ויקרא רבה ה׳Vayikra Rabbah 5

Section 1א׳

אִם הַכֹּהֵן הַמָּשִׁיחַ יֶחֱטָא לְאַשְׁמַת הָעָם וְהִקְרִיב עַל חַטָּאתוֹ אֲשֶׁר חָטָא פַּר בֶּן בָּקָר תָּמִים לַה' לְחַטָּאת, זֶה שֶׁאָמַר הַכָּתוּב (איוב לד, כט): וְהוּא יַשְׁקִט וּמִי יַרְשִׁעַ וגו'. דָּרַשׁ רַבִּי מֵאִיר וְהוּא יַשְׁקִט מֵעוֹלָמוֹ, וְיַסְתֵּר פָּנִים מֵעוֹלָמוֹ, כַּדַּיָּן הַזֶּה שֶׁהוּא מוֹתֵחַ אֶת הַוִּילוֹן מִבִּפְנִים וְאֵינוֹ רוֹאֶה מַה נַּעֲשָׂה מִבַּחוּץ, כָּךְ אָמְרוּ דּוֹר הַמַּבּוּל (איוב כב, יד): עָבִים סֵתֶר לוֹ וגו'. אָמְרוּ לוֹ דַּיֶּךָ מֵאִיר אֶלָּא וְהוּא יַשְׁקִט וּמִי יַרְשִׁעַ, נָתַן שַׁלְוָה לְדוֹר הַמַּבּוּל, וּמִי בָּא וְחִיְּבָן, וּמַה שַּׁלְוָה נָתַן לָהֶם (איוב כא, ח): זַרְעָם נָכוֹן לִפְנֵיהֶם עִמָּם וְצֶאֱצָאֵיהֶם לְעֵינֵיהֶם, רַבִּי לֵוִי וְרַבָּנָן, רַבִּי לֵוִי אָמַר לִשְׁלשָׁה יָמִים הָיְתָה אִשָּׁה מֵהֶן מִתְעַבֶּרֶת וְיוֹלֶדֶת, נֶאֱמַר כָּאן נָכוֹן, וְנֶאֱמַר לְהַלָּן (שמות יט, טו): הֱיוּ נְכֹנִים לִשְׁלשֶׁת יָמִים, מָה נָכוֹן הָאָמוּר לְהַלָּן שְׁלשָׁה יָמִים, אַף נָכוֹן הָאָמוּר כָּאן לִשְׁלשָׁה יָמִים. וְרַבָּנָן אָמְרֵי לְיוֹם אֶחָד הָיְתָה אִשָּׁה מִתְעַבֶּרֶת וְיוֹלֶדֶת, נֶאֱמַר כָּאן נָכוֹן, וְנֶאֱמַר לְהַלָּן נָכוֹן (שמות לד, ב): וֶהְיֵה נָכוֹן לַבֹּקֶר, מָה נָכוֹן הָאָמוּר לְהַלָּן יוֹם אֶחָד, אַף נָכוֹן הָאָמוּר כָּאן יוֹם אֶחָד. וְצֶאֱצָאֵיהֶם לְעֵינֵיהֶם, שֶׁהָיוּ רוֹאִים בְּנֵיהֶם וּבְנֵי בְנֵיהֶם. (איוב כא, יא): יְשַׁלְּחוּ כַצֹּאן עֲוִילֵיהֶם, יָנוֹקֵיהוֹן. אָמַר רַבִּי לֵוִי בַּעֲרָבְיָא קוֹרִין לְיָנוֹקָא עֲוִילָא. (איוב): וְיַלְדֵיהֶם יְרַקֵּדוּן, כְּאִלֵּין שֵׁדַיָא, כְּמָה דְתֵימָא (ישעיה יג, כא): וּשְׂעִירִים יְרַקְּדוּ שָׁם, הָא כֵיצַד, כֵּיוָן שֶׁהָיְתָה אַחַת מֵהֶן יוֹלֶדֶת בַּיּוֹם הָיְתָה אוֹמֶרֶת לִבְנָהּ לֵךְ וְהָבֵא לִי צוֹר וַאֲנִי חוֹתֶכֶת אֶת שׁוּרֶךָ, וּכְשֶׁהָיְתָה יוֹלֶדֶת בַּלַּיְלָה הָיְתָה אוֹמֶרֶת לִבְנָהּ לֵךְ וְהַדְלֵק לִי אֶת הַנֵּר וַאֲנִי חוֹתֶכֶת אֶת שׁוּרֶךָ. עוּבְדָא הֲוָה בְּחַד אִתְּתָא דִּילֵידַת בַּלַּיְלָה וְאָמְרָה לִבְרָהּ אֲזֵיל וְאַדְלֵיק לִי בּוֹצִינָא וַאֲנָא קָטַע שׁוּרָךְ, אֲזַל לְמַדְלַק בּוֹצִינָא וּפָגַע לֵיהּ שֵׁדָא שָׂרֵיהוֹן דְּרוּחֲתָא, עִם דְּמִתְעַסְּקִין דֵּין עִם דֵּין קָרָא תַּרְנְגוֹלָא, אֲמַר לֵיהּ אֲזֵיל גְּלוֹג לְאִמְּךָ וֶאֱמֹר לָהּ אִלּוּלֵי דְּקָרָא תַרְנְגוֹלָא הֲוֵינָא קָטֵיל בָּךְ. אֲמַר לֵיהּ אֲזֵיל גְּלוֹג לְאִמָּא דְּאִמָּךְ דְּלָא קְטַעַת אִמִּי שׁוּרִי, דְּאִי קְטַעַת אִמִּי שׁוּרִי הֲוֵינָא קָטֵיל לָךְ, לְקַיֵּם מַה שֶּׁנֶּאֱמַר (איוב כא, ט): בָּתֵּיהֶם שָׁלוֹם מִפָּחַד, מִן הַמַּזִּיקִין. וְלֹא שֵׁבֶט אֱלוֹהַּ עֲלֵיהֶם, מִן הַיִּסּוּרִים. וּכְשֶׁהִסְתִּיר פָּנָיו מִי אָמַר לוֹ לֹא עָשִׂיתָ כַּשּׁוּרָה, וּבַמֶּה הִסְתִּיר פָּנָיו מֵהֶן, הֵבִיא עֲלֵיהֶן אֶת מֵי הַמַּבּוּל (בראשית ז, כג): וַיִּמַח אֶת כָּל הַיְקוּם וגו'. (איוב לד, כט): וְעַל גּוֹי וְעַל אָדָם יָחַד. גּוֹי זֶה דּוֹר הַמַּבּוּל, אָדָם זֶה נֹחַ. יָחַד, הָיָה לוֹ לְהַעֲמִיד אֶת עוֹלָמוֹ מֵאָדָם אֶחָד. יָחַד, הָיָה לוֹ לְהַעֲמִיד אֶת עוֹלָמוֹ מֵאֻמָּה אֶחָת.

