איכה רבה ב׳Eichah Rabbah 2

Chapter 2 of 5 in Eichah Rabbah — 25 sections

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Section 1א׳

הָהְפַּךְ עָלַי בַּלָּהוֹת (איוב ל, טו), אָמַר רַבִּי חֲנִינָא אָמְרָה כְּנֶסֶת יִשְׂרָאֵל לִפְנֵי הַקָּדוֹשׁ בָּרוּךְ הוּא, לְשֶׁעָבַר הָיִיתִי אֲנִי מַבְהֶלֶת לַאֲחֵרִים, כְּמָה דְאַתְּ אָמַר (אסתר ו, יד): וַיַּבְהִלוּ לְהָבִיא אֶת הָמָן, וְכָתוּב אֶחָד אוֹמֵר (יחזקאל כו, כא): בַּלָּהוֹת אֶתְּנֵךְ וְאֵינֵךְ, וְאוֹמֵר (שמות טו, טו): אָז נִבְהֲלוּ אַלּוּפֵי אֱדוֹם, וְעַכְשָׁיו הֲפוּכָה עָלַי, אָמַר רַבִּי אַחָא לְחֶלְיוֹ שֶׁל עַמּוּד, שֶׁהָיְתָה מִתְהַפֶּכֶת בְּתוֹךְ הַפְּלַטְיָא, וְהִטִּיסָה בִּצְרוֹר וְנִסְמְכָה, כָּךְ (תהלים פח, ח): עָלַי סָמְכָה חֲמָתֶךָ. תִּרְדֹּף כָּרוּחַ נְדִבָתִי. בְּנֵי אָדָם שֶׁהֵם נְדִיבִים וּרְאוּיִין לָבֹא לִי גְאֻלָּה עַל יְדֵיהֶם, אַתְּ מְרַדְּפָן כָּרוּחַ. וּכְעָב עָבְרָה יְשֻׁעָתִי, בְּנֵי אָדָם שֶׁהֵם נְדִיבִים וּרְאוּיִים לָבֹא לִי יְשׁוּעָה עַל יְדֵיהֶם, אַתְּ מְסִיטָן וּמַעֲבִירָן כְּעָבִים, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר: אֵיכָה יָעִיב בְּאַפּוֹ ה' אֶת בַּת צִיּוֹן. וּכְתִיב (דברים ח, כ): כַּגּוֹיִם אֲשֶׁר ה' מַאֲבִיד מִפְּנֵיכֶם, תֹּאמַר מָה אֵלּוּ בְּכֹהֵן וְנָבִיא אַף אֵלּוּ בְּכֹהֵן וְנָבִיא, וּמָה אֵלּוּ בְּשׁוֹפָר וּבִתְרוּעָה כָּךְ אֵלּוּ בְּשׁוֹפָר וּבִתְרוּעָה, וּמָה אֵלּוּ בְּאַרְבָּעָה עָשָׂר, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר (עזרא ד, ט): דִּינָיֵא וַאֲפַרְסַתְכָיֵא טַרְפְּלָיֵא אֲפָרְסָיֵא אַרְכְּוָיֵא בָבְלָיֵא שׁוּשַׁנְכָיֵא דְּהָיֵא עֵלְמָיֵא, וּשְׁאָר אֻמַּיָּא דִּי הַגְלִי אָסְנַפַּר רַבָּא וְיַקִּירָא, תֹּאמַר אַף אֵלּוּ בְּאַרְבָּעָה עָשָׂר, דִּכְתִיב (ישעיה יז, ט): בַּיּוֹם הַהוּא יִהְיוּ עָרֵי מָעֻזּוֹ כַּעֲזוּבַת הַחֹרֶשׁ וְהָאָמִיר, מַהוּ הָאָמִיר רַבִּי פִּנְחָס אָמַר כִּדְאִימְרֵי. רַבִּי יְהוּדָה בְּרַבִּי סִימוֹן אָמַר כָּאָמוּר בַּתּוֹרָה, דִּכְתִיב: כַּגּוֹיִם אֲשֶׁר ה' מַאֲבִיד מִפְּנֵיכֶם. תֹּאמַר מָה אֵלּוּ בִּנְפִילַת הַחוֹמָה, דִּכְתִיב (יהושע ו, כ): וַתִּפֹּל הַחוֹמָה תַּחְתֶּיהָ, אַף אֵלּוּ בִּנְפִילַת חוֹמָה, מָה אֵלּוּ בְּעָבִים, דִּכְתִיב (ירמיה ד, כט): בָּאוּ בֶּעָבִים וּבַכֵּפִים, אַף אֵלּוּ בֶּעָבִים אֵיכָה יָעִיב בְּאַפּוֹ.

“How the Lord has clouded the daughter of Zion in His wrath. He cast the splendor of Israel from the heavens to the earth, and did not remember His footstool on the day of His wrath” (Lamentations 2:1). “Terror [balahot] overwhelms me” (Job 30:15). Rabbi Ḥanina said: The congregation of Israel said before the Holy One blessed be He: In the past, it was I [Israel] who would terrify others, just as it says: “They hastened [vayavhilu] to bring Haman” (Esther 6:14). And another verse says: “I will render you a terror and you will be no more” (Ezekiel 26:21). And it says: “Then the chieftains of Edom were terrified” (Exodus 15:15). Now it has been reversed against me. Rabbi Aḥa said: [This is analogous] to a segment of a pillar that was rolling through a plaza, and it collided with a rock and remained adjacent to it. So, “Your wrath weighs upon me” (Psalms 88:8). “It pursues my virtue [nedivati] like the wind” (Job 30:15), people who are noble minded [nedivim] and are worthy to have redemption come through them, You scatter them like the wind. “And like a cloud, my salvation passes” (Job 30:15), people who are noble minded and are worthy to have salvation come through them, You divert them and cause them to pass like clouds, as it is stated: “How the Lord has clouded the daughter of Zion in His wrath.” And it is written: “Like the nations that the Lord is eliminating from before you [so you will be eliminated]” (Deuteronomy 8:20). Say that just as those were with a priest and a prophet, so, too, these were with a priest and a prophet. Just like those, it was with a shofar and shouting, so, too, these were with a shofar and shouting. And just as these were fourteen, as it is stated: “The Dinites, and the Afaresatekhites, the Tarpelites, the Afaresites, the Arkevites, the Babylonians, the Shushankhites, the Dehites, the Elamites, and the rest of the nations whom the great and honored Asenapar exiled” (Ezra 4:9–10), say that these, too, were fourteen, as it is written: “On that day, his fortified cities will be like the abandoned forest and the treetop [haamir] that they abandoned” (Isaiah 17:9). What is haamir? It is as stated. Rabbi Yehuda ben Rabbi Simon said: As it is stated in the Torah: “Like the nations that the Lord is eliminating from before you [so you will be eliminated]” (Deuteronomy 8:20). Say that just as these were with the collapse of the wall, as it is written: “The wall collapsed in its place” (Joshua 6:20), these, too, were with the collapse of the wall. Just as these were with thickets [avim], as it is written: “They go into thickets [be’avim]…and into the rocks” (Jeremiah 4:29), these, too, were with avim, “how the Lord has clouded [ya’iv]…in His wrath.”

Section 2ב׳

אֵיכָה יָעִיב בְּאַפּוֹ ה' אֶת בַּת צִיּוֹן. אָמַר רַבִּי חָמָא בַּר רַבִּי חֲנִינָא אֵיךְ חַיֵּיב ה' בְּרוּגְזֵיהּ יָת בַּת צִיּוֹן. אִית אַתְרָא דְּצָוְוחִין לְחַיָּיבָא עֲיָיבָא. רַבִּי שְׁמוּאֵל בַּר נַחְמָנִי אָמַר, אֵיךְ כַּיֵּיב ה' בְּרוּגְזֵיהּ. אִית אַתְרָא דְּצַוְוחִין לְכֵיבָא עֵייבָא. וְרַבָּנָן אָמְרִין אֵיךְ שַׁיֵּים ה' בְּרוּגְזֵיהּ יָת בַּת צִיּוֹן. הִשְׁלִיךְ מִשָּׁמַיִם אֶרֶץ תִּפְאֶרֶת יִשְׂרָאֵל, רַבִּי הוּנָא וְרַבִּי אַחָא בְּשֵׁם רַבִּי חֲנִינָא בְּרֵיהּ דְּרַבִּי אַבָּהוּ, מָשָׁל לְמֶלֶךְ שֶׁהָיָה לוֹ בֵּן, בָּכָה וּנְתָנוֹ עַל אַרְכּוּבוֹתָיו, בָּכָה וּנְתָנוֹ עַל זְרוֹעוֹתָיו, בָּכָה וְהִרְכִּיבוֹ עַל כְּתֵפוֹ, טִנֵּף עָלָיו וּמִיָּד הִשְׁלִיכוֹ לָאָרֶץ, וְלָא הֲוַת מְחוּתִיתֵיהּ כִּמְסוּקִיתֵיהּ, מְסוּקִיתֵיהּ צִיבְחַר צִיבְחַר, וּמְחוּתִיתֵיהּ כּוֹלָּא חֲדָא. כָּךְ (הושע יא, ג): וְאָנֹכִי תִרְגַּלְתִּי לְאֶפְרַיִם קָחָם עַל זְרוֹעֹתָיו. וְאַחַר כָּךְ (הושע י, יא): אַרְכִּיב אֶפְרַיִם יַחֲרוֹשׁ יְהוּדָה יְשַׂדֶּד לוֹ יַעֲקֹב. וְאַחַר כָּךְ: הִשְׁלִיךְ מִשָּׁמַיִם אֶרֶץ תִּפְאֶרֶת יִשְׂרָאֵל. דָּבָר אַחֵר, הִשְׁלִיךְ מִשָּׁמַיִם אֶרֶץ תִּפְאֶרֶת יִשְׂרָאֵל, אָמַר רַבִּי יְהוֹשֻׁעַ בְּרַבִּי נַחְמָן מָשָׁל לִבְנֵי מְדִינָה שֶׁעָשׂוּ עֲטָרָה לַמֶּלֶךְ, הִקְנִיטוּהוּ וּסְבָלָן, הִקְנִיטוּהוּ וּסְבָלָן, אָחַר כָּךְ אָמַר לָהֶם הַמֶּלֶךְ כְּלוּם אַתֶּם מַקְנִיטִין אוֹתִי אֶלָּא בַּעֲבוּר עֲטָרָה שֶׁעִטַּרְתֶּם לִי, הֵא לְכוֹן טְרוֹן בְּאַפֵּיכוֹן, כָּךְ אָמַר הַקָּדוֹשׁ בָּרוּךְ הוּא לְיִשְׂרָאֵל, כְּלוּם אַתֶּם מַקְנִיטִין אוֹתִי אֶלָּא בִּשְׁבִיל אִיקוּנִין שֶׁל יַעֲקֹב שֶׁחֲקוּקָה עַל כִּסְאִי, הֵא לְכוֹן טְרוֹן בְּאַפֵּיכוֹן, הֱוֵי: הִשְׁלִיךְ מִשָּׁמַיִם אֶרֶץ וגו'.

