS GATHERED THEM FROM THE LANDS, FROM THE EAST AND FROM THE WEST, FROM THE NORTH AND FROM THE SEA.
ובזה יתחלפו החסידים קצתם מקצת, כי יש מן החסידים שיגיעו למדרגה מן הדבקות שיוכלו לחדש בעולם אותות ומופתים, כחוני המעגל ורבי פנחס בן יאיר ורבי חנינא בן דוסא וזולתם, אף על פי שלא הגיעו למדרגת הנבואה כלל, ויש מן הנביאים מי שלא יעשה אות או מופת בימיו כלל, כירמיה או חגי זכריה ומלאכי, ויש מי שיעשה אות אחד, כשמואל שהוריד המטר בתפלתו בימי קציר חטים, ויש מי שיעשה שנים או שלשה, כישעיה מפלת סנחריב ורפואת חזקיהו והשבת צל המעלות, ויש שיעשה יותר, כאליהו ואלישע.
This explains the differences among pious men. There are some who reach such a degree of communion that they can produce signs and wonders in nature, like Honi ha-Me‘aggel, R. Phinehas ben Yair, R. Hanina ben Dosa, and others, though they did not attain to the degree of prophecy. On the other hand, there are prophets who never performed any sign or miracle, like Jeremiah, Haggai, Zechariah and Malachi. Others have only one sign to their credit, like Samuel, who caused rain to come down in the season of wheat harvest by praying for it. Others again have two or three miracles recorded of them, like Isaiah, who brought about the destruction of Sennacherib, the cure of Hezekiah and the going back of the shadow a number of degrees. Some have still more miracles to their credit, like Elijah and Elisha.
גם אי אפשר לייחס הויתו אל המקרה, שהדברים המקריים אינם תמידיים באופן שישלם בהם קיום המציאות בזה האופן השלם הנראה לחוש. ואחר שאינו ממנהג הטבע ולא על צד המקרה, הנה נשאר שיהיה ברצון רוצה הוא האל יתברך המשגיח במין האדם ומקיים הצמחים והבעלי חיים בזה האופן לצורך מין האדם. ואף על פי שזו ההשגחה מינית, מכל מקום כשנראה המטר מתחדש לפעמים על ידי האנשים השלמים כאליהו וחוני המעגל, הנה זה ממה שיורה בלי ספק על ההשגחה הפרטית באיש ההוא ושאינו ענין טבעי. ולזה תמצא רבותינו ז״ל אומרים ג׳ מפתחות לא נמסרו ביד שליח, של חיה ושל גשמים ושל תחית המתים, רוצה לומר שאין באלו ענין טבעי כלל, כי של חיה פירושו להוליד עקרות.
Nor can its origin be ascribed to chance, for chance phenomena do not happen regularly to maintain the existence of the world in so perfect a way as we observe in experience. But since it is not due to nature or to chance, it remains that it is due to the will of a personal being, God, who provides for the human species and maintains plants and animals for the need of man. This Providence takes care of the species. Nevertheless when we see that rain is brought down sometimes through the instrumentality of perfect men like Elijah and Honi ha-Me‘aggel, there is no doubt that it shows special providence so far as that individual is concerned, and is not simply a natural phenomenon. Hence the Rabbis say: Three keys have not been handed over to intermediaries, the keys of fertility (childbirth), of rain, and of the resurrection of the dead. The meaning is that these three matters are not controlled by purely natural laws. (Fertility denotes bearing of children by a barren woman.)
ולזה תמצא כי כל האותות והמופתים שעשה משה קודם מתן תורה, היו אותות אל שראוי שיעשו על ידו אותות ומופתים בלבד לא לקבל תורה על ידו, ולדבר הזה בלבד היה האמנת ישראל בו, ועל כן היו מתנהגים על פיו, בהיותם מאמינים שהשם שומע צעקתו ומקיים דבריו, כמו שעשה משה במרה, ויורהו ה׳ עץ, וכן במלחמת עמלק, והוריד המן בתפלתו ובקע הים בצעקתו, אמר הכתוב מה תצעק אלי. ועל זה ועל כיוצא בו נאמר בבקיעת ים סוף ויאמינו בה׳ ובמשה עבדו, רצה לומר שהאמינו שהיה עבד השם שיעשה השם על ידו אותות ומופתים, ככל אשר חפץ יגזור אומר ויקם לו, כמו שנמצא זה על יד הצדיקים שהשם יעשה על ידם אותות ומופתים אף על פי שאינם נביאים, כרבי פנחס בן יאיר שבקע הנהר ג׳ פעמים לפי מה שסופר ממנו, וכרבי חנינא בן דוסא וחוני המעגל, וכנקדימון בן גוריון שנקדה לו חמה, וכחנניה מישאל ועזריה שנצולו מכבשן האש.