“If the anointed priest shall sin so that he brings guilt on the people, he shall present for his sin that he sinned an unblemished young bull to the Lord, as a sin offering” (Leviticus 4:3). If the anointed priest shall sin so that he brings guilt on the people, he shall present for his sin that he sinned an unblemished young bull to the Lord, as a sin offering.” That is what the verse says: “When He quiets, who can condemn? [When He conceals His face, who can see Him?]” (Job 34:29). Rabbi Meir expounded: He quiets His world and He conceals His face from His world, like a judge who spreads a curtain from within and does not see what transpires without. So too, the generation of the Flood said: “Clouds obscure for Him [and He does not see]” (Job 22:14). [The Rabbis] said to him: ‘That is enough, Meir. Rather, “When He quiets, who can condemn?” – He had granted tranquility to the generation of the Flood; who, then, could come and condemn them? What tranquility did He grant them? “Their offspring are well placed [nakhon] before them, with them, and their descendants are before their eyes”’ (Job 21:8). Rabbi Levi and the Rabbis, Rabbi Levi said: The women [of the generation of the Flood] would conceive and give birth in three days. Here nakhon is stated, and there it is written: “Be prepared [nekhonim] in three days” (Exodus 19:15). Just as nakhon stated there is three days, so nakhon stated here is three days. The Rabbis say: A woman would conceive and give birth in one day. Here nakhon is stated and there it is written: “Be prepared [nakhon] for the morning” (Exodus 34:2). Just as nakhon stated there is one day, so too, nakhon stated here is one day. “And their descendants are before their eyes,” they would see their children and their grandchildren. “They send out avileihem like a flock” (Job 21:11) – [avileihem means] their children. Rabbi Levi said: In Arabia they call a child avila. “And their children dance” (Job 21:11), like those demons, just as it says: “And the demons will dance there” (Isaiah 13:21). How so? When one of them would give birth during the day, she would say to her son: ‘Go and bring me a flint and I will cut your umbilical cord.’ When she would give birth at night, she would say to her son: ‘Go and kindle a lamp for me and I will cut your umbilical cord.’ There was an incident involving a certain woman who gave birth at night, and she said to her son, ‘Go and kindle a lamp for me and I will cut your umbilical cord.’ He went to kindle the lamp and a demon, the prince of the spirits, accosted him. While they were contending with each other, the rooster crowed. He said to him: ‘Go and exult to your mother and say to her that had the rooster not crowed I would have killed you.’ He said to him: ‘Go and exult to your mother’s mother and say to her that my mother did not cut my umbilical cord. Had my mother cut my umbilical cord, I would have killed you,’ to realize what is stated: “Their houses are peaceful without fear” (Job 21:9) – of the demons. “And the rod of God is not upon them” (Job 21:9) – [they are] free of suffering. When He concealed His face, who could tell Him that He did not act properly? In what sense did He conceal His face from them? He brought the waters of the Flood upon them “and He obliterated all existence…” (Genesis 7:23). “To nation and man alike” (Job 34:29); “nation,” this is the generation of the Flood, “man,” this is Noah. “Alike,” He could produce His world from one person; “alike,” as He could produce His world from one nation.

Section 2ב׳

דָּבָר אַחֵר, וְהוּא יַשְׁקִט וּמִי יַרְשִׁעַ, נָתַן שַׁלְוָה לַסְדוֹמִיִּים מִי בָּא וְחִיְּבָן, וּמַה שַּׁלְוָה נָתַן לָהֶם (איוב כח, ה ז): אֶרֶץ מִמֶּנָּה יֵצֵא לָחֶם, מְקוֹם סַפִּיר וגו' נָתִיב לֹא יְדָעוֹ עָיִט, רַבִּי לֵוִי בְּשֵׁם רַבִּי יוֹחָנָן בַּר שְׁאוֹנָה הָדֵין בַּר הַדְיָא הוּא צוֹפֶה מַאֲכָלוֹ מִשְׁמוֹנָה עָשָׂר מִיל, וְכַמָּה הוּא פְּרוּסָה, רַבִּי מֵאִיר אוֹמֵר שְׁנֵי טְפָחִים, רַבִּי יְהוּדָה אוֹמֵר טֶפַח, רַבִּי יוֹסֵי אוֹמֵר שְׁתַּיִם וְשָׁלשׁ אֶצְבָּעוֹת, כֵּיוָן דַּהֲוָה קָאי עַל אִילָנַיָא דִסְדוֹם לָא הֲוָה יָכֵיל לְמֶחֱמֵי עַל אַרְעָא מִן חֵילֵיהוֹן דְּאִילָנַיָא. מְקוֹם סַפִּיר, כְּשֶׁהָיָה אֶחָד מֵהֶן הוֹלֵךְ אֵצֶל הַגַּנָּן וְנוֹתֵן לוֹ יָרָק בְּאִסָּר, הָיָה מוֹצֵא בַּעֲפָרוֹ זָהָב, כְּדִכְתִיב (איוב כח, ז): וְעַפְרֹת זָהָב לוֹ, כֵּיוָן שֶׁאָמְרוּ (איוב כא, טו): מַה שַּׁדַּי כִּי נַעַבְדֶּנּוּ (איוב לד, כט): וְיַסְתֵּר פָּנִים וּמִי יְשׁוּרֶנּוּ, שֶׁהִסְתִּיר פָּנָיו מֵהֶם. מִי אָמַר לוֹ לֹא עָשִׂיתָ כַּשּׁוּרָה, וּבַמֶּה הִסְתִּיר פָּנָיו מֵהֶם, הִמְטִיר עֲלֵיהֶן גָּפְרִית וְאֵשׁ (בראשית יט, כט): וַה' הִמְטִיר עַל סְדֹם וגו'.