“How the Lord has clouded [ya’iv] the daughter of Zion in His wrath.” Rabbi Ḥama bar Rabbi Ḥanina said: How did the Lord condemn in His wrath the daughter of Zion? There are places where they call one who is liable [ḥayava], ayava. Rabbi Shmuel bar Naḥmani said: How did the Lord cause pain [kayev] in His wrath? There are places that call pain [keiva], eiva. The Rabbis say: How did the Lord cloud in His wrath the vision of the daughter of Zion? “He cast the splendor of Israel from the heavens to the earth.” Rabbi Huna and Rabbi Aḥa, in the name of Rabbi Ḥanina son of Rabbi Abahu: This is analogous to a king who had a son. [The son] wept and he placed him on his knees. He wept and he placed him in his arms. He wept and he placed him on his shoulders. He made a mess upon him and he immediately cast him to the ground. His descent was not like his ascent. His ascent was in increments, but his descent was all at once. So too, “I have coddled [tirgalti] Ephraim, taking them by their arms” (Hosea 11:3). Then, “I have elevated Ephraim; Judah has plowed, Jacob has harrowed for him” (Hosea 10:11). Then, “He cast the splendor of Israel from the heavens to the earth.” Another matter, “He cast the splendor of Israel from the heavens to the earth.” Rabbi Yehoshua ben Rabbi Naḥman said: This is analogous to residents of a province who crafted a crown for the king. They provoked him and he tolerated them. They provoked him and he tolerated them. Then the king said to them: ‘Are you not provoking me only due to the crown with which you crowned me? Here it is, thrown in your faces.’ So too, the Holy One blessed be He said to Israel: ‘Are you not provoking Me only due to the image of Jacob that is engraved on My throne? Here it is, thrown in your faces.’ That is: “He cast [the splendor of Israel] from the heavens to the earth.”

Section 3ג׳

וְלֹא זָכַר הֲדֹם רַגְלָיו, אָמַר רַבִּי חֲנִינָא בַּר יִצְחָק, אֵין הַקָּדוֹשׁ בָּרוּךְ הוּא זוֹכֵר אוֹתוֹ הַדָּם שֶׁל בֵּין רַגְלָיו שֶׁל זָקֵן, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר (בראשית יז, כד): וְאַבְרָהָם בֶּן תִּשְׁעִים וָתֵשַׁע שָׁנָה בְּהִמֹּלוֹ בְּשַׂר עָרְלָתוֹ, אָמַר רַבִּי יוּדָן לְמֶלֶךְ שֶׁתָּפַשׂ אֶת שׂוֹנְאָיו וַהֲרָגָן, וְהָיוּ בְּנֵי הַמְדִינָה מְפַרְכְּסִין בְּדַם שׂוֹנְאָיו, פַּעַם אַחַת הִקְנִיטוּהוּ וּדְחָפָן וְהוֹצִיאָן חוּץ לַפָּלָטִין, אָמְרוּ אֵין הַמֶּלֶךְ נִזְכַּר לָנוּ אוֹתוֹ הַדָּם שֶׁהָיִינוּ מְפַרְכְּסִין בְּדַם שׂוֹנְאָיו, כָּךְ אָמְרוּ יִשְׂרָאֵל לִפְנֵי הַקָּדוֹשׁ בָּרוּךְ הוּא, אֵין אַתְּ נִזְכַּר לָנוּ אוֹתוֹ הַדָּם שֶׁבְּמִצְרַיִם, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר (שמות יב, ז): וְלָקְחוּ מִן הַדָּם וְנָתְנוּ עַל שְׁתֵּי הַמְּזוּזֹת וְעַל הַמַּשְׁקוֹף. דָּבָר אַחֵר, וְלֹא זָכַר הֲדֹם רַגְלָיו, אֵין הֲדֹם זֶה אֶלָּא בֵּית הַמִּקְדָּשׁ, הֲדָא הוּא דִכְתִיב (תהלים צט, ה): רוֹמְמוּ ה' אֱלֹהֵינוּ וְהִשְׁתַּחֲווּ לַהֲדֹם רַגְלָיו קָדוֹשׁ הוּא. בְּיוֹם אַפּוֹ, אָמַר רַבִּי אַחָא יוֹם אֶחָד הָיָה חֲרוֹן אַפּוֹ שֶׁל הַקָּדוֹשׁ בָּרוּךְ הוּא, וְאִלּוּ עָשׂוּ יִשְׂרָאֵל תְּשׁוּבָה פָּשְׁרוּ. (יחזקאל ט, א): וַיִּקְרָא בְאָזְנַי קוֹל גָּדוֹל לֵאמֹר קָרְבוּ פְּקֻדּוֹת הָעִיר וְאִישׁ כְּלִי מַשְׁחֵתוֹ בְּיָדוֹ, עַד הֵיכָן חֶטְאוֹ שֶׁל עֵגֶל קַיָּם, רַבִּי בֶּרֶכְיָה וְאָמְרֵי לָהּ רַבִּי נְחֶמְיָה בֶּן אֶלְעָזָר עַד עֲגָלָיו שֶׁל יָרָבְעָם בֶּן נְבָט, הֲדָא הוּא דִכְתִיב (הושע ז, א): כְּרָפְאִי לְיִשְׂרָאֵל וְנִגְלָה עֲוֹן אֶפְרַיִם וְרָעוֹת שֹׁמְרוֹן, אָמַר הַקָּדוֹשׁ בָּרוּךְ הוּא בָּאתִי לְרַפְּאוֹת לְיִשְׂרָאֵל מֵחֶטְאוֹ שֶׁל עֵגֶל, וְנִגְלָה רָעוֹת שֹׁמְרוֹן. רַבִּי יִשְׁמָעֵאל בַּר נַחְמָנִי בְּשֵׁם רַבִּי יוֹחָנָן אָמַר עַד חֻרְבַּן בֵּית הַמִּקְדָּשׁ, דִּכְתִיב: קָרְבוּ פְּקֻדּוֹת הָעִיר וְאִישׁ כְּלִי מַשְׁחֵתוֹ בְּיָדוֹ, וּכְתִיב (שמות לב, לד): וּבְיוֹם פָּקְדִי וּפָקַדְתִּי עֲלֵיהֶם חַטָּאתָם. כְּתִיב (יחזקאל ט, ב): וְהִנֵּה שִׁשָּׁה אֲנָשִׁים בָּאִים מִדֶּרֶךְ שַׁעַר הָעֶלְיוֹן אֲשֶׁר מָפְנֶה צָפוֹנָה וְאִישׁ כְּלִי מַפָּצוֹ בְּיָדוֹ וְאִישׁ אֶחָד בְּתוֹכָם לָבֻשׁ בַּדִּים וְקֶסֶת הַסֹּפֵר בְּמָתְנָיו וַיָּבֹאוּ וַיַּעַמְדוּ אֵצֶל מִזְבַּח הַנְּחשֶׁת. כְּתִיב הָכָא: וְהִנֵּה שִׁשָּׁה, וַהֲלֹא חָמֵשׁ גְּזֵרוֹת הֵן, דִּכְתִיב (יחזקאל ט, ה): וּלְאֵלֶּה אָמַר בְּאָזְנַי עִבְרוּ בָעִיר אַחֲרָיו וְהַכּוּ אַל תָּחֹס עֵינְכֶם וְאַל תַּחְמֹלוּ. וּכְתִיב (יחזקאל ט, ו): זָקֵן בָּחוּר וּבְתוּלָה וְטַף וְנָשִׁים תַּהַרְגוּ לְמַשְׁחִית, אָמַר רַבִּי יוֹחָנָן לְמַלְאָךְ קָשֶׁה שֶׁבֵּינֵיהֶם אָמַר, זֶה גַּבְרִיאֵל, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר (יחזקאל ט, ב): וְאִישׁ אֶחָד בְּתוֹכָם לָבֻשׁ בַּדִּים וְקֶסֶת הַסֹּפֵר בְּמָתְנָיו, שְׁלשָׁה דְּבָרִים הָיָה אוֹתוֹ מַלְאָךְ מְשַׁמֵּשׁ, קֶסְנָטוֹר, סְפֶּקְלָטוֹר, וְכֹהֵן גָּדוֹל. קֶסְנָטוֹר, דִּכְתִיב: וְקֶסֶת הַסֹּפֵר בְּמָתְנָיו. סְפֶּקְלָטוֹר, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר (ישעיה לד, ב): הֶחֱרִימָם נְתָנָם לַטָּבַח. וְכֹהֵן גָּדוֹל, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר: וְאִישׁ אֶחָד בְּתוֹכָם לָבֻשׁ בַּדִּים, וּכְתִיב בְּכֹהֵן (ויקרא טז, ד): כְּתֹנֶת בַּד קֹדֶשׁ יִלְבָּשׁ. וְאִישׁ כְּלִי מַפָּצוֹ בְּיָדוֹ, מָאנֵי זַיְינֵיהּ, מָאנֵי סִיתוֹרְיָיתָה, וּמָאנֵי גָּלוּתֵיהּ. מָאנֵי זַיְינֵיהּ: וְאִישׁ כְּלִי מַפָּצוֹ בְּיָדוֹ. וּמָאנֵי סִיתוֹרְיָיתָה (ישעיה כז, ט): בְּשׂוּמוֹ כָּל אַבְנֵי מִזְבֵּחַ כְּאַבְנֵי גִר מְנֻפָּצוֹת. וּמָאנֵי גָּלוּתֵיהּ, דִּכְתִיב (ירמיה נא, כ): מַפֵּץ אַתָּה לִי כְּלֵי מִלְחָמָה. וּכְתִיב: וַיָּבֹאוּ וַיַּעַמְדוּ אֵצֶל מִזְבַּח הַנְּחשֶׁת, רַבִּי יְהוּדָה בְּרַבִּי סִימוֹן אָמַר עַד מְקוֹם מְחִיצָתוֹ. וְרַבָּנָן אָמְרֵי עוֹמֵד וּמַזְכִּיר חֲטָאִין שֶׁל אָחָז, דִּכְתִיב בֵּיהּ (מלכים ב טז, טו): וּמִזְבַּח הַנְּחשֶׁת יִהְיֶה לִי לְבַקֵּר, מַהוּ לְבַקֵּר, אָמַר רַבִּי פִּינְחָס פְּסָלוֹ וַעֲשָׂאוֹ בַּעֲלֵי מוּמִין, כְּמָה דְאַתְּ אָמַר (ויקרא יג, לו): לֹא יְבַקֵּר הַכֹּהֵן. (יחזקאל ט, ד): וַיֹּאמֶר ה' אֵלָו עֲבֹר בְּתוֹךְ הָעִיר יְרוּשָׁלָיִם, אֵלוֹ כְּתִיב, אָמַר רַבִּי שִׁמְעוֹן בֶּן לָקִישׁ לַמַּלְאָךְ הַקָּשֶׁה שֶׁבָּהֶן [אמר זה גבריאל]. וְהִתְוִיתָ תָּו, רַב נַחְמָן אָמַר אֵלּוּ בְּנֵי אָדָם שֶׁקִּיְּמוּ אֶת הַתּוֹרָה מֵאָלֶ"ף וְעַד תָּי"ו. וְרַבָּנָן אָמְרֵי חִתּוּכִין וּפִסְפָּס. וְרַב אָמַר עַל שֶׁנִּתְּנָה בְּכָל צַד תָּי"ו, תִּיהֵי תִּיהֵי וּתְחֵי תְחֵי. אָמַר רַבִּי חֲנִינָא בַּר יִצְחָק תַּמָּה זְכוּת אֲבוֹתֵיהֶן. רַבִּי הוֹשַׁעְיָא שָׁלַח וְאָמַר לְרַבִּי סִימוֹן בִּשְׁבִיל שֶׁאַתְּ שָׁרוּי בְּבֵיתוֹ שֶׁל קָצִין מִפְּנֵי מָה אֵין אַתָּה מוֹכִיחָן, אָמַר לוֹ הַלְּוַאי נֶהֱוֵי מֵאוֹתָן שֶׁכָּתוּב בָּהֶן הַנֶּאֱנָחִים וְהַנֶּאֱנָקִים, אָמַר לוֹ וַהֲלֹא מֵהֶן הִתְחִילָה הַפֻּרְעָנוּת, דִּכְתִיב (יחזקאל ט, ה): וּלְאֵלֶּה אָמַר בְּאָזְנַי, אָמַר רַבִּי אֶלְעָזָר לְעוֹלָם אֵין הַקָּדוֹשׁ בָּרוּךְ הוּא מְיַחֵד שְׁמוֹ עַל הָרָעָה אֶלָּא עַל הַטּוֹבָה, הֲדָא הוּא דִכְתִיב וּלְאֵלֶּה אָמַר אֱלֹהִים בְּאָזְנַי, אֵין כְּתִיב כָּאן, אֶלָּא וּלְאֵלֶּה אָמַר בְּאָזְנַי עִבְרוּ בָעִיר אַחֲרָיו וְהַכּוּ אַל תָּחֹס עֵינְכֶם וְאַל תַּחְמֹלוּ, זָקֵן בָּחוּר וּבְתוּלָה טַף וְנָשִׁים תַּהַרְגוּ לְמַשְׁחִית וְעַל כָּל אִישׁ אֲשֶׁר עָלָיו הַתָּו אַל תִּגַּשׁוּ וּמִמִּקְדָּשִׁי תָּחֵלּוּ. וְהֵיאַךְ זֶה, אֶלָּא בְּאוֹתָהּ שָׁעָה קָפְצָה קָטֵיגוֹרְיָא לִפְנֵי כִסֵּא הַכָּבוֹד, אָמְרָה לְפָנָיו רִבּוֹן הָעוֹלָם אֵיזֶה מֵהֶן נֶהֱרַג עַל שְׁמֶךָ, אֵיזֶה מֵהֶן נִפְצַע מֹחוֹ עַל שְׁמֶךָ, אֵיזֶה מֵהֶן נָתַן נַפְשׁוֹ עַל שְׁמֶךָ, אָמַר אֵין בָּהֶם כְּדֵי שְׁטָר. רַבִּי אַיְּבוּ אָמַר, אָמַר הַקָּדוֹשׁ בָּרוּךְ הוּא יֶחֱרַב בֵּית הַמִּקְדָּשׁ וְאַל תִּגַּע יַד בַּצַּדִּיקִים. רַבִּי יְהוּדָה בְּרַבִּי סִימוֹן אָמַר הוּא וְהֵם יֵשׁ בָּהֶם כְּדֵי שְׁטָר. רַבִּי תַּנְחוּמָא וְרַבִּי אַבָּא בְּשֵׁם רַבִּי אַבָּא, מֵעוֹלָם לֹא אָמַר הַקָּדוֹשׁ בָּרוּךְ הוּא דָּבָר טוֹב וְחוֹזֵר בּוֹ, וְכָאן חָזַר בּוֹ, הֲדָא הוּא דִכְתִיב (יחזקאל ט, ו): וּמִמִּקְדָּשִׁי תָּחֵלּוּ, אַל תִּקְרֵי וּמִמִּקְדָּשִׁי אֶלָּא וּמִמְקֻדָּשַּׁי תָּחֵלּוּ. מִיָּד מַה כְּתִיב: וַיָּחֵלּוּ בָּאֲנָשִׁים הַזְּקֵנִים אֲשֶׁר לִפְנֵי הַבָּיִת. וּכְתִיב: וַיֹּאמֶר אֲלֵיהֶם טַמְּאוּ אֶת הַבַּיִת וּמַלְאוּ אֶת הַחֲצֵרוֹת חֲלָלִים צֵאוּ וְיָצְאוּ וְהִכּוּ בָעִיר. וּכְתִיב (יחזקאל ט, ח): וַיְהִי כְּהַכּוֹתָם וְנֵאשֲׁאַר אָנִי וָאֶפְּלָה עַל פָּנַי וָאֶזְעַק [קול גדול] וָאֹמַר אֲהָהּ אֲדֹנָי אֱלֹהִים הֲמַשְׁחִית אַתָּה אֵת כָּל שְׁאֵרִית יִשְׂרָאֵל, וְאֵין שְׁאֵרִית אֶלָּא צַדִּיקִים, לְכָךְ בָּא וְאָמַר: בִּלַּע ה' וְלֹא חָמַל וגו'.

