Midrasch zu Haggai 1:16

(Numb. 13:1-2:) “Then the Lord spoke unto Moses, saying, ‘Send men to explore the land of Canaan.’” Let our master instruct us: Is it permitted to set sail on the Great Sea (i.e., the Mediterranean) three days before the Sabbath?¹Numb. R. 16:1. Thus have our masters taught (in Shab. 19a): One does not set sail in a ship on the Great Sea three days before the Sabbath, when one wants to go to a distant place. If, however, one desires to set sail from Tyre to Sidon, for example, it is permitted for one to set sail even on the Sabbath eve, because it is a known fact that one can go [there] while it is still daylight. Now these words concern agents with freedom of action; but in the case of agents for [carrying out] a commandment, it is permitted for [such a] one to set sail on whatever day he wants. Why? Because he is an agent for [carrying out] a commandment, and an agent for [carrying out] a commandment overrides the Sabbath. And so you find with reference to the sukkah that they have taught (in Suk. 2:4), “Agents for [carrying out] a religious duty are exempted from [the requirements of] the sukkah.”²Suk. 25a (bar). You have none so dear to the Holy One, blessed be He, as an agent, when he is sent to carry out a religious duty and is risking his life to succeed in it. And you have none who were sent to carry out a religious duty and who risked their lives to succeed in their mission like those two whom Joshua ben Nun sent. Thus it is stated (in Josh. 2:1), “Then Joshua ben Nun sent two spies [from Shittim secretly, saying]….” Who were they? Our masters have taught, “These were Phinehas and Caleb.” They had gone and risked their lives in order to be successful in their mission. What is the implication of secretly (heresh), saying? That they made themselves out to be potters and cried, “Here are pots. Whoever wants [some], let him come and buy.” [Their ruse was] so that no one would notice them. Hence secretly (heresh) is written [in this verse, but] read it [as] clay (heres), (from which pots are made). [They had made themselves out to be potters] lest people say that they were spies. (Ibid., cont.:) “So they went and came to the house of a woman who was a harlot whose name was Rahab […].” She arose and received them. The king of Jericho became aware of them and heard that they had come to investigate the whole land, as stated (in vs. 2), “But it was told the king of Jericho [….].” When they came to look for them, what did Rahab do? She took them away to hide them. Phinehas said to her, “I am a priest, and the priests are comparable to the angels (mal'akhim), as stated (in Mal. 2:7), “For the lips of a priest preserve knowledge, and they seek Torah from his mouth, because he is a messenger (mal'akh) of the Lord of hosts.” Now an angel desiring [to be visible] is visible; and one desiring [to be invisible] is not visible. And the prophets are also comparable to angels. As so is it stated about Moshe (in Numb. 20:16), “and he sent a messenger (mal'akh) who brought us out of Egypt.” And was it an angel? And was he not Moses? Hence the prophets are likened to angels (mal'akhim). And so too is it stated (in Jud. 2:1), “An angel (mal'akh) of the Lord came up from Gilgal to Bochim and said, ‘I brought you up from Egypt…” And was he not Phinehas? It is simply that from here [it is shown] that the prophets are called angels. And so do you find with the wife of Manoah, as she said (in Jud. 13:6), “A man of God came to me; he looked like an angel (mal'akh) of God, very frightening.” And it likewise states (in Hag. 1:13), “And Hagai, the messenger (mal'akh) of God, spoke in the mission of the Lord to the people, saying.” Hence you have learned that the prophets were called angels. And it likewise states (in II Chron. 36:16), “And they mocked the messengers of God and disdained His words.” Hence Phinehas said to her, “I am a priest, when I desire [to be visible] I am visible; and when I desire [to be invisible], I am not visible. Now where is it shown that [Rahab] had only hidden Caleb? Where it is stated (in Josh. 2:4), “So the woman took the two men and concealed him.” It does not say, “hid them,” but rather “hid him³Him is a literal translation of the Masoretic text.” [This is] to teach you how much these two righteous men risked themselves to fulfill their mission. But the agents whom Moses sent were wicked. Where is it shown? From what they have read on the matter (in Numb. 14:36), “As for the men whom Moses sent to scout the land, those who came back and caused the whole community to mutter against Him by spreading calumnies about the land.” Ergo (in Numb. 13:2) “Send men.”

