Midrash sa Mikas 3:12: Ein Yaakov (Glick Edition), Eikhah Rabbah, Bamidbar Rabbah & Kohelet Rabbah

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 matter: “Command the children of Israel” (Numbers 5:2) – the Rabbis interpreted that the verse refers to exile. “Command the children of Israel” – because they violated the mitzvot, they incurred liability to be banished; this is exile. That is what is written: “They shall send out from the camp” (Numbers 5:2); “they shall send out” is nothing other than an expression of exile, just as it says: “Send them out from My Presence, and let them go” (Jeremiah 15:1). “From the camp” – this is the Land of Israel, as the Divine Presence dwells there. “Every leper and every zav, and every one impure by means of a corpse” (Numbers 5:2) – He implied to them that if Israel violates these three transgressions, idol worship, illicit sexual relations, and bloodshed, they will incur liability to be exiled. “Leper” – this is idol worship. Just as a leper impurifies through entry, so idol worship impurifies through entry.³⁶If a leper enters a house everything in the house becomes impure; if something which was offered to an idol is under a roof, everything under the roof becomes impure (see Ḥullin 13b). “Zav” – this is illicit sexual relations. These and those are impurified by means of a seminal emission.³⁷Illicit sexual relations impurify the land. See Leviticus 18:24–28. “Impure by means of a corpse” – these are murderers, who impurify themselves and impurify the land with bloodshed. We learned that it is so:³⁸Mishna Avot 5:12. Exile comes to the world for idol worship, for illicit sexual relations, for bloodshed, and for failure to leave the land fallow.³⁹During the Sabbatical Year.
For idol worship, how so? It says: “I will destroy your private altars, [and eliminate your sun-stones, and I will cast your carcasses on the carcasses of your idols]” (Leviticus 26:30). And it is written: “And you I will scatter among the nations…” (Leviticus 26:33). The Omnipresent said to Israel: Since you desire idol worship, I will exile you to a place where there is idol worship. That is why “I will destroy your private altars.”
For illicit sexual relations, how so? Rabbi Yishmael ben Rabbi Yosei said: Whenever Israel are steeped in illicit sexual relations [arayot], the Divine Presence departs from them, as it is stated: “And He will not see a shameful matter [ervat davar]⁴⁰Erva is the singular of arayot. in your midst, and turn from behind you” (Deuteronomy 23:15)
For bloodshed how so? It is as it is stated: “You shall not pollute the land [in which you are, as the blood will pollute the land.… And do not impurify the land]” (Numbers 35:33–34). The verse tells that bloodshed impurifies the land, and the Divine Presence departs. It is due to bloodshed that the Temple was destroyed and Israel was exiled from their land.
These matters were in the first Temple, and that is why they were exiled and the Temple was destroyed, as Rabbi Yoḥanan ben Toreta said: Due to what reason was the first Temple destroyed? It was due to the fact that there were three matters in it: Idol worship, illicit sexual relations, and bloodshed. Idol worship, as it is written: “For the bedding is too short for stretching [mehistare’a]…” (Isaiah 28:20). Rabbi Shmuel bar Naḥmani said that Rabbi Yonatan said: This bed is too short for two counterparts [re’im] to dominate [mehistarer] as one.⁴¹Mehistare’a is a portmanteau of mehistarer and re’a. “And the covering [vehamasekha] is too narrow [tzara] for taking shelter [kehitkannes]” (Isaiah 28:20) – Rabbi Shmuel bar Naḥmani said that when Rabbi Yonatan would reach this verse, he would weep and say: For the One in whose regard it is written: “He gathers [kones] waters of the sea together as a mound” (Psalms 33:7), will the idol [masekha] became a rival [tzara]? Illicit sexual relations, as it is written: “The Lord says: Because the daughters of Zion are haughty [and walk with outstretched necks and wanton eyes]” (Isaiah 3:16). Bloodshed, as it is written: “Moreover, Menashe shed very much innocent blood…” (II Kings 21:16). That is why the Holy One blessed be He brought upon them three calamities corresponding to the three transgressions that they performed, as it is stated: “Therefore, due to you, Zion will be plowed as a field; [Jerusalem will become heaps, and the Temple Mount into forested heights [bamot]] (Micah 3:12).⁴²The term bamot also refers to private altars, and in many instances, altars of idol worship, which were regularly built in elevated locations.
