R. Hana b. Abba stated: It was said at the house of the Rav: There are four things that the Holy One, blessed be He, regrets having created, and they are the following: Exile, the Chaldeans, the Ishmaelites and the Evil Inclination. “Exile”: as it is written, “Now, therefore, what am I doing here, says the Lord, seeing that My people is taken away in vain” (Isaiah 52:5). “The Chaldeans” as it is written, “Behold the land of the Chaldeans — this is the people that was not” (Isaiah 23:13). “The Ishmaelites,” as it is written, “The tents of the robbers prosper, and they that provoke God are secure since God brought them with His hand” (Job 12:6). “The Evil Inclination”, since it is written, “And her that I have afflicted” (Micah 4:6). R. Yohanan said, Were it not for following three Scriptural verses, the feet of the enemies of Israel would have sunk. One is the verse, “And her that I have afflicted”; the other is the verse, “Behold, as the clay in the potter’s hand, so are you in My hand, O House of Israel” (Jeremiah 18:6); and the third, “And I will take away the heart of stone out of your flesh, and I will give you a heart of flesh” (Ezekiel 36:26). R. Papa observed: The following verse as well, “And I will put My spirit into you” (Ezekiel 36:27).... “And the Lord showed me four craftsmen” (Zechariah 2:3). Who are these ‘four craftsmen’? R. Hana b. Bizna said in the name of R. Shimon Hasida: The Messiah the son of David, the Messiah the son of Joseph, Elijah and the Righteous Priest. R. Sheshet objected: If so, was it correct to write, “These are the horns which scattered Judah,” whereas these come to restore them. He said to him: ] Go to the end of the verse: “These have come to frighten them, to cast down the horns of the nations, which lifted up their horns against the Land of Judah, to scatter it. He said to him: Why should I argue with Hana in Aggada? And this shall be peace: when the Assyrian shall come into our land, and when he shall tread in our palaces, then shall we raise up against him seven shepherds and eight princes among men” (Micah 5:4). Who are the “seven shepherds”? — David in the middle, Adam, Seth and Methuselah on his right, and Abraham, Jacob and Moses on his left. And who are the “eight princes among men”? — Yishai, Shaul, Shmuel, Amos, Zephaniah, Zedekiah, the Messiah, and Elijah.