And he called to Moshe: Rabbi Tanchum Bar Chanilai opened (Psalms 103:20), “'Bless the Lord, His messengers (malachav), powerful ones who fulfill His word, etc.' About whom is the verse speaking? If the verse is speaking about the [angels], has it not already been stated, 'Bless the Lord, all of His Hosts?' Behold, it is only speaking about [people]. [About the angels,] since they are able to accomplish the errands of the Holy One, blessed be He, they are told, ' Bless the Lord, all of His Hosts'; but [about people], since they are not able to accomplish the errands of the Holy One, blessed be He, hence it states, 'Bless the Lord, His messengers,' and not 'all of His messengers.'” Another explanation: The prophets are called messengers. So is it written (Numbers 20:16), “and He sent a messenger and he took us out of Egypt.' And was it an angel of the Lord, and was it not Moshe? And [so] why is he called a messenger? Rather, from here [we see that] prophets are called messengers. And like it is (Judges 2:1) “And a messenger of the Lord came up from Bokhim.” Was it an angel of the Lord and was it not Pinchas? And [so] why did it call him a messenger? But rather Rabbi Simon said, “When Pinchas had the holy spirit come upon him, his face would burn like torches.” And our rabbis said, “Manoach's wife said to him (Judges 13:16), 'Behold, a man of God is coming towards me and his appearance is like the appearance of an angel of God' – she thought that he was a prophet and he was [actually] an angel.” Rabbi Yochanan said, “From their essence, the prophets were called messengers – so it is written (Chaggai 1:13), 'And Chaggai, the messenger of the Lord in the service of the Lord said.' Perforce you learn that from their essence, prophets were called messengers.” (Psalms 103:20) “Powerful ones who fulfill His word, etc.” – about what is the verse speaking? Rabbi Yitzchak said, “The verse is speaking about those that observe the sabbatical year. It is customary in the world that a man will fulfill a commandment for a day, for a Shabbat, for a month, but for the rest of the days of the year? And this one watches his field empty, watches his vineyard empty and he gives his purse and is silent – is there one more powerful than this one? And if you would say that it is not speaking about those that observe the sabbatical year, here it states, 'who fulfill his word' and later it states (Deuteronomy 15:2) 'This is the word of the Sabbatical.' Just like regarding the word that is stated later on, the verse is speaking about those that observe the Sabbatical year, so too the word stated here, - it is about those that observe the Sabbatical year that the verse is speaking. "Who fulfill His word" - Rabbi Huna said in the name of Rav Acha, "The verse is speaking about Israel when they were standing in front of Mount Sinai; as they had fulfilling precede hearing and said (Exodus 24:7), 'Everything that the Lord said, we will fulfill and we will hear.'" [The verse in Psalms continues] "To listen to the voice of His word" - Rabbi Tanchum Bar Chanilai said, "It is customary in the world that a load that is difficult for one [to carry] is comfortable for two, and [one difficult] for two is comfortable for four; and [so] would a load that is difficult for sixty multitudes be comfortable for one? All of Israel was standing in front of Mount Sinai and saying (Deuteronomy 5:22), 'if we continue to listen, etc.' and [yet] Moshe listens to the Voice of the word by himself and lives? You should know that it is so, as from all of them He only called to Moshe. Hence it states, 'And He called to Moshe.'"

(Exodus 19:1) "On the third month of the exodus of the children of Israel from the land of Egypt": We are hereby apprised that we number the months from the exodus from Egypt. This tells me only of months. Whence do I derive (the same for) years? From (Numbers 1:1) "in the second year of their exodus from Egypt." This tells me only of that period (i.e., the general period of the exodus.) Whence do I derive the same for succeeding periods? From (Ibid. 33:38) "in the fortieth year of the exodus of the children of Israel from the land of Egypt in the fifth month" (Av). All this, until they entered Eretz Yisrael. Whence do I derive the same for (the period) after they entered Eretz Yisrael? From (I Kings 6:1) "In the four hundred and eightieth year of the exodus of the children of Israel from the land of Egypt." All this, until the Temple was built. Once the Temple was built, they began to count from (the time of) its building, viz. (II Chronicles 8:1) "And it was, at the end of forty years of Solomon's building of the Temple of the L rd, etc." If they did not merit numbering from its building they numbered from its destruction, viz. (Ezekiel 40:1) "in the fourteenth year after the city was smitten." If they did not merit numbering for themselves, they numbered for others, viz. (Daniel 2:1) "And in the second year of the reign of Nevuchadnezzar, etc.", and (Chaggai 1:15) "In the second year of the reign of King Darius." And it is written (Song of Songs 1:8) "If you do not know, you fairest among the women, etc." and (Devarim 28:47-48) "Because you would not serve the L rd your G d … you will serve your foes, etc."

