מסקירת דברי חז"ל נראה שרבים החכמים שהאמינו שלאל יש דמות וצורה של אדם. שמעון הצדיק תיאר איש זקן בקודש הקודשים שנאמר עליו כי הוא הקדוש ברוך הוא, ישמעאל בן אלישע תיאר אותו יושב שם על כסא רם ונישא ומנענע בראשו, ובמסכת עבודה זרה נאסר לעשות פרצוף אדם כי זהו צלם האל.
חכמים דרשו מפסוקים שהקדוש ברוך הוא מניח תפילין ומתפלל, כועס בשעה מסויימת ביום, ותיארו את סדר יומו. בחלק מהיום הוא לומד תורה, בחלקו משחק עם לויתן, בחלקו רוכב על "כרוב קל" ושט בעולמות, ובחלקו יושב ושומע שירה מפי חיות הקודש. בלילה הוא שואג כארי.
לעיתים הקדוש ברוך הוא בוכה ומוריד דמעות, סופק את כפיו, מתאנח, בועט ברקיע ודוחק את רגליו תחת כסא הכבוד. פעולות אלו גורמות לרעידות אדמה.
על ימי דור המדבר מספרים החכמים כי הקדוש ברוך הוא היה מקפץ ממצרים לים ומהים לסיני, ובהר סיני דיברותיו היו יוצאים מימינו וחוזרים אליו במסלול. כאשר משה עלה למרום ראה את הקדוש ברוך הוא יושב וקושר כתרים לאותיות, ובפטירתו של משה הקדוש ברוך הוא ירד מהשמים ובכה.
כמו כן יש סיפור על פגישה של סנחריב עם הקדוש ברוך הוא שנדמה כאיש זקן, שבעורמה גילח בעצמו את זקנו של סנחריב.
חכמים דרשו מפסוקים שהקדוש ברוך הוא מניח תפילין ומתפלל, כועס בשעה מסויימת ביום, ותיארו את סדר יומו. בחלק מהיום הוא לומד תורה, בחלקו משחק עם לויתן, בחלקו רוכב על "כרוב קל" ושט בעולמות, ובחלקו יושב ושומע שירה מפי חיות הקודש. בלילה הוא שואג כארי.
לעיתים הקדוש ברוך הוא בוכה ומוריד דמעות, סופק את כפיו, מתאנח, בועט ברקיע ודוחק את רגליו תחת כסא הכבוד. פעולות אלו גורמות לרעידות אדמה.
על ימי דור המדבר מספרים החכמים כי הקדוש ברוך הוא היה מקפץ ממצרים לים ומהים לסיני, ובהר סיני דיברותיו היו יוצאים מימינו וחוזרים אליו במסלול. כאשר משה עלה למרום ראה את הקדוש ברוך הוא יושב וקושר כתרים לאותיות, ובפטירתו של משה הקדוש ברוך הוא ירד מהשמים ובכה.
כמו כן יש סיפור על פגישה של סנחריב עם הקדוש ברוך הוא שנדמה כאיש זקן, שבעורמה גילח בעצמו את זקנו של סנחריב.
אַרְבָּעִים שָׁנָה שִׁימֵּשׁ שִׁמְעוֹן הַצַּדִּיק אֶת יִשְׂרָאֵל בִּכְהוּנָּה גְדוֹלָה. וּבַשָּׁנָה הָאַחֲרוֹנָה אָמַר לָהֶן. בַּשָּׁנָה הַזֹּאת אֲנִי מֵת. אָֽמְרוּ לוֹ. מֵאֵיכַן אַתָּה יוֹדֵעַ. אָמַר לָהֶן. כָּל־שָׁנָה וְשָׁנָה שֶׁהָיִיתִי נִכְנָס לְבֵית קוֹדֶשׁ הַקָּדָשִׁים הָיָה זָקֵן אֶחָד לְבוּשׁ לְבָנִים וְעָטוּף לְבָנִים נִכְנָס עִמִּי וְיוֹצֵא עָמִּי. וּבַשָּׁנָה הַזּוֹ נִכְנָס עִמִּי וְלֹא יָצָא עִמִּי.
בְּעוֹן קוֹמֵי רִבִּי אַבָּהוּ. וְהָכְתִיב כָל־אָדָ֞ם לֹא־יִֽהְיֶ֣ה ׀ בְּאֹ֣הֶל מוֹעֵ֗ד בְּבֹא֛וֹ לְכַפֵּ֥ר בַּקּוֹדֶשׁ עַד־צֵאת֑וֹ. אֲפִילוּ אוֹתָן שֶׁכָּתוּב בָּהֶן וּדְמ֣וּת פְּנֵיהֶם֘ פְּנֵ֣י אָדָם֒ לֹא יִֽהְיֶה בְּאֹהֶל מוֹעֵד. אָמַר לוֹן. מַה אֲמַר לִי דַהֲוָה בַּר נַשׁ. אֲנִי אוֹמֵר. הַקָּדוֹשׁ בָּרוּךְ הוּא הָיָה.
Simeon the Just served Israel as High Priest for forty years, and in the last year he told them, in this year I am going to die. They asked him, from where do you know? He said to them, every year when I entered the Holiest of Holies, an old man dressed in white and his head wrapped in white entered with me and left with me. But this year he entered with me but did not leave with me. They asked before Rebbi Abbahu: Is it not written, nobody shall be in the Tent of Meeting during his coming to atone in the sanctuary until he leaves, not even those about whom it is written, the shapes of their faces are human shapes shall not be in the Tent of Meeting? He answered them, who tells me that it was a person? I am saying that it was the Holy One, praise to Him.
תַּנְיָא, אָמַר רַבִּי יִשְׁמָעֵאל בֶּן אֱלִישָׁע:
פַּעַם אַחַת, נִכְנַסְתִּי לְהַקְטִיר קְטוֹרֶת לִפְנַי וְלִפְנִים, וְרָאִיתִי אַכְתְּרִיאֵל יָהּ ה׳ צְבָאוֹת, שֶׁהוּא יוֹשֵׁב עַל כִּסֵּא רָם וְנִשָּׂא, וְאָמַר לִי: ״יִשְׁמָעֵאל בְּנִי, בָּרְכֵנִי!״
אָמַרְתִּי לוֹ: ״יְהִי רָצוֹן מִלְּפָנֶיךָ, שֶׁיִּכְבְּשׁוּ רַחֲמֶיךָ אֶת כַּעַסְךָ, וְיִגּוֹלּוּ רַחֲמֶיךָ עַל מִדּוֹתֶיךָ, וְתִתְנַהֵג עִם בָּנֶיךָ בְּמִדַּת הָרַחֲמִים, וְתִכָּנֵס לָהֶם לִפְנִים מִשּׁוּרַת הַדִּין״.
וְנִעְנַע לִי בְּרֹאשׁוֹ.
Along the same lines, Rabbi Yoḥanan said in the name of Rabbi Yosei: From where is it derived that the Holy One, Blessed be He, prays? As it is stated: “I will bring them to My holy mountain, and make them joyful in the house of My prayer” (Isaiah 56:7). The verse does not say the house of their prayer, but rather, “the house of My prayer”; from here we see that the Holy One, Blessed be He, prays. The Gemara asks: What does God pray? Rav Zutra bar Tovia said that Rav said:
God says: May it be My will that My mercy will overcome My anger towards Israel for their transgressions,
and may My mercy prevail over My other attributes through which Israel is punished,
and may I conduct myself toward My children, Israel, with the attribute of mercy,
and may I enter before them beyond the letter of the law. Similarly, it was taught in a baraita that Rabbi Yishmael ben Elisha, the High Priest, said: Once, on Yom Kippur, I entered the innermost sanctum, the Holy of Holies, to offer incense, and in a vision I saw Akatriel Ya, the Lord of Hosts, one of the names of God expressing His ultimate authority, seated upon a high and exalted throne (see Isaiah 6).
And He said to me: Yishmael, My son, bless Me.
I said to Him the prayer that God prays: “May it be Your will that Your mercy overcome Your anger,
and may Your mercy prevail over Your other attributes,
and may You act toward Your children with the attribute of mercy,
and may You enter before them beyond the letter of the law.”
The Holy One, Blessed be He, nodded His head and accepted the blessing. This event teaches us that you should not take the blessing of an ordinary person lightly. If God asked for and accepted a man’s blessing, all the more so that a man must value the blessing of another man.
God says: May it be My will that My mercy will overcome My anger towards Israel for their transgressions,
and may My mercy prevail over My other attributes through which Israel is punished,
and may I conduct myself toward My children, Israel, with the attribute of mercy,
and may I enter before them beyond the letter of the law. Similarly, it was taught in a baraita that Rabbi Yishmael ben Elisha, the High Priest, said: Once, on Yom Kippur, I entered the innermost sanctum, the Holy of Holies, to offer incense, and in a vision I saw Akatriel Ya, the Lord of Hosts, one of the names of God expressing His ultimate authority, seated upon a high and exalted throne (see Isaiah 6).
And He said to me: Yishmael, My son, bless Me.
I said to Him the prayer that God prays: “May it be Your will that Your mercy overcome Your anger,
and may Your mercy prevail over Your other attributes,
and may You act toward Your children with the attribute of mercy,
and may You enter before them beyond the letter of the law.”
The Holy One, Blessed be He, nodded His head and accepted the blessing. This event teaches us that you should not take the blessing of an ordinary person lightly. If God asked for and accepted a man’s blessing, all the more so that a man must value the blessing of another man.
תניא: כל הפרצופות מותרין חוץ מפרצוף אדם.
אמר רב יהודה בריה דרב יהושע: מפרקיה דרבי יהושע שמיע לי, "לא תעשון אתי" - לא תעשון אותי, אבל שאר שמשין שרי.
The Gemara raises a difficulty: If that is so, let the fashioning of a figure of a human face alone be permitted. Why then is it taught in a baraita: Figures of all faces are permitted, except for the human face? Rav Yehuda, son of Rav Yehoshua, said: I heard in a lecture of Rabbi Yehoshua that there is a different reason why one may not fashion a figure of a human face; the verse states: “You shall not make with Me [iti]” (Exodus 20:20). This can be read as: You shall not make Me [oti]. Since the human being was created in the image of God (see Genesis 1:27), it is prohibited to fashion an image of a human being. But fashioning figures of other attendants of God is permitted.
סדר יומו של הקדוש ברוך הוא:
אָמַר רַבִּי אָבִין בַּר רַב אַדָּא, אָמַר רַבִּי יִצְחָק: מִנַּיִן שֶׁהַקָּדוֹשׁ בָּרוּךְ הוּא מַנִּיחַ תְּפִילִּין שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר: ״נִשְׁבַּע ה׳ בִּימִינוֹ וּבִזְרוֹעַ עֻזּוֹ״. ״בִּימִינוֹ״ — זוֹ תּוֹרָה, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר: ״מִימִינוֹ אֵשׁ דָּת לָמוֹ״, ״וּבִזְרוֹעַ עֻזּוֹ״ — אֵלּוּ תְּפִילִּין, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר: ״ה׳ עֹז לְעַמּוֹ יִתֵּן״...
אֲמַר לֵיהּ רַב נַחְמָן בַּר יִצְחָק לְרַב חִיָּיא בַּר אָבִין: הָנֵי תְּפִילִּין דְּמָרֵי עָלְמָא מָה כְּתִיב בְּהוּ? אֲמַר לֵיהּ ״וּמִי כְּעַמְּךָ יִשְׂרָאֵל גּוֹי אֶחָד בָּאָרֶץ״...
אֲמַר לֵיהּ רַב אַחָא בְּרֵיהּ דְּרָבָא לְרַב אָשֵׁי: תִּינַח בְּחַד בֵּיתָא, בִּשְׁאָר בָּתֵּי מַאי? אָמַר לֵיהּ: ״כִּי מִי גוֹי גָּדוֹל״, ״וּמִי גּוֹי גָּדוֹל״, ״אַשְׁרֶיךָ יִשְׂרָאֵל״, ״אוֹ הֲנִסָּה אֱלֹהִים״, ״וּלְתִתְּךָ עֶלְיוֹן״.
אִי הָכִי, נְפִישִׁי לְהוּ טוּבֵי בָּתֵּי? אֶלָּא: ״כִּי מִי גוֹי גָּדוֹל״ ״וּמִי גּוֹי גָּדוֹל״ דְּדׇמְיָין לַהֲדָדֵי — בְּחַד בֵּיתָא, ״אַשְׁרֶיךָ יִשְׂרָאֵל״ ״וּמִי כְּעַמְּךָ יִשְׂרָאֵל״ — בְּחַד בֵּיתָא, ״אוֹ הֲנִסָּה אֱלֹהִים״ — בְּחַד בֵּיתָא, ״וּלְתִתְּךָ עֶלְיוֹן״ — בְּחַד בֵּיתָא.
וְכוּלְּהוּ כְּתִיבִי בְּאֶדְרָעֵיהּ.
The Gemara cites another aggadic statement: Rabbi Avin bar Rav Adda said that Rabbi Yitzḥak said: From where is it derived that the Holy One, Blessed be He, wears phylacteries? As it is stated: “The Lord has sworn by His right hand, and by the arm of His strength” (Isaiah 62:8). Since it is customary to swear upon holy objects, it is understood that His right hand and the arm of His strength are the holy objects upon which God swore. Specifically, “His right hand” refers to the Torah, as it is stated in describing the giving of the Torah: “From His right hand, a fiery law for His people” (Deuteronomy 33:2). “The arm of His strength,” His left hand, refers to phylacteries, as it is stated: “The Lord gave strength to His nation” (Psalms 29:11), in the form of the mitzva of phylacteries. The Gemara asks: And from where is it derived that phylacteries provide strength for Israel? As it is written: “And all the nations of the land shall see that the name of the Lord is called upon you, and they will fear you” (Deuteronomy 28:10). It was taught in a baraita that Rabbi Eliezer the Great says: This is a reference to the phylacteries of the head, upon which the name of God is written in fulfillment of the verse: “That the name of the Lord is called upon you.” Rav Naḥman bar Yitzḥak said to Rav Ḥiyya bar Avin: What is written in the phylacteries of the Master of the world? Rav Ḥiyya bar Avin replied: It is written: “Who is like Your people, Israel, one nation in the land?” (I Chronicles 17:21). God’s phylacteries serve to connect Him, in a sense, to the world, the essence of which is Israel. Rav Naḥman bar Yitzḥak continues: Is the Holy One, Blessed be He, glorified through the glory of Israel? Rav Ḥiyya bar Avin answered: Yes, as indicated by the juxtaposition of two verses; as it is stated: “You have affirmed, this day, that the Lord is your God, and that you will walk in His ways and keep His laws and commandments, and listen to His voice.” And the subsequent verse states: “And the Lord has affirmed, this day, that you are His treasure, as He spoke to you, to keep His commandments” (Deuteronomy 26:17–18). From these two verses it is derived that the Holy One, Blessed be He, said to Israel: You have made Me a single entity [ḥativa] in the world, as you singled Me out as separate and unique. And because of this, I will make you a single entity in the world, and you will be a treasured nation, chosen by God. You have made Me a single entity in the world, as it is stated that Israel declares God’s oneness by saying: “Hear, Israel, the Lord is our God, the Lord is One” (Deuteronomy 6:4). And because of this, I will make you a single entity in the world, unique and elevated with the utterance: “Who is like Your people, Israel, one nation in the land?” Consequently, the Holy One, Blessed be He, is glorified through the glory of Israel whose praises are written in God’s phylacteries. Rav Aḥa, son of Rava said to Rav Ashi: It works out well with regard to the contents of one of the four compartments of God’s phylacteries of the head. However, all four compartments of Israel’s phylacteries of the head contain portions of the Torah that praise God. What portions in praise of Israel are written in the rest of the compartments of God’s phylacteries of the head? Rav Ashi said to him: In those three compartments it is written: “For who is a great nation, to whom God is close, like the Lord our God whenever we call upon Him?” (Deuteronomy 4:7); “And who is a great nation, who has righteous statutes and laws, like this entire Torah which I set before you today?” (Deuteronomy 4:8); “Happy are you, Israel, who is like you? A people saved by the Lord, the shield of your help, and that is the sword of your excellence. And your enemies shall dwindle away before you, and you shall tread upon their high places” (Deuteronomy 33:29); “Or has God attempted to go and take for Himself a nation from the midst of another nation, by trials, by signs and by wonders” (Deuteronomy 4:34); “And to elevate you above all nations that He has made, in praise, in name and in glory; that you may be a holy people to the Lord, your God, as He has spoken” (Deuteronomy 26:19). Rav Aḥa, son of Rava, raises an objection: If all of these verses are included in God’s phylacteries of the head, there are too many compartments as more than four verses of praise were listed. Rather, the portions in God’s phylacteries must be arranged as follows: The verses “For who is a great nation” and “And who is a great nation” are included in one compartment, as they are similar. “Happy are you, Israel” and "Who is like your people, Israel" are in one compartment. “Or has God attempted” is in one compartment and “And to elevate you” is in one compartment in the phylacteries of the head, where there are four separate compartments. And all of the verses are written together on one parchment in the phylacteries of the arm, which has only one compartment.