Another matter, "When He quiets, who can condemn?” – He granted tranquility to the people of Sodom; who, then, could come and condemn them? What tranquility did He grant them? “A land from which bread emerges…a source of sapphires…a path unknown by bird of prey” (Job 28:5–7). Rabbi Levi in the name of Rabbi Yoḥanan bar Sheona: The buzzard spots its food from a distance of eighteen mil. How much is it? A small portion. Rabbi Meir says: Two handbreadths, Rabbi Yehuda says: One handbreadth, Rabbi Yosei says: Two or three fingerbreadths. When [a buzzard] would stand on the trees in Sodom, it was unable to see the earth due to the lushness of its trees. “A source of sapphires” – when one of [the people of Sodom] would go to the gardener and he would give him vegetables for an isar, he would find gold in its dust, as it is written: “And its dust has gold” (Job 28:6). When they said: “What is the Almighty that we should worship Him?” (Job 21:15), “When He conceals His face, who can see Him?” (Job 34:29); He concealed His face from them, who could tell Him that He did not act properly? In what sense did He conceal His face from them? He rained brimstone and fire upon them: “The Lord rained upon Sodom [brimstone and fire]” (Genesis 19:24).

Section 3ג׳

דָּבָר אַחֵר, וְהוּא יַשְׁקִט, נָתַן שַׁלְוָה לַעֲשֶׂרֶת שְׁבָטִים, מִי בָּא וְחִיְּבָן. מַה שַּׁלְוָה נָתַן לָהֶם (עמוס ו, א): הוֹי הַשַּׁאֲנַנִּים בְּצִיּוֹן, זֶה שֵׁבֶט יְהוּדָה וּבִנְיָמִין, וְהַבֹּטְחִים בְּהַר שֹׁמְרוֹן, אֵלּוּ הָעֲשָׂרָה שְׁבָטִים. נְקֻבֵי רֵאשִׁית הַגּוֹיִם, שֶׁהֵן בָּאִין מִשְּׁנֵי רָאשֵׁי הַגּוֹיִם, מִשֵּׁם וּמֵעֵבֶר, אֻמּוֹת הָעוֹלָם בְּשָׁעָה שֶׁהֵן יוֹשְׁבִין בְּשָׁלוֹם אוֹכְלִין וְשׁוֹתִין וּמִשְׁתַּכְּרִין וּמִתְעַסְּקִין בְּדִבְרֵי תִּפְלוּת, מָה הֵן אוֹמְרִים, מִי חָכָם כְּבִלְעָם וּמִי עָשִׁיר כְּהָמָן וּמִי גִבּוֹר כְּגָלְיַת, וְאַחַר כָּךְ: יָבוֹאוּ לָהֶם בֵּית יִשְׂרָאֵל, וְאוֹמֵר לָהֶם, אֲחִיתֹפֶל לֹא הָיָה חָכָם, קֹרַח לֹא הָיָה עָשִׁיר, שִׁמְשׁוֹן לֹא הָיָה גִבּוֹר. (עמוס ו, ב): עִבְרוּ כַלְנֵה