The Master said above: "The smoke arose from the wood-pile on the altar." Was then any smoke on the altar? Behold we have been taught in a Baraitha: "Five things have been said concerning the fire on the altar: It had the form of a lion, it was clear as the sun, it was palpable, it consumed moist things as it did dry ones and never emitted any smoke." The smoke was that of fire kindled by men, as we are taught in a Baraitha: (Lev. 1, 7) And the sons of Aaron the priest shall put fire upon the altar, i.e., although the fire descended from heaven, it was meritorious to bring fire from outside the sanctuary also. "It had the form of a lion." Behold, we are taught in a Baraitha, R. Chanina, the Segan (Chief) of the priests, said: "I have seen it, and it had the form of a dog." No difficulty is presented; during the time of the first Temple it was like a lion, during the second, like a dog. Was there then any fire in the second Temple? Has not R. Samuel b. Inia said in the name of R. Acha: "What is the meaning of the passage (Hag. 1, 8) Go up to the mountain, and bring wood, and build the house; that I may take pleasure in it, and be glorified; it is written V'ekabed (and I shall be glorified) although we read it V'ekabdah. Why is the letter Hay missing? This is to suggest that five [the numerical value of Hay] things were missing in the second Temple. They are: The ark, the Kaporeth, the Cherubim, the divine fire, the Shechina, the Holy Spirit, and the Urim and Tumim. [Hence we see there was no heavenly fire in the second Temple at all.] I will tell thee: It was there, only it did not assist in consuming.

(Lev. 26:3:) “If you walk in My statutes….” This text is related (to Hos. 9:17), “My God will reject them because they did not heed Him….” The Holy One, blessed be He, said, “I have said that you would be set in security, as stated (in Amos 9:15), ‘And when I plant them in their land, [they shall never again be uprooted]….’ When? (Lev.: 26:3, 5:) ‘If you walk in My statutes […] You shall eat your fill of bread.’ But you did not so act.” Instead (according to II Kings 17:9), “The Children of Israel attributed things which were not right to the Lord.” [So] I have also set upon you things which I did not write in My Torah. [It is so stated] (in Deut. 28:61), “Moreover [the Lord will bring upon you] every disease and every plague which is not written [in this book of the Torah].” Now what were the “things they attributed, which were not right to the Lord?” As Isaiah said (in Is. 1:4), “They have forsaken the Lord […];” do not say, “They have forsaken ('zbw) [Me],” but “They,” as it were, “have made me worth forsaking ('yzbw) (i.e., caused me to be cruel).” Now I was called (in Exod. 34:6), “The Lord, the Lord, a merciful and gracious God.” But through their sins, they have made Me cruel and changed My trait of mercy to cruelty, as stated (in Lam. 2:5), “The Lord has become like an enemy, He swallowed Israel.” It also says (in Is. 63:10), “But they rebelled, and grieved His holy spirit; then He became their enemy, and Himself made war against them.” Therefore, Hosea said, “Who has brought this about for you? [It was] because you did not heed Him, (in Hos. 9:17), ‘My God will reject them because they did not heed Him.’” It is also written (in Deut. 28:65), “And among those nations you shall find no peace. Another interpretation (of Lev. 26:3, 4, 14, 19) “If you walk in My statutes…, then I will give you your rains in their season…. But if you do not heed Me…. I will make your heavens like iron”: It also says so (in Hag. 1:10), “For that reason the heavens over you have withheld dew, and the earth has withheld its produce.” Because of your sins, the nations are also afflicted. R. Joshua ben Levi said, “If the nations had known that they are afflicted because of the sins of Israel, they would have raised two armies²Gk.: stratiai. to guard each and every person of Israel in order that they keep the Torah and not sin. However, it was not enough for the nations that they were not watching over Israel, but in addition they stopped them from [fulfilling] the commandments.” As when Israel sins, all the whole world is afflicted, as stated (in Hag. 1:10), “For that reason the heavens over you have withheld dew.” But if [the Israelites] do not sin, all the world is blessed on their account, as stated (in Gen. 26:4), “and through your seed shall all the nations of the earth be blessed.” The Holy One, blessed be He, said to Moses (in Exod. 20:19-20), “You yourselves have seen that I spoke with you from the heavens. Along with Me you shall not make gods of silver, nor shall you make for yourselves gods of gold.” So if you sin [and pray to me], I will not answer you, as stated (in Zech. 7:13), “And it came to pass that, as He called, and they did not heed; ‘So let them call, and I will not heed,’ [says the Lord of hosts].” Therefore (according to Exod. 20:20), “Along with Me you shall not make gods of silver.”