״וַהֲסִרֹתִי אֶת כַּפִּי וְרָאִיתָ אֶת אֲחֹרָי״. אָמַר רַב חָנָא בַּר בִּיזְנָא, אָמַר רַבִּי שִׁמְעוֹן חֲסִידָא: מְלַמֵּד שֶׁהֶרְאָה הַקָּדוֹשׁ בָּרוּךְ הוּא לְמֹשֶׁה קֶשֶׁר שֶׁל תְּפִילִּין.
What did Moses see? It is said: “And I will remove My hand, and you will see My back, but My face you will not see” (Exodus 33:23). Rav Ḥana bar Bizna said in the name of Rabbi Shimon Ḥasida, the expression: “And you will see My back,” should be understood as follows: This teaches that the Holy One, Blessed be He, Who, as mentioned above, wears phylacteries, showed him the knot of the phylacteries of His head, which is worn on the back of the head.
אָמַר רַבִּי יוֹחָנָן מִשּׁוּם רַבִּי יוֹסֵי: מִנַּיִן שֶׁהַקָּדוֹשׁ בָּרוּךְ הוּא מִתְפַּלֵּל? שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר: ״וַהֲבִיאוֹתִים אֶל הַר קָדְשִׁי וְשִׂמַּחְתִּים בְּבֵית תְּפִלָּתִי״, ״תְּפִלָּתָם״ לֹא נֶאֱמַר, אֶלָּא ״תְּפִלָּתִי״, מִכָּאן שֶׁהַקָּדוֹשׁ בָּרוּךְ הוּא מִתְפַּלֵּל. מַאי מְצַלֵּי? אָמַר רַב זוּטְרָא בַּר טוֹבִיָּה, אָמַר רַב: ״יְהִי רָצוֹן מִלְּפָנַי שֶׁיִּכְבְּשׁוּ רַחֲמַי אֶת כַּעֲסִי, וְיִגּוֹלּוּ רַחֲמַי עַל מִדּוֹתַי, וְאֶתְנַהֵג עִם בָּנַי בְּמִדַּת רַחֲמִים, וְאֶכָּנֵס לָהֶם לִפְנִים מִשּׁוּרַת הַדִּין״.
Along the same lines, Rabbi Yoḥanan said in the name of Rabbi Yosei: From where is it derived that the Holy One, Blessed be He, prays? As it is stated: “I will bring them to My holy mountain, and make them joyful in the house of My prayer” (Isaiah 56:7). The verse does not say the house of their prayer, but rather, “the house of My prayer”; from here we see that the Holy One, Blessed be He, prays. The Gemara asks: What does God pray? Rav Zutra bar Tovia said that Rav said:
God says: May it be My will that My mercy will overcome My anger towards Israel for their transgressions,
and may My mercy prevail over My other attributes through which Israel is punished,
and may I conduct myself toward My children, Israel, with the attribute of mercy,
and may I enter before them beyond the letter of the law.
God says: May it be My will that My mercy will overcome My anger towards Israel for their transgressions,
and may My mercy prevail over My other attributes through which Israel is punished,
and may I conduct myself toward My children, Israel, with the attribute of mercy,
and may I enter before them beyond the letter of the law.
והקב"ה יושב ומשחק, שנאמר יושב בשמים ישחק וגו'. א"ר יצחק אין לו להקב"ה שחוק אלא אותו היום בלבד.
איני? והא אמר רב יהודה אמר רב: "שתים עשרה שעות הוי היום.
שלש הראשונות - הקב"ה יושב ועוסק בתורה.
שניות - יושב ודן את כל העולם כולו. כיון שרואה שנתחייב עולם כלייה עומד מכסא הדין ויושב על כסא רחמים.
שלישיות - יושב וזן את כל העולם כולו מקרני ראמים עד ביצי כנים.
רביעיות - יושב ומשחק עם לויתן. שנאמר (תהלים קד, כו) לויתן זה יצרת לשחק בו."
אמר רב נחמן בר יצחק: עם בריותיו - משחק, ועל בריותיו - אינו משחק אלא אותו היום בלבד.
א"ל רב אחא לרב נחמן בר יצחק: מיום שחרב בית המקדש אין שחוק להקב"ה! ...
ברביעיות מאי עביד? יושב ומלמד תינוקות של בית רבן תורה. שנאמר (ישעיהו כח, ט) את מי יורה דעה ואת מי יבין שמועה גמולי מחלב עתיקי משדים. למי יורה דעה ולמי יבין שמועה? לגמולי מחלב ולעתיקי משדים.
ומעיקרא מאן הוה מיגמר להו? איבעית אימא: מיטטרון. ואיבעית אימא: הא והא עביד.
ובליליא מאי עביד? איבעית אימא: מעין יממא. ואיבעית אימא: רוכב על כרוב קל שלו ושט בשמונה עשר אלף עולמות. שנאמר (תהלים סח, יח) רכב אלהים רבותים אלפי שנאן. אל תקרי שנאן אלא שאינן. ואיבעית אימא: יושב ושומע שירה מפי חיות. שנאמר (תהלים מב, ט) יומם יצוה ה' חסדו ובלילה שירו עמי.
And then every one of these converts will tear loose his sign of performance of a mitzva and leave, as it is stated: “Let us tear their bands asunder, and cast away their cords from us” (Psalms 2:3). And the Holy One, Blessed be He, sits and makes sport, i.e., laughs or rejoices, as it is stated: “He that sits in heaven makes sport, the Lord has them in derision” (Psalms 2:4). Rabbi Yitzḥak says: There is no making sport for the Holy One, Blessed be He, but on that day alone. The Gemara asks: Is that so? Is there no making sport for the Holy One, Blessed be He? But doesn’t Rav Yehuda say that Rav says: There are twelve hours in the day. During the first three, the Holy One, Blessed be He, sits and engages in Torah study. During the second three hours, He sits and judges the entire world. Once He sees that the world has rendered itself liable to destruction, He arises from the throne of judgment and sits on the throne of mercy, and the world is not destroyed. During the third set of three hours, the Holy One, Blessed be He, sits and sustains the entire world, from the horns of wild oxen to the eggs of lice. During the fourth three hours, He sits and makes sport with the leviathan, as it is stated: “There is leviathan, whom You have formed to sport with” (Psalms 104:26). Evidently, God makes sport every day, not only on that one day. Rav Naḥman bar Yitzḥak says in explanation: He makes sport with His creations, just as He sports with the leviathan; He does not make sport of His creations but on that day alone. Rav Aḥa said to Rav Naḥman bar Yitzḥak: From the day the Temple was destroyed, there is no longer any making sport for the Holy One, Blessed be He. And from where do we derive that there is no making sport? If we say that it is from that which is written: “And in that day did the Lord, the God of hosts, call to weeping, and to lamentation, and to baldness and to girding with sackcloth” (Isaiah 22:12), that is inconclusive: Perhaps that day alone was called for weeping and lamentation, and no additional days. Rather, you might suggest that the source is that it is written: “If I forget you, O Jerusalem, let my right hand forget her cunning. Let my tongue cleave to the roof of my mouth, if I do not remember you” (Psalms 137:5–6). This is also inconclusive, as perhaps there is no forgetting of Jerusalem for God, but in any event there is still making sport. Rather, it is derived from this verse: “I have long time held My peace, I have been still, and refrained Myself; now will I cry like a travailing woman, gasping and panting at once” (Isaiah 42:14). The Gemara asks: If God no longer makes sport, what does He now do during the fourth three-hour period of the day? The Gemara answers: He sits and teaches Torah to schoolchildren, as it is stated: “Whom shall one teach knowledge? And whom shall one make to understand the message? Them that are weaned from the milk, them that are drawn from the breasts” (Isaiah 28:9). The verse is interpreted in the following manner: To whom does God teach knowledge, and to whom does He make to understand the message? To those who are just weaned from the milk and to those who are drawn from the breasts, i.e., children only recently weaned from nursing. The Gemara asks: And initially, before the destruction of the Temple, who would teach the schoolchildren? The Gemara answers: If you wish, say that the angel Metatron would teach them, and if you wish, say instead that He would do both this, sport with the leviathan, and that, teach the schoolchildren; whereas after the destruction of the Temple in the fourth period of the day He only teaches the schoolchildren. The Gemara asks: And during the twelve hours of the night, what does God do? The Gemara answers: If you wish, say that the night is similar to the day, i.e., God performs the same activities as in the day. And if you wish, say instead that He rides on his light cherub and flies in eighteen thousand worlds, as it is stated: “The chariots of God are twenty thousand, even [shinan] thousands” (Psalms 68:18). Do not read it as even [shinan], rather read it as: That which are not [she’einan]. Since the minimum of thousands is two thousand, the phrase: That which are not thousands, indicates that two thousand are not present, i.e., the chariots of God are twenty thousand minus two thousand, which means that God rides in eighteen thousand worlds. And if you wish, say instead that God sits and listens to the songs from the mouths of the angelic creatures, as it is stated: “By day the Lord will command His loving-kindness, and in the night His song shall be with me” (Psalms 42:9).
אָמַר רַב יִצְחָק בַּר שְׁמוּאֵל מִשְּׁמֵיהּ דְּרַב: שָׁלֹשׁ מִשְׁמָרוֹת הָוֵי הַלַּיְלָה, וְעַל כָּל מִשְׁמָר וּמִשְׁמָר יוֹשֵׁב הַקָּדוֹשׁ בָּרוּךְ הוּא וְשׁוֹאֵג כַּאֲרִי, וְאוֹמֵר: ״אוֹי שֶׁהֶחֱרַבְתִּי אֶת בֵּיתִי וְשָׂרַפְתִּי אֶת הֵיכָלִי וְהִגְלֵיתִי אֶת בָּנַי לְבֵין אוּמּוֹת הָעוֹלָם״.
Rav Yitzḥak bar Shmuel said in the name of Rav: The night consists of three watches, and over each and every watch the Holy One, Blessed be He sits and roars like a lion, because the Temple service was connected to the changing of these watches (Tosefot HaRosh), and says: “Woe to Me, that due to their sins I destroyed My house, burned My Temple and exiled them among the nations of the world.”
וּמִי אִיכָּא רִתְחָא קַמֵּיהּ דְּקוּדְשָׁא בְּרִיךְ הוּא? אִין, דְּתַנְיָא ״וְאֵל זוֹעֵם בְּכָל יוֹם״. וְכַמָּה זַעְמוֹ — רֶגַע. וְכַמָּה רֶגַע — אֶחָד מֵחֲמֵשֶׁת רִבּוֹא וּשְׁמוֹנַת אֲלָפִים וּשְׁמֹנֶה מֵאוֹת וּשְׁמֹנִים וּשְׁמֹנָה בְּשָׁעָה, וְזוֹ הִיא רֶגַע. וְאֵין כָּל בְּרִיָּה יְכוֹלָה לְכַוֵּין אוֹתָהּ שָׁעָה, חוּץ מִבִּלְעָם הָרָשָׁע, דִּכְתִיב בֵּיהּ: ״וְיוֹדֵעַ דַּעַת עֶלְיוֹן״. הַשְׁתָּא דַּעַת בְּהֶמְתּוֹ לֹא הֲוָה יָדַע, דַּעַת עֶלְיוֹן הֲוָה יָדַע? אֶלָּא, מְלַמֵּד שֶׁהָיָה יוֹדֵעַ לְכַוֵּין אוֹתָהּ שָׁעָה שֶׁהַקָּדוֹשׁ בָּרוּךְ הוּא כּוֹעֵס בָּהּ.
Similarly, it was taught in a baraita that Rabbi Yishmael ben Elisha, the High Priest, said: Once, on Yom Kippur, I entered the innermost sanctum, the Holy of Holies, to offer incense, and in a vision I saw Akatriel Ya, the Lord of Hosts, one of the names of God expressing His ultimate authority, seated upon a high and exalted throne (see Isaiah 6).
And He said to me: Yishmael, My son, bless Me.
I said to Him the prayer that God prays: “May it be Your will that Your mercy overcome Your anger,
and may Your mercy prevail over Your other attributes,
and may You act toward Your children with the attribute of mercy,
and may You enter before them beyond the letter of the law.”
The Holy One, Blessed be He, nodded His head and accepted the blessing. This event teaches us that you should not take the blessing of an ordinary person lightly. If God asked for and accepted a man’s blessing, all the more so that a man must value the blessing of another man. And Rabbi Yoḥanan said in the name of Rabbi Yosei: From where is it derived that one must not placate a person while he is in the throes of his anger, rather he should mollify him after he has calmed down? As it is written, when following the sin of the Golden Calf, Moses requested that the Divine Presence rest upon Israel as it had previously, God said to him: “My face will go, and I will give you rest” (Exodus 33:14). Rabbi Yoḥanan explained: The Holy One, Blessed be He, said to Moses: Wait until My face of wrath will pass and I will grant your request. One must wait for a person’s anger to pass as well. The Gemara asks: And is there anger before the Holy One, Blessed be He? Can we speak of God using terms like anger? The Gemara answers: Yes, as it was taught in a baraita, God becomes angry, as it is stated: “God vindicates the righteous, God is furious every day” (Psalms 7:12). How much time does His anger last? God’s anger lasts a moment. And how long is a moment? One fifty-eight thousand, eight hundred and eighty-eighth of an hour, that is a moment. The Gemara adds: And no creature can precisely determine that moment when God becomes angry, except for Balaam the wicked, about whom it is written: “He who knows the knowledge of the Most High” (Numbers 24:16). This should not be understood to mean that Balaam was a full-fledged prophet. Now, clearly, Balaam did not know the mind of his animal; and he did know the mind of the Most High? If he could not understand the rebuke of his donkey, he was certainly unable to understand the mind of the Most High. Rather, this verse from Numbers teaches that Balaam was able to precisely determine the hour that the Holy One, Blessed be He, is angry. At that moment, Balaam would utter his curse and, through God’s anger, it would be fulfilled.
And He said to me: Yishmael, My son, bless Me.
I said to Him the prayer that God prays: “May it be Your will that Your mercy overcome Your anger,
and may Your mercy prevail over Your other attributes,
and may You act toward Your children with the attribute of mercy,
and may You enter before them beyond the letter of the law.”
The Holy One, Blessed be He, nodded His head and accepted the blessing. This event teaches us that you should not take the blessing of an ordinary person lightly. If God asked for and accepted a man’s blessing, all the more so that a man must value the blessing of another man. And Rabbi Yoḥanan said in the name of Rabbi Yosei: From where is it derived that one must not placate a person while he is in the throes of his anger, rather he should mollify him after he has calmed down? As it is written, when following the sin of the Golden Calf, Moses requested that the Divine Presence rest upon Israel as it had previously, God said to him: “My face will go, and I will give you rest” (Exodus 33:14). Rabbi Yoḥanan explained: The Holy One, Blessed be He, said to Moses: Wait until My face of wrath will pass and I will grant your request. One must wait for a person’s anger to pass as well. The Gemara asks: And is there anger before the Holy One, Blessed be He? Can we speak of God using terms like anger? The Gemara answers: Yes, as it was taught in a baraita, God becomes angry, as it is stated: “God vindicates the righteous, God is furious every day” (Psalms 7:12). How much time does His anger last? God’s anger lasts a moment. And how long is a moment? One fifty-eight thousand, eight hundred and eighty-eighth of an hour, that is a moment. The Gemara adds: And no creature can precisely determine that moment when God becomes angry, except for Balaam the wicked, about whom it is written: “He who knows the knowledge of the Most High” (Numbers 24:16). This should not be understood to mean that Balaam was a full-fledged prophet. Now, clearly, Balaam did not know the mind of his animal; and he did know the mind of the Most High? If he could not understand the rebuke of his donkey, he was certainly unable to understand the mind of the Most High. Rather, this verse from Numbers teaches that Balaam was able to precisely determine the hour that the Holy One, Blessed be He, is angry. At that moment, Balaam would utter his curse and, through God’s anger, it would be fulfilled.