וּרְאוּ, זוֹ קַטִּיסְפוֹן. (עמוס ו, ב): וּלְכוּ מִשָּׁם חֲמַת רַבָּה, זוֹ חֲמָת שֶׁל אַנְטוֹכְיָא. (עמוס ו, ב): וּרְדוּ גַּת פְּלִשְׁתִּים, אִלֵּין תְּלוּלַיָא דְּפַלַסְטִינֵי. (עמוס ו, ב): הֲטוֹבִים מִן הַמַּמְלָכוֹת הָאֵלֶּה אִם רַב גְּבוּלָם מִגְּבֻלְכֶם. (עמוס ו, ג): הַמְנַדִּים לְיוֹם רָע, לְיוֹמָא שֶׁל גָּלוּת. (עמוס ו, ג): וַתַּגִּשׁוּן שֶׁבֶת חָמָס, הִגַּשְׁתֶּם עַצְמְכֶם לֵישֵׁב אֵצֶל הַחָמָס, זֶה עֵשָׂו, כְּמָה דְאַתְּ אָמַר (עובדיה א, י): מֵחֲמַס אָחִיךָ יַעֲקֹב. (עמוס ו, ד): הַשֹּׁכְבִים עַל מִטּוֹת שֵׁן, עַל עַרְסִין דְּפִילֵי. (עמוס ו, ד): וּסְרֻחִים עַל עַרְשׂוֹתָם, שֶׁהֵן מַסְרִיחִים מִטּוֹתֵיהֶם בַּעֲבֵרוֹת. דָּבָר אַחֵר, וּסְרֻחִים עַל עַרְשׂוֹתָם, אֵלּוּ קָטִיּוֹת מְשֻׁפָּעוֹת שֶׁהָיָה לְכָל אֶחָד וְאֶחָד, כְּמָה דְאַתְּ אָמַר (שמות כו, יב): וְסֶרַח הָעֹדֵף. (עמוס ו, ד): וְאֹכְלִים כָּרִים מִצֹּאן, כְּשֶׁהָיָה אֶחָד מֵהֶן מְבַקֵּשׁ לֶאֱכֹל גְּדִי הָיָה מוֹשֵׁךְ כָּל הָעֵדֶר לְפָנָיו וְהָיָה נוֹטֵל הַשָּׁמֵן שֶׁבָּהֶם וְעוֹמֵד עָלָיו וְשׁוֹחֲטוֹ, וּכְשֶׁהוּא מְבַקֵּשׁ לֶאֱכֹל עֵגֶל, הָיָה מוֹשֵׁךְ כָּל הַבְּקָרִים לְפָנָיו וְעוֹמֵד עָלָיו וְשׁוֹחֲטוֹ, הֲדָא הוּא דִכְתִיב: וְאֹכְלִים כָּרִים מִצֹּאן וַעֲגָלִים מִתּוֹךְ מַרְבֵּק, (עמוס ו, ה): הַפֹּרְטִים עַל פִּי הַנָּבֶל, שֶׁהָיוּ פּוֹרְטִים פִּיהֶם בְּדִבְרֵי נִבְלוּת, מָה הָיוּ אוֹמְרִים, כְּלוּם אָמַר דָּוִד שִׁירָה אֶלָּא בְּנֵבֶל, הֲדָא הוּא דִכְתִיב (עמוס ו, ה): כְּדָוִיד חָשְׁבוּ לָהֶם. (עמוס ו, ו): הַשֹּׁתִים בְּמִזְרְקֵי יַיִן, רַב וְרַבִּי יוֹחָנָן וְרַבָּנָן, רַב אָמַר קְלוּרְיָא, רַבִּי יוֹחָנָן אָמַר בְּכוֹסוֹת קְטַנִּים, וְרַבָּנָן אָמְרֵי כּוֹסוֹת שֶׁיֵּשׁ לָהֶן זַרְבּוּבִיּוֹת. וּמֵהֵיכָן הָיוּ שׁוֹתִין אֶת הַיַּיִן, רַבִּי אַבָּהוּ בְּשֵׁם רַבִּי חֲנִינָא אָמַר מִפַּתּוּגְתָּא, שֶׁהָיָה יֵינָם מְפַתֶּה אֶת הַגּוּף לִזְנוּת, וְרַבָּנָן בְּשֵׁם רַבִּי חֲנִינָא אָמְרֵי מִפַּלּוּגְתָּא, שֶׁעַל יֵינָם נִתְפַּתּוּ וְגָלוּ עֲשֶׂרֶת הַשְּׁבָטִים. (עמוס ו, ו): וְרֵאשִׁית שְׁמָנִים יִמְשָׁחוּ, רַבִּי יְהוּדָה בַּר יְחֶזְקֵאל אָמַר זֶה שֶׁמֶן אִסְטַקְטוֹן. רַבִּי יַנַּאי אָמַר זֶה שֶׁמֶן