“And did not remember His footstool [hadom raglav],” Rabbi Ḥanina bar Yitzḥak said: The Holy One blessed be He does not remember that blood [hadam] that was between the legs of the elder, as it is stated: “Abraham was ninety-nine years old when he was circumcised on the flesh of his foreskin” (Genesis 17:24). Rabbi Yudan said: [This is analogous] to a king who seized his enemies and killed them, and the residents of his province were dipping their feet in the blood of his enemies. One time, they provoked him and he expelled them from his palace. They said: ‘The king does not remember to our credit that blood in which we dipped our feet, the blood of his enemies.’ So too, Israel said before the Holy One blessed be He: ‘You do not remember to our credit that blood that was in Egypt, as it is stated: “You shall take from the blood and you shall place it on the doorposts and on the lintel”’ (Exodus 12:7). Alternatively, “and did not remember His footstool,” footstool is nothing other than the Temple. That is what is written: “Exalt the Lord our God and prostrate yourselves to His footstool; He is holy” (Psalms 99:5). “On the day of His wrath,” Rabbi Aḥa said: The wrath of the Holy One blessed be He was one day. Had Israel repented, they would have moderated it. “He called in my ears with a loud voice, saying: Those appointed over the city, approach, each with his weapon of destruction in his hand” (Ezekiel 9:1). Until when is the sin of the calf in existence? Rabbi Berekhya, and some say Rabbi Neḥemya ben Elazar, [said]: Until the calves of Yerovam ben Nevat. That is what is written: “When I will heal Israel, the iniquity of Ephraim and the evildoing of Samaria will be revealed” (Hosea 7:1). The Holy One blessed be He said: ‘I came to heal Israel of the sin of the calf, and the evils of Samaria were revealed.’ Rabbi Yishmael bar Naḥmani said in the name of Rabbi Yoḥanan: Until the destruction of the Temple, as it is written: “Those appointed over the city [pekudot] approach, each with his weapon of destruction in his hand” (Ezekiel 9:1), and it is written: “And on the day of My reckoning, I will reckon [pakadti] their sin upon them” (Exodus 32:34). It is written: “And behold, six men were coming from the way of the Upper Gate, which faces northward, each with his weapon of destruction in his hand, and one man in their midst was clad in linen, with a scribe's inkwell at his waist. They came and they stood beside the bronze altar” (Ezekiel 9:2). It says six here, but were there not five decrees? As it is written: “And to those He said in my earshot: Pass through the city behind him and smite; let your eye not pity and do not have compassion” (Ezekiel 9:5). And it is written: “Slay utterly the elderly, the youth, the young woman and the child, and the women” (Ezekiel 9:6). Rabbi Yoḥanan said: He spoke to the most severe angel in their midst, this is Gavriel, as it is stated: “And one man in their midst was clad in linen, with a scribe's inkwell at his waist” (Ezekiel 9:2). That angel served in three capacities: Scribe, executioner, and a High Priest. A scribe as it is written: “With a scribe's inkwell at his waist.” An executioner, as it is stated: “He destroyed them, delivered them to slaughter.” (Isaiah 34:2). High Priest, as it is stated: “And one man in their midst was clad in linen,” and it is written regarding a priest: “He shall don a sacred linen tunic” (Leviticus 16:4). “Each with his weapon of destruction [mapatzo] in his hand” (Ezekiel 9:1), his weapons, his razing equipment, and his equipment for causing exile. His weapons, “each with his weapon of destruction in his hand,” his razing equipment, “As he renders all the altar stones like shattered limestone” (Isaiah 27:9), his equipment for causing exile, as it is written: “You are a weapon of destruction [mapetz] for Me, weapons of war” (Jeremiah 51:20). And it is written: “They came and they stood beside the bronze altar” (Ezekiel 9:2). Rabbi Yehuda ben Rabbi Simon said: Until the place of its boundary. The Rabbis say: They stand and call attention the sins of Aḥaz, in whose regard it is written: “The bronze altar will be for me to visit” (II Kings 16:15). What is to visit [levaker]? Rabbi Pinḥas said: He disqualified it and rendered it blemished, just as it says: “The priest shall not deem impure [yevaker]” (Leviticus 13:36). “The Lord said to him [elav]: Pass through the midst of the city…Jerusalem” (Ezekiel 9:4). Elo is written. Rabbi Shimon ben Lakish said: to the most severe angel among them, . “You shall set a mark [tav] [upon the foreheads of the men…]” (Ezekiel 9:4). Rav Naḥman said: These are the people who fulfilled the Torah from alef through tav. The Rabbis say: [It connoted] disintegration and dissolution. Rav said: A tav was placed because it connotes either side: Desolation, desolation [tihi] and live, live [teḥi]. Rabbi Ḥanina bar Yitzḥak said: The merit of their ancestors has concluded [tama]. Rabbi Hoshaya sent [a message] to Rabbi Simon, saying: ‘Since you are situated in the household of the Exilarch, why do you not rebuke them?’ He said to him: ‘If only we may be among those of whom it is written, “[the men] that sigh and that cry [for all the abominations that are done in its midst”’ (Ezekiel 9:4). He said to him: ‘But was it not from them that the calamity began? As it is written: “And to those He said in my earshot: [Pass through the city behind him and smite; let your eye not pity and do not have compassion]”’ (Ezekiel 9:5). Rabbi Elazar said: The Holy One blessed be He never associates His name with evil, but rather with good. That is what is written [in this verse]. And to those God said in my earshot is not written here, but rather: “And to those He said in my earshot: Pass through the city behind him and smite; let your eye not pity and do not have compassion.” “The elderly, the youth and the maiden, the children and the women you shall kill for destruction, but do not approach any man upon whom is the sign; begin from My Temple” (Ezekiel 9:6). How is it so? At that moment, prosecution sprung before the Throne of Glory. It said before Him: ‘Master of the universe: Which of them was killed for the sake of Your name? Which of them had his brain pierced for the sake of Your name? Which of them gave his life for the sake of Your name?’ He said: ‘They do not warrant a writ of condemnation.’ Rabbi Aivu said: The Holy One blessed be He said: ‘Let My Temple be destroyed but let no hand touch the righteous.’ Rabbi Yehuda ben Rabbi Simon said: It and they warrant a writ of condemnation. Rabbi Tanḥuma and Rabbi Abba [said] in the name of Rabbi Abba: The Holy One blessed be He never said a positive statement and recanted, but here He recanted. That is what is written: “Begin with My Temple” (Ezekiel 9:6). Do not read it as My Temple [mikdashi], but rather as My holy ones [mekudashai]: “Begin with My holy ones.” Immediately, what is written: “It was as they were smiting, and I remained and I fell upon my face, and I cried out and said: Alas, Lord God, are You destroying the entire remnant of Israel?” (Ezekiel 9:8). “Remnant” is nothing other than the righteous; therefore he comes and says: “The Lord demolished and had no compassion.”