וְעַל הַזְּוָעוֹת. מַאי זְוָעוֹת? אָמַר רַב קַטִּינָא: גּוּהָא (=רעידת אדמה). רַב קַטִּינָא הֲוָה קָאָזֵיל בְּאוֹרְחָא. כִּי מְטָא אַפִּתְחָא דְּבֵי אוֹבָא טַמְיָא גְּנַח גּוּהָא. אָמַר: מִי יָדַע אוֹבָא טַמְיָא הַאי גּוּהָא מַהוּ? רְמָא לֵיהּ קָלָא: קַטִּינָא קַטִּינָא, אַמַּאי לָא יָדַעְנָא? בְּשָׁעָה שֶׁהַקָּדוֹשׁ בָּרוּךְ הוּא זוֹכֵר אֶת בָּנָיו שֶׁשְּׁרוּיִים בְּצַעַר בֵּין אוּמּוֹת הָעוֹלָם מוֹרִיד שְׁתֵּי דְמָעוֹת לַיָּם הַגָּדוֹל, וְקוֹלוֹ נִשְׁמָע מִסּוֹף הָעוֹלָם וְעַד סוֹפוֹ, וְהַיְינוּ גּוּהָא. אָמַר רַב קַטִּינָא: אוֹבָא טַמְיָא כַּדִּיב הוּא, וּמִילֵּיהּ כְּדִיבִין. אִי הָכִי — גּוּהָא גּוּהָא מִיבְּעֵי לֵיהּ? וְלָא הִיא, גּוּהָא גּוּהָא עָבֵיד, וְהַאי דְּלָא אוֹדִי לֵיהּ, כִּי הֵיכִי דְּלָא לִיטְעֵי כּוּלֵּי עָלְמָא אַבָּתְרֵיהּ.
וְרַב קַטִּינָא דִּידֵיהּ אָמַר: סוֹפֵק כַּפָּיו, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר: ״וְגַם אֲנִי אַכֶּה כַפִּי אֶל כַּפִּי וַהֲנִיחֹתִי חֲמָתִי״.
רַבִּי נָתָן אוֹמֵר: אֲנָחָה מִתְאַנֵּחַ, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר: ״וַהֲנִיחוֹתִי חֲמָתִי בָּם וְהִנֶּחָמְתִּי״.
וְרַבָּנַן אָמְרִי: בּוֹעֵט בָּרָקִיעַ, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר: ״הֵידָד כְּדֹרְכִים יַעֲנֶה אֶל כׇּל יֹשְׁבֵי הָאָרֶץ״.
רַב אַחָא בַּר יַעֲקֹב אָמַר: דּוֹחֵק אֶת רַגְלָיו תַּחַת כִּסֵּא הַכָּבוֹד, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר: ״כֹּה אָמַר ה׳ הַשָּׁמַיִם כִּסְאִי וְהָאָרֶץ הֲדֹם רַגְלָי״.
The Gemara argues: Then God should have created two other new stars for Pleiades. The Gemara responds: “There is nothing new under the sun” (Ecclesiastes 1:9). Rav Naḥman said: In the future, the Holy One, Blessed be He, will restore those same stars to Ursa Major, as it is stated: “Or can you guide [tanḥem] Ursa Major with her sons?” (Job 38:32), which is interpreted homiletically in the sense of consolation [tanḥumim] apparently due to the restoration of those stars. And we learned in the mishna that over zeva’ot one recites the blessing: Whose strength and power fill the world. The Gemara asks: What are zeva’ot? Rav Ketina said: An earthquake. The Gemara relates: Rav Ketina was once walking along the road when he came to the entrance of the house of a necromancer and an earthquake rumbled. He said: Does this necromancer know what is this earthquake? The necromancer raised his voice and said: Ketina, Ketina, why would I not know? Certainly this earthquake occurred because when the Holy One, Blessed be He, remembers His children who are suffering among the nations of the world, He sheds two tears into the great sea. The sound of their reverberation is heard from one end of the earth to the other. And that is an earthquake. Rav Ketina said: The necromancer is a liar and his statements are lies. If so, it would necessitate an earthquake followed by another earthquake, one for each tear. The Gemara remarks: That is not so, as it indeed causes an earthquake followed by another earthquake; and the fact that Rav Ketina did not admit that the necromancer was correct was so that everyone would not mistakenly follow him. Rav Ketina also stated his own explanation for the earthquake: Because God claps His hands together in anger, as it is stated: “I will also smite My hands together and I will satisfy My fury; I, the Lord, have spoken it” (Ezekiel 21:22). Rabbi Natan says: The earthquake is caused because God sighs over the dire straits in which Israel finds itself, as it is stated: “Thus shall My anger spend itself, and I will satisfy My fury upon them, and I will be eased” (Ezekiel 5:13). And the Rabbis say: An earthquake is caused when God kicks the firmament, causing a rumbling, as it is stated: “The Lord roars from on high, from His holy dwelling He makes His voice heard. He roars mightily over His dwelling place, He cries out like those who tread grapes, against all the inhabitants of the earth” (Jeremiah 25:30). Rav Aḥa bar Ya’akov said: An earthquake is caused when God forces His feet beneath the throne of glory and the world quakes, as it is stated: “The heaven is My throne, and the earth is My footstool” (Isaiah 66:1).
בּוֹכָה וּמְבַכָּה אֲחֵרִים עִמָּהּ. בּוֹכָה וּמְבַכָּה הַקָּדוֹשׁ בָּרוּךְ הוּא עִמָּהּ, דִּכְתִיב (ישעיה כב, יב): וַיִּקְרָא ה' אֱלֹהִים צְבָאוֹת בַּיּוֹם הַהוּא לִבְכִי וּלְמִסְפֵּד.
“I remember my song in the night; I meditate with my heart, and my spirit searches” (Psalms 77:7). Rabbi Yehuda ben Rabbi Simon and Rabbi Aivu.
The Rabbis say: Because they sinned from alef through tav, they are consoled from alef through tav. Likewise, you find that for all the harsh prophecies that Jeremiah prophesied regarding Israel, Isaiah preceded him and brought a remedy for them. Jeremiah said: “How [eikha] does…sit solitary”? (Lamentations 1:1). Isaiah said: “You will say in your heart: who bore me these.” (Isaiah 49:21). Jeremiah said: “She weeps [bakho] bitterly at night” (Lamentations 1:2). Isaiah said: “You will weep no longer, He will show you grace…” (Isaiah 30:19). Jeremiah said: “Judah was exiled [galta] due to affliction” (Lamentations 1:3). Isaiah said: “He will gather the dispersed of Israel…” (Isaiah 11:12). Jeremiah said: “The ways [darkhei] of Zion are in mourning” (Lamentations 1:4). Isaiah said: “A voice calls in the wilderness, clear the way of the Lord” (Isaiah 40:3). Jeremiah said: “Her adversaries have become [hayu] the head” (Lamentations 1:5). Isaiah said: “The sons of your tormentors will come to you, bowed” (Isaiah 60:14). Jeremiah said: “Gone [vayetze] from the daughter of Zion is all [her splendor] (Lamentations 1:6). Isaiah said: “A redeemer will come to Zion” (Isaiah 59:20). Jeremiah said: “Jerusalem remembered [zakhra] […all her delights]” (Lamentations 1:7). Isaiah said: “For, behold, I am creating new heavens and a new earth and the former will not be remembered and will not come to mind” (Isaiah 65:17). Jeremiah said: “Jerusalem has comitted a sin [ḥet]” (Lamentations 1:8). Isaiah said: “I have wiped away your transgressions like a cloud” (Isaiah 44:22). Jeremiah said: “Her impurity [tumatah] is on the edges of her skirts” (Lamentations 1:9). Isaiah said: “When the Lord will have washed the filth of the daughters of Zion” (Isaiah 4:4). Jeremiah said: “The adversary extended his hand [yado]” (Lamentations 1:10). Isaiah said: “The Lord will once again show His hand” (Isaiah 11:11). Jeremiah said: “All her [kol] people are sighing, [seeking bread]…” (Lamentations 1:11). Isaiah said: “They will not hunger and they will not thirst” (Isaiah 49:10). Jeremiah said: “May it not [lo] befall you, all wayfarers” (Lamentations 1:12) Isaiah said: “Until a spirit will be poured upon us from on high” (Isaiah 32:15). Jeremiah said: “From on high [mimarom] He sent fire into my bones” (Lamentations 1:13). Isaiah said: “Exalted and holy I will rest, and the despondent…” (Isaiah 57:15). Jeremiah said: “The yoke of my transgressions is preserved [niskad] in His hand” (Lamentations 1:14). Isaiah said: “Undo the restraints on your neck” (Isaiah 52:2). Jeremiah said: “[The Lord] trampled [sila] all my mighty” (Lamentations 1:15). Isaiah said: “Pave [solu] the highway, clear it of stones” (Isaiah 62:10). Jeremiah said: “For [al] these I weep; […my eye sheds water]” (Lamentations 1:16). Isaiah said: “With their eyes they will see [the Lord returning to Zion]” (Isaiah 52:8). Jeremiah said: “Zion spread [persa] her hands, [there was no comforter for her]” (Lamentations 1:17). Isaiah said: “I, it is I, who am your Comforter” (Isaiah 51:12). Jeremiah said: “The Lord is righteous [tzadik]” (Lamentations 1:18). Isaiah said: “Your people they are all righteous” (Isaiah 60:21). Jeremiah said: “I called [karati] to my lovers; they deceived me” (Lamentations 1:19). Isaiah said: “You will call Your walls salvation” (Isaiah 60:18). Jeremiah said: “See [re’e], Lord, for I am in distress” (Lamentations 1:20). Isaiah said: “You will see and your heart will be gladdened” (Isaiah 66:14). Jeremiah said: “They heard [shamu] that I sigh” (Lamentations 1:21). Isaiah said: “Comfort, comfort My people” (Isaiah 40:1). Jeremiah said: “Let all their wickedness come [tavo] before You” (Lamentations 1:22) Isaiah said: “I will bring them to the mountain of My holiness” (Isaiah 56:7).
Another matter, “I remember my song [neginati] in the night” (Psalms 77:7). Rabbi Aivu and Rabbi Yehuda ben Rabbi Simon, Rabbi Aivu says: The congregation of Israel said before the Holy One blessed be He: ‘I remember how I was broken before You in the night of the kingdoms, just as it says: “Blessed is God, the Most High, who broke [migen] your enemies into your hand”’ (Genesis 14:20). Rabbi Yehuda says: I remember the songs that I sang before You in the nights, just as it says: “[The Lord is to save me] and we will play my songs all the days of our lives” (Isaiah 38:20), this is the night of Pharaoh, as it is written: “It was at midnight” (Exodus 12:29). And the night of Gideon who smote the Midianite and Amalekite camp, as it is written: “It was on that night” (Judges 7:9). And the night of Sennacherib, in whose regard it is written: “It was on that night, and the angel of God emerged” (II Kings 19:35).
“I meditate with my heart” (Psalms 77:7), I speak with my heart. “And my spirit searches” (Psalms 77:7), I examine my actions. And it says: “Will the Lord forsake forever? Will He never again appease?” (Psalms 77:8). God forbid, He has not abandoned and will not abandon, as it is written: “For the Lord will not forsake forever” (Lamentations 3:31).
“Will He never again appease [lirtzot]” or be appeased [leratzot]? In the past He would appease others. When Moses was angry, it says: “And he returned [veshav] to the camp” (Exodus 33:11). Read it as: And return [veshuv]. When Elijah was angry, it says: “Go, return on your way to the wilderness of Damascus” (I Kings 19:15); but now, He does not appease, and is not appeased.
“Has His kindness come to an end [he’afes] forever, [is His decision final for all generations]?” (Psalms 77:9). What is he’afes? Rabbi Reuven said: It is a Greek term, just as it says: “He will say none [afes]” (Amos 6:10). Rabbi Ḥanina bar Pappa and Rabbi Simon, Rabbi Ḥanina said: Has the matter that the Holy One blessed be He said to Moses, “I will favor whom I favor” (Exodus 33:19), concluded? Rabbi Simon says: It has already been concluded, and this was confirmed by means of Jeremiah: “For I have withdrawn My peace [and kindness and mercy from this people]” (Jeremiah 16:5).
“Has God forgotten to be gracious [ḥanot]” (Psalms 77:10), has God forgotten His encampment [ḥanoto] in the wilderness, “According to the word of God they would encamp” (Numbers 9: 20). Has He forgotten “God, merciful and gracious [veḥanun]”? (Exodus 34:6). “Has He closed in anger His mercy? Sela” (Psalms 77:10); even though He is angry, His mercy is near. Yet Zion said: ‘The Lord has forsaken me and my Lord has forgotten me,’ as it is written: “Zion said: The Lord has forsaken me [and the Lord has forgotten me]” (Isaiah 49:14).
“Then I said: This is my weakness [ḥaloti], [the right hand of the Most High has changed]” (Psalms 77:11). Rabbi Alexandrai said: Because we did not entreat [ḥilinu] You in repentance, the right hand has changed. Rabbi Shmuel bar Naḥmani said: The oath that He made with us at Ḥorev has been violated [nitḥalela], and so the right hand has changed.
Rabbi Simon said: Have you ever heard that the orb of the sun is ill and unable to rise and serve? For His servants there are no illnesses, but before Him there is illness? Rabbi Yitzḥak said: [This is analogous] to a mighty person who was there in a province, and all the residents of the province relied on him and would say: ‘No troops will come here. If troops came to the city, once he would emerge and show his face, they would flee immediately.’ One time the troops came, and he said to them: ‘My right hand hurts.’ However, the Holy One blessed be He is not so, but rather, “Behold, the Lord’s hand is not too short to save…” (Isaiah 59:1).
“The right hand of the Most High has changed.” Rabbi Shimon ben Lakish said: If it is due to illnesses, there is hope, for one who is hurt will ultimately heal. But if it has changed, there is no hope. That is the opinion of Rabbi Yehoshua ben Levi <who said:="" “for="" you="" have="" despised="" us,="" [you="" were="" exceedingly="" angry="" at="" us]”="" (lamentations="" 5:22).="" if="" it="" is="" despising,="" there="" is="" no="" hope.="" if="" it="" is="" anger,="" there="" is="" hope,="" as="" one="" who="" is="" angry="" will="" ultimately="" be="" appeased.="">
Rabbi Shimon bar Yoḥai said: The Holy One blessed be He said to Israel: ‘You wept a gratuitous weeping; ultimately, you will weep a weeping of substance.’ Where did Israel weep a gratuitous weeping? “Moses heard the people weeping according to its families” (Numbers 11:10). “The entire congregation raised and sounded their voice [and the people wept that night]” (Numbers 14:1). Where did Israel weep a weeping of substance? Rabbi Aivu and Rabbi Yehuda ben Rabbi Simon, Rabbi Aivu said: Once in Rama and once in Babylon. In Rama, as it is written: “So said the Lord: A voice is heard in Rama, wailing, bitter weeping, [Rachel weeping for her children]” (Jeremiah 31:15). In Babylon, as it is written: “By the rivers of Babylon, [there we sat and also wept]” (Psalms 137:1). Rabbi Yehuda ben Rabbi Simon said: One in the “province of Judah” (Ezra 5:8) and one in Babylon. In the province of Judah, “she weeps bitterly at night” (Lamentations 1:2). In Babylon, “by the rivers of Babylon.”