אַנְפִּיקִינוֹן, שֶׁהוּא מַשִּׁיר אֶת הַשֵּׂעָר וּמַצְהִיר אֶת הַגּוּף, וְאַחַר כָּל הַשֶּׁבַח הַזֶּה (עמוס ו, ו): וְלֹא נֶחְלוּ עַל שֵׁבֶר יוֹסֵף. (עמוס ו, ז): לָכֵן עַתָּה יִגְלוּ בְּרֹאשׁ גֹּלִים וְסָר מִרְזַח סְרוּחִים, מַהוּ מִרְזַח סְרוּחִים אָמַר רַבִּי אַיְבוּ שְׁלשׁ עֶשְׂרֵה דִּימָסִיאוֹת הָיָה לְכָל שֵׁבֶט וְשֵׁבֶט וְאֶחָד לְכֻלָּם, וְכֵיוָן שֶׁגָּרְמוּ הָעֲוֹנוֹת וּבָאוּ לִידֵי עֲבֵרוֹת וּמַעֲשִׂים רָעִים נִטְלוּ כֻּלָּן וְלֹא נִשְׁתַּיֵּר לָהֶן אֶלָּא זוֹ בִּלְבָד, לְהוֹדִיעַ כַּמָּה חֵטְא גוֹרֵם, לְקַיֵּם מַה שֶּׁנֶּאֱמַר (ירמיה ה, כה): עֲוֹנוֹתֵיכֶם הִטּוּ אֵלֶּה וגו' (איוב לד, כט): וְיַסְתֵּר פָּנִים וּמִי יְשׁוּרֶנּוּ, וּכְשֶׁהִסְתִּיר פָּנָיו מֵהֶן מִי אָמַר לוֹ לֹא עָשִׂיתָ כַּשּׁוּרָה. וּבַמֶּה הִסְתִּיר פָּנָיו מֵהֶן, הֶעֱלָה עֲלֵיהֶם אֶת סַנְחֵרִיב, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר (ישעיה לו, א): וַיְהִי בְּאַרְבַּע עֶשְׂרֵה שָׁנָה לְמֶלֶךְ חִזְקִיָּהוּ וגו', מַהוּ וַיִּתְפְּשֵׂם, רַבִּי אַבָּא בַּר כַּהֲנָא בְּשֵׁם רַבִּי שְׁמוּאֵל בַּר נַחְמָן אָמַר שְׁלשָׁה גִּזְרֵי דִינִין נֶחְתְּמוּ בְּאוֹתוֹ הַיּוֹם, נִתְחַתֵּם גְּזַר דִּין שֶׁל עֲשֶׂרֶת הַשְּׁבָטִים לִפֹּל בְּיַד סַנְחֵרִיב, וְנֶחְתַּם גְּזַר דִּינוֹ שֶׁל סַנְחֵרִיב לִפֹּל בְּיַד חִזְקִיָּה, וְנֶחְתַּם גְּזַר דִּינוֹ שֶׁל עֻזִּיָּה שֶׁיִּלְקֶה בְּצָרַעַת. (איוב לד, כט): וְעַל גּוֹי וְעַל אָדָם יָחַד, גּוֹי זֶה סַנְחֵרִיב, דִּכְתִיב בֵּיהּ (יואל א, ו): כִּי גּוֹי עָלָה עַל אַרְצִי. אָדָם, אֵלּוּ יִשְׂרָאֵל, דִּכְתִיב בְּהוֹן (יחזקאל לד, לא): וְאַתֵּן צֹאנִי צֹאן מַרְעִיתִי אָדָם אַתֶּם. יָחַד, זֶה עֻזִּיָּה הַמֶּלֶךְ שֶׁלָּקָה בְּצָרַעַת, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר (דברי הימים ב כו, כא): וַיְהִי עֻזִּיָּהוּ הַמֶּלֶךְ מְצֹרָע. וְלֹא כְדִינֵי בָּשָׂר וָדָם דִּינִין שֶׁל הַקָּדוֹשׁ בָּרוּךְ הוּא, מֶלֶךְ בָּשָׂר וָדָם לַצִּבּוּר נוֹשֵׂא פָנִים וְלַיָּחִיד אֵינוֹ נוֹשֵׂא פָנִים, בְּרַם הָכָא אָמַר הַקָּדוֹשׁ בָּרוּךְ הוּא (ויקרא ד, ג ד): אִם הַכֹּהֵן הַמָּשִׁיחַ, וְהִקְרִיב פַּר. (ויקרא ד, יג יד): אִם כָּל עֲדַת יִשְׂרָאֵל יִשְׁגּוּ, וְהִקְרִיבוּ פַּר בֶּן בָּקָר.