Another interpretation (of Lev. 26:3, 4, 14, 19:) IF YOU WALK IN MY STATUTES…, THEN I WILL GIVE YOU YOUR RAINS IN THEIR SEASON…. BUT IF YOU DO NOT HEED ME…. I WILL MAKE YOUR HEAVENS LIKE IRON. It also says so (in Hag. 1:10): FOR THAT REASON THE HEAVENS OVER YOU HAVE WITHHELD DEW, AND THE EARTH HAS WITHHELD ITS PRODUCE. Because of your sins, the nations are also afflicted. R. Joshua ben Levi said: If the nations had known that, when Israel sinned, they also would be afflicted, they would have raised two armies⁵Gk.: stratiai. in order to keep each and every person of Israel [from sinning.⁶The bracketed portion continues to the end of the section. Since the passage is lacking in Buber’s main Oxford ms., he has drawn on Codex Vaticanus Ebr. 34. However, it was not enough for the nations that they were not watching over Israel, but in addition they stopped them from < fulfilling > the commandments. Thus because Israel sins, all the whole world is afflicted, as stated (in Hag. 1:10): FOR THAT REASON THE HEAVENS OVER YOU HAVE WITHHELD DEW. But if < the Israelites > do not sin, all the world is blessed on their account, as stated (in Gen. 26:4): AND THROUGH YOUR SEED SHALL ALL THE NATIONS OF THE EARTH BE BLESSED. The Holy One said to Moses (in Exod. 20:19–20 [22–23]): YOU YOURSELVES HAVE SEEN THAT I SPOKE WITH YOU FROM THE HEAVENS. ALONG WITH ME YOU SHALL NOT MAKE GODS OF SILVER, NOR SHALL YOU MAKE FOR YOURSELVES GODS OF GOLD. So if you sin and pray to me, I will not answer you, as stated (in Zech. 7:13): AND IT CAME TO PASS THAT, AS {I} [HE] CALLED, AND THEY DID NOT HEED; SO LET THEM CALL, AND I WILL NOT HEED, SAYS THE LORD OF HOSTS. Therefore (according to Exod. 20:20 [23]): ALONG WITH ME YOU SHALL NOT MAKE GODS OF SILVER….]

(Lev. 19:23:) NOW WHEN YOU COME INTO THE LAND AND PLANT ANY TREE FOR FOOD. This text is related (to Zech. 8:11–12): BUT NOW < I WILL NOT TREAT THE REMNANT OF THIS PEOPLE > AS IN THE FORMER DAYS…; FOR AS THE SEED OF PEACE, THE VINE SHALL YIELD ITS FRUIT, THE EARTH SHALL YIELD ITS HARVEST…. What is the meaning of NOT… AS IN THE FORMER DAYS? When Israel went forth from Egypt and was walking in the desert, he brought down manna for them, brought over quails for them, and raised up the well for them.²⁶The well in question is the well of Numb. 21:16–20, which according to traditional interpretations was movable and followed the children of Israel during the forty-year wanderings. See below, Numb. 1:2; 6:35, 47–50; Tanh., Numb. 1:2; Numb. R. 1:2; 9:14; 13:20; 19:26; Seder ‘Olam Rabbah 5, 9–10; TSuk. 3:11–13; Pseudo-Philo 10:7; 11:15; also TSot. 11:1; Mekhilta deRabbi Ishmael, Wayassa‘ 6; Sifre Deut. 32:14(305); Shab. 35a; Ta‘an. 9a; Eccl. R. 1:2; M. Prov. 14; the various targums to Numb. 21:16–20; and I Corinthians 10:4. Then each and every tribe made itself a conduit for water, which [drew < the water > from the well and] brought it in to them. Moreover, [each and every one] planted fig trees, vines, and pomegranates, which yielded fruit on the same day, just as it was from the beginning at the creation of the world (according to Gen. 1:11): FRUIT TREE BEARING FRUIT ACCORDING TO ITS KIND. If the children of Adam had been worthy, it would have remained so until now. A person would plant a tree, and it would bear fruit immediately. When Adam sinned, the ground was cursed (according to Gen. 3:17): CURSED IS THE LAND BECAUSE OF YOU. From now on (ibid., cont.:) IN TOIL YOU SHALL YOU EAT OF IT ALL THE DAYS OF YOUR LIFE. He sowed wheat and it sprouted thistles, as stated (in vs. 18): THORNS AND THISTLES SHALL IT SPROUT FOR YOU. When they went forth from Egypt, [the Holy One] raised up the well for them. Then they made plantings beside its water, and the trees bore fruit on the same day. When the well disappeared, [all the bounty disappeared.] What is written there (in Numb. 20:5)? A PLACE WITH NO SEEDS, FIGS, VINES, OR POMEGRANATES. The Holy One said to Moses: Say to these Israelites: When you enter the land of Israel, I am restoring all the bounty to you, as stated (in Deut. 8:7–9): FOR THE LORD YOUR GOD IS BRINGING YOU UNTO A GOOD LAND, < A LAND WITH STREAMS OF WATER >…; A LAND OF WHEAT AND BARLEY, OF VINES, FIGS, AND POMEGRANATES…; A LAND < IN > WHICH < YOU SHALL EAT BREAD > WITHOUT STINT. When they came into the land of Israel they began sinning (rt.: HT'), as stated (in Jer. 2:7): BUT YOU CAME AND DEFILED (rt.: HT') MY LAND. So it did not bear fruits as was appropriate. They planted much and brought in little, as stated (in Hag. 1:6): YOU HAVE SOWN MUCH AND BROUGHT IN LITTLE.