Rabbi Aivu said: So said the Holy One blessed be He to Israel: ‘As a reward for that weeping, I will gather in your exiles.’ That is what is written: “So said the Lord, restrain your voice from weeping…there is hope for your future, the utterance of the Lord” (Jeremiah 31:16–17).
“She weeps bitterly [bakho tivkeh],” she will weep [bakho] due to one calf; she will weep [tivkeh] due to two calves. Another matter, over Judah, and over Zion and Jerusalem. Another matter, she will weep [bakho] over the exile of the Ten Tribes; she will weep [tivkeh] over the exile of Judah and Benjamin. Another matter, she weeps and causes others to weep with her, she weeps and causes the Holy One blessed be He to weep with her, as it is written: “The Lord, God of hosts, called on that day for weeping and for lamentation” (Isaiah 22:12). She weeps and causes the ministering angels to weep with her, as it is written: “Behold, their angels cry out outside [ḥutza], [the messengers of peace weep bitterly]” (Isaiah 33:7). Rabbi Ze’eira said: Ḥitza is written, it is unnatural [ḥitza] for him to slaughter him. Rabbi Berekhya said: Just as it says: “He took him outside [haḥutza] [and said: Look now toward the heavens]” (Genesis 15:5).
“She will weep [bakho],” she weeps and causes the heavens and the earth to weep with her. That is what is written: “The sun and the moon darkened” (Joel 2:10). “She will weep [bakho],” she weeps and causes the mountains and the hills to weep with her. That is what is written: “I saw the mountains [they are quaking, and all the hills have disintegrated]” (Jeremiah 4:24). “She will weep [bakho],” she weeps and causes the seventy nations to weep with her. Rabbi Pinḥas said: The seventy bulls that Israel would sacrifice on the festival of Sukkot correspond to the seventy nations, so that the world would not be vacant of them. “She will weep [bakho],” she weeps and casues the congregation of Israel to weep with her. That is what is written: “The entire congregation raised [vatisa]…[and the people wept that night]” (Numbers 14:1). Rabbi Ḥunya taught it in the name of Rabbi Neḥemya: Vatisa is written, they left a bad debt for the generations, just as it says: “When you lend [tasheh] to your neighbor” (Deuteronomy 24:10).
The Rabbis say: Because they sinned from alef through tav, they are consoled from alef through tav. Likewise, you find that for all the harsh prophecies that Jeremiah prophesied regarding Israel, Isaiah preceded him and brought a remedy for them. Jeremiah said: “How [eikha] does…sit solitary”? (Lamentations 1:1). Isaiah said: “You will say in your heart: who bore me these.” (Isaiah 49:21). Jeremiah said: “She weeps [bakho] bitterly at night” (Lamentations 1:2). Isaiah said: “You will weep no longer, He will show you grace…” (Isaiah 30:19). Jeremiah said: “Judah was exiled [galta] due to affliction” (Lamentations 1:3). Isaiah said: “He will gather the dispersed of Israel…” (Isaiah 11:12). Jeremiah said: “The ways [darkhei] of Zion are in mourning” (Lamentations 1:4). Isaiah said: “A voice calls in the wilderness, clear the way of the Lord” (Isaiah 40:3). Jeremiah said: “Her adversaries have become [hayu] the head” (Lamentations 1:5). Isaiah said: “The sons of your tormentors will come to you, bowed” (Isaiah 60:14). Jeremiah said: “Gone [vayetze] from the daughter of Zion is all [her splendor] (Lamentations 1:6). Isaiah said: “A redeemer will come to Zion” (Isaiah 59:20). Jeremiah said: “Jerusalem remembered [zakhra] […all her delights]” (Lamentations 1:7). Isaiah said: “For, behold, I am creating new heavens and a new earth and the former will not be remembered and will not come to mind” (Isaiah 65:17). Jeremiah said: “Jerusalem has comitted a sin [ḥet]” (Lamentations 1:8). Isaiah said: “I have wiped away your transgressions like a cloud” (Isaiah 44:22). Jeremiah said: “Her impurity [tumatah] is on the edges of her skirts” (Lamentations 1:9). Isaiah said: “When the Lord will have washed the filth of the daughters of Zion” (Isaiah 4:4). Jeremiah said: “The adversary extended his hand [yado]” (Lamentations 1:10). Isaiah said: “The Lord will once again show His hand” (Isaiah 11:11). Jeremiah said: “All her [kol] people are sighing, [seeking bread]…” (Lamentations 1:11). Isaiah said: “They will not hunger and they will not thirst” (Isaiah 49:10). Jeremiah said: “May it not [lo] befall you, all wayfarers” (Lamentations 1:12) Isaiah said: “Until a spirit will be poured upon us from on high” (Isaiah 32:15). Jeremiah said: “From on high [mimarom] He sent fire into my bones” (Lamentations 1:13). Isaiah said: “Exalted and holy I will rest, and the despondent…” (Isaiah 57:15). Jeremiah said: “The yoke of my transgressions is preserved [niskad] in His hand” (Lamentations 1:14). Isaiah said: “Undo the restraints on your neck” (Isaiah 52:2). Jeremiah said: “[The Lord] trampled [sila] all my mighty” (Lamentations 1:15). Isaiah said: “Pave [solu] the highway, clear it of stones” (Isaiah 62:10). Jeremiah said: “For [al] these I weep; […my eye sheds water]” (Lamentations 1:16). Isaiah said: “With their eyes they will see [the Lord returning to Zion]” (Isaiah 52:8). Jeremiah said: “Zion spread [persa] her hands, [there was no comforter for her]” (Lamentations 1:17). Isaiah said: “I, it is I, who am your Comforter” (Isaiah 51:12). Jeremiah said: “The Lord is righteous [tzadik]” (Lamentations 1:18). Isaiah said: “Your people they are all righteous” (Isaiah 60:21). Jeremiah said: “I called [karati] to my lovers; they deceived me” (Lamentations 1:19). Isaiah said: “You will call Your walls salvation” (Isaiah 60:18). Jeremiah said: “See [re’e], Lord, for I am in distress” (Lamentations 1:20). Isaiah said: “You will see and your heart will be gladdened” (Isaiah 66:14). Jeremiah said: “They heard [shamu] that I sigh” (Lamentations 1:21). Isaiah said: “Comfort, comfort My people” (Isaiah 40:1). Jeremiah said: “Let all their wickedness come [tavo] before You” (Lamentations 1:22) Isaiah said: “I will bring them to the mountain of My holiness” (Isaiah 56:7).
Another matter, “I remember my song [neginati] in the night” (Psalms 77:7). Rabbi Aivu and Rabbi Yehuda ben Rabbi Simon, Rabbi Aivu says: The congregation of Israel said before the Holy One blessed be He: ‘I remember how I was broken before You in the night of the kingdoms, just as it says: “Blessed is God, the Most High, who broke [migen] your enemies into your hand”’ (Genesis 14:20). Rabbi Yehuda says: I remember the songs that I sang before You in the nights, just as it says: “[The Lord is to save me] and we will play my songs all the days of our lives” (Isaiah 38:20), this is the night of Pharaoh, as it is written: “It was at midnight” (Exodus 12:29). And the night of Gideon who smote the Midianite and Amalekite camp, as it is written: “It was on that night” (Judges 7:9). And the night of Sennacherib, in whose regard it is written: “It was on that night, and the angel of God emerged” (II Kings 19:35).
“I meditate with my heart” (Psalms 77:7), I speak with my heart. “And my spirit searches” (Psalms 77:7), I examine my actions. And it says: “Will the Lord forsake forever? Will He never again appease?” (Psalms 77:8). God forbid, He has not abandoned and will not abandon, as it is written: “For the Lord will not forsake forever” (Lamentations 3:31).
“Will He never again appease [lirtzot]” or be appeased [leratzot]? In the past He would appease others. When Moses was angry, it says: “And he returned [veshav] to the camp” (Exodus 33:11). Read it as: And return [veshuv]. When Elijah was angry, it says: “Go, return on your way to the wilderness of Damascus” (I Kings 19:15); but now, He does not appease, and is not appeased.
“Has His kindness come to an end [he’afes] forever, [is His decision final for all generations]?” (Psalms 77:9). What is he’afes? Rabbi Reuven said: It is a Greek term, just as it says: “He will say none [afes]” (Amos 6:10). Rabbi Ḥanina bar Pappa and Rabbi Simon, Rabbi Ḥanina said: Has the matter that the Holy One blessed be He said to Moses, “I will favor whom I favor” (Exodus 33:19), concluded? Rabbi Simon says: It has already been concluded, and this was confirmed by means of Jeremiah: “For I have withdrawn My peace [and kindness and mercy from this people]” (Jeremiah 16:5).
“Has God forgotten to be gracious [ḥanot]” (Psalms 77:10), has God forgotten His encampment [ḥanoto] in the wilderness, “According to the word of God they would encamp” (Numbers 9: 20). Has He forgotten “God, merciful and gracious [veḥanun]”? (Exodus 34:6). “Has He closed in anger His mercy? Sela” (Psalms 77:10); even though He is angry, His mercy is near. Yet Zion said: ‘The Lord has forsaken me and my Lord has forgotten me,’ as it is written: “Zion said: The Lord has forsaken me [and the Lord has forgotten me]” (Isaiah 49:14).
“Then I said: This is my weakness [ḥaloti], [the right hand of the Most High has changed]” (Psalms 77:11). Rabbi Alexandrai said: Because we did not entreat [ḥilinu] You in repentance, the right hand has changed. Rabbi Shmuel bar Naḥmani said: The oath that He made with us at Ḥorev has been violated [nitḥalela], and so the right hand has changed.
Rabbi Simon said: Have you ever heard that the orb of the sun is ill and unable to rise and serve? For His servants there are no illnesses, but before Him there is illness? Rabbi Yitzḥak said: [This is analogous] to a mighty person who was there in a province, and all the residents of the province relied on him and would say: ‘No troops will come here. If troops came to the city, once he would emerge and show his face, they would flee immediately.’ One time the troops came, and he said to them: ‘My right hand hurts.’ However, the Holy One blessed be He is not so, but rather, “Behold, the Lord’s hand is not too short to save…” (Isaiah 59:1).
“The right hand of the Most High has changed.” Rabbi Shimon ben Lakish said: If it is due to illnesses, there is hope, for one who is hurt will ultimately heal. But if it has changed, there is no hope. That is the opinion of Rabbi Yehoshua ben Levi <who said:="" “for="" you="" have="" despised="" us,="" [you="" were="" exceedingly="" angry="" at="" us]”="" (lamentations="" 5:22).="" if="" it="" is="" despising,="" there="" is="" no="" hope.="" if="" it="" is="" anger,="" there="" is="" hope,="" as="" one="" who="" is="" angry="" will="" ultimately="" be="" appeased.="">
Rabbi Shimon bar Yoḥai said: The Holy One blessed be He said to Israel: ‘You wept a gratuitous weeping; ultimately, you will weep a weeping of substance.’ Where did Israel weep a gratuitous weeping? “Moses heard the people weeping according to its families” (Numbers 11:10). “The entire congregation raised and sounded their voice [and the people wept that night]” (Numbers 14:1). Where did Israel weep a weeping of substance? Rabbi Aivu and Rabbi Yehuda ben Rabbi Simon, Rabbi Aivu said: Once in Rama and once in Babylon. In Rama, as it is written: “So said the Lord: A voice is heard in Rama, wailing, bitter weeping, [Rachel weeping for her children]” (Jeremiah 31:15). In Babylon, as it is written: “By the rivers of Babylon, [there we sat and also wept]” (Psalms 137:1). Rabbi Yehuda ben Rabbi Simon said: One in the “province of Judah” (Ezra 5:8) and one in Babylon. In the province of Judah, “she weeps bitterly at night” (Lamentations 1:2). In Babylon, “by the rivers of Babylon.”
Rabbi Aivu said: So said the Holy One blessed be He to Israel: ‘As a reward for that weeping, I will gather in your exiles.’ That is what is written: “So said the Lord, restrain your voice from weeping…there is hope for your future, the utterance of the Lord” (Jeremiah 31:16–17).
“She weeps bitterly [bakho tivkeh],” she will weep [bakho] due to one calf; she will weep [tivkeh] due to two calves. Another matter, over Judah, and over Zion and Jerusalem. Another matter, she will weep [bakho] over the exile of the Ten Tribes; she will weep [tivkeh] over the exile of Judah and Benjamin. Another matter, she weeps and causes others to weep with her, she weeps and causes the Holy One blessed be He to weep with her, as it is written: “The Lord, God of hosts, called on that day for weeping and for lamentation” (Isaiah 22:12). She weeps and causes the ministering angels to weep with her, as it is written: “Behold, their angels cry out outside [ḥutza], [the messengers of peace weep bitterly]” (Isaiah 33:7). Rabbi Ze’eira said: Ḥitza is written, it is unnatural [ḥitza] for him to slaughter him. Rabbi Berekhya said: Just as it says: “He took him outside [haḥutza] [and said: Look now toward the heavens]” (Genesis 15:5).
“She will weep [bakho],” she weeps and causes the heavens and the earth to weep with her. That is what is written: “The sun and the moon darkened” (Joel 2:10). “She will weep [bakho],” she weeps and causes the mountains and the hills to weep with her. That is what is written: “I saw the mountains [they are quaking, and all the hills have disintegrated]” (Jeremiah 4:24). “She will weep [bakho],” she weeps and causes the seventy nations to weep with her. Rabbi Pinḥas said: The seventy bulls that Israel would sacrifice on the festival of Sukkot correspond to the seventy nations, so that the world would not be vacant of them. “She will weep [bakho],” she weeps and casues the congregation of Israel to weep with her. That is what is written: “The entire congregation raised [vatisa]…[and the people wept that night]” (Numbers 14:1). Rabbi Ḥunya taught it in the name of Rabbi Neḥemya: Vatisa is written, they left a bad debt for the generations, just as it says: “When you lend [tasheh] to your neighbor” (Deuteronomy 24:10).
הסיפורים על הקדוש ברוך הוא מימי דור המדבר:
דּוֹמֶה דוֹדִי לִצְבִי אוֹ לְעֹפֶר הָאַיָּלִים וגו' (שיר השירים ב, ט), אָמַר רַבִּי יִצְחָק אָמְרוּ יִשְׂרָאֵל לִפְנֵי הַקָּדוֹשׁ בָּרוּךְ הוּא, רִבּוֹן הָעוֹלָמִים אִן אַתְּ אֲתָא לְגַבָּן תְּחִלָּה, דּוֹמֶה דוֹדִי לִצְבִי, מַה הַצְּבִי הַזֶּה מְדַלֵּג כָּךְ הָיָה הַקָּדוֹשׁ בָּרוּךְ הוּא מְדַלֵּג וּמְקַפֵּץ מִמִּצְרַיִם לַיָּם, וּמִן יָם לְסִינָי.
בְּמִצְרַיִם (שמות יב, יב): וְעָבַרְתִּי בְאֶרֶץ מִצְרַיִם וגו'. בַּיָּם, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר (שמות טו, ב): זֶה אֵלִי וְאַנְוֵהוּ. לְסִינַי (דברים לג, ב): וַיֹּאמַר ה' מִסִּינַי בָּא.
וְכֵיצַד הָיָה הַדִּבּוּר יוֹצֵא מִפִּי הַקָּדוֹשׁ בָּרוּךְ הוּא, רַבִּי שִׁמְעוֹן בֶּן יוֹחָאי וְרַבָּנָן.
רַבִּי שִׁמְעוֹן בֶּן יוֹחָאי אוֹמֵר: מְלַמֵּד שֶׁהָיָה הַדִּבּוּר יוֹצֵא מִימִינוֹ שֶׁל הַקָּדוֹשׁ בָּרוּךְ הוּא לִשְׂמֹאלָן שֶׁל יִשְׂרָאֵל, וְחוֹזֵר וְעוֹקֵף אֶת מַחֲנֶה יִשְׂרָאֵל שְׁמוֹנָה עָשָׂר מִיל עַל שְׁמוֹנָה עָשָׂר מִיל, וְחוֹזֵר וּמַקִּיף מִימִינָן שֶׁל יִשְׂרָאֵל לִשְׂמֹאלוֹ שֶׁל הַקָּדוֹשׁ בָּרוּךְ הוּא. וְהַקָּדוֹשׁ בָּרוּךְ הוּא מְקַבְּלוֹ מִימִינוֹ וְחוֹקְקוֹ עַל הַלּוּחַ, וְקוֹלוֹ הוֹלֵךְ מִסּוֹף הָעוֹלָם וְעַד סוֹפוֹ. לְקַיֵּם מַה שֶּׁנֶּאֱמַר (תהלים כט, ז): קוֹל ה' חֹצֵב לַהֲבוֹת אֵשׁ.