This sending⁴³“They shall send out from the camp” (Numbers 5:2). is stated regarding the Babylonian exile. “Male and female alike you shall send out” (Numbers 5:3) – that is stated corresponding to the exile of Media, as they went from Babylon to Media. Because they did not depart from the Land of Israel when they were exiled to Media, that is why “camp” is not stated here. Why is “male and female alike” written regarding the exile of Media? He implied to them that the kingdom of Media was destined to issue edicts upon them, “male and female alike,” as it is stated: “The scrolls were sent in the hand of the couriers to all the king’s provinces: To destroy, [to kill, and to eliminate all the Jews, from lad to elder, children and women]” (Esther 3:13). “Outside the camp you shall send them” (Numbers 5:3) – this is stated corresponding to the exile of Edom,⁴⁴Edom refers to the Roman Empire. who destroyed the Temple and exiled Israel from their land. Why is the exile of Edom juxtaposed to the exile of Babylon? It is because just as Babylon destroyed the Temple and exiled Israel, so did the Edomites. Likewise it says: “Daughter of Babylon, marked for devastation” (Psalms 137:8) – the verse characterizes Edom as the daughter of Babylon;⁴⁵The previous verse states: “Remember, Lord, the day of Jerusalem against the sons of Edom” (Psalms 137:7). even though the exile of Media is interposed between them in this verse,⁴⁶“Male and female alike you shall send out” separates between the allusion to Babylon and the allusion to Edom. it is only because the exile of Media comes as an extension of the exile of Babylon, as when they were exiled to Media they departed from Babylon. “They shall not impurify their camp” (Numbers 5:3) – that is stated corresponding to the subjugation to Greece. This is why “sending” is not stated in its regard, as they did not exile them from their land. This is the reason that impurity is stated in its regard, as the Greeks impurified the Sanctuary with their idols.
“In which I dwell in their midst” (Numbers 5:3) – He implied to them that in every place they were exiled, the Divine Presence was with them. It is taught: Rabbi Natan says: Israel are beloved, as every place they were exiled, the Divine Presence was with them. They were exiled to Egypt; the Divine Presence was with them, as it is stated: “Did I not appear to your father's house, [when they were in Egypt]” (I Samuel 2:27). They were exiled to Babylon; the Divine Presence was with them, as it is stated: “For your sake, I sent to Babylon…” (Isaiah 43:14). They were exiled to Elam; the Divine Presence was with them, as it is stated: “I will place My throne in Elam” (Jeremiah 49:38). They were exiled to Edom; the Divine Presence was with them, as it is stated: “Who is this coming from Edom…” (Isaiah 63:1). When they are scattered, the Divine Presence is with them, as it is stated: “The Lord your God will return [veshav] your returnees…” (Deuteronomy 30:3). It is not written here: Will restore [veheshiv], but rather, “will return [veshav].” And it says: “With me from Lebanon, my bride, [with me from Lebanon, come]” (Song of Songs 4:8).
“The children of Israel did so, and sent them outside the camp” – when they sinned, they were exiled. “As the Lord spoke to Moses, so the children of Israel did” – what did the Holy One blessed be He speak to Moses? It is that if they will repent in the kingdoms where they will be, the Holy One blessed be He will gather them, as it is stated: “It will be when all these matters will come upon you, the blessing and the curse [that I have placed before you, you shall restore to your heart among all the nations that the Lord your God has banished you there. And you will return to the Lord your God].… The Lord your God [will bring you to the land]… The Lord your God will circumcise [your heart]…” (Deuteronomy 30:1–2, 5–6).
“So the children of Israel did [asu]” – that Israel is destined to repent [laasot teshuva] at the end of days and they would be redeemed, as it is stated: “With repose [beshuva] and stillness you will be saved” (Isaiah 30:15). Just as a leper, a zav, and one impure due to a corpse will never be purified until they enter pure water, so, the Holy One blessed be He is destined to sprinkle pure water upon them and to purify them, as it is stated: “I will sprinkle pure water upon you, and you will be purified…” (Ezekiel 36:25).