²⁷Above, Exod. 8:10. Why? Because they ceased < offering > the firstfruits. (Ibid., cont.:) YOU HAVE EATEN WITHOUT HAVING ENOUGH, after {the first fruits} [the shewbread] ceased. (Ibid., cont.:) YOU HAVE DRUNK WITHOUT HAVING ENOUGH, after the libation of wine ceased. (Ibid., cont.:) YOU HAVE PUT ON CLOTHES, WITHOUT BEING WARM, after the vestments of priesthood were abolished. (Ibid., cont.:) THE WAGE EARNER HAS EARNED WAGES FOR A BAG WITH HOLES, after almsgiving ceased. (Zech. 8:10:) A PERSON HAD NO EARNINGS, after pilgrims (going up to Jerusalem) ceased. (Ibid., cont.:) AND THE CATTLE EARNED NOTHING, after the offerings ceased. But in the age to come, the Holy One will not act so. Thus it is stated (in Zech. 8:11–12): BUT NOW I WILL NOT TREAT THE REMNANT OF THIS PEOPLE AS IN THE FORMER DAYS, SAYS THE LORD OF HOSTS; FOR AS THE SEED OF PEACE, THE VINE SHALL YIELD ITS FRUIT, THE EARTH SHALL YIELD ITS HARVEST, THE HEAVENS SHALL YIELD THEIR DEW, AND I WILL BEQUEATH ALL THESE THINGS TO THE REMNANT OF THIS PEOPLE….

The Rabbis interpreted the verse regarding the returning exiles. “We have a little sister” (Song of Songs 8:8) – this is [a reference to] the returning exiles. “Little” – because they were small in number. “And she has no breasts” (Song of Songs 8:8) – these are the five matters that were lacking in the latter Temple relative to the first, and these are: Heavenly fire, anointing oil, the Ark, the Divine Spirit, and the Urim and the Tummim. That is what is written: “I will accept it and be honored [ve’ekaveda]” (Hagai 1:8); ve’ekaveda is written without a heh.²⁶The numerical value of heh is five. This is an allusion to the five matters that were lacking in the Second Temple. “What shall we do for our sister?” (Song of Songs 8:8) – what shall we do on the day that it was decreed: Whoever has crossed the Euphrates has crossed, and whoever has not crossed shall not cross. “I am a wall” – had Israel ascended from Babylon like a wall,²⁷Presenting a united front. the Temple would not then have been destroyed a second time.
Rabbi Ze’eira went out to the marketplace to purchase something. He said to the one who was weighing: ‘Weigh properly.’ He said to him: ‘Will you not go away from us, you Babylonian, whose ancestors caused the destruction?’ At that moment Rabbi Ze’eira said: Are my ancestors not like the ancestors of these?²⁸He said to himself: Were only my Babylonian ancestors responsible for the destruction, and not his ancestors from the Land of Israel? He went to the meeting place [of the Sages] and heard the voice of Rabbi Shila, who sat and expounded: Had Israel ascended from the exile like a wall, the Temple would not have been destroyed a second time. [Rabbi Ze’eira] said: That ignoramus taught me well.
“And if she is a door, we will affix [natzur] upon her a cedar panel” – just as a drawing [tzura], even when it is blurred, its mark is noticeable, so too, even though the Temple was destroyed, Israel did not abrogate its footsteps to their pilgrimages three times a year.
“I am a wall” – Rabbi Aivu said: The Holy One blessed be He said: I am destined to become an advocate for Israel among the nations of the world.²⁹The nations question Israel’s connection with God due to the elements lacking in the Second Temple. How is that? This is the Divine voice. That is what is written: “Had the Lord of hosts not left us a remnant” (Isaiah 1:9). It is taught: Once the later prophets, Hagai, Zechariah, and Malachi, died, the Divine Spirit ceased from Israel. Even so, they would avail themselves of the Divine Voice. There was an incident where the Sages gathered to vote in the upper story of Beit Gadya in Jericho. A Divine Voice emerged and said to them: There is among you a man who is worthy of the Divine Spirit, but his generation is not worthy of it. They directed their glance to Hillel the Elder. When he died, they would say in his regard: How humble, how pious, a disciple of Ezra.