וְרַבָּנִין אָמְרִין: וְכִי יֵשׁ שְׂמֹאל לְמַעְלָה? וַהֲלֹא כְתִיב (שמות טו, ו): יְמִינְךָ ה' נֶאְדָּרִי בַּכֹּחַ יְמִינְךָ ה'. אֶלָּא הַדִּבּוּר הָיָה יוֹצֵא מִפִּי הַקָּדוֹשׁ בָּרוּךְ הוּא מִימִינוֹ לִימִינָן שֶׁל יִשְׂרָאֵל, וְחוֹזֵר וְעוֹקֵף אֶת מַחֲנֶה יִשְׂרָאֵל שְׁמוֹנָה עָשָׂר מִיל עַל שְׁמוֹנָה עָשָׂר מִיל, וְחוֹזֵר וּמַקִּיף מִימִינָן שֶׁל יִשְׂרָאֵל לִימִינוֹ שֶׁל הַקָּדוֹשׁ בָּרוּךְ הוּא, וְהַקָּדוֹשׁ בָּרוּךְ הוּא מְקַבְּלוֹ מִימִינוֹ וְחוֹקְקוֹ עַל הַלּוּחַ, וְקוֹלוֹ הוֹלֵךְ מִסּוֹף הָעוֹלָם וְעַד סוֹפוֹ, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר: קוֹל ה' חֹצֵב לַהֲבוֹת אֵשׁ.
Another matter, “let him kiss me with the kisses of his mouth,” Rabbi Yoḥanan said: An angel would take the utterance from before the Holy One blessed be He, each and every utterance, and circulate them before each and every Israelite and say to him: ‘Do you accept this utterance upon yourself? There are such and such laws in it, there are such and such punishments in it, there are such and such decrees in it, and so many commandments, and so many a fortiori inferences, there are such and such rewards in it.’ The Israelite would say to him: ‘Yes.’ [The angel] would then say to him: ‘Do you accept the divinity of the Holy One blessed be He?’ And he would say to him: ‘Yes, yes.’ Immediately he would kiss him on his mouth; that is what is written: “You have been shown in order to know [that the Lord, He is God]” (Deuteronomy 4:35), by means of an agent.
The Rabbis say: The utterance itself would circulate before each and every Israelite, and say to him: ‘Do you accept me upon yourself? There are such and such commandments in me, there are such and such laws in me, there are such and such punishments in me, there are such and such decrees in me, there are such and such commandments in me, and there are such and such a fortiori inferences in me, there are such and such rewards in me.’ He would say to it: ‘Yes, yes.’ Immediately, the utterance would kiss him on his mouth, [and it would appear] as a scholar and teach him Torah. That is what is written: “Lest you forget the matters that your eyes saw” (Deuteronomy 4:9). Matters [devarim] that your eyes saw; how the utterance [dibur] would speak to you.
Another matter, “lest you forget the matters,” Israel heard two commandments from the mouth of the Holy One blessed be He. Rabbi Yehoshua ben Levi said: The reason of the Rabbis is that after all the commandments, it is written: “You speak with us and we will hear” (Exodus 20:16). What does Rabbi Yehoshua ben Levi do with it? He disagrees, because there is no chronological order in the Torah. Perhaps “you speak with us and we will hear” was stated only after two or three commandments.
Rabbi Azarya – Rabbi Yehuda ben Rabbi Simon, in the name of Rabbi Yehoshua ben Levi, adopted his approach – said: It is written: “Moses commanded us the Torah” (Deuteronomy 33:4). The whole Torah in its entirety is six hundred and thirteen commandments. In terms of numerical value, Torah totals six hundred and eleven mitzvot, which Moses spoke to us; however, anokhi and lo yihye lekha we did not hear from the mouth of Moses, but rather, from the mouth of the Holy One blessed be He; that is: “Let him kiss me with the kisses of his mouth.”
How did the utterance emerge from the mouth of the Holy One blessed be He? Rabbi Shimon ben Yoḥai and the Rabbis, Rabbi Shimon ben Yoḥai says: It teaches that the utterance would emerge from the right of the Holy One blessed be He, to the left of Israel, and then circumvent the Israelite camp, which was eighteen mil by eighteen mil and then circumvent from the right of Israel to the left of the Holy One blessed be He. The Holy One blessed be He would receive it in His right and inscribe it on the tablet, and its sound carried from one end of the earth to the other, to uphold what is stated: “The voice of the Lord hews flames of fire” (Psalms 29:7).
The Rabbis say: Is there a left side On High? But is it not written: “Your right, Lord, is glorious in strength; Your right hand, Lord” (Exodus 15:6)? Rather, the utterance would emerge from the mouth of the Holy One blessed be He, from His right to the right of Israel, and then circumvent the Israelite camp, eighteen mil by eighteen mil, and then circumvent from the right of Israel to the right of the Holy One blessed be He. The Holy One blessed be He would receive it in His right hand and inscribe it on the tablet, and its sound carried from one end of the earth to the other, to uphold what is stated: “The voice of the Lord hews flames of fire” (Psalms 29:7).
Rabbi Berekhya said: Rabbi Ḥelbo taught me: The utterance itself was inscribed on its own, and when it was inscribed its sound went from one end of the earth to the other, as it is stated: “The voice of the Lord hews flames of fire” (Psalms 29:7). I said to Rabbi Ḥelbo: ‘But is it not written: “Written with the finger of God”’ (Exodus 31:18)? He said to me: ‘Strangler, did you think to strangle me?’ I said to him: ‘What, then, is [the meaning of] what is written: “Tablets of stone written with the finger of God”?’ He said to me: ‘Like a student who is writing and his master steadies his hand.’
Rabbi Yehoshua ben Levi and the Rabbis, Rabbi Yehoshua says: Israel heard two commandments from the mouth of the Holy One blessed be He: Anokhi and lo yihye lekha; that is what is written: “Let him kiss me with the kisses [mineshikot] of his mouth” and not all of the kisses. The Rabbis say: Israel heard all the commandments from the mouth of the Holy One blessed be He. Rabbi Yehoshua of Sikhnin [said] in the name of Rabbi Levi: The reason of the Rabbis is as it is written: “They said to Moses, "You speak to us and we will hear” (Exodus 20:16). What does Rabbi Yehoshua ben Levi do with this [verse]? He disagrees because there is no chronological order in the Torah. Perhaps “you speak with us and we will hear” was stated after only two or three commandments.
Rabbi Azarya – Rabbi Yehuda ben Rabbi Simon in the name of Rabbi Yehoshua ben Levi adopted his approach – said: It is written: “Moses commanded us the Torah” (Deuteronomy 33:4). The whole Torah in its entirety is six hundred and thirteen commandments. In terms of numerical value, Torah totals six hundred and eleven mitzvot [that] Moses spoke to us; however, anokhi and lo yihye lekha we did not hear from the mouth of Moses, but rather, from the mouth of the Holy One blessed be He.
The Rabbis say: The utterance itself would circulate before each and every Israelite, and say to him: ‘Do you accept me upon yourself? There are such and such commandments in me, there are such and such laws in me, there are such and such punishments in me, there are such and such decrees in me, there are such and such commandments in me, and there are such and such a fortiori inferences in me, there are such and such rewards in me.’ He would say to it: ‘Yes, yes.’ Immediately, the utterance would kiss him on his mouth, [and it would appear] as a scholar and teach him Torah. That is what is written: “Lest you forget the matters that your eyes saw” (Deuteronomy 4:9). Matters [devarim] that your eyes saw; how the utterance [dibur] would speak to you.
Another matter, “lest you forget the matters,” Israel heard two commandments from the mouth of the Holy One blessed be He. Rabbi Yehoshua ben Levi said: The reason of the Rabbis is that after all the commandments, it is written: “You speak with us and we will hear” (Exodus 20:16). What does Rabbi Yehoshua ben Levi do with it? He disagrees, because there is no chronological order in the Torah. Perhaps “you speak with us and we will hear” was stated only after two or three commandments.
Rabbi Azarya – Rabbi Yehuda ben Rabbi Simon, in the name of Rabbi Yehoshua ben Levi, adopted his approach – said: It is written: “Moses commanded us the Torah” (Deuteronomy 33:4). The whole Torah in its entirety is six hundred and thirteen commandments. In terms of numerical value, Torah totals six hundred and eleven mitzvot, which Moses spoke to us; however, anokhi and lo yihye lekha we did not hear from the mouth of Moses, but rather, from the mouth of the Holy One blessed be He; that is: “Let him kiss me with the kisses of his mouth.”
How did the utterance emerge from the mouth of the Holy One blessed be He? Rabbi Shimon ben Yoḥai and the Rabbis, Rabbi Shimon ben Yoḥai says: It teaches that the utterance would emerge from the right of the Holy One blessed be He, to the left of Israel, and then circumvent the Israelite camp, which was eighteen mil by eighteen mil and then circumvent from the right of Israel to the left of the Holy One blessed be He. The Holy One blessed be He would receive it in His right and inscribe it on the tablet, and its sound carried from one end of the earth to the other, to uphold what is stated: “The voice of the Lord hews flames of fire” (Psalms 29:7).
The Rabbis say: Is there a left side On High? But is it not written: “Your right, Lord, is glorious in strength; Your right hand, Lord” (Exodus 15:6)? Rather, the utterance would emerge from the mouth of the Holy One blessed be He, from His right to the right of Israel, and then circumvent the Israelite camp, eighteen mil by eighteen mil, and then circumvent from the right of Israel to the right of the Holy One blessed be He. The Holy One blessed be He would receive it in His right hand and inscribe it on the tablet, and its sound carried from one end of the earth to the other, to uphold what is stated: “The voice of the Lord hews flames of fire” (Psalms 29:7).
Rabbi Berekhya said: Rabbi Ḥelbo taught me: The utterance itself was inscribed on its own, and when it was inscribed its sound went from one end of the earth to the other, as it is stated: “The voice of the Lord hews flames of fire” (Psalms 29:7). I said to Rabbi Ḥelbo: ‘But is it not written: “Written with the finger of God”’ (Exodus 31:18)? He said to me: ‘Strangler, did you think to strangle me?’ I said to him: ‘What, then, is [the meaning of] what is written: “Tablets of stone written with the finger of God”?’ He said to me: ‘Like a student who is writing and his master steadies his hand.’
Rabbi Yehoshua ben Levi and the Rabbis, Rabbi Yehoshua says: Israel heard two commandments from the mouth of the Holy One blessed be He: Anokhi and lo yihye lekha; that is what is written: “Let him kiss me with the kisses [mineshikot] of his mouth” and not all of the kisses. The Rabbis say: Israel heard all the commandments from the mouth of the Holy One blessed be He. Rabbi Yehoshua of Sikhnin [said] in the name of Rabbi Levi: The reason of the Rabbis is as it is written: “They said to Moses, "You speak to us and we will hear” (Exodus 20:16). What does Rabbi Yehoshua ben Levi do with this [verse]? He disagrees because there is no chronological order in the Torah. Perhaps “you speak with us and we will hear” was stated after only two or three commandments.
Rabbi Azarya – Rabbi Yehuda ben Rabbi Simon in the name of Rabbi Yehoshua ben Levi adopted his approach – said: It is written: “Moses commanded us the Torah” (Deuteronomy 33:4). The whole Torah in its entirety is six hundred and thirteen commandments. In terms of numerical value, Torah totals six hundred and eleven mitzvot [that] Moses spoke to us; however, anokhi and lo yihye lekha we did not hear from the mouth of Moses, but rather, from the mouth of the Holy One blessed be He.
וְאָמַר רַבִּי יְהוֹשֻׁעַ בֶּן לֵוִי: בְּשָׁעָה שֶׁעָלָה מֹשֶׁה לַמָּרוֹם מְצָאוֹ לְהַקָּדוֹשׁ בָּרוּךְ הוּא שֶׁהָיָה קוֹשֵׁר כְּתָרִים לָאוֹתִיּוֹת. אָמַר לוֹ: מֹשֶׁה, אֵין שָׁלוֹם בְּעִירְךָ? אָמַר לְפָנָיו: כְּלוּם יֵשׁ עֶבֶד שֶׁנּוֹתֵן שָׁלוֹם לְרַבּוֹ? אָמַר לוֹ: הָיָה לְךָ לְעׇזְרֵנִי, מִיָּד אָמַר לוֹ: ״וְעַתָּה יִגְדַּל נָא כֹּחַ ה׳ כַּאֲשֶׁר דִּבַּרְתָּ״.
And Rabbi Yehoshua ben Levi said: When Moses ascended on High, he found the Holy One, Blessed be He, tying crowns to letters. On the tops of certain letters there are ornamental crownlets. Moses said nothing, and God said to him: Moses, is there no greeting in your city? Do people not greet each other in your city? He said before Him: Does a servant greet his master? That would be disrespectful. He said to him: At least you should have assisted Me and wished Me success in My work. Immediately he said to Him: “And now, may the power of the Lord be great as you have spoken” (Numbers 14:17).
סוֹף רֶגַע יָצְתָה בַּת קוֹל וְאָמְרָה, הִגִּיעַ סוֹף מִיתָתֶךָ. אָמַר משֶׁה לִפְנֵי הַקָּדוֹשׁ בָּרוּךְ הוּא, רִבּוֹנוֹ שֶׁל עוֹלָם זְכֹר אוֹתוֹ הַיּוֹם שֶׁנִּגְלֵיתָ עָלַי בַּסְנֶה וְאָמַרְתָּ לִי (שמות ג, י): לְכָה וְאֶשְׁלָחֲךָ אֶל פַּרְעֹה וְהוֹצֵא אֶת עַמִּי בְנֵי יִשְׂרָאֵל מִמִּצְרָיִם, זְכֹר אוֹתוֹ הַיּוֹם שֶׁהָיִיתִי עוֹמֵד עַל הַר סִינַי אַרְבָּעִים יוֹם וְאַרְבָּעִים לַיְלָה, בְּבַקָּשָׁה מִמְּךָ אַל תִּמְסְרֵנִי בְּיַד מַלְאַךְ הַמָּוֶת. יָצְתָה בַּת קוֹל וְאָמְרָה לוֹ אַל תִּתְיָרֵא, אֲנִי בְּעַצְמִי מְטַפֵּל בְּךָ וּבִקְבוּרָתֶךָ. בְּאוֹתָהּ שָׁעָה עָמַד משֶׁה וְקִדֵּשׁ עַצְמוֹ כַּשְֹּׂרָפִים וְיָרַד הַקָּדוֹשׁ בָּרוּךְ הוּא מִשְּׁמֵי שָׁמַיִם הָעֶלְיוֹנִים לִטֹּל נִשְׁמָתוֹ שֶׁל משֶׁה, וּשְׁלשָׁה מַלְאֲכֵי הַשָּׁרֵת עִמּוֹ, מִיכָאֵל וְגַבְרִיאֵל וְזגזגאל, מִיכָאֵל הִצִּיעַ מִטָּתוֹ שֶׁל משֶׁה, וְגַבְרִיאֵל פֵּרַס בֶּגֶד שֶׁל בּוּץ מְרַאֲשׁוֹתָיו, וְזגזגאל מַרְגְּלוֹתָיו, מִיכָאֵל מִצַּד אֶחָד וְגַבְרִיאֵל מִצַּד אֶחָד, אָמַר הַקָּדוֹשׁ בָּרוּךְ הוּא לְמשֶׁה, משֶׁה הַשְׁקֵף עֵינֶיךָ זֶה עַל גַּב זֶה, וְהִשְׁקִיף עֵינָיו זֶה עַל גַּב זֶה, אָמַר לוֹ הַנַּח יָדְךָ עַל הֶחָזֶה, וְהִנִּיחַ יָדוֹ עַל הֶחָזֶה, אָמַר לוֹ הַקֵּף רַגְלֶיךָ זֶה עַל גַּב זֶה, הִקִּיף רַגְלָיו זֶה עַל גַּב זֶה, בְּאוֹתָהּ שָׁעָה קָרָא הַקָּדוֹשׁ בָּרוּךְ הוּא לַנְּשָׁמָה מִתּוֹךְ גּוּפוֹ, אָמַר לָהּ בִּתִּי מֵאָה וְעֶשְׂרִים שָׁנָה קְצַבְתִּיךְ הֱיוֹתֵךְ בְּגוּפוֹ שֶׁל משֶׁה, עַכְשָׁו הִגִּיעַ קִצֵּךְ לָצֵאת, צְאִי אַל תְּאַחֲרִי...