And so we shall find that all the miracles which Moses performed before the revelation of the Torah on Sinai, merely proved that he was a worthy instrument for the performance of miracles, but not for the transmission of a law. This is all that the Israelites believed about him. And they followed his directions because they believed that God heard his prayer and granted his requests. He did so in Marah, as we read, And the Lord showed him a tree; also in the war with Amalek. On account of Moses’ prayer, God caused the manna to descend, and the sea to be divided, as we read, Wherefore criest thou unto Me? This is the meaning of the expression used in the narrative of the division of the Red Sea, And they believed in the Lord, and in His servant Moses. They believed that he was the servant of God, that God performed miracles through him, and that He granted all his requests. We find in the case of other good men too that God performed miracles through them, though they were not prophets. Thus it is told of Rabbi Phinehas son of Yair that he divided the waters of a river on three occasions. Miracles were also performed by Rabbi Hanina son of Dosa and Honi ha-Me‘aggel. The sun shone for Nakdimon son of Gorion, and Hananiah, Mishael and Azariah were saved from a fiery furnace.
Introduction
This mishnah contains the famous story of Honi the circle drawer, who demanded that God bring rain and his prayers were effective.
For every trouble that should not come upon the community they sound a blast except on account of too much rain. It happened that they said to Honi the circle drawer: “Pray for rain to fall.” He replied: “Go and bring in the pesah ovens so that they do not dissolve.” He prayed and no rain fell. What did he do? He drew a circle and stood within it and exclaimed before Him: “Master of the universe, Your children have turned their faces to me because I am like one who was born in Your house. I swear by Your great name that I will not move from here until You have mercy upon Your children.” Rain then began to drip, and he exclaimed: “I did not request this but rain [which can fill] cisterns, ditches and caves. The rain then began to come down with great force, and he exclaimed: “I did not request this but pleasing rain of blessing and abudance.” Rain then fell in the normal way until the Jews in Jerusalem had to go up Temple Mount because of the rain. They came and said to him: “In the same way that you prayed for [the rain] to fall pray [now] for the rain to stop.” He replied: “Go and see if the stone of people claiming lost objects has washed away.” Rabbi Shimon ben Shetah sent to him: “Were you not Honi I would have excommunicated you, but what can I do to you, for you are spoiled before God and he does your will like a son that is spoiled before his father and his father does his request. Concerning you it is written, “Let your father and your mother rejoice, and let she that bore you rejoice” (Proverbs 23:25). “That should not come upon the community” is a euphemism. The mishnah is actually referring to troubles that do come upon the community. An overabundance of rain is not a blessing and can actually destroy the crops and endanger people’s lives. However, since rain is usually a blessing and is so scarce in the land of Israel, one doesn’t pray for rain to stop. It’s as if we don’t want to risk God’s anger by asking him to stop the rain, after having already asked for it to begin to rain. The story itself probably needs little explaining. The people turn to Honi the circle maker, so named because in order to bring rain he would draw a circle around himself and not move until rain came. Assumedly, Honi was famous as a rainmaker, a well-known profession in pre-modern societies dependant upon rainfall. Honi responds with exaggerated confidence, telling them that he will bring so much rain that even the ovens used to roast the pesah offerings, the strongest ovens that they usually had, would begin to melt. Honi proceeds to draw his circle and demand that God bring rain. God answers his call, but then Honi refines his request and demands proper rain, rain which is not too weak and not too strong (but just right!). Eventually, the necessary type of rain does begin to fall and continues to fall until the people must abandon the lower places in Jerusalem and flee to the Temple Mount for safety. Heeding the halakhah with which this mishnah began, Honi refuses to pray for rain to stop until a famous stone has dissolved, which is an exaggerated way of saying that he will not pray for the rain to stop, even though it is endangering their lives. This is a key point in the mishnah. Even though Honi is a miracle worker, someone who seems to be outside the normal circle of rabbis, he still obeys the halakhah and there is a limit to what even he will ask for. Rabbi Shimon ben Shetah’s rebuke to Honi is probably even more telling as to the point of this mishnah than Honi’s prayer itself. Indeed, in my opinion the rebuke is the reason that the mishnah is here in the first place. In the beginning of this mishnah we learned that people should not act with chutzpah when asking for rain. Honi, who God treats like a son, is somewhat of an exception. He can have that chutzpah in front of God, because God spoils Honi like a son. We often let our children get away with things that we won’t allow others to get away with. Others who would act like Honi will probably not have their requests answered and may indeed be rebuked for their presumptuous behavior. One might go so far as to say that the message of this mishnah is one of simultaneous nearness and distance. Certain human beings do have the possibility of drawing close enough to God that God will heed their every request. Humanity as a whole can achieve true closeness to God. However, such a relationship cannot be expected or presumed. As individuals we should not look at ourselves as being on the level of Honi. For most of us, we must respect the fact that there is a vast distance separating us from God and that if we were to make a demand, it might very well be ignored. Indeed, the entire tractate has been consistently cognizant with the fact that prayers are often simply not answered.