Midrasz do Izajasza 8:2

It happened with Rabban Gamaliel, R. Elazar b. Azariah, R. Joshua and R. Akiba, who were on the road, and heard the noise of the Babylonian thoroughfare at a distance of one hundred and twenty miles. All began to weep, but R. Akiba smiled. And to the question, "Why are you smiling?" he returned the question, "Why are you weeping?" "Those idolaters," responded they, "who bow themselves to images and smoke frank incense to the idols are resting in peace; the contrary is with us, that even our holy Temple is burned by fire. (Ib. b.) Should we not weep?" Whereupon he answered: "For the same reason am I smiling. If this is the reward of those who act against His will, so much the more will be the reward in the future of those who act in accordance with His will." It happened again that they were going to Jerusalem; when they arrived at the Mount Zophim (Scopes), they tore their garments; and when they arrived at the Mount Zophim Temple and saw a fox coming out from the place where the Holy of Holies had been situated, they began to weep; but R. Akiba [again] began to smile. To their question, "Why do you smile?" he returned the question, "Why do you weep?" They replied: "The prophecy concerning the place which the verse says (Num. 1, 51) And the common man that draweth nigh shall be put to death, is now fulfilled that (Lam. 5, 18) For the mountain of Zion, which is desolate, the foxes walk upon it." R. Akiba replied: "I rejoice because of the passage (Is. 8, 2) And I will take unto me, faithful witness to record, Uriah, the priest, and Zechariah, etc. Why is Uriah joined with Zechariah? Behold, the former was at the first Temple and the latter at the second. We must therefore say that it was because the passage makes the prophecy of Zechariah depend upon the prophecy of Uriah. Uriah said (Michah 3, 12) Therefore shall Zion for your sake be plowed as a field, and Jerusalem shall become heaps. Zechariah said (8, 4) There shall still sit old men and old women in the broad places of Jerusalem. While the prophecy of Uriah was not fulfilled I feared lest the prophecy of Zechariah might be realized, but now since I see that Uriah's prophecy is fulfilled I am sure that Zechariah's prophecy will also be fulfilled in the near future." With this version they said to him: "Akiba, thou hast consoled us, thou hast consoled us!"

“For Mount Zion, which is desolate; foxes walk on it” (Lamentations 5:18).
“For Mount Zion, which is desolate.” It happened that Rabban Gamliel, Rabbi Elazar ben Azarya, Rabbi Yehoshua, and Rabbi Akiva were entering Rome, and they heard the sound of the multitudes of Rome from Puteoli, from a distance of one hundred and twenty mil. They began weeping and Rabbi Akiva was laughing. They said: ‘Akiva, we are weeping and you are laughing?’ He said to them: ‘And you, why are you weeping?’ They said to him: ‘Shall we not weep? The nations engage in idol worship and prostrate themselves to the idols, and they sit in security, tranquility, and calm, while the footstool of our God was burned in fire and is a dwelling place for the beasts of the field; shall we not weep?’ He said to them: ‘That is why I am laughing. If it is so for those who anger Him, all the more so for those who perform His will.’
On another occasion they were ascending to Jerusalem. When they arrived at Mount Scopus, they rent their garments. When they arrived at the Temple Mount, they saw a fox emerging from the place of the Holy of Holies. They began weeping, and Rabbi Akiva was laughing. They said to him: ‘Akiva, you always astonish us, we are weeping and you are laughing.’ He said to them: ‘Why are you weeping?’ They said to him: ‘Shall we not weep? The place in whose regard it is written: “And the non-priest who approaches shall be put to death” (Numbers 1:51), behold, a fox emerges from it. The verse stated of it: “For Mount Zion, which is desolate; foxes walk on it,” has been fulfilled!’ He said to them: ‘It is for this reason that I am laughing. Behold, it says: “I had trustworthy witnesses testify for Me: Uriya the priest and Zechariah, son of Yeverekhyahu” (Isaiah 8:2). What does Uriya have to do with Zechariah? Uriya was in the First Temple and Zechariah was in the Second Temple. Rather, what did Uriya say? “So said the Lord of hosts: Zion will be plowed like a field, and Jerusalem will be heaps” (Jeremiah 26:18). What did Zechariah say? “So said the Lord of hosts: Old men and old women will again sit in the squares of Jerusalem, each man with his staff in his hand, due to advanced age” (Zechariah 8:4). And it is written thereafter: “The city squares will be filled with boys and girls playing in its squares” (Zechariah 8:5). The Holy One blessed be He said: I have these two witnesses. If the words of Uriya are realized, the words of Zechariah will be realized, and if the words of Uriya are void, the words of Zechariah are void. I was joyful that the words of Uriya were realized, and ultimately the words of Zechariah are destined to be realized.’ They said to him in these words: ‘Akiva, you have comforted us. May you be comforted by the feet of the herald.’²⁵The herald of redemption; see Isaiah 52:7, Nahum 2:1.

Another time, going up to Jerusalem, they came to Mount Scopus and tore their garments (in mourning over the destruction). When they saw a fox emerging from the holy of holies, they began to cry — and R. Akiva, to laugh. They: Akiva, will you always wonder why we are crying while you are laughing! He: And why are you crying? They: Why should we not cry over the place whereof it is written (Bamidbar 1:51) "And the zar (a non-priest) who comes near shall be put to death," when now a fox is emerging from it! We are fulfilling (Eichah 5:16-18) "For this our heart fails; for these our eyes are darkened: For the mountain of Zion is desolate; foxes walk in it." He: That is precisely why I was laughing. For it is written (Isaiah 8:2) "And I took for Myself faithful witnesses, Uriah the Cohein and Zecharyahu ben Yeverechyah." Now why the juxtaposition of Uriah with Zechariah? What did Zechariah say (Zechariah 8:4) "There yet shall sit old men and old women in the streets of Jerusalem, each his staff in his hand from abundance of days." And what did Uriah say? (Michah 3:12) "Therefore, because of you Zion will be plowed as a field, and Jerusalem shall be heaps, and the Temple Mount as forest mounds." The Holy One Blessed be He is hereby saying: Here are My two witnesses. If the words of Uriah will be fulfilled, the words of Zechariah will be fulfilled. And if the words of Uriah will not be fulfilled, the words of Zechariah will not be fulfilled. I was happy at the fulfillment of the words of Uriah. In the end, the words of Zechariah will be fulfilled. At these words they said to him: "Akiva, you have consoled us."