Talmud zu Jechezkiel 2:78

Rebbi Eleazar and Rebbi Jehudah. One said, they were exiles only when they were uncircumcised³⁴¹After a digression, one returns to the Ten Tribes.. The other said, they were exiled only when they were bastards. He who says uncircumcised, for circumcision and commandments³⁴²The question is whether people suspected of being descendants of the Ten Tribes, who did not join in the return of Judeans and who clearly will not follow rabbinic rules for marriage and divorce, can be allowed to marry rabbinic Jewish partners. The first opinion states that while they cannot be expected to follow biblical commandments, they are eligible as marriage partners once their Israelite identity is ascertained or they undergo regular conversion (even if this is intrinsically futile for descendants of Jews in the female line.). But he who says bastards, from their fathers³⁴³In this opinion, all descendants of the Ten Tribes are barred from marrying Jewish partners other than bastards or proselytes.. Rebbi Joḥanan said, Israel was exiled only after they formed 24 heretical sects. What is the reason? Son of man, I am sending you to the Children of Israel, to rebellious peoples who rebelled against Me³⁴⁴Ez. 2:3.. It is not written “to a rebellious people” but to rebellious peoples who rebelled against Me; they and their fathers have acted criminally against Me up to this day. Rebbi Berekhia and Rebbi Ḥelbo in the name of Rebbi Samuel bar Naḥman. Israel was exiled to three diasporas³⁴⁵Since each tribe is called גּוֹי “a people” (Gen. 35:11), the plural implies that it counts for at least two, for a total of at least 24. Possibly this is a take-off on the multiplicity of Christian sects.: one inside the river Sanbation³⁴⁶A river which stops flowing on the Sabbath. Plinius, Hist. nat. XXXI,2; Sanhedrin 65b; Gen. rabba 11(6),73(5); Pesiqta rabbati 23 [ed. Ish-Shalom Note 79]., one to Daphne of Antiochia³⁴⁷Site of an Aphrodite shrine of famously ill repute. Cf. Note 343., and one on whom the Cloud³⁴⁸The Divine Cloud of Exodus (Ex.14:19) and Temple (1K. 8:10–11). descended and covered them. Just as they were exiled to three diasporas, so the tribes of Reuben, Gad, and half the tribe of Manasse were exiled into three diasporas. What is the reason? You went in the way of your sister and I gave her cup into your hand³⁴⁹Ez. 23:31.. So when they return, they will return from three diasporas. What is the reason? ³⁵⁰Is. 49:9.To tell the prisoners, leave, those who were exiled inside the river Sanbation; those in darkness, become visible, those upon whom the Cloud descended and covered them; on the roads they are grazing and on all plains is their pasturage, those who were exiled to Daphne of Antiochia.

Ben Azzai would say: When someone’s mind is calm as a result of the wisdom they have acquired, that is a good sign. When someone’s mind is not calm as a result of the wisdom they have acquired, that is a bad sign. When someone’s mind is calm in the face of his desire, that is a good sign. When someone’s mind is not calm in the face of his desire, that is a bad sign. When the sages look kindly upon someone (at the time of his death), that is a good sign. When the sages do not look kindly upon someone, that is a bad sign. When someone is facing upward [at the time of his death], that is a good sign. When someone is facing downward, that is a bad sign. When someone looks people in the eye, that is a good sign. When someone avoids looking people in the eye, that is a bad sign. When someone’s face shines, that is a good sign. When someone’s face is gloomy, that is a bad sign.
At the hour of Rabban Yohanan ben Zakkai’s death, he raised his voice and cried. His students said to him: Rabbi! You are a tall pillar, a light to the world, a mighty hammer; so why do you cry? He said to them: Am I going to face a human king? If he were angry with me, it would be only in this world. And if he imprisoned me or killed me, it would be only in this world. And what’s more, I would be able to pacify him with words, or bribe him with money. But no, I am going to face the King of all kings, the Holy Blessed One. And if He is angry with me, it will be in this world and in the World to Come. And what’s more, I cannot pacify Him with words or bribe Him with money. So I have two paths before me: one that leads to Paradise, and one that leads to Gehenna, and I do not know if He will force me into Gehenna or bring me into Paradise. For the verse says about Him (Psalms 22:30), “All who go down into the dirt will submit before him.” (With regard to Moses, it says that he breathed his last breath and died, and was gathered to his people.) It also says (Exodus 33:23), “I will remove my hand.” And then it says (Ezekiel 2:10), “And He spread it out before me, and it had writing on the front and on the back.” “On the front” refers to this world; “on the back” refers to the World to Come. Another interpretation: “On the front” refers to the sufferings of the righteous in this world and the tranquility of the wicked in this world. “On the back” refers to the reward for the righteous in the Future to Come, and the punishment for the wicked in Gehenna.
[The verse from Ezekiel continues:]“And on it were written lamentations, dirges, and woes” (Ezekiel 2:10). “Lamentations” refers to the punishment of the wicked in this world, as it says (Ezekiel 32:16), “This is the lamentation with which they shall lament for her; the women of the nations shall lament for her.” “Dirges” refers to the reward for the righteous in the Time to Come, as it says (Psalms 92:4), “Upon the ten-stringed instrument, and upon the lyre and the dirge of the harp.” “Woe” refers to the punishment of the wicked in the World to Come ,as it says (Ezekiel 7:26), “Woe will come upon woe, rumor upon rumor.”
He would also say: Clear your house of impurity, and prepare a chair for Hezekiah, king of Judah.