Section 4ד׳

בִּלַּע ה' וְלֹא חָמַל אֵת כָּל נְאוֹת יַעֲקֹב, רַבִּי פִּנְחָס בְּשֵׁם רַבִּי הוֹשַׁעְיָא אָמַר אַרְבַּע מֵאוֹת וּשְׁמוֹנִים בָּתֵּי כְנֵסִיּוֹת הָיוּ בִּירוּשָׁלַיִם, מִנְיַן (ישעיה א, כא): מְלֵאֲתִי מִשְׁפָּט, מְלֵתִי כְּתִיב, וְכָל אֶחָד וְאֶחָד הָיָה לוֹ בֵּית סֵפֶר וּבֵית תַּלְמוּד, בֵּית סֵפֶר לְמִקְרָא, וּבֵית תַּלְמוּד לְמִשְׁנָה. דָּבָר אַחֵר, בִּלַּע ה' וְלֹא חָמַל אֵת כָּל נְאוֹת יַעֲקֹב, אֶת כָּל נְאוֹתָיו שֶׁל יַעֲקֹב, כְּגוֹן רַבִּי יִשְׁמָעֵאל, וְרַבָּן גַּמְלִיאֵל, וְרַבִּי יְשֵׁבָב, וְרַבִּי יְהוּדָה בֶּן בָּבָא, וְרַבִּי חוּצְפִּית הַמְתוּרְגְּמָן, וְרַבִּי יְהוּדָה הַנַּחְתּוֹם, וְרַבִּי חֲנַנְיָה בֶּן תְּרַדְיוֹן, וְרַבִּי עֲקִיבָא, וּבֶן עֲזַאי, וְרַבִּי טַרְפוֹן. וְאִית דְּמַפְקִין רַבִּי טַרְפוֹן וּמְעַיְילִין רַבִּי אֶלְעָזָר חַרְסְנָה. רַבִּי יוֹחָנָן הֲוָה דָּרֵשׁ שִׁיתִּין אַפִּין בְּבִּלַּע ה' וְלֹא חָמַל, וְרַבִּי הֲוָה דָּרֵישׁ עֶשְׂרִים וְאַרְבָּעָה אַפִּין. וְלֹא דְּרַבִּי יוֹחָנָן יַתִּיר עַל רַבִּי, אֶלָּא רַבִּי עַל יְדֵי שֶׁהָיָה סָמוּךְ לְחֻרְבַּן הַבַּיִת הָיָה נִזְכַּר וְהָיָה דּוֹרֵשׁ וּבוֹכֶה וּמִתְנַחֵם. אָמַר רַבִּי יוֹחָנָן רַבִּי הָיָה דוֹרֵשׁ (במדבר כד, יז): דָּרַךְ כּוֹכָב מִיַּעֲקֹב, אַל תִּקְרֵי כּוֹכָב אֶלָּא כּוֹזָב. רַבִּי עֲקִיבָא כַּד הֲוָה חָמֵי לֵיהּ לְהָדֵין בַּר כּוֹזִיבָא הֲוָה אָמַר הַיְינוּ מַלְכָּא מְשִׁיחָא, אָמַר לֵיהּ רַבִּי יוֹחָנָן בֶּן תּוֹרָתָא עֲקִיבָא יַעֲלוּ עֲשָׂבִים בִּלְחָיֶיךָ וַעֲדַיִן אֵינוֹ בָּא. אָמַר רַבִּי יוֹחָנָן (בראשית כז, כב): הַקֹּל קוֹל יַעֲקֹב, קוֹל אַדְרִיָּאנוּס קֵיסָר הָרַג בְּבֵיתָר שְׁמוֹנִים אֶלֶף רִבּוֹא בְּנֵי אָדָם וּשְׁמוֹנִים אֶלֶף תּוֹקְעֵי קְרָנוֹת הָיוּ צָרִין עַל בֵּיתָר, וְהָיָה שָׁם בֶּן כּוֹזִיבָא, וְהָיוּ לוֹ מָאתַיִם אֶלֶף מְקֻטָּעֵי אֶצְבַּע, שָׁלְחוּ לוֹ חֲכָמִים עַד מָתַי אַתָּה עוֹשֶׂה לְיִשְׂרָאֵל בַּעֲלֵי מוּמִין, אָמַר לָהֶם וְהֵיאַךְ יִבָּדְקוּ, אָמְרוּ לוֹ כָּל מִי שֶׁאֵינוֹ עוֹקֵר אֶרֶז מִלְּבָנוֹן אַל יִכָּתֵב בְּאִסְטְרַטְיָא שֶׁלְּךָ. וְהָיוּ לוֹ מָאתַיִם אֶלֶף מִכָּאן וּמִכָּאן, וּבְשָׁעָה שֶׁהָיוּ יוֹצְאִין לַמִּלְחָמָה הָיוּ אוֹמְרִים לָא תִסְעוֹד וְלָא תַסְכֵּיף, הֲדָא הוּא דִכְתִיב (תהלים ס, יב): הֲלֹא אַתָּה אֱלֹהִים זְנַחְתָּנוּ וְלֹא תֵצֵא אֱלֹהִים בְּצִבְאוֹתֵינוּ. וּמֶה הָיָה עוֹשֶׂה בֶּן כּוֹזִיבָא, הָיָה מְקַבֵּל אַבְנֵי בַּלִּיסְטְרָא בְּאֶחָד מֵאַרְכּוּבוֹתָיו וְזוֹרְקָן וְהוֹרֵג מֵהֶן כַּמָּה נְפָשׁוֹת, וְעַל זֶה אָמַר רַבִּי עֲקִיבָא כָּךְ. שָׁלשׁ שָׁנִים וּמֶחֱצָה הִקִּיף אַדְרִיָאנוּס קֵיסָר לְבֵיתָר, וְהָיָה שָׁם רַבִּי אֶלְעָזָר הַמּוֹדָעִי עָסוּק בְּשַׂקּוֹ וּבְתַעֲנִיתוֹ, וּבְכָל יוֹם וָיוֹם מִתְפַּלֵּל וְאוֹמֵר רִבּוֹנוֹ שֶׁל עוֹלָם אַל תֵּשֵׁב בַּדִּין הַיּוֹם. וּלְבַסּוֹף נָתַן דַּעְתּוֹ לַחֲזֹר, אֲתָא חַד כּוּתָאי וּמְצָאוֹ וְאָמַר לוֹ, אֲדוֹנִי, כָּל יוֹמִין דַּהֲדָא תַּרְנְגוֹלְתָּא מִתְגַּעְגַּע בְּקִיטְמָא לֵית אַתְּ כָּבֵישׁ לָהּ, אֶלָּא הַמְתֵּן לִי דַּאֲנָא עָבֵיד לָךְ דְּתַכְבְּשִׁנָּהּ יוֹמָא דֵין, מִיָּד עָלֵיל בֵּיהּ בְּבוּבֵיהּ דִּמְדִינְתָּא, וְאַשְׁכְּחֵיהּ לְרַבִּי אֶלְעָזָר דַּהֲוָה קָאֵים וּמַצְלֵי, עֲבַד גַּרְמֵיהּ לָחֵישׁ בְּאוּדְנֵיהּ דְּרַבִּי אֶלְעָזָר הַמּוֹדָעִי, אָזְלוּן וְאָמְרוּן לְבַר כוּזִיבָא חֲבִיבָךְ רַבִּי אֶלְעָזָר בָּעֵי לְאַשְׁלָמָא מְדִינְתָּא עִם אַדְרִיָּאנוּס, שְׁלַח וְאַתְיֵיהּ לְהַהוּא כּוּתָאי אֲמַר לֵיהּ מַאי אֲמַרְתְּ לֵיהּ. אֲמַר לֵיהּ אִין אֲנָא אָמַר לָךְ, מַלְכָּא קָטֵיל לֵיהּ לְהַהוּא גַבְרָא, וְאִין לֵית אֲנָא אָמַר לָךְ אַתְּ קָטֵיל לֵיהּ לְהַהוּא גַבְרָא, אֲבָל מוּטָב לִיקְטְלֵיהּ הַהוּא גַבְרָא לְגַרְמֵיהּ וְלָא תִתְפָּרְסִין מִיסְטֵירִין דְּמַלְכוּתָא. בֶּן כּוֹזִיבָא סָבַר בְּדַעְתֵּיהּ דִּבְעֵי לְאַשְׁלָמָא מְדִינְתָּא, כֵּיוָן דַּחֲסַל רַבִּי אֶלְעָזָר צְלוֹתֵיהּ שְׁלַח וְאַיְיתֵיהּ, אֲמַר לֵיהּ מָה אֲמַר לָךְ הָדֵין כּוּתָאי. אֲמַר לֵיהּ לֵית אֲנָא יָדַע מַה לְּחִישׁ לִי בְּאוּדְנָאי וְלָא שְׁמָעֵת לֵיהּ כְּלוּם דַּאֲנָא בִּצְלוֹתִי קָאֵימְנָא, וְלֵית אֲנָא יָדַע מָה הֲוָה אֲמַר. נִתְמַלֵּא רוּגְזֵיהּ לְבֶן כּוֹזִיבָא יְהַב לֵיהּ חַד בְּעִיטָא בְּרַגְלֵיהּ וְקָטְלֵיהּ, יָצְתָה בַּת קוֹל וְאָמְרָה (זכריה יא, יז): הוֹי רֹעִי הָאֱלִיל עֹזְבִי הַצֹּאן חֶרֶב עַל זְרוֹעוֹ וְעַל עֵין יְמִינוֹ, אָמְרָה לוֹ אַתָּה סִמִּיתָ זְרוֹעָן שֶׁל יִשְׂרָאֵל וְסִמִּיתָ עֵין יְמִינָן, לְפִיכָךְ זְרֹעוֹ שֶׁל אוֹתוֹ הָאִישׁ יָבוֹשׁ תִּיבָשׁ וְעֵין יְמִינוֹ כָּהֹה תִּכְהֶה. מִיָּד גָּרְמוּ עֲוֹנוֹת וְנִלְכְּדָה בֵּיתָר וְנֶהֱרַג בֶּן כּוֹזִיבָא, וְאַיתִיאוּ רֵישֵׁיהּ לְגַבֵּי אַדְרִיָּאנוּס, אֲמַר מַאן קָטְלֵיהּ לְדֵין, אֲמַר לֵיהּ חַד גּוּנְתָאי אֲנָא קְטַלְתֵּיהּ לְדֵין, אֲמַר לֵיהּ זִיל וְאַיְיתֵיהּ לִי, אֲזַל וְאַיְיתֵיהּ וְאַשְׁכַּח עַכְנָא כְּרִיכָא עַל צַוָּארֵיהּ, אֲמַר לֵיהּ אִלּוּ לָא אֱלָהֵיהּ קְטָלֵיהּ לְדֵין מַאן הֲוָה יָכֵיל לֵיהּ, וּקְרָא עֲלוֹי (דברים לב, ל): אִם לֹא כִּי צוּרָם מְכָרָם. הָיוּ הוֹרְגִים בָּהֶם עַד שֶׁשָּׁקַע הַסּוּס בְּדָם עַד חָטְמוֹ, וְהָיָה הַדָּם מְגַלְגֵּל אֲבָנִים שֶׁל אַרְבָּעִים סְאָה וְהוֹלֵךְ בַּיָּם אַרְבָּעָה מִילִין. וְאִם תֹּאמַר שֶׁקְּרוֹבָה לַיָּם, וַהֲלֹא רְחוֹקָה מִן הַיָּם אַרְבָּעָה מִילִין. וְכֶרֶם גָּדוֹל הָיָה לוֹ לְאַדְרִיָּאנוּס שְׁמוֹנָה עָשָׂר מִיל עַל שְׁמוֹנָה עָשָׂר מִיל, כְּמִן