בְּאוֹתָהּ שָׁעָה נְשָׁקוֹ הַקָּדוֹשׁ בָּרוּךְ הוּא וְנָטַל נִשְׁמָתוֹ בִּנְשִׁיקַת פֶּה, וְהָיָה הַקָּדוֹשׁ בָּרוּךְ הוּא בּוֹכֶה (תהלים צד, טז): מִי יָקוּם לִי עִם מְרֵעִים מִי יִתְיַצֵּב לִי עִם פֹּעֲלֵי אָוֶן, וְרוּחַ הַקֹּדֶשׁ אוֹמֵר (דברים לד, י): וְלֹא קָם נָבִיא עוֹד בְּיִשְׂרָאֵל כְּמשֶׁה.
מאמרים שונים על נוכחותו הפיזית של הקדוש ברוך הוא:
עמד רבי יהושע על רגליו ואמר (דברים ל, יב) לא בשמים היא מאי לא בשמים היא אמר רבי ירמיה שכבר נתנה תורה מהר סיני אין אנו משגיחין בבת קול שכבר כתבת בהר סיני בתורה (שמות כג, ב) אחרי רבים להטות.
אשכחיה רבי נתן לאליהו. א"ל: מאי עביד קוב"ה בההיא שעתא?
א"ל: קא חייך. ואמר נצחוני בני, נצחוני בני.
Rabbi Yehoshua stood on his feet and said: It is written: “It is not in heaven” (Deuteronomy 30:12). The Gemara asks: What is the relevance of the phrase “It is not in heaven” in this context? Rabbi Yirmeya says: Since the Torah was already given at Mount Sinai, we do not regard a Divine Voice, as You already wrote at Mount Sinai, in the Torah: “After a majority to incline” (Exodus 23:2). Since the majority of Rabbis disagreed with Rabbi Eliezer’s opinion, the halakha is not ruled in accordance with his opinion. The Gemara relates: Years after, Rabbi Natan encountered Elijah the prophet and said to him: What did the Holy One, Blessed be He, do at that time, when Rabbi Yehoshua issued his declaration? Elijah said to him: The Holy One, Blessed be He, smiled and said: My children have triumphed over Me; My children have triumphed over Me.
אָמַר עוּלָּא בִּירָאָה, אָמַר רַבִּי אֶלְעָזָר: עָתִיד הַקָּדוֹשׁ בָּרוּךְ הוּא לַעֲשׂוֹת מָחוֹל לְצַדִּיקִים, וְהוּא יוֹשֵׁב בֵּינֵיהֶם בְּגַן עֵדֶן, וְכׇל אֶחָד וְאֶחָד מַרְאֶה בְּאֶצְבָּעוֹ, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר: ״וָאֹמַר בַּיּוֹם הַהוּא הִנֵּה אֱלֹהֵינוּ זֶה קִוִּינוּ לוֹ וְיוֹשִׁיעֵנוּ זֶה ה׳ קִוִּינוּ לוֹ נָגִילָה וְנִשְׂמְחָה בִּישׁוּעָתוֹ״.
The tractate concludes with a statement related to the topic of dancing. Ulla of the city of Bira’a said that Rabbi Elazar said: In the future, in the end of days, the Holy One, Blessed be He, will arrange a dance of the righteous, and He will be sitting among them in the Garden of Eden, and each and every one of the righteous will point to God with his finger, as it is stated: “And it shall be said on that day: Behold, this is our God, for whom we waited, that He might save us. This is the Lord; for whom we waited. We will be glad and rejoice in His salvation” (Isaiah 25:9). God will be revealed, so that every righteous individual will be able to say: This is our God, as though they were pointing at Him with a finger.
״וְאִם לֹא תִשְׁמָעוּהָ בְּמִסְתָּרִים תִּבְכֶּה נַפְשִׁי מִפְּנֵי גֵוָה״, אָמַר רַב שְׁמוּאֵל בַּר אִינְיָא מִשְּׁמֵיהּ דְּרַב: מָקוֹם יֵשׁ לוֹ לְהַקָּדוֹשׁ בָּרוּךְ הוּא וּמִסְתָּרִים שְׁמוֹ. מַאי ״מִפְּנֵי גֵוָה״? אָמַר רַב שְׁמוּאֵל בַּר יִצְחָק: מִפְּנֵי גַּאֲווֹתָן שֶׁל יִשְׂרָאֵל שֶׁנִּיטְּלָה מֵהֶם וְנִתְּנָה לַגּוֹיִם. רַבִּי שְׁמוּאֵל בַּר נַחְמָנִי אָמַר: מִפְּנֵי גַּאֲווֹתָהּ שֶׁל מַלְכוּת שָׁמַיִם. וּמִי אִיכָּא בְּכִיָּה קַמֵּיהּ הַקָּדוֹשׁ בָּרוּךְ הוּא? וְהָאָמַר רַב פָּפָּא: אֵין עֲצִיבוּת לִפְנֵי הַקָּדוֹשׁ בָּרוּךְ הוּא, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר: ״הוֹד וְהָדָר לְפָנָיו עוֹז וְחֶדְוָה בִּמְקוֹמוֹ״! לָא קַשְׁיָא: הָא בְּבָתֵּי גַוָּאֵי, הָא בְּבָתֵּי בַרָאֵי. וּבְבָתֵּי בַרָאֵי לָא? וְהָא כְּתִיב: ״וַיִּקְרָא אֲדֹנָי ה׳ צְבָאוֹת בַּיּוֹם הַהוּא לִבְכִי וּלְמִסְפֵּד וּלְקׇרְחָה וְלַחֲגוֹר שָׂק״! שָׁאנֵי חֻרְבַּן בֵּית הַמִּקְדָּשׁ, דַּאֲפִילּוּ מַלְאֲכֵי שָׁלוֹם בְּכוֹ, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר: ״הֵן אֶרְאֶלָּם צָעֲקוּ חוּצָה מַלְאֲכֵי שָׁלוֹם מַר יִבְכָּיוּן״.
״וְדָמֹעַ תִּדְמַע וְתֵרַד עֵינִי דִּמְעָה כִּי נִשְׁבָּה עֵדֶר ה׳״, אָמַר רַבִּי אֶלְעָזָר: שָׁלֹשׁ דְּמָעוֹת הַלָּלוּ לָמָּה? אַחַת עַל מִקְדָּשׁ רִאשׁוֹן, וְאַחַת עַל מִקְדָּשׁ שֵׁנִי, וְאַחַת עַל יִשְׂרָאֵל שֶׁגָּלוּ מִמְּקוֹמָן. וְאִיכָּא דְּאָמְרִי: אַחַת עַל בִּיטּוּל תּוֹרָה. בִּשְׁלָמָא לְמַאן דְּאָמַר עַל יִשְׂרָאֵל שֶׁגָּלוּ, הַיְינוּ דִּכְתִיב: ״כִּי נִשְׁבָּה עֵדֶר ה׳״, אֶלָּא לְמַאן דְּאָמַר עַל בִּיטּוּל תּוֹרָה — מַאי ״כִּי נִשְׁבָּה עֵדֶר ה׳״? כֵּיוָן שֶׁגָּלוּ יִשְׂרָאֵל מִמְּקוֹמָן — אֵין לְךָ בִּיטּוּל תּוֹרָה גָּדוֹל מִזֶּה.
תָּנוּ רַבָּנַן, שְׁלֹשָׁה הַקָּדוֹשׁ בָּרוּךְ הוּא בּוֹכֶה עֲלֵיהֶן בְּכׇל יוֹם: עַל שֶׁאֶפְשָׁר לַעֲסוֹק בַּתּוֹרָה וְאֵינוֹ עוֹסֵק, וְעַל שֶׁאִי אֶפְשָׁר לַעֲסוֹק בְּתוֹרָה וְעוֹסֵק, וְעַל פַּרְנָס הַמִּתְגָּאֶה עַל הַצִּבּוּר.
The verse states: “But if you will not hear it, my soul shall weep in secret [bemistarim] for your pride” (Jeremiah 13:17). Rav Shmuel bar Inya said in the name of Rav: The Holy One, Blessed be He, has a place where He cries, and its name is Mistarim. What is the meaning of “for your pride”? Rav Shmuel bar Yitzḥak said: God cries due to the pride of the Jewish people, which was taken from them and given to the gentile nations. Rav Shmuel bar Naḥmani said: He cries due to the pride of the kingdom of Heaven, which was removed from the world. The Gemara asks: But is there crying before the Holy One, Blessed be He? Didn’t Rav Pappa say: There is no sadness before the Holy One, Blessed be He, as it is stated: “Honor and majesty are before Him; strength and gladness are in His place” (I Chronicles 16:27)? The Gemara responds: This is not difficult. This statement, that God cries, is referring to the innermost chambers, where He can cry in secret, whereas this statement, that He does not cry, is referring to the outer chambers. The Gemara asks: And doesn’t God cry in the outer chambers? Isn’t it written: “And on that day the Lord, the God of hosts, called to weeping, and to mourning, and to baldness, and to girding with sackcloth” (Isaiah 22:12)? The Gemara responds: The destruction of the Temple is different, as even the angels of peace cried, as it is stated: “Behold, their valiant ones cry without; the angels of peace weep bitterly” (Isaiah 33:7). The verse continues: “And my eye shall weep sore, and run down with tears, because the Lord’s flock is carried away captive” (Jeremiah 13:17). Rabbi Elazar said: Why these three references to tears in the verse? One is for the First Temple; one is for the Second Temple; and one is for the Jewish people who were exiled from their place. And there are those who say: The last one is for the unavoidable dereliction of the study of Torah in the wake of the exile. The Gemara asks: Granted, according to the one who said that the last tear is for the Jewish people who were exiled, this is as it is written: “Because the Lord’s flock is carried away captive.” However, according to the one who said that this tear is for the dereliction of the study of Torah, what is the meaning of: “Because the Lord’s flock is carried away captive”? The Gemara answers: Since the Jewish people were exiled from their place, there is no greater involuntary dereliction of the study of Torah than that which was caused by this. The Sages taught that there are three types of people for whom the Holy One, Blessed be He, cries every day: For one who is able to engage in Torah study and does not engage in it; and for one who is unable to engage in Torah study and nevertheless he endeavors and engages in it; and for a leader who lords over the community.
...לְפִיכָךְ הַכֹּהֲנִים פּוֹרְשִׂים אֶת כַּפֵּיהֶם, לוֹמַר שֶׁהַקָּדוֹשׁ בָּרוּךְ הוּא עוֹמֵד אַחֲרֵינוּ, וּלְכָךְ הוּא אוֹמֵר: מַשְׁגִּיחַ מִן הַחֲלֹּנוֹת, מִבֵּין כִּתְפוֹתֵיהֶם שֶׁל כֹּהֲנִים. מֵצִיץ מִן הַחֲרַכִּים, מִבֵּין אֶצְבְּעוֹתֵיהֶם שֶׁל כֹּהֲנִים.
״וְעַתָּה הַנִּיחָה לִּי וְיִחַר אַפִּי בָהֶם וַאֲכַלֵּם וְאֶעֱשֶׂה אוֹתְךָ לְגוֹי גָּדוֹל וְגוֹ׳״. אָמַר רַבִּי אֲבָהוּ: אִלְמָלֵא מִקְרָא כָּתוּב, אִי אֶפְשָׁר לְאוֹמְרוֹ. מְלַמֵּד שֶׁתְּפָסוֹ מֹשֶׁה לְהַקָּדוֹשׁ בָּרוּךְ הוּא, כְּאָדָם שֶׁהוּא תּוֹפֵס אֶת חֲבֵירוֹ בְּבִגְדוֹ, וְאָמַר לְפָנָיו: רִבּוֹנוֹ שֶׁל עוֹלָם, אֵין אֲנִי מַנִּיחֲךָ עַד שֶׁתִּמְחוֹל וְתִסְלַח לָהֶם.
In an additional aspect of the sin of the Golden Calf, God told Moses: “Now leave Me be, that My wrath will be enraged against them and I will consume them; and I will make of you a great nation” (Exodus 32:10). Explaining this verse, Rabbi Abbahu said: Were the verse not written in this manner, it would be impossible to utter it, in deference to God. The phrase: Leave Me be, teaches that Moses grabbed the Holy One, Blessed be He, as a person who grabs his friend by his garment would, and he said before Him: Master of the Universe, I will not leave You be until You forgive and pardon them.
בִּשְׁלָמָא לְמַאן דְּאָמַר פַּרְצוּף, הַיְינוּ דִּכְתִיב ״זָכָר וּנְקֵבָה בְּרָאָם״, אֶלָּא לְמַאן דְּאָמַר זָנָב, מַאי ״זָכָר וּנְקֵבָה בְּרָאָם״? כִּדְרַבִּי אֲבָהוּ, דְּרַבִּי אֲבָהוּ רָמֵי: כְּתִיב: ״זָכָר וּנְקֵבָה בְּרָאָם״, וּכְתִיב ״כִּי בְּצֶלֶם אֱלֹהִים עָשָׂה אֶת הָאָדָם״! הָא כֵּיצַד? — בַּתְּחִלָּה עָלָה בְּמַחְשָׁבָה לִבְרֹאת שְׁנַיִם, וּלְבַסּוֹף לֹא נִבְרָא אֶלָּא אֶחָד.
Granted, according to the one who said that Eve was a face, that is why it is written: “Male and female, He created them” (Genesis 5:2). However, according to the one who said that Eve was a tail, what is the meaning of the verse: “Male and female, He created them”? The Gemara answers: It can be explained in accordance with the opinion of Rabbi Abbahu. As Rabbi Abbahu raised a contradiction between the verses: On the one hand it is written: “Male and female, He created them,” and on the other hand it is written: “For in the image of God He made man” (Genesis 9:6), indicating that man was created alone. How, then, does he resolve the contradiction? At first, the thought entered God’s mind to create two, and ultimately, only one was actually created.
אמר רבי אבהו: אלמלא מקרא כתוב אי אפשר לאמרו. דכתיב (ישעיהו ז, כ) "ביום ההוא יגלח ה' בתער השכירה בעברי נהר במלך אשור את הראש ושער הרגלים וגם את הזקן תספה".
אתא קודשא בריך הוא ואדמי ליה כגברא סבא. א"ל: כי אזלת לגבי מלכי מזרח ומערב דאייתיתינהו לבנייהו וקטלתינהו, מאי אמרת להו?
אמר להו: ההוא גברא בההוא פחדא נמי יתיב.
אמר ליה: היכי נעביד?
א"ל: זיל ושני נפשך.
- במאי אישני?
אמר ליה: זיל אייתי לי מספרא, ואיגזייך אנא.
- מהיכא אייתי?
א"ל: עול לההוא ביתא ואייתי.
אזל אשכחינהו. אתו מלאכי שרת ואידמו ליה כגברי, והוו קא טחני קשייתא.
א"ל: הבו לי מספרא.
א"ל: טחון חד גריוא דקשייתא, וניתן לך. טחן חד גריוא דקשייתא, ויהבו ליה מספרתא. עד דאתא איחשך.
א"ל: זיל אייתי נורא. אזל ואייתי נורא. בהדי דקא נפח ליה, אתלי ביה נורא בדיקניה. אזל, גזייה לרישיה ודיקניה. אמרו: היינו דכתיב (ישעיהו ז, כ) "וגם את הזקן תספה".
פירוש שטיינזלץ:
הקדוש ברוך הוא בעצמו גילח את סנחריב.