There was another incident where the Sages of Israel gathered to vote in the vineyard of Yavne. Were they in a vineyard? Rather, this is the Sanhedrin, which is configured in rows and in tiers like the configuration of a vineyard. A Divine Voice emerged and said to them: ‘There is among you a man who is worthy of the Divine Spirit, but his generation is not worthy of it.’ They directed their glance to Shmuel HaKatan. When he died, they would say in his regard: How humble, how pious, a disciple of Hillel the Elder. He also said three matters at the time of his death: Shimon and Yishmael by sword, and the rest of their colleagues to death; and the rest of the people will be plundered; and great troubles are destined to befall the world; and he said it in Aramaic.³⁰Shmuel HaKatan foretold the execution of many of the Sages as well as other troubles that would befall the people. He said this in Aramaic, which most of the people around him did not understand. Regarding Rabbi Yehuda ben Bava, as well, they instituted that they would say in his regard: How humble, how pious, a disciple of Shmuel. But the opportunity was missed, because one does not eulogize those executed by the monarchy.³¹Rabbi Yehuda ben Bava was killed by the Romans, and therefore the Sages were not able to eulogize him.
There was an incident where Yoḥanan the High Priest heard a Divine Voice emerging from the Holy of Holies that said: The lads who went to wage war in Antioch emerged victorious. They wrote that day and that hour, and it was so, they had emerged victorious on that same day.
There was an incident where Shimon HaTzadik heard a Divine Voice emerging from the Holy of Holies that said: The matter that the enemy said, to destroy the Sanctuary, is void; Geyoslokin was killed, and his decrees were voided. He heard it in Aramaic. Rabbi Ḥonya [said] in the name of Rabbi Reuven: If the king is in the province, they cry out to him and he responds. If the king is not in the province, his image is there; however his image does not do what the king does.³²Similarly, even when prophecy ceased, God’s presence remained with Israel as expressed by the Divine Voice. However, God was not as responsive to prayer as He had been during the era of prophecy.
Rabbi Yoḥanan and Rabbi Shmuel bar Naḥman: Rabbi Yoḥanan said: It is written: “The Lord will give you there a trembling [ragaz] heart” (Deuteronomy 28:65). When they ascended, the wrath [rogez] that was given ascended with them.³³Because so few Jews returned to the Land of Israel from the Babylonian exile when they had the chance, the wrath that accompanied them to Babylon ascended with them. Consequently, the Second Temple was eventually destroyed. Rabbi Shmuel said: There, there was a trembling heart. Once they ascended, they were cured.
Reish Lakish, when he would see them gathering in the marketplace, he would say to them: ‘Scatter yourselves.’ He said to them: ‘When you ascended, you did not consolidate into a wall, and here you are coming to consolidate into a wall?’³⁴Reish Lakish, who lived in the Land of Israel, would object when Babylonian Jews would gather in crowds, because he blamed their ancestors, who had failed to gather and return to the Land of Israel, for the fact that the Second Temple was ultimately destroyed. When Rabbi Yoḥanan would see them, he would provoke them. He said: If the prophet provoked them, as it is stated: “My God will spurn them because they did not heed Him” (Hosea 9:17), will I not provoke them?
Rabbi Abba bar Kahana said: If you see benches filled with Babylonians in the Land of Israel, anticipate the footsteps of the messianic king. What is the source? “He spread [paras] a net for my feet” (Lamentations 1:13).³⁵When Persia [paras] resumes control of the Land, it will be due to the imminent arrival of the messianic king. Persia took over Babylonia, and the Sages refer to people from Babylonia as Babylonians or Persians. Rabbi Shimon ben Yoḥai taught: If you see a Persian horse tied to a grave in the Land of Israel, anticipate the footsteps of the Messiah. What is the source? “This will be peace: When Assyria will come into our land, and when it will tread in our palaces, we shall raise against it seven shepherds…” (Micah 5:4).³⁶The next verse states that they will lay waste to Assyria and “the land of Nimrod,” which is Babylon. These are the seven shepherds: David in the center, Adam, Seth, Methuselah to his right, Abraham, Jacob, and Moses to his left. Where did Isaac go? He went and sat at the entrance to Gehenna to rescue his descendants from the judgment of Gehenna. “And eight princes of men” (Micah 5:4) – these are the eight princes: Yishai, Saul, Samuel, Amos, Zephaniah, Hezekiah, Elijah, and the messianic king.