טְבֶרְיָא לְצִפּוֹרִי, וְהִקִּיפוֹ גָּדֵר מֵהֲרוּגֵי בֵּיתָר, וְלֹא גָּזַר עֲלֵיהֶם שֶׁיִּקָּבְרוּ עַד שֶׁעָמַד מֶלֶךְ אֶחָד וְגָזַר עֲלֵיהֶם וּקְבָרוּם. רַבִּי הוּנָא אָמַר יוֹם שֶׁנִּתְּנוּ הֲרוּגֵי בֵּיתָר לִקְבוּרָה נִקְבְּעָה הַטּוֹב וְהַמֵּטִיב, הַטּוֹב שֶׁלֹא הִסְרִיחוּ וְהַמֵּטִיב שֶׁנִּתְּנוּ לִקְבוּרָה. חֲמִשִּׁים וּשְׁתַּיִם שָׁנָה עָשְׂתָה בֵּיתָר אַחַר חֻרְבַּן הַבַּיִת, וְלָמָּה נֶחְרְבָה עַל שֶׁהִדְלִיקוּ נֵרוֹת לְחֻרְבַּן בֵּית הַמִּקְדָּשׁ, וְלָמָה הִדְלִיקוּ, אָמְרוּ הַבּוּלְיוֹטִין שֶׁבִּירוּשָׁלַיִם הָיוּ יוֹשְׁבִין בְּאֶמְצַע הַמְּדִינָה, וְכַד הֲוָה סָלֵיק חַד מִנְהוֹן לְצַלָּאָה, אֲמַר לֵיהּ בָּעֵית לְעִיבָדָא בּוּלְיוֹטִין, אֲמַר לֵיהּ לָא. בָּעֵית לְאִיעַבְדָא אַרְכוֹנְטִיס, אֲמַר לְהוֹ לָא. אָמְרֵי לֵיהּ מִן בְּגִין דִּשְׁמַעְנָא דְּאִית לָךְ חָדָא אִיסְיָא אַתְּ בָּעֵי מְזַבְּנָא יָתֵיהּ לִי, אֲמַר לֵיהּ לֵית בְּדַעְתִּי, וַהֲוָה כּוֹתֵב וּמַשְׁלַח אוֹנוֹתֵיהּ לְבַר בֵּיתֵיהּ אִין אָתֵי גְּבַר פְּלוֹנִי לָא תִשְׁבְּקִינֵיהּ מֵיעַל לְאִיסְיָא דְּהוּא מַזְבְּנָא לִי. וַהֲוָה אָמַר הַהוּא גַבְרָא הַלְּוַאי אִיתָּבְרַת רַגְלֵיהּ דְּהַהוּא גַבְרָא וְלָא סָלֵיק לְהָדֵין זָוִיתָא, הֲדָא הוּא דִכְתִיב (איכה ד, יח): צָדוּ צְעָדֵינוּ, צָדְיָאה אוֹרְחָא מִלְּהַלָּכָא בְּאִילֵּין פְּלַטְיָיאתָא. קָרַב קִצֵּנוּ, קִיצָא דְּהַהוּא בֵּיתָא. מָלְאוּ יָמֵינוּ, יוֹמָא דְהַהוּא בֵּיתָא. אַף אִינוּן לָא פָּשַׁת לְהוֹן טַב, דִּכְתִיב (משלי יז, ה): שָׂמֵחַ לְאֵיד לֹא יִנָּקֶה. אָמַר רַבִּי יוֹחָנָן שְׁלשׁ מֵאוֹת מוֹחֵי תִּינוֹקוֹת נִמְצְאוּ עַל אֶבֶן אַחַת, וּשְׁלשׁ מֵאוֹת קֻפּוֹת שֶׁל קְצוּצֵי תְּפִלִּין נִמְצְאוּ בְּבֵיתָר, וְכָל אַחַת וְאַחַת מַחֲזֶקֶת שָׁלשׁ סְאִין, וּכְשֶׁאַתָּה בָּא לְחֶשְׁבּוֹן אַתָּה מוֹצֵא שְׁלשׁ מֵאוֹת סְאִין. אָמַר רַבָּן גַּמְלִיאֵל חֲמֵשׁ מֵאוֹת בָּתֵּי סוֹפְרִים הָיוּ בְּבֵיתָר, וְקָטָן שֶׁבָּהֶם לֹא הָיָה פָּחוֹת מִשְּׁלשׁ מֵאוֹת תִּינוֹקוֹת, וְהָיוּ אוֹמְרִים אִם יָבוֹאוּ הַשֹּׂוֹנְאִים עָלֵינוּ בַּמַּכְתְּבִין הַלָּלוּ אָנוּ יוֹצְאִין וְדוֹקְרִין אוֹתָם. וְכֵיוָן שֶׁגָּרְמוּ הָעֲוֹנוֹת וּבָאוּ הַשֹּׂוֹנְאִים כָּרְכוּ כָּל אֶחָד וְאֶחָד בְּסִפְרוֹ וְשָׂרְפוּ אוֹתָם וְלֹא נִשְׁתַּיֵּיר מֵהֶם אֶלָּא אֲנִי וְקָרָא עַל עַצְמוֹ (איכה ג, נא): עֵינִי עוֹלְלָה לְנַפְשִׁי וגו'. שְׁנֵי אַחִין הָיוּ בִּכְפַר חֲרוֹכָא, וְלָא הֲווֹן שָׁבְקִין רוֹמָאֵי עֲבַר תַּמָּן דְּלָא הֲווֹ קַטְלֵי יָתֵיהּ, אָמְרֵי כָּל סַמָּא דְּמִילָה נֵיתֵי כְּלִילָא דְּאַדְרִיָאנוּס וְנֵיתֵיב בְּרֹאשׁוֹ שֶׁל [אלו] שִׁמְעוֹן, דְּהָא רוֹמָאֵי אַתּוּן, מִן דְּנָפְקִין פָּגַע בְּהוֹן חַד סָבָא אֲמַר לְהוֹן בָּרְיָיא בְּסַעֲדֵיכוֹן מִן אִלֵּין, אָמְרוּ לֵיהּ לָא נִסְעוֹד וְלָא נִסְכֵּיף, מִיָּד גָּרְמוּ עֲוֹנוֹת וְנֶהֶרְגוּ, וְאַיְיתִיאוּ רֵישֵׁיהוֹן לְגַבֵּי אַדְרִיָּאנוּס, אֲמַר מָאן קָטֵיל אִילֵין, אֲמַר לֵיהּ חַד גּוּנְתָאי אֲנָא קְטִילַת לְהוֹן, אֲמַר לֵיהּ זִיל אַיְיתֵי לִי פִּיטּוֹמַיְיהוּ, אֲזַל אַשְׁכַּח עַכְנָא כְּרִיכָא עַל צַוָּארֵיהוֹן, אֲמַר אִילּוּ אֱלָהֲהוֹן דְּאִילֵין לָא קָטֵיל לְהוֹן מָאן הֲוָה יָכֵיל לְמִקְטְלִינוֹן, וּקְרָא עֲלֵיהוֹן (דברים לב, ל): אִם לֹא כִּי צוּרָם מְכָרָם. שְׁנֵי אֲרָזִים הָיוּ בְּהַר הַמִּשְׁחָה, וְתַחַת אֶחָד מֵהֶן הָיוּ אַרְבַּע חֲנֻיּוֹת שֶׁל מוֹכְרֵי טְהָרוֹת, וּמִן הָאֶחָד הָיוּ מוֹצִיאִין אַרְבָּעִים סְאָה גּוֹזָלוֹת לְכָל חֹדֶשׁ, וּמֵהֶן הָיוּ יִשְׂרָאֵל מַסְפִּיקִין לַקִּנִּים. טוּר שִׁמְעוֹן הֲוָה מַפִּיק תְּלַת מְאָה גָּרָבִין, וְלָמָּה חָרְבוּ, אִי תֵימָא מִפְּנֵי הַזּוֹנוֹת, וַהֲלֹא לֹא הָיְתָה אֶלָּא רִיבָה אַחַת וְהוֹצִיאוּהָ מִשָּׁם. אָמַר רַבִּי הוּנָא מִשּׁוּם שֶׁהָיוּ מְשַׂחֲקִין בְּכַדּוּר בְּשַׁבָּת. עֲשֶׂרֶת אֲלָפִים עֲיָרוֹת הָיוּ בְּהַר הַמֶּלֶךְ, לְרַבִּי אֶלְעָזָר בֶּן חַרְסוֹם, הָיָה הָאֶלֶף אֶחָד מֵהֶם, וּכְנֶגְדָּן הָיוּ לוֹ אֶלֶף סְפִינוֹת בַּיָּם. שְׁלשָׁה עֲיָרוֹת הָיָה טִימָס שֶׁלָּהֶם עוֹלֶה לִירוּשָׁלַיִם, כָּבוּל, שִׁיחִין, וּמַגְדְּלָא. וְלָמָּה חָרוּב, כָּבוּל, מִפְּנֵי הַמַּחְלֹקֶת. שִׁיחִין, מִפְּנֵי כְשָׁפִים. מַגְדְּלָא, מִפְּנֵי הַזְּנוּת. שְׁלשָׁה עֲיָרוֹת הָיוּ בַּדָּרוֹם וְהָיוּ מוֹצִיאוֹת כִּפְלַיִם כְּיוֹצְאֵי מִצְרַיִם, וְאֵלּוּ הֵן: כְּפַר בִּישׁ, כְּפַר שַׁחֲלַיִם, כְּפַר דִּיכְרִין. כְּפַר בִּישׁ, לָמָּה נִקְרָא שְׁמָהּ כְּפַר בִּישׁ, דְּלָא הֲוַת מְקַבְּלָא אַכְסַנְיָא. כְּפַר שַׁחֲלַיִם, לָמָּה נִקְרָא שְׁמָהּ כְּפַר שַׁחֲלַיִם, דַּהֲווֹ מְרַבְיָן בְּנֵיהוֹן כְּאִילֵין תַּחֲלוּסַיָּיא. כְּפַר דִּיכְרִין, לָמָּה נִקְרָא שְׁמָהּ כְּפַר דִּיכְרִין, דְּכָל אִתְּתָא דַּהֲוַת תַּמָּן הֲוַת יָלְדָה בְּנִין דִּיכְרִין, וְכָל אִתְּתָא דַּהֲוַת בָּעְיָא לְמֵילַד נְקֵבָה, הֲוַת נָפְקָא לְבַר מִן קַרְתָּא וַהֲוַת יָלְדָה נְקֵבָה, וְכָל אִתְּתָא אַחֲרִיתָא דַּהֲוַת בָּעְיָא לְמֵילַד בַּר דְּכַר, הֲוַת אַתְיָא תַּמָּן וַהֲוַת יָלְדָה זָכָר. וְכַדּוּ כַּד אַתְּ נְצַעְהוֹן בְּשִׁתִּין רִבְוָון דְּקַנְיֵי לָא נָסְיָין לְהוֹן. אָמַר רַבִּי יוֹחָנָן קָפְצָה לָהּ אֶרֶץ יִשְׂרָאֵל. רַב הוּנָא אָמַר שְׁלשׁ מֵאוֹת חֲנֻיּוֹת שֶׁל מוֹכְרֵי טְהָרוֹת הָיוּ בְּמַגְדְּלָא דְּצַבָּעַיָּא וּשְׁלשׁ מֵאוֹת חֲנֻיּוֹת שֶׁל אוֹרְגֵי פָּרוֹכוֹת הָיוּ בִּכְפַר נִמְרָה. וְרַבִּי יִרְמְיָה בְּשֵׁם רַבִּי חִיָּא בַּר אַבָּא אָמַר שְׁמוֹנִים אַחִים כֹּהֲנִים הָיוּ נְשׂוּאִים לִשְׁמוֹנִים