תּלמוד אויף עמוס 7:7

The Divine Presence would depart from one place and go to another in ten movements: From the Ark’s cover to a cherub; from a cherub to the threshold of the Temple; from the threshold to in between the two cherubs; from in between the two cherubs to the roof of the Sanctuary; from the roof of the Sanctuary to the wall of the outer court; from the wall of the outer court to the altar; from the altar to the city; from the city to the (Temple) Mount; from the (Temple) Mount into the desert. From the Ark’s cover to a cherub, as it is written (II Samuel 22:11), “And He mounted a chariot and flew.” From a cherub to the threshold of the Temple, as it is written (Ezekiel 9:3), “(And the presence of God) went up from the cherub on which it had rested to the threshold of the Temple.” From the threshold to in between the two cherubs, as it is written (Ezekiel 10:18), “And the presence of the Eternal went out from the threshold of the Temple and stopped above the cherubs.” From in between the two cherubs to the roof of the Sanctuary, as it is written (Proverbs 21:9), “It is better to rest upon the corner of a roof.” From the roof of the Sanctuary to the wall of the outer court, as it is written (Amos 7:7), “And behold, my Lord was standing on a wall measured by a plumb line.” From the wall of the outer court to the altar, as it is written (Amos 9:1), “I saw my Lord standing by the altar.” From the altar to the city, as it is written (Micah 6:9), “The voice of the Eternal calls to the city.” From the city to the Mount, as it is written (Ezekiel 11:23), “The Presence of the Eternal ascended from the midst of the city and stood upon the Mount.” From the Mount into the desert, as it is written (Proverbs 21:19), “It is better to dwell in a desert land.” And finally it departed upward, as it says (Hosea 5:15), “I will go and return to My place.”

Rav Hisdah said, All the gates are closed except for the gates of אונאה, as it says, “behold, the Lord stood beside a wall made by a plumbline, with a plumbline in His hand. (Amos 7:7)” Rabbi Elazar said, "All is punished through a messenger, except for fraudulent overcharging, as it is said, 'And in his hand, a measuring line (Amos 7:7).'"

Rabbi Abbahu said, "[Regarding] three [sins], the curtain [of mercy; which figuratively blocks G-d from punishing the evil] is not locked for them [and thus punishment can get through]: Fraudulent overcharging, robbery, and idol worship. Fraudulent overcharging, as it is written, 'And in his hand, a measuring line (Amos 7:7).' Robbery, as it is written, 'Violence and spoil shall be heard in [Jerusalem]- in front of me forever (Jeremiah 6:7).' Idol worship, as it is written, "The nation that is vexing me- in front of me forever, etc. (Isaiah 65:3).'"