Ruth Rabbah 0.1

Petichta

וַיְהִי בִּימֵי שְׁפֹט הַשֹּׁפְטִים (רות א, א), רַבִּי יוֹחָנָן פָּתַח וְאָמַר (תהלים נ, ז): שִׁמְעָה עַמִּי וַאֲדַבֵּרָה, אָמַר רַבִּי יוֹחָנָן אֵין מְעִידִין אֶלָּא בְּשׁוֹמֵעַ. רַבִּי יוּדָן בְּרַבִּי סִימוֹן אָמַר, לְשֶׁעָבַר הָיוּ קְרוּיִין יִשְׂרָאֵל כִּשְׁאָר כָּל הָאֻמּוֹת (בראשית י, ז): סַבְתָּא וְרַעֲמָא וְסַבְתְּכָא, מִכָּאן וָאֵילָךְ אֵין נִקְרָאִין אֶלָּא עַמִּי: שִׁמְעָה עַמִּי וַאֲדַבֵּרָה, מֵאַיִן זְכִיתֶם שֶׁתִּקָּרְאוּ עַמִּי, מִוַאֲדַבֵּרָה, מִמַּה שֶּׁדִּבַּרְתֶּם לְפָנַי בְּסִינַי וַאֲמַרְתֶּם (שמות