כֹּהֲנוֹת אֲחָיוֹת, בְּלַיְלָה אֶחָד תְּלוּנְהוּ בַּחֲדָא גַפְנָא, חוּץ מֵאַחִים בְּלֹא אֲחָיוֹת, חוּץ מֵאֲחָיוֹת בְּלֹא אַחִים, חוּץ מִלְוִיִּים וְחוּץ מִיִּשְׂרָאֵל. שְׁמוֹנִים אֶלֶף פִּרְחֵי כְּהֻנָּה נֶהֶרְגוּ עַל דָּמוֹ שֶׁל זְכַרְיָה. רַבִּי יודָן שָׁאַל לְרַבִּי אַחָא הֵיכָן הָרְגוּ אֶת זְכַרְיָה בְּעֶזְרַת יִשְׂרָאֵל אוֹ בְּעֶזְרַת נָשִׁים, אָמַר לוֹ לֹא בְּעֶזְרַת יִשְׂרָאֵל וְלֹא בְּעֶזְרַת נָשִׁים, אֶלָּא בְּעֶזְרַת כֹּהֲנִים, וְלֹא נָהֲגוּ בְּדָמוֹ לֹא כְדַם צְבִי וְלֹא כְדַם אַיָּל, תַּמָּן כְּתִיב (ויקרא יז, יג): וְאִישׁ אִישׁ מִבֵּית יִשְׂרָאֵל אֲשֶׁר יָצוּד צֵיד חַיָּה וגו' וְכִסָּהוּ בֶּעָפָר, בְּרַם הָכָא כְּתִיב (יחזקאל כד, ז): כִּי דָמָהּ בְּתוֹכָהּ הָיָה עַל צְחִיחַ סֶלַע שָׂמָתְהוּ לֹא שְׁפָכַתְהוּ עַל הָאָרֶץ לְכַסּוֹת עָלָיו עָפָר, וְכָל כָּךְ לָמָּה, (יחזקאל כד, ח): לְהַעֲלוֹת חֵמָה לִנְקֹם נָקָם נָתַתִּי אֶת דָּמָהּ עַל צְחִיחַ סֶלַע לְבִלְתִּי הִכָּסוֹת. שֶׁבַע עֲבֵרוֹת עָבְרוּ יִשְׂרָאֵל בְּאוֹתוֹ הַיּוֹם, הָרְגוּ כֹּהֵן וְנָבִיא וְדַיָּן, וְשָׁפְכוּ דַם נָקִי וְחִלְּלוּ אֶת הַשֵּׁם וְטִמְּאוּ אֶת הָעֲזָרָה, וְשַׁבָּת וְיוֹם הַכִּפּוּרִים הָיָה, וְכֵיוָן שֶׁעָלָה נְבוּזַרְאֲדָן חַזְיֵיהּ לִדְמֵיהּ דִּזְכַרְיָה דַּהֲוָה קָא רָתִיחַ, אֲמַר לְהוֹן מַאי הִיא, אָמְרוּ לֵיהּ דַּם פָּרִים וּכְבָשִׂים, אַיְיתֵי פָּרִים וּכְבָשִׂים וְלָא אִידוּם, אַיְיתֵי כָּל מִינֵי דָמִים וְלָא אִידוּם, אֲמַר לְהוֹן אִי אַמְרִיתוּ לִי מוּטָב וְאִי לָא אֲנָא מַסְרֵיקְנָא לְבִישְׂרָא דַּהֲנָךְ אֵינָשֵׁי בְּמַסְרֵיקִין דְּפַרְזְלָא וְלָא אֲמָרוּ לֵיהּ, וְהַשְׁתָּא דַּאֲמַר לְהוֹ הָכֵי אָמְרוּ לֵיהּ מַה נְּכַסֵּי מִינָךְ, נְבִיָּיא כַּהֲנָא הֲוָה לָן וַהֲוָה מוֹכִיחַ לָן לְשׁוּם שְׁמַיָא קַבִּילוּ, וְלָא קַבְּלֵינַן מִינֵיהּ אֶלָּא קָאֵימְנָא עִילָּוֵיהּ וְקַטְלִינַן לֵיהּ. אֲמַר לְהוֹן אֲנָא מְפַיַּיסְנָא לֵיהּ, אַיְיתֵי סַנְהֶדְּרֵי גְדוֹלָה שָׁחַט עִילָּוֵיהּ וְלָא נָח. שָׁחַט סַנְהֶדְּרֵי קְטַנָּה עִילָּוֵיהּ וְלָא נָח. אַיְיתֵי פִּרְחֵי כְּהֻנָּה שָׁחַט עִילָּוֵיהּ וְלָא נָח. שָׁחַט תִּינוֹקוֹת שֶׁל בֵּית רַבָּן עִילָּוֵיהּ וְלָא נָח. אָמַר לוֹ זְכַרְיָה טוֹבִים שֶׁבְּעַמְּךָ אִבַּדְתִּי רְצוֹנְךָ שֶׁיֹּאבְדוּ כֻּלָּם, לְאַלְתָּר נָח. וְהִרְהֵר נְבוּזַרְאֲדָן הָרָשָׁע תְּשׁוּבָה וְאָמַר, וּמַה מִּי שֶׁמְאַבֵּד נֶפֶשׁ אַחַת מִיִּשְׂרָאֵל כָּךְ כְּתִיב בּוֹ (בראשית ט, ו): שֹׁפֵךְ דַּם הָאָדָם בָּאָדָם דָּמוֹ יִשָּׁפֵךְ, אוֹתוֹ הָאִישׁ שֶׁאִבֵּד נְפָשׁוֹת הַרְבֵּה, עַל אַחַת כַּמָּה וְכַמָּה, מִיָּד נִתְמַלֵּא הַקָּדוֹשׁ בָּרוּךְ הוּא רַחֲמִים וְרָמַז לַדָּם וְנִבְלַע בִּמְקוֹמוֹ. שְׁמוֹנִים אֲלָפִים פִּרְחֵי כְּהֻנָּה בָּקְעוּ בַּחֲיָלוֹתָיו שֶׁל נְבוּכַדְנֶאצַּר וּבְיָדָן מָגִינֵּי זָהָב, הָלְכוּ לָהֶם אֵצֶל יִשְׁמְעֵאלִים וְהוֹצִיאוּ לָהֶם מִינֵי מְלוּחִים וְנוֹדוֹת מְנֻפָּחוֹת, אָמְרוּ לָהֶם נִשְׁתֶּה קֳדָמַיי, אָמְרוּ לָהֶם אִכְלוּ קֳדָמַיי וּלְבָתַר כֵּן אַתּוּן שָׁתְיָין, מִן דַּאֲכָלוּן הֲוָה נָסֵיב כָּל חַד וְחַד מִינַיְיהוּ זִיקָא וִיהַב לֵיהּ בְּפוּמֵיהּ וַהֲוָה רוּחָא עָלֵיל בִּכְרֵיסֵהּ וּבָקְעָה לֵיהּ, הֲדָא הוּא דִכְתִיב (ישעיה כא, יג): מַשָֹּׂא בַּעְרָב בַּיַּעַר בַּעְרַב תָּלִינוּ אֹרְחוֹת דְּדָנִים, לִקְרַאת צָמֵא הֵתָיוּ מָיִם ישְׁבֵי אֶרֶץ תֵּימָא בְּלַחְמוֹ קִדְּמוּ נֹדֵד. מִי נָתוּן בְּיַעַר הַלְּבָנוֹן בַּעְרָב תָּלִינוּ, אֶלָּא אֹרְחוֹת דְּדָנִים, אָרְחֲהוֹן דִּבְנֵי דְּדָנַיָּיא עָבְדִין כֵּן, וְכִי כֵן עֲבַד אֲבוּהוֹן לַאֲבוּכוֹן, מַה כְּתִיב בַּאֲבוּכוֹן (בראשית כא, יט): וַיִּפְקַח אֱלֹהִים אֶת עֵינֶיהָ וַתֵּרֶא בְּאֵר מָיִם וַתֵּלֶךְ וַתְּמַלֵא אֶת הַחֵמֶת מַיִם וַתַּשְׁק אֶת הַנָּעַר, וְאַתֶּם לֹא קִיַּמְתֶּם לִקְרַאת צָמֵא הֵתָיוּ מָיִם, וְכִי מִטִּיבוּתְהוֹן אַיְיתָן לְגַבֵּיכוֹן (ישעיה כא, טו): כִּי מִפְּנֵי חֲרָבוֹת נָדָדוּ, מִפְּנֵי חַרְבּוֹ שֶׁל נְבוּכַדְנֶצַּר נָדָדוּ. מִפְּנֵי חֶרֶב נְטוּשָׁה, מִפְּנֵי שֶׁלֹא הָיוּ שׁוֹמְרִים שְׁמִטּוֹתֵיהֶן כָּרָאוּי, כְּמָה דְאַתְּ אָמַר (שמות כג, יא): וְהַשְּׁבִיעִית תִּשְׁמְטֶנָּה וּנְטַשְׁתָּהּ. וּמִפְּנֵי קֶשֶׁת דְּרוּכָה, עַל יְדֵי שֶׁלֹא הָיוּ שׁוֹמְרִים שַׁבָּת כָּרָאוּי, כְּמָה דְאַתְּ אָמַר (נחמיה יג, טו): בַּיָּמִים הָהֵמָה רָאִיתִי בִיהוּדָה דֹרְכִים גִּתּוֹת בַּשַּׁבָּת. וּמִפְּנֵי כֹּבֶד מִלְחָמָה, מִפְּנֵי שֶׁלֹא הָיוּ נוֹשְׂאִין וְנוֹתְנִין בְּמִלְחַמְתָּהּ שֶׁל תּוֹרָה, דִּכְתִיב בָּהּ (במדבר כא, יד): עַל כֵּן יֵאָמַר בְּסֵפֶר מִלְחֲמֹת ה'. דְּאָמַר רַבִּי יוֹחָנָן מִגִּיבְתּוֹן וְעַד אַנְטִיפְרַס שִׁשִּׁים רִבּוֹא עֲיָרוֹת הָיוּ, וּקְטַנָּה שֶׁבָּהֶן זוֹ בֵּית שֶׁמֶשׁ, הֲדָא הוּא דִכְתִיב (שמואל א ו, יט): וַיַּךְ בְּאַנְשֵׁי בֵית שֶׁמֶשׁ וגו', וְכַדּוּן אֲפִלּוּ מֵאָה קָנֵי לֵית בָּהּ. אָמַר רַבִּי יוֹחָנָן מִשְׁמַרְתָּהּ הָיְתָה קְטַנָּה בַּמִּשְׁמָרוֹת, וְהָיְתָה מוֹצִיאָה שְׁמוֹנִים אֶלֶף פְּרָחִים. כַּמָּה פּוּלְמְסָאוֹת עָשָׂה אַדְרִיָּאנוֹס, תְּרֵין אָמוֹרָאִין, חַד אֲמַר חֲמִשִּׁים וּשְׁתַּיִם, וְחַד אֲמַר חֲמִשִּׁים וְאַרְבָּעָה. אָמַר רַבִּי יוֹחָנָן, אַשְׁרֵי מִי שֶׁרָאָה בְּמַפַּלְתָּהּ שֶׁל תַּרְמוֹד, לָמָּה, שֶׁהָיְתָה שֻׁתֶּפֶת בִּשְׁתֵּי חֻרְבָּנוֹת. רַבִּי יוּדָן אָמַר בְּחֻרְבָּן רִאשׁוֹן הֶעֱמִידָה שְׁמוֹנִים אֶלֶף קַשָּׁתִין, וּבַשֵּׁנִי הֶעֱמִידָה אַרְבָּעִים אֶלֶף קַשָּׁתִין. רַב הוּנָא אָמַר בְּחֻרְבָּן אַחֲרוֹן הֵם כָּרִאשׁוֹן.