(Exod. 29:1:) AND THIS IS THE THING WHICH YOU SHALL DO TO THEM…: TAKE A YOUNG BULL OF THE HERD, <acquired> through purchase and not from plunder.⁴⁵Cf. PRK 27:6, which applies the same caution to procuring a lulav. (Ibid., cont.:) AND TWO RAMS <WITHOUT BLEMISH>, a ram on either side and the bull in the middle. Why three < animals >? To correspond to the three glories of the world (i.e., the patriarchs). The bull corresponds to Abraham (in Gen. 18:7): THEN ABRAHAM RAN UNTO THE HERD. (Exod. 29:1): AND TWO RAMS [WITHOUT BLEMISH]. <These> [correspond to] Isaac and Jacob. (Ibid., cont.:) ALSO UNLEAVENED BREAD. By their merit I will bless their bread. R. Hiyya bar Abba said: When the offerings used to be brought, an Arbelian se'ah <of wheat> produced a se'ah of fine flour, a se'ah of regular flour, a se'ah of coarser meal,⁴⁶Lat.: cibarium. a se'ah of coarse bran, <and> a se'ah of variegated flour; but now one brings a se'ah of wheat to grind and only takes away as much as he brought plus a little extra.⁴⁷yPe’ah 7:4 (20a); ySot. 1:8 (17b); 9:14 (24b). Why? Because the shewbread has ceased. See how the offerings which were offered upon the altar were beneficial for them! For whatever was offered from a species blessed that species. R. Hiyya bar Abba said: Even the establishment of an altar was done only for the atonement of Israel. Why was it named an altar (MZBH)? M, because it pardons (mohel) the sins of Israel; Z, because it is a good memorial (zikkaron) for Israel; B, because it is a blessing (berekhah) for Israel; <and> H, because it is life (hayyim) for Israel. The unleavened bread and the shewbread blessed the bread, and the first fruits blessed the fruit of the tree. <There is> a story about R. Johanan ben Eleazar, who dwelt under a fig tree; and the fig tree was full of beautiful figs. A dew came down and the figs absorbed honey. The wind kneaded them with the dust. A certain goat came and dripped milk in the honey. Then he called his students and said to them: Come and see an example⁴⁸Gk.: deigma. resembling the world to come. And why all this? Because the offerings were brought <to the altar>. <There is> a story about a certain scribe, who went up to Jerusalem each and every year. Now the people of Jerusalem knew him to be mighty in the Torah. They said to him: Take fifty gold coins each and every year and dwell with us. He said to them: I have one vine which is for me the most beautiful of them all, and it bears me three crops⁴⁹Gk: diphoros (“bearing fruit twice in the year”). in each year. So it bears six hundred barrels in each year. The first bears three hundred; the second, two hundred; and the third, one hundred. So I sell them at a very dear price, but all this gain is <attributable> to Jerusalem, on account of the libation of wine which they offer. When they abrogated it, all these good things were withheld. So you find that, when Israel was exiled to Babylon, Ezra said to them: Go up to the land of Israel. But they were unwilling. The Holy One said: When you offered the shewbread, you sowed little and brought in much. Now, however, (as in Hag. 1:6) YOU HAVE SOWN MUCH AND BROUGHT IN LITTLE; YOU EAT WITHOUT HAVING ENOUGH.⁵⁰Below, Tanh. (Buber), Lev. 7:7. (Ibid., cont.:) YOU DRINK WITHOUT HAVING ENOUGH, ever since the libation of wine has ceased,⁵¹So Tanh., Exod.8:13. The Buber text writes the verb with an added Y and would be translated: “Ever since he has abrogated libation of wine.” (Ibid., cont.:) YOU HAVE PUT ON CLOTHES, WITHOUT BEING WARM, ever since they abrogated the vestments of priesthood. The prophet has said (in Hab. 3:17): FOR THE FIG TREE SHALL NOT BLOSSOM, ever since they abrogated the first fruits. (Ibid., cont.:) THERE IS NO YIELD ON THE VINES, ever since they abrogated the drink offerings. (Ibid., cont.:) THE WORK OF THE OLIVE HAS FAILED, ever since they abrogated the oil of olives for the light. (Ibid., cont.:) AND FIELDS OF GRAIN PRODUCE NO FOOD. What is the meaning of AND FIELDS OF GRAIN (WShDMWT)? AND FIELDS OF CATTLE (WShDY BHMWT). <Therefore, THE FIELDS PRODUCE NO CATTLE >, ever since they abrogated the < commandments pertaining to> firstlings. (Ibid., cont.:) THE FLOCK HAS BEEN CUT OFF FROM THE FOLD, ever since they have abrogated the daily sacrifices. (Ibid., cont.:) THERE IS NO HERD IN THE STALLS, ever since they abrogated the bulls <which they offered>.⁵²The bracketed words are from Tanh., Exod. 8:13. R. Simeon ben Gamaliel said (in Sot. 9:12): SINCE THE DAY THAT THE TEMPLE WAS DESTROYED THERE HAS BEEN NO DAY IN WHICH THERE WAS NO CURSE. It is so stated (in Ps. 7:12 [11]): AND GOD IS ANGRY EVERY DAY. In the world to come, however, the Holy One will restore the blessings which <the land> had acquired, as stated (in Ezek. 36:8): BUT YOU, O MOUNTAINS OF ISRAEL, SHALL BRING FORTH YOUR BRANCHES AND RAISE UP YOUR FRUIT FOR MY PEOPLE ISRAEL, BECAUSE THEY ARE SOON TO COME.