Another matter, “When He quiets, who can condemn?” – He granted tranquility to the Ten Tribes; who, then, could come and condemn them? What tranquility did He grant them? “Woe, the tranquil of Zion” (Amos 6:1), this is [referring to] the tribes of Judah and Benjamin. “And the secure of Mount Samaria” (Amos 6:1), these are the Ten Tribes. “They are called the foremost of the nations” (Amos 6:1), as they descend from two heads of nations, Shem and Ever. When the nations of the world live in peace, they eat, drink, get drunk, and engage in matters of frivolity. What do they say? ‘Who is as wise as Bilam? Who is as wealthy as Haman? Who is as mighty as Goliath?’ Then, the house of Israel will come to them and say to them: ‘Was Aḥitofel not wise? Was Koraḥ not wealthy? Was Samson not mighty?’ “Cross to Kalne and see” (Amos 6:2), this is Katisfon. “And go from there to greater Ḥamat” (Amos 6:2), this is Ḥamat of Antioch. “And descend to Gat of the Philistines” (Amos 6:2), these are the fortifications of Philistia. “Are they better than these kingdoms? Is their border wider than your border?” (Amos 6:2). “Those who deny the evil day” (Amos 6:3), the day of the exile. “And advance [vatagishun] the regime of villainy” (Amos 6:3), you presented [higashtem] yourselves to settle near villainy; this is Esau, just as it says: “For the villainy to your brother Jacob” (Obadiah 1:10). “Who lie on beds of ivory” (Amos 6:4), on beds of elephant ivory, “and sprawl [usruḥim] on their couches (Amos 6:4), they contaminate their beds with sins. Alternatively, “sprawled on their couches,” these are the curtains stretched over each and every one of them, just as it says: “The overhang that remains” (Exodus 26:12). “Eating the fattened sheep from the flock” (Amos 6:4). When one of them would seek to eat a kid, he would drag the entire flock before him, choose the fattest one, stand over it, and slaughter it. When he would seek to eat a calf, he would drag all the cattle before him, choose the fattest one, stand over it, and slaughter it. That is what is written: “Eating the fattened sheep from the flock and the calves from inside the stall” (Amos 6:4). “Who strum on the lute [hanavel]” (Amos 6:5) – they would enunciate offensive [nivlut] matters with their mouths. What would they say: ‘Did David not recite song only with a lute?’ That is what is written: “They consider themselves like David” (Amos 6:5). “Who drink with bowls [mizrekei] of wine” (Amos 6:6); Rav, Rabbi Yoḥanan, and the Rabbis, Rav said: Congealed wine. Rabbi Yoḥanan said: Small goblets. The Rabbis say: Goblets with pipes. Where was the wine that they would drink produced? Rabbi Abahu said in the name of Rabbi Ḥanina: From Patugta, as their wine would entice the body to engage in licentiousness. The Rabbis said in the name of Rabbi Ḥanina: From Palugta, as it was with that wine that the Ten Tribes were enticed [nitpatu] and exiled [galu]. “And anoint themselves with virgin oils” (Amos 6:6) – Rabbi Yehuda bar Yeḥezkel said: This is myrrh oil. Rabbi Yanai said: Oil of unripe olives that removes the hair and smooths the body. After all this bounty, “but they are not distressed over the destruction of Joseph” (Amos 6:6). “Therefore, they will now be exiled at the head of the exiles, and the revelry of the sprawled [mirzaḥ seruḥim] will be discontinued” (Amos 6:7). What is mirzaḥ seruḥim? Rabbi Aivu said: There were thirteen hot springs, one for each and every tribe, and one for all of them. When their iniquities caused [punishment],when they came to perform transgressions and evil deeds, they were all taken. Only this one remained, to inform you of the extent that sin causes [punishment], to realize what is stated: “Your iniquities have diverted these, [and your sins have withheld good from you]” (Jeremiah 5:25). “When He conceals His face, who can see Him?” (Job 34:29). When he concealed His face from them, who could tell Him that He did not act properly? In what sense did He conceal His face from them? He took Sennacherib up against them, as it is stated: “It was in the fourteenth year of King Hezekiah, [that Sennacherib, king of Assyria, went up against all the fortified cities of Judah and he seized them]” (Isaiah 36:1). What is “and he seized them”? Rabbi Abba bar Kahana said in the name of Rabbi Shmuel bar Naḥman: Three sentences were sealed on that day. The sentence of the Ten Tribes to fall at the hand of Sennacherib was sealed. The sentence of Sennacherib to fall at the hand of Hezekiah was sealed. And the sentence of Uzziah to be stricken with leprosy was sealed. “To nation and man alike” (Job 34:29) – “nation,” this is Sennacherib, in whose regard it is written: “For a nation has ascended against My land” (Joel 1:6). “Man,” this is Israel, in whose regard it is written: “You, My flock, flock of My pasture, you are man” (Ezekiel 34:31). “Alike,” this is King Uzziah, who was stricken with leprosy, as it is stated: “King Uzziah was a leper” (II Chronicles 26:21). The rulings of the Holy One blessed be He are not like the rulings of flesh and blood. A flesh and blood king shows favor to the public but does not show favor to an individual. However, here, the Holy One blessed be He said: “If the anointed priest shall sin…He shall present…an [unblemished young] bull” (Leviticus 4:3). “If the entire congregation of Israel will err unwittingly…they shall sacrifice a young bull” (Leviticus 4:13–14).