בא הקדוש ברוך הוא, ונדמה לו לסנחריב כאיש זקן. אמר לו: כאשר תלך אצל מלכי מזרח ומערב שהבאת את בניהם עמך והרגתם, מה תאמר להם? אמר לו סנחריב לקדוש ברוך הוא: אותו אדם, כלומר, אני, גם כן באותו פחד אני יושב ואיני יודע מה לעשות. אמר לו סנחריב לקדוש ברוך הוא: מה אעשה? אמר לו הקדוש ברוך הוא: לך ושנה עצמך שלא יכירוך. שאל אותו סנחריב: במה אשנה? אמר לו לך הבא לי מספריים, ואגזוז אותך אני. שאל סנחריב: מהיכן אביא? אמר לו הקדוש ברוך הוא: לך לאותו בית והבא. הלך מצאם, באו מלאכי שרת ונדמו לו כבני אדם, והיו טוחנים גרעיני תמרים. אמר להם סנחריב: תנו לי מספריים, אמרו לו מלאכי השרת: טחון סאה אחת של גרעינים וניתן לך. טחן סאה אחת של גרעינים ונתנו לו מספריים. עד שבא, חשך היום. אמר לו הקדוש ברוך הוא לסנחריב: לך הבא אש להאיר. הלך סנחריב והביא אש. בעוד שהוא נופח באש ללבותה, אחזה האש בזקנו, הלכה וגלחה את ראשו וזקנו.
Rabbi Yehoshua ben Levi says: Fourteen remained, as it is stated: “Two or three…four or five,” which total fourteen. Rabbi Yoḥanan says: Five remained: Sennacherib, and his two sons, and Nebuchadnezzar, and Nebuzaradan, the captain of the guard. The fact that Nebuzaradan was among them is learned through tradition. Nebuchadnezzar was among them, as it is written that Nebuchadnezzar said when he saw an angel with Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah: “And the appearance of the fourth is like that of an angel” (Daniel 3:25). And if he had not seen the angel that smote Sennacherib’s army, from where would he have known that the fourth person looked like an angel? Sennacherib and his two sons were among them, as it is written later in their regard: “And it came to pass as he was worshipping in the house of Nisroch his god that Adrammelech and Sarezer, his sons, smote him with the sword” (II Kings 19:37). Evidently, the three of them survived. § Rabbi Abbahu says: Were the following verse not written, it would have been impossible to say it, since it appears to be a desecration of the name of God, as it is written: “On that day shall the Lord shave with a hired razor in the parts beyond the river the king of Assyria, the head, and the hair of the legs, and it shall also sweep away the beard” (Isaiah 7:20). The blasphemous indication is that the Holy One, Blessed be He, will Himself shave Sennacherib. Rather, this is the incident depicted in the verse: The Holy One, Blessed be He, came and appeared to Sennacherib as an old man. God said to him: When you go to the kings of the east and the west whose children you brought and killed, what will you say to them? Sennacherib said to the Holy One, Blessed be He: That man, referring to himself, also sits overcome with the same fear, as I do not know what to say to them. Sennacherib said to the Holy One, Blessed be He: What should we do? The Holy One, Blessed be He, said to him: Go and change your appearance so that they will not recognize you. Sennacherib asked him: With what shall I change it? God said to him: Go bring me scissors and I will shear you Myself. Sennacherib asked: From where should I bring the scissors? The Holy One, Blessed be He, said to him: Go to that house and bring them. He went and found ministering angels, who came and appeared to Sennacherib as men; and the angels were grinding date pits. Sennacherib said to them: Give me scissors. The ministering angels said to him: Grind a se’a of pits and we will give it to you. He ground a se’a of pits and they gave him scissors. By the time he came back with the scissors it grew dark. The Holy One, Blessed be He, said to Sennacherib: Go and bring fire to provide light. Sennacherib went and brought fire. While he was fanning it, the fire ignited his beard and it spread and sheared his head and his beard. The Sages said: This is the meaning of that which is written: “And it shall also destroy the beard” (Isaiah 7:20). Rav Pappa says that this is in accordance with the adage that people say: If you scorch a gentile and it is pleasant for him, ignite a fire in his beard and you will never tire of ridiculing him. It means that if one does not protest when others ridicule him, they will escalate the ridicule. The adage is based upon this incident involving Sennacherib.
אמר רבי ישמעאל, אני ראיתי את מלך מלכי המלכים יושב על כסא רם ונשא וחיילותיו עומדים לפניו מימינו ומשמאלו.
Rabbi Ishmael said, "I saw the King of Kings sitting on a high and exalted throne, with His legions standing before Him, upon His right and upon His left. The Prince of the Presence, whose name is Metatron, with other names being: 'Ruch Paskonit', 'Paskin', 'Atmon', 'Higron', 'Sigron', 'Sarton', 'Snigron', 'Mikon', 'Haskom', 'Sitim', 'Hashkom', 'Hakirin', 'Dukirin', 'Zin', 'Rav', 'Nantush', 'Zantuf', 'Hakikam'. Rabbi Ishmael continues, "Regarding the measure of the Holy One, Blessed be He, who is concealed from all creatures: His footstool (or feet) fills the entire world, as it is said, 'The heavens are my throne and the earth is my footstool.' The height of His footstool (or height of each foot) is three ten-thousands of parasangs. The right foot's name is 'Persimia Atrektet' and the left foot is 'Antimon'. From His foot to His ankle is a certain height in parasangs for both the right and left. The right ankle is named 'Tzenemteniah Tesheskus', and the left is 'Astimon'. From His ankle to His knee is a certain height in parasangs for both the right and left. The left shin is named 'Kangni Mehrih Tesskus', and the right is 'Mega and Zuia'. From His knees to His thighs is twelve ten-thousands of parasangs and a thousand and four parasangs in height, and the same for the left. The name of the left thigh is 'Meghavoh Harieh', and the right thigh is 'Shafus Parsub'. His waist is named 'Motnieh Atsensah Yedidiah'. On His heart are written seventy names: 'Tzetz', 'Tzedek', 'Tzahiel', 'Tzur', 'Tzvi', 'Tzadik', 'Saef', 'Seraef', 'Bohan', 'Tzevaot', 'Shaddai', 'Elohim', 'Yah', 'Vav Hey', 'Tzah', 'Dagul', 'Adom', 'Seses', 'Aaa', 'Ia', 'Ahoo', 'Rabiah', 'Heh', 'Hoo', 'Vav', 'Tzatzatz', 'Pefpef', 'Ken', 'Hah', 'Hay', 'Hay', 'Hay', 'Rokev', 'Aravot', 'Yah', 'Heh', 'Vav', 'Memem', 'Nannan', 'Hovav', 'Yah', 'Chafetz', 'Hatztz', 'Iy', 'Za', '[Taa]', '(and Zea)', 'Aaa', 'Kakak', 'Kesher', 'Raz', 'Zak', 'Gibor', 'Ya', 'Ya', 'Yod', 'Han', 'Alef', 'Diman', 'Paf', 'Kuf', 'Rao', 'Yiyi', 'Yia', 'Kavav', 'Tettet', 'Bekah', 'Pallel', 'Siem Otioth', 'BShKMLO'."... (ALT. TRANS:) RABBI ISHMAEL said, “I saw the King of kings of kings, the Holy One, blessed be he, sitting on a throne, high and exalted, with his soldiers standing before him, on his right and on his left. The Prince of the Countenance, Metatron, spoke to me, "פסקי"ן אטמו"ן היגרו"ן סיגרו"ן סרטו"ן סניגרו"ן מיקו"ן הסכו"ם סתי"ם השכ"ם חקירי"ן נ"א דוקירי"ן זינ"א רב"א ננטו"ש זנטו"ף הכיק"ם." Of Rabbi Ishmael, how much is the measure of God? Conceal it from all human beings. Divide the feet, which fill all the universe. Speak of the heavens as the throne, the Earth as a footstool. Their height is 30 million parasangs. On the right side of the sole, there is the name פרסימי"א אטרקט"ט. On the left side, there is the name אנתמ"ן. From the sole of his foot to his ankle is 10 million parasangs. On the right side, there is the name תצנמתני"ה טששק"ס. On the left, אנתמ"ן. From his ankle to his knees is 190 million parasangs. On the left side of the leg, there is the name קנגנ"י מהרי"ח טססקו"ס. [there's a lot more to this but I'm done for now]
רבי ישמעאל אומר: כמה שיעור של הקב״ה שהוא מכוסה מכל הבריות?
פרסיו (נ״א כף רגליו) מלא כל העולם כלו, שנאמר השמים כסאי והארץ הדום רגלי.
גובה פרסותיו (נ״א גבוה כל כף) שלש רבבות אלפים פרסאות.
כף רגלו של ימין, פרסימי"א אטרקט"ט שמה, ושל שמאל אנתמ"ן שמה.
מכף רגליו ועד קרסוליו, אלף רבבות ות״ק פרסאות גבהו, וכן של שמאל.
קרסולי של ימין, תצנמתני"ה טששק"ס שמו, של שמאל אסתמ"ן שמו.
מקרסוליו עד ארכובותיו תשעה עשר אלפים וארבע פרסאות גבהו, וכן של שמאל.
שוקו של שמאל, קנגנ"י מהרי"ח טססקו"ס שמו, וכן של ימין ממג"א וזוי"א שמו.
מארכבותיו עד ירכותיו, שנים עשר רבבות פרסאות ואלף וארבע פרסאות גבהו, וכן של שמאל מגהב"ו הרי"ח שמו.
ירך של ימין, ששפוס"ת פרס"ב שמו, ושל שמאל תפג"ט חזיז"א שמו.
מירכותיו ועד צוארו כ״ד אלפים רבבות פרסאות.
ומותני מותניו מותניה"ו אתסנס"ה ידידי"ה שמו.
Rabbi Ishmael said, "I saw the King of Kings sitting on a high and exalted throne, with His legions standing before Him, upon His right and upon His left. The Prince of the Presence, whose name is Metatron, with other names being: 'Ruch Paskonit', 'Paskin', 'Atmon', 'Higron', 'Sigron', 'Sarton', 'Snigron', 'Mikon', 'Haskom', 'Sitim', 'Hashkom', 'Hakirin', 'Dukirin', 'Zin', 'Rav', 'Nantush', 'Zantuf', 'Hakikam'. Rabbi Ishmael continues, "Regarding the measure of the Holy One, Blessed be He, who is concealed from all creatures: His footstool (or feet) fills the entire world, as it is said, 'The heavens are my throne and the earth is my footstool.' The height of His footstool (or height of each foot) is three ten-thousands of parasangs. The right foot's name is 'Persimia Atrektet' and the left foot is 'Antimon'. From His foot to His ankle is a certain height in parasangs for both the right and left. The right ankle is named 'Tzenemteniah Tesheskus', and the left is 'Astimon'. From His ankle to His knee is a certain height in parasangs for both the right and left. The left shin is named 'Kangni Mehrih Tesskus', and the right is 'Mega and Zuia'. From His knees to His thighs is twelve ten-thousands of parasangs and a thousand and four parasangs in height, and the same for the left. The name of the left thigh is 'Meghavoh Harieh', and the right thigh is 'Shafus Parsub'. His waist is named 'Motnieh Atsensah Yedidiah'. On His heart are written seventy names: 'Tzetz', 'Tzedek', 'Tzahiel', 'Tzur', 'Tzvi', 'Tzadik', 'Saef', 'Seraef', 'Bohan', 'Tzevaot', 'Shaddai', 'Elohim', 'Yah', 'Vav Hey', 'Tzah', 'Dagul', 'Adom', 'Seses', 'Aaa', 'Ia', 'Ahoo', 'Rabiah', 'Heh', 'Hoo', 'Vav', 'Tzatzatz', 'Pefpef', 'Ken', 'Hah', 'Hay', 'Hay', 'Hay', 'Rokev', 'Aravot', 'Yah', 'Heh', 'Vav', 'Memem', 'Nannan', 'Hovav', 'Yah', 'Chafetz', 'Hatztz', 'Iy', 'Za', '[Taa]', '(and Zea)', 'Aaa', 'Kakak', 'Kesher', 'Raz', 'Zak', 'Gibor', 'Ya', 'Ya', 'Yod', 'Han', 'Alef', 'Diman', 'Paf', 'Kuf', 'Rao', 'Yiyi', 'Yia', 'Kavav', 'Tettet', 'Bekah', 'Pallel', 'Siem Otioth', 'BShKMLO'."... (ALT. TRANS:) RABBI ISHMAEL said, “I saw the King of kings of kings, the Holy One, blessed be he, sitting on a throne, high and exalted, with his soldiers standing before him, on his right and on his left. The Prince of the Countenance, Metatron, spoke to me, "פסקי"ן אטמו"ן היגרו"ן סיגרו"ן סרטו"ן סניגרו"ן מיקו"ן הסכו"ם סתי"ם השכ"ם חקירי"ן נ"א דוקירי"ן זינ"א רב"א ננטו"ש זנטו"ף הכיק"ם." Of Rabbi Ishmael, how much is the measure of God? Conceal it from all human beings. Divide the feet, which fill all the universe. Speak of the heavens as the throne, the Earth as a footstool. Their height is 30 million parasangs. On the right side of the sole, there is the name פרסימי"א אטרקט"ט. On the left side, there is the name אנתמ"ן. From the sole of his foot to his ankle is 10 million parasangs. On the right side, there is the name תצנמתני"ה טששק"ס. On the left, אנתמ"ן. From his ankle to his knees is 190 million parasangs. On the left side of the leg, there is the name קנגנ"י מהרי"ח טססקו"ס. [there's a lot more to this but I'm done for now]
בכל דור ודור צופה הקב"ה בשתי ידיו ונותנן כנגד לבו וחוזר ונותנן כנגד זרועותיו ובוכה עליהן בין בסתר בין בגלוי ומפני מה הוא בוכה בסתר מפני שגנאי הוא לארי שיבכה לפני שועל וגנאי הוא למלך שיבכה לפני עבדיו וגנאי הוא לרב שיבכה לפני תלמידיו וגנאי הוא לבעל הבית שיבכה לפני הפועל ששכרו.