You find that after the Israelites were exiled to Babylonia, Ezra urged them to go up to the land of Israel. But the were unwilling to do so. Ezra then called out to them: Ye have sown much, and brought in little; ye eat, but ye have not enough, ye drink, but ye are not filled with drink, ye clothe you, but there is none warm, and he that earneth wages earneth wages for a bag with holes (Hag. 1:6). You have sown much and brought in little occurred when the commandment of the show-bread was abrogated. Ye eat, but ye have not enough indicates that the libation of water had ceased. Ye drink, but ye are not filled with drink alludes to the fact that the wine libation had ceased. Ye cloth you, but there is none warm applies to the time when the wearing of priestly garments was suspended. And he that earneth wages earneth wages for a bag with holes alludes to when the community sacrifices were eliminated. All this transpired because sacrifices were abandoned (after the destrction of the Temple).

— But perhaps (you will say) this is so only because (the L-rd's measure of good, being greater than His measure of ill), it is not in My domain (i.e., within My ability) to send blight upon them in the house, as it is in the field; it is, therefore, written (Chaggai 1:9) "You brought it (your produce) home, and I blew upon it!" And it is written (Devarim 28:20) "and the L-rd will send in you the blight and the mehumah." It is within My domain to send blight indoors just as I do in the field, and rot in the fruit and sourness in the wine and foulness in the oil and fermentation in the honey. And whence is it derived even in the storehouses? From (Ibid. 16) "Cursed shall you be in the city." And whence do I derive even in the flour? From (Ibid. 17) "Cursed will be your basket and your (kneading) bowl." And whence do I derive even in entering and in leaving? From (Ibid. 19) "Cursed will you be in your coming and cursed will you be in your going out." And whence do I derive even in eating? From (Vayikra 26:26) "and you will eat and not be sated." And whence do I derive even when they descend into one's intestines? From (Michah 6:14) "and you will stoop over because of (sickness in) your innards."

And to teach that we count (the years) from the exodus from Egypt, it being written "in the second year after their going out from the land of Egypt." When they came to the land, they began to count (shemitah, etc.) from their coming, as it is written (Vayikra 25:2) "When you come to the land, etc." When the Temple was built, they began to count from its building, viz. (I Kings 9:10) "And it was at the end of twenty years from Solomon's building, etc." When the Temple was destroyed, they began to count from its destruction, viz. (Ezekiel 40:1) "… in the fourteenth year of the city's being smitten." When the captivity intensified, they began to count from the captivity, viz. (Daniel 2:1) "And in the second year of the reign of Nevuchadnezzar, etc.", and (Chaggai 1:1) "And in the second year of King Darius, etc." And just as they counted for years, so they counted for months (e.g., [Shemot 19:1]) "In the third month of the exodus of the children of Israel from the land of Egypt."

...And he took stones of the place - R. Judah and R. Nehemiah , and the Rabbis. Rabbi Yehuda said he took 12 Stones. God decreed that he establish twelve tribes. Jacob said; Abraham did not establish them , Isaac did not establish them, if the twelve stones join together, I know that I will merit twelve tribes. Once they did he knew he was going to merit establishing the twelve tribes . Rabbi Nehemiah said he took 3 stones. Jacob took three stones and said : God placed his name on Abraham, and on Isaac. I, if the stones join together, I know that God is the unifying name for me. And since joined, he knew that God would unify his names with Jacob. The Rabbis said that the minimum of the plural of stones is 2. Abraham produced negative attributes/waste- Ishmael and the sons of Keturah . And Isaac produced Esau and his generals. I, if you join these 2 stones together, I know that I will not produce any negative attributes in my descendants.