“The Lord demolished and had no compassion for all the abodes of Jacob; He destroyed, in His ire, the strongholds of the daughter of Judah. He brought them to the ground; He profaned a kingdom and its princes” (Lamentations 2:2). “The Lord demolished and had no compassion for all the abodes of Jacob.” Rabbi Pinḥas said in the name of Rabbi Hoshaya: There were four hundred and eighty synagogues in Jerusalem. From where [is that derived]? “Filled with [mele’ati] justice” (Isaiah 1:21), meleti is written. Each one of them had a school and an academy, a school for Bible and an academy for Mishna. Another matter, “the Lord demolished and had no compassion for all the abodes [neot] of Jacob,” all the pleasant ones [neotav] of Jacob, like Rabbi Yishmael, Rabban Gamliel, Rabbi Yeshevav, Rabbi Yehuda ben Bava, Rabbi Ḥutzpit the disseminator, Rabbi Yehuda the baker, Rabbi Ḥananya ben Teradyon, Rabbi Akiva, ben Azai, and Rabbi Tarfon. Some remove Rabbi Tarfon and insert Rabbi Elazar Ḥarsena. Rabbi Yoḥanan would expound sixty aspects of “the Lord demolished and had no compassion.” Rabbi [Yehuda HaNasi] would expound twenty-four aspects. It is not that Rabbi Yoḥanan was superior to Rabbi [Yehuda HaNasi], but rather, since Rabbi [Yehuda HaNasi] was close to the destruction of the Temple, he would remember, expound, cry, and be consoled. Rabbi Yoḥanan said: Rabbi [Yehuda HaNasi] would expound: “A star will arise from Jacob” (Numbers 24:17), do not read it as star [kokhav], but rather as fraudulent [kozav]. Rabbi Akiva, when he would look at that bar Koziva, he would say: ‘This is the messianic king.’ Rabbi Yoḥanan ben Torata said to him: ‘Akiva, grass will grow in your cheeks and he still will not have come.’ Rabbi Yoḥanan said: “The voice is the voice of Jacob [and the hands are the hands of Esau]” (Genesis 27:22), “the voice”—the emperor Hadrian killed eight hundred million people in Beitar. Eighty thousand sounders of horns were laying siege to Beitar. Bar Koziva was there, and he had two hundred thousand men with severed fingers. The Sages sent to him: ‘Until when will you cause Israel to be blemished?’ He said to them: ‘How then can they be tested?’ They said to him: ‘Anyone who does not uproot a Lebanese cedar, let him not be written on your military roster.’ He had two hundred thousand of these and two hundred thousand of those. When they would go out to war they would say: ‘Do not help and do not hinder.’ That is what is written: “Is it not You, God, who had abandoned us, You, God, who would not go out with our armies?” (Psalms 60:12). What would ben Koziva do? He would catch a catapult stone on one of his knees and propel it and kill several of their people. It was due to this that Rabbi Akiva said that. For three and a half years, the emperor Hadrian surrounded Beitar. Rabbi Elazar Hamoda'i was there, engaged in his sackcloth and his fasting. Each and every day, he would pray and say: ‘Master of the universe, do not sit in judgment today.’ Ultimately, [Hadrian] made up his mind to return. A certain Cuthite came and found him and said to him: ‘My lord, every day that this chicken wallows in the ashes, you will not conquer it. But wait for me, as I will arrange for you to conquer it today.’ Immediately, he entered through the sewer system of the city. He found Rabbi Elazar, who was standing and praying. He made himself look as though he was whispering into the ear of Rabbi Elazar Hamoda'i. They went and told bar Koziva: ‘Your uncle, Rabbi Elazar, seeks to yield the city to Hadrian.’ He sent and had that Cuthite brought [to him]. He said to him: ‘What did you say to him?’ He said to him: ‘If I tell you, the emperor will kill me. If I do not tell you, you will kill me. But it is preferable that I have myself killed than having the secrets of the empire revealed.’ Ben Koziva thought that he wanted to yield the city. When Rabbi Elazar concluded his prayer, he sent and had him brought. He said to him: ‘What did that Cuthite say to you?’ He said to him: ‘I do not know what he whispered in my ear, and I did not hear anything from him, as I was standing in prayer and I do not know what he was saying.’ Ben Koziva was filled with rage. He gave him one kick with his foot and killed him. A Divine Voice emerged and said: “Woe to the worthless shepherd who abandons the flock; a sword upon his arm and upon his right eye” (Zechariah 11:17). It said to him: ‘You paralyzed the arm of Israel and blinded their right eye; therefore, the arm of this man “will wither and his right eye will go blind”’ (Zechariah 11:17). Immediately, the iniquities caused Beitar to be captured. Ben Koziva was killed and they brought his head to Hadrian. He said: ‘Who killed this one?’ A certain Gontite said: ‘I killed this one.’ He said: ‘Go and bring him to me.’ He went to bring him, and he found a serpent wrapped around his neck. [Hadrian] said to him: ‘Had his God not killed him, who could have overcome him?’ He applied to him the verse: “If not that their Rock had sold them” (Deuteronomy 32:30). They were killing them until the horse was submerged in blood until its nostrils. The blood would roll boulders [weighing] forty se’a and would flow four mil into the sea. And lest you say it is proximate to the sea, it is a distance of four mil from the sea. Hadrian had a large vineyard eighteen mil by eighteen mil, like the distance between Tiberias and Tzippori. He surrounded it with a fence of the slain of Beitar. He did not issue a decree [allowing the dead] to be buried, until a certain [new] emperor arose and issued a decree in their regard, and they buried them. Rabbi Huna said: The day that the slain of Beitar were brought to burial, [the blessing]: Who is good and does good, was instituted. Who is good, because they did not decompose, Who does good, because they were brought to burial. Beitar existed for fifty-two years after the destruction of the Temple. Why was it destroyed? Because they kindled lamps over the destruction of the Temple. Why did they kindle them? They said: The ruling aristocracy of Jerusalem would sit in the center of the city, and when one of them would ascend to pray, one of them would say to him: ‘Do you wish to become a member of the ruling aristocracy?’ He would say: ‘No.’ ‘Do you wish to become a local governor?’ He would say to him: ‘No.’ [The aristocrat] would say to him: ‘I heard that you have an estate; do you wish to sell it to me?’ He would say to him: ‘I do not intend to do so.’ He would write and send his bill of sale to a member of his household: ‘If so and so comes, do not allow him to enter the estate because he sold it to me.’ That man would say: ‘If only that man’s leg would have been broken and he would not have ascended to that corner.’ That is what is written: “They hunted [tzadu] our steps [from walking in our squares]” (Lamentations 4:18); may the roads be desolate [tzadya] of [people] walking to those plazas. “Our end approaches” (Lamentations 4:18); the end of that Temple, “our days are filled” (Lamentations 4:18); the days of that Temple. They, too, their good did not last, as it is written: “One who rejoices at calamity will not be absolved” (Proverbs 17:5). Rabbi Yoḥanan said: Three hundred babies’ brains were found on a single rock, and three hundred baskets of phylacteries boxes were found in Beitar, each and every one of them holding three se’a. When you arrive at a tally, you find that there were three hundred se’a. Rabban Gamliel said: There were five hundred elementary schools in Beitar, and the smallest among them had no fewer than three hundred children. They would say: ‘If our enemies come against us, we will emerge and stab them with these quills.’ When the iniquities were the cause and the enemies came, they wrapped each and every one of them in his scroll and they burned them, and I am the only one of them who survived. He applied to himself the verse: “My eye distressed my soul…” (Lamentations 3:51). There were two brothers in Kefar Ḥaruva and they would not allow a Roman to pass there whom they did not kill. They said: ‘The entire objective of the matter is to take Hadrian’s crown and place it on Shimon’s head.’ The Romans came, and when they went out [to fight them], a certain elder encountered them and said to them: ‘May the Creator come to your aid against them.’ They said to him: ‘Let Him not help and let Him not hinder.’ Immediately, their iniquities were the cause and they were killed. [The Roman soldiers] brought their heads to Hadrian. He said: ‘Who killed these?’ A certain Gontite said to him: ‘I killed them.’ He said to him: ‘Go bring me their bodies.’ He went and found a serpent wrapped around their necks. [Hadrian] said: ‘Had their God not killed them, who could have overcome them?’ He applied to them the verse: “If not that their Rock had sold them” (Deuteronomy 32:30). There were two cedars on the Mount of Olives, and beneath one of them there were four stores of sellers of ritually pure items. From one [store], they would take out forty se’a of fledglings each month, which would supply pairs of birds for Israel. Mount Shimon would produce three hundred barrels. Why were they destroyed? If you say it was because of the prostitutes, but was there not only one young woman there and they expelled her? Rabbi Huna said: It is because they would play ball on Shabbat. There were ten thousand towns on the King’s Mountain. Rabbi Elazar ben Ḥarsom owned one thousand of them. Corresponding to them, he had one thousand ships at sea. Three of those towns, Kavul, Shiḥin, and Magdela, their taxes would be taken up to Jerusalem. Why were they destroyed? Kavul, due to strife; Shiḥin, due to sorcery; Magdela, due to prostitution. There were three towns in the south that would produce twice the number of those who departed from Egypt, and they were: Kefar Bish, Kefar Shaḥalayim, and Kefar Dikhrin. Kefar Bish, why was its name called Kefar Bish? Because they did not receive guests. Kefar Shaḥalayim, why was its name called Kefar Shaḥalayim? Because they would produce numerous children, like cress. Kefar Dikhrin, why was its name called Kefar Dikhrin? Because every woman there would give birth to male [dikhrin] children. Any woman who wished to bear a female would go outside the town and bear a female. Any other woman who wished to bear a male son, would go there and bear a male. But now, when you attempt to plant six hundred thousand reeds there, the space will not suffice. Rabbi Yoḥanan said: The Land of Israel has contracted. Rav Huna said: There were three hundred stores of sellers of ritually pure items in Magdela of the Dyers, and three hundred stores of weavers of curtains in Kefar Nimra. Rabbi Yirmeya said in the name of Rabbi Ḥiya bar Abba: There were eighty brothers who were priests, who married eighty sisters who were daughters of priests on one night in Gufna, not including brothers not to sisters, not including sisters not to brothers, not including Levites, and not including Israelites. Eighty thousand young priests were killed over the blood of Zekharya. Rabbi Yudan asked Rabbi Aḥa: ‘Where did they kill Zekharya, in the Israelite courtyard or the women’s courtyard?’ He said to him: ‘Neither in the Israelite courtyard nor in the women’s courtyard, but rather in the priestly courtyard.’ They did not treat his blood like the blood of a gazelle nor like the blood of a deer. There it is written: “Any man from the children of Israel, or from the strangers who resides among them, who shall hunt game of a beast…he shall [pour out its blood and] cover it with dirt” (Leviticus 17:13). However, here it is written: “For its blood was within it; on a bare rock it placed it. It did not pour it on the ground to cover it with dirt” (Ezekiel 24:7). Why to that extent? “To arouse fury to take vengeance, I placed its blood upon the bare rock that it not be covered” (Ezekiel 24:8). Israel performed seven transgressions on that day: They killed a priest, a prophet, and a judge, they spilled innocent blood, they desecrated the Name, they impurified the Temple courtyard, and it was Shabbat and Yom Kippur. When Nevuzaradan ascended, he saw that the blood of Zekharya was boiling. He said to them: ‘What is this?’ They said to him: ‘It is the blood of bulls and sheep.’ He brought bulls and sheep but [their blood] was not similar. He said to them: ‘If you tell me, fine. But if not, I will comb the flesh of these people with a comb of iron,’ but they did not tell him. When he said this to them, they said to him: ‘Why should we conceal it from you? We had a prophet, a priest, who would reprimand us in the name of Heaven, [saying] ‘Accept [my words],’ but we did not accept it from him. Rather, we rose against him and killed him.’ He said to them: ‘I will assuage it.’ He brought the Great Sanhedrin and slaughtered them onto it, but it did not rest. He slaughtered the lesser Sanhedrin onto it, but it did not rest. He brought young priests and slaughtered them onto it, but it did not rest. He slaughtered schoolchildren onto it, but it did not rest. He said to it: ‘Zekharya, I have eliminated the best of your people. Is it your will that all of them will be eliminated?’ Immediately, it rested. That wicked one contemplated repentance, and said: ‘One who eliminates a single Israelite soul, it is written in his regard: “Whoever sheds the blood of man, his blood will be spilled by man” (Genesis 9:6), this man who eliminated many souls, all the more so.’ Immediately, the Holy One blessed be He became filled with mercy for them, and He intimated to the blood, and it was absorbed in its place. Eighty thousand young priests breached the armies of Nebuchadnezzar with gold shields in their hands. They went to the Ishmaelites, who took out salty foods and inflated wineskins. They said to [the Ishmaelites]: ‘Let us drink first.’ They said to them: ‘Eat first and then you will drink.’ After they ate, each and every one of them took the wineskin, placed it in his mouth, and the wind entered his stomach and burst it. That is what is written: “A prophecy of Arabia: In the forest in Arabia you will stay the night, caravans of Dedanites. Bring water to the thirsty. The inhabitants of the land of Teima greeted the wanderer with his bread [for they wandered due to swords, due to the drawn sword and to the bent bow]” (Isaiah 21:13–15). The one who is located “in the forest” of Lebanon “will stay the night.” But “caravans of the Dedanites,” is it the way of cousins to act this way? Is this what their Father did to your ancestor? What is written regarding your ancestor? “God opened her eyes and she saw a well of water. She went and filled the skin with water, and gave the lad to drink” (Genesis 21:19). But you did not fulfill: “Bring water to the thirsty.” Was it because it was good for them that they came to you? “For they wandered due to swords” (Isaiah 21:15), it is due to the sword of Nebuchadnezzar that they wandered. “Due to a drawn [netusha] sword” (Isaiah 21:15), it is because they did not observe their Sabbatical Years properly, just as it is said: “But the seventh, you shall leave it fallow and relinquish it [untashtah]” (Exodus 23:11). “And to the bent [derukha] bow” (Isaiah 21:15), it is because they did not observe Shabbat properly, just as it is said: “In those days I saw in Judah some treading [dorekhim] winepresses on the Shabbat” (Nehemiah 13:15). “And due to the rigor of the war” (Isaiah 21:15), because they did not engage in the give and take of the war of Torah, of which it is written: “Therefore, it is said in the book of the Wars of the Lord” (Numbers 21:14). Rabbi Yoḥanan said: From Giveton to Antipatris there were six hundred thousand cities, the smallest of which was Beit Shemesh. That is what is written: “He smote among the men of Beit Shemesh…[and He smote of the people seventy men and fifty thousand men]” (I Samuel 6:19). Now, there are not even one hundred reeds there. Rabbi Yoḥanan said: Its priestly watch was the smallest of the priestly watches and would produce eighty thousand young priests. How many attacks did Hadrian launch? Two amora’im, one said fifty-two and one said fifty-four. Rabbi Yoḥanan said: Happy is he who saw the downfall of Tadmor. Why? Because it played a role in two destructions. Rabbi Yudan said: In the first destruction it provided eighty thousand archers and in the second it provided forty thousand archers. Rav Huna said: In the latter destruction they were like the first.

Section 5ה׳

הָרַס בְּעֶבְרָתוֹ מִבְצְרֵי בַת יְהוּדָה, רַבִּי יוּדָן אָמַר כָּל בִּירָה וּבִירָה שֶׁהָיְתָה בִּירוּשָׁלַם לֹא הָיְתָה רְאוּיָה לְהִכָּבֵשׁ פָּחוֹת מֵאַרְבָּעִים יוֹם, רַבִּי פִּנְחָס אָמַר פָּחוֹת מֵחֲמִשִּׁים יוֹם, וְכֵיוָן שֶׁגָּרְמוּ עֲוֹנוֹת הָרַס בְּעֶבְרָתוֹ מִבְצְרֵי בַת יְהוּדָה הִגִּיעַ לָאָרֶץ. חִלֵּל מַמְלָכָה וְשָׂרֶיהָ, חִלֵּל מַמְלָכָה, אֵלּוּ יִשְׂרָאֵל, כְּמָה דְאַתְּ אָמַר (שמות יט, ו): וְאַתֶּם תִּהְיוּ לִי מַמְלֶכֶת כֹּהֲנִים וְגוֹי קָדוֹשׁ. וְשָׂרֶיהָ אֵלּוּ שָׂרִים שֶׁל מַעְלָן, אַתְּ מוֹצֵא עַד שֶׁלֹא בָּאוּ הַשֹּׂוֹנְאִים הָיָה יִרְמְיָה אוֹמֵר לָהֶם עֲשׂוּ תְּשׁוּבָה שֶׁלֹא תֵּלְכוּ בַּגָּלוּת, אָמְרוּ לוֹ אִם יָבֹאוּ הַשֹּׂוֹנְאִים מַה יְּכוֹלִין לַעֲשׂוֹת לָנוּ, חַד אֲמַר אֲנָא מַקֵּיף לָהּ חוֹמַת מַיָּא, וָחֳרִינָא אֲמַר אֲנָא מַקֵּיף לָהּ חוֹמַת נוּרָא, וָחֳרִינָא אֲמַר אֲנָא מַקֵּיף לָהּ חוֹמַת פַּרְזְלָא, אֲמַר לְהוּ הַקָּדוֹשׁ בָּרוּךְ הוּא בְּדִידִי אַתּוּן מִשְׁתַּמְּשִׁין, עָמַד הַקָּדוֹשׁ בָּרוּךְ הוּא וְשִׁנָּה אֶת שְׁמוֹתָם שֶׁל מַלְאָכִים, דְּעַל מַיָא עֲבַד עַל נוּרָא וּדְעַל נוּרָא עֲבַד עַל פַּרְזְלָא, וְהָיוּ מַזְכִּירִין שְׁמוֹתָם מִלְּמַטָּה וְלֹא הָיוּ עוֹנִין לָהֶם, הֲדָא הוּא דִכְתִיב (ישעיה מג, כח): וַאֲחַלֵּל שָׂרֵי קֹדֶשׁ, וְכֵיוָן שֶׁגָּרְמוּ הָעֲוֹנוֹת וּבָאוּ הַשֹּׂוֹנְאִים הִתְחִילוּ מַזְכִּירִין שַׂר פְּלָן אִיתָא עֲבִיד לָן מִילַיָּא פְּלָן, אֲמַר לֵיהּ לֵית בְּחֵילִי דַּאֲנָא מֵירִים מִינַהּ. דָּבָר אַחֵר, חִלֵּל מַמְלָכָה וְשָׂרֶיהָ. חִלֵּל מַמְלָכָה, זֶה צִדְקִיָּה מֶלֶךְ יְהוּדָה, וְשָׂרֶיהָ, אֵלּוּ שָׂרִים שֶׁל מַעְלָה.

“He destroyed, in His ire, the strongholds of the daughter of Judah.” Rabbi Yudan said: Each and every castle that was in Jerusalem was not fit to be conquered in any less than forty days. Rabbi Pinḥas said: In any less than fifty days. But since iniquity caused [their downfall], “He destroyed, in His ire, the strongholds of the daughter of Judah, He brought them to the ground.” “He profaned a kingdom and its princes.” “He profaned a kingdom,” this is Israel, just as it says: “You will be for Me a kingdom of priests and a holy nation” (Exodus 19:6). “And its princes,” these are the guardian angels On High. You find that until the enemies came, Jeremiah would say to them: ‘Repent so you will not go into exile.’ They said to him: ‘If the enemies will come, what can they do to us?’ One [Israelite] said: ‘I will surround it with a wall of water.’ Another said: ‘I will surround it with a wall of fire.’ Another said: ‘I will surround it with a wall of iron.’ The Holy One blessed be He said to them: You are using that which is Mine. The Holy One blessed be He rose and changed the names of the angels. The one appointed over water, He tasked over fire; the one appointed over fire, He tasked over iron. They would invoke their names below, but they did not respond to them. That is what is written: “I profaned the sacred princes” (Isaiah 43:28). When the iniquities were the cause and the enemies came, they began invoking: So and so angel, come and perform such and such matter. [The angel] would say to him: ‘It is not within my ability, as I am excluded from it.’ Another matter, “He profaned a kingdom and its princes.” “He profaned a kingdom,” this is Zedekiah king of Judah. “And its princes,” these are the guardian angels On High.

…and 20 more sections in this chapter.

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Eichah Rabbah — Midrash Rabbah, TE edition, via Sefaria

English: The Sefaria Midrash Rabbah, 2022 — CC BY