דבר אחר נשאו נהרות ה'. אמר רבי ברכיה בשם בן עזאי המים היו עולים ומגיעים עד כסא כבוד שנאמר (בראשית א ב) ורוח אלקים מרחפת על פני המים. וכן הוא אומר (דברים לב יב) כנשר יעיר קנו. וכשהיה הדבור יוצא מפי הגבורה (בראשית א ט) יקוו המים. עלו מקצות הארץ הרים וגבעות ונתפרצו על כל הארץ ונעשית עמקים עמקים על תוכה של ארץ והמים נתגלגלו ונקוו לעמקים שנאמר (שם י) ולמקוה המים קרא ימים. מיד נתגאו המים ועלו לכסות הארץ כתחלה עד שגער בהם הקב"ה וכבשן תחת כפות רגליו ועשה חול גדר לים כאדם שהוא גודר לכרמו. וכשהן עולין ורואין את החול לפניהם חוזרין לאחוריהן שנאמר (ירמיה ה כב) האותי לא תיראו נאם ה' וגו' אשר שמתי חול גבול לים. ועד שלא נקוו המים נבראו התהומות ואלו הן התהומות אלו שתחת לארץ שהארץ על התהומות היא נרקעת כאניה שהיא צפה בלב ים כך הארץ מרוקעת על המים שנאמר (תהלים קלו ו) לרוקע הארץ על המים. ולהיכן הלכו אותן המים. רבי ברכיה בשם רבי יודן ורבי יהודה ברבי שלום. משל למה הדבר דומה לשתי קערות בשעה שאחת מליאה אחת ריקנית אבל אם היו שתיהן מלאות מה הן יכולין לעשות. הנודות בזמן שהן נפוחות ממלאות את הטרקלין ובשעה שהרוח יוצא מהן הן נפנות למקום אחד. כך היה העולם כולו מלא מים במים מה עשה הקב"ה כבש עליהן ויצא הרוח מהן שנאמר (איוב יב טו) יעצר במים וייבשו. וכן הוא אומר (שם ט ח) ודורך על במתי ים. ואומר (תהלים לג ז) כונס כנד מי הים. ולהיכן הלכו. אמר ר' לוי מלחשין אלו באלו להיכן אנו הולכין והם אומרים דרך ים דרך ים להדך פלן להדך פלן. ר' הונא מפיק לישנא לדוכתא פלן לדוכתא פלן. אמר רבי יהושע הכהן דכים מדוככין אנו קבלונו. אמר רבי ברכיה בשם רבי עזאי קולו של הקב"ה היה מטרטר לפניהם שנאמר (שם כט ג) קול ה' על המים. הוי נשאו נהרות דכים:
Another thing the rivers of God lifted up. Rabbi Berechiah said in the name of Ben Azai that the waters were rising and reaching up to the throne of glory, as it is said, "And the spirit of God was hovering over the face of the waters" (Genesis 1:2). And it also says, "As an eagle awakens its nest, hovering over its young" (Deuteronomy 32:11). And when the bee emerges from the mouth of the Almighty (Genesis 9:10), the waters would gather together. Mountains and hills rose up from the ends of the earth and spread throughout the land, creating valleys upon valleys in the midst of the earth, and the waters would roll and gather into the valleys, as it is said, "And he called the gathering of the waters 'Seas'" (Genesis 1:10). Immediately, the waters swelled and covered the land, until God rebuked them and pressed them beneath His feet, forming a border for the sea as a man makes a fence around his vineyard. And when the waters rose and saw the sand before them, they receded, as it is said, "Fear not, O Jacob My servant," says the Lord, "for I am with you; for I will make a complete end of all the nations where I have driven you, but I will not make a complete end of you. I will rightly correct you, for I will not leave you wholly unpunished" (Jeremiah 46:28). And before the waters were gathered together, the deeps were created. These are the depths that are beneath the earth, and the earth above them is split like a crack in a vessel, gazing into the heart of the sea. Thus, the earth is anchored upon the waters, as it is said, "Who laid the foundations of the earth, that it should not be removed forever" (Psalm 104:5). And where did those waters go? Rabbi Berechiah said in the name of Rabbi Yudan and Rabbi Yehudah, the son of Rabbi Shalom: "What is this thing like? It is like two bowls, one full and one empty. But if they were both full, what could they do? When they are full, they pour into the channel, and when the wind passes through them, they turn to one place. So the whole world was filled with water. What did the Holy One, blessed be He, do? He restrained them, and they dried up, as it is said, 'He holds back the waters, and they dry up; also, he sends them out, and they overturn the earth' (Job 12:15). And it also says, 'He walks on the high places of the sea' (Job 9:8), "He holds back the waters, and they dry up." And it also says (Micah 1:3), "He treads upon the high places of the sea." And it says (Psalm 33:7), "He gathers the waters of the sea together as a heap." And where did they go? Rabbi Levi said, "These whisper to these, 'Where are we going?' And they say, 'The way of the sea, the way of the sea, to make war with that country, to make war with that country.'" Rabbi Huna drew out a tongue of fire to each side. Rabbi Joshua ben Karcha said, "We have received that the voice of the Holy One, blessed be He, was roaring before them, as it is said (Psalm 29:3), 'The voice of the Lord is upon the waters.' The rivers raise their voice."
(ג) ...אַרְאֶנּוּ בְּיֵשַׁע אֱלֹהִים, אָמַר רַבִּי אַבָּהוּ זֶה אֶחָד מִן הַמִּקְרָאוֹת שֶׁיְשׁוּעָתוֹ שֶׁל הַקָּדוֹשׁ בָּרוּךְ הוּא יְשׁוּעָתָן שֶׁל יִשְׂרָאֵל (תהלים פ, ג): וּלְכָה לִישֻׁעָתָה לָּנוּ.
Another matter, “and for one who sets [vesam] his path” – Rabbi Yanai said: It is written vesham, [indicating] that one who assesses [deshayem] his path, his value is great. There was an incident involving Rabbi Yanai who was walking along the way, and he saw a certain person who was exceedingly distinguished in dress. He said to him: ‘Would the Rabbi [agree to] be received as a guest with us?’ He said to him: ‘Yes.’ He took him into his house and gave him food and drink. He tested him in Bible, but did not find him knowledgeable; in Mishna, but did not find him knowledgeable; in agadda, but did not find him knowledgeable; in Talmud, but did not find him knowledgeable. He said to him: ‘Take and recite the blessing.’ He said to him: ‘Let Yanai recite the blessing in his house.’ He said to him: ‘Are you able to repeat what I say to you?’ He said to him: ‘Yes.’ He said to him: ‘Say, the dog ate Yanai’s piece of bread.’ [The guest] stood and grabbed [Rabbi Yanai] and said to him: ‘My inheritance is with you and you are preventing me from it.’ He said: ‘In what sense is your inheritance with me?’ He said to him: ‘One time, I was passing before a school and I heard the voices of the children saying: “Moses commanded us Torah, the inheritance of the congregation of Jacob” (Deuteronomy 33:4). “The inheritance of the congregation of Yanai” is not written here, but rather “the congregation of Jacob.”’ He said to him: ‘Why did you merit to eat at my table?’ He said to him: ‘In all my days, I never heard a bad word and related it to its subject, and I never saw two [people] quarreling with one another and did not make peace between them.’ He said: ‘You have so much civility to your credit, and I called you a dog?’ He applied in his regard: “And for one who sets his path” – one who assesses his path, his value is great. As Rabbi Yishmael bar Rav Naḥman said: Civility preceded the Torah by twenty-six generations. That is what is written: “To guard the path to the tree of life” (Genesis 3:24). “Path,” this is civility, and then “the tree of life,” this is the Torah.
“I will show him the salvation of God” (Psalms 50:23), Rabbi Abahu said: This is one of the verses in which the salvation of the Holy One blessed be He is the salvation of Israel: “It is for You to save us” (Psalms 80:3).
“I will show him the salvation of God” (Psalms 50:23), Rabbi Abahu said: This is one of the verses in which the salvation of the Holy One blessed be He is the salvation of Israel: “It is for You to save us” (Psalms 80:3).
(יב) וּבָא אַהֲרֹן אֶל אֹהֶל מוֹעֵד (ויקרא טז, כג), תָּנֵי רַבִּי חִיָּא מְלַמֵּד שֶׁטְעוּנִין גְּנִיזָה וְאֵין כְּשֵׁרִים לְיוֹם הַכִּפּוּרִים אַחֵר, רַבִּי דוֹסָא אוֹמֵר כְּשֵׁרִין הֵן לְכֹהֵן הֶדְיוֹט. (ויקרא טז, יז): וְכָל אָדָם לֹא יִהְיֶה בְֹּאהֶל מוֹעֵד, בַּשָּׁנָה שֶׁמֵּת בָּהּ שִׁמְעוֹן הַצַּדִּיק, אָמַר לָהֶם בְּשָׁנָה זוֹ הוּא מֵת, אָמְרוּ לוֹ מִנַּיִן אַתָּה יוֹדֵעַ, אָמַר לָהֶם בְּכָל שָׁנָה וְשָׁנָה הָיָה זָקֵן אֶחָד לָבוּשׁ לְבָנִים וּמְעֻטָּף לְבָנִים נִכְנַס עִמִּי וְיָצָא עִמִּי, שָׁנָה זוֹ נִכְנַס עִמִּי וְלֹא יָצָא עִמִּי. אָמַר רַבִּי אַבָּהוּ וּמִי יֹאמַר שֶׁאָדָם הָיָה וַהֲלוֹא הַקָּדוֹשׁ בָּרוּךְ הוּא בִּכְבוֹדוֹ הָיָה נִכְנַס עִמּוֹ וְיוֹצֵא עִמּוֹ. אָמַר רַבִּי אַבָּהוּ וְכֹהֵן גָּדוֹל לֹא אָדָם הָיָה, אֶלָּא כְּהַהוּא דְּאָמַר רַבִּי פִּנְחָס בְּשָׁעָה שֶׁהָיָה רוּחַ הַקֹּדֶשׁ שָׁרוּי עָלָיו הָיוּ פָּנָיו בּוֹעֲרוֹת כְּלַפִּידִים עָלָיו, הֲדָא הוּא דִכְתִיב (מלאכי ב, ז): כִּי שִׂפְתֵי כֹהֵן יִשְׁמְרוּ דַּעַת וגו'.
“Aaron shall come into the Tent of Meeting, [and shall remove the linen vestments that he donned with his entry into the Sanctum, and he shall leave them there] (Leviticus 16:23). Rabbi Ḥiyya taught: This teaches that they require interment and are not fit for another Yom Kippur. Rabbi Dosa said: They are fit for a common priest.
“And no man shall be in the Tent of Meeting, [from his entry to atone in the Sanctum until his emergence]” (Leviticus 16:17). In the year Shimon HaTzadik died, he said to them: ‘This year, he will die.’ They said to him: ‘How do you know?’ He said to them: ‘Each and every year there has been a certain elder clothed in white and wrapped in white who would enter [the Holy of Holies] with me and emerge with me. This year, he entered with me but did not emerge with me.’ Rabbi Abahu said: ‘Who says that it was a person, was it not the Holy One blessed be He in His glory who would enter with him and emerge with him?’ Rabbi Abahu said: ‘Is the High Priest not a person? It is, rather, as Rabbi Pinḥas said: When the Divine Spirit was resting upon him, his face was aflame like torches upon him. That is what is written: “For the lips of the priest will safeguard knowledge…[as he is a messenger [malakh] of the Lord of hosts]”’ (Malachi 2:7).
“And no man shall be in the Tent of Meeting, [from his entry to atone in the Sanctum until his emergence]” (Leviticus 16:17). In the year Shimon HaTzadik died, he said to them: ‘This year, he will die.’ They said to him: ‘How do you know?’ He said to them: ‘Each and every year there has been a certain elder clothed in white and wrapped in white who would enter [the Holy of Holies] with me and emerge with me. This year, he entered with me but did not emerge with me.’ Rabbi Abahu said: ‘Who says that it was a person, was it not the Holy One blessed be He in His glory who would enter with him and emerge with him?’ Rabbi Abahu said: ‘Is the High Priest not a person? It is, rather, as Rabbi Pinḥas said: When the Divine Spirit was resting upon him, his face was aflame like torches upon him. That is what is written: “For the lips of the priest will safeguard knowledge…[as he is a messenger [malakh] of the Lord of hosts]”’ (Malachi 2:7).
אָז יָשִׁיר משֶׁה, הֲדָא הוּא דִּכְתִיב (תהלים צג, ב): נָכוֹן כִּסְאֲךָ מֵאָז, אָמַר רַבִּי בֶּרֶכְיָה בְּשֵׁם רַבִּי אַבָּהוּ, אַף עַל פִּי שֶׁמֵּעוֹלָם אָתָּה, לֹא נִתְיַשֵּׁב כִּסְאֲךָ וְלֹא נוֹדַעְתָּ בְּעוֹלָמְךָ עַד שֶׁאָמְרוּ בָּנֶיךָ שִׁירָה, לְכָךְ נֶאֱמַר: נָכוֹן כִּסְאֲךָ מֵאָז, מָשָׁל לְמֶלֶךְ שֶׁעָשָׂה מִלְחָמָה וְנָצַח, וְעָשׂוּ אוֹתוֹ אָגוּסְטוּס, אָמְרוּ לוֹ עַד שֶׁלֹא עָשִׂיתָ הַמִּלְחָמָה הָיִיתָ מֶלֶךְ, עַכְשָׁיו עֲשִׂינוּךָ אָגוּסְטוּס. מַה יֵּשׁ כָּבוֹד בֵּין הַמֶּלֶךְ לְאָגוּסְטוּס, אֶלָּא, הַמֶּלֶךְ עוֹמֵד עַל הַלּוּחַ וְאָגוּסְטוּס יוֹשֵׁב. כָּךְ אָמְרוּ יִשְׂרָאֵל, בֶּאֱמֶת עַד שֶׁלֹא בָּרָאתָ עוֹלָמְךָ הָיִיתָ אַתָּה, מִשֶּׁבָּרָאתָ אוֹתוֹ אַתָּה הוּא, אֶלָּא כִּבְיָכוֹל עוֹמֵד, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר (חבקוק ג, ו): עָמַד וַיְמֹדֶד אֶרֶץ, אֲבָל מִשֶּׁעָמַדְתָּ בַּיָּם וְאָמַרְנוּ שִׁירָה לְפָנֶיךָ בְּאָז, נִתְיַישְׁבָה מַלְכוּתְךָ וְכִסְאֲךָ נָכוֹן, הֱוֵי נָכוֹן כִּסְאֲךָ מֵאָז, בְּאָז יָשִׁיר.
“Then Moses and the children of Israel sang this song to the Lord, and spoke, saying: I will sing to the Lord, for He is exalted; the horse and his rider He cast into the sea” (Exodus 15:1).
“Then [az] Moses…sang” – that is what is written: “Your throne is established of old [me’az]; [You have existed from eternity]” (Psalms 93:2). Rabbi Berekhya said in the name of Rabbi Abahu: Even though “You have existed from eternity,” Your throne was not settled and You were not known in Your world until Your children sang a song. That is why it is stated: “Your throne is established of old.” This is analogous to a king who waged war and was victorious and they made him emperor. They said to him: ‘Until you waged war, you were king, now we have made you emperor.’ What is the difference between the deference accorded to a king and that accorded to an emperor? A king is depicted on a tablet standing, while an emperor is depicted seated. So, Israel said: ‘In truth, before You created the world You were You, and once You created the world You were You, but, as it were, standing, as it is stated: “He stood and measured the earth” (Habakkuk 3:6). But, when You stood at the sea and we sang a song before You with the term “az,” your kingdom was settled, and Your throne established.’ That is: “Your throne is established of old [me’az],” with “then [az] Moses…sang.”
“Then [az] Moses…sang” – that is what is written: “Your throne is established of old [me’az]; [You have existed from eternity]” (Psalms 93:2). Rabbi Berekhya said in the name of Rabbi Abahu: Even though “You have existed from eternity,” Your throne was not settled and You were not known in Your world until Your children sang a song. That is why it is stated: “Your throne is established of old.” This is analogous to a king who waged war and was victorious and they made him emperor. They said to him: ‘Until you waged war, you were king, now we have made you emperor.’ What is the difference between the deference accorded to a king and that accorded to an emperor? A king is depicted on a tablet standing, while an emperor is depicted seated. So, Israel said: ‘In truth, before You created the world You were You, and once You created the world You were You, but, as it were, standing, as it is stated: “He stood and measured the earth” (Habakkuk 3:6). But, when You stood at the sea and we sang a song before You with the term “az,” your kingdom was settled, and Your throne established.’ That is: “Your throne is established of old [me’az],” with “then [az] Moses…sang.”
כְּלוֹמַר: מִפְּנֵי מָה זֶה תָּלוּי? מִפְּנֵי שֶׁבֵּירַךְ כּוּ׳. תַּנְיָא, אוֹמֵר רַבִּי מֵאִיר: מָשְׁלוּ מָשָׁל, לְמָה הַדָּבָר דּוֹמֶה? לִשְׁנֵי אַחִים תְּאוֹמִים בְּעִיר אַחַת. אֶחָד מִינּוּהוּ מֶלֶךְ, וְאֶחָד יָצָא לְלִיסְטִיּוּת. צִוָּה הַמֶּלֶךְ וּתְלָאוּהוּ. כׇּל הָרוֹאֶה אוֹתוֹ אוֹמֵר: הַמֶּלֶךְ תָּלוּי. צִוָּה הַמֶּלֶךְ וְהוֹרִידוּהוּ.
§ The mishna teaches: That is to say: Were the dead man’s corpse to remain hanging, reminding everyone of his transgression, people would ask: For what reason was this one hung? They would be answered: Because he blessed God, a euphemism for blasphemy, and the name of Heaven would be desecrated. It is taught in a baraita that Rabbi Meir says: The Sages told a parable: To what is this matter comparable? It is comparable to two brothers who were twins and lived in the same city. One was appointed king, while the other went out to engage in banditry. The king commanded that his brother be punished, and they hanged his twin brother for his crimes. Anyone who saw the bandit hanging would say: The king was hanged. The king, therefore, commanded that his brother be taken down, and they took the bandit down. Similarly, people are created in God’s image, and therefore God is disgraced when a corpse is hung for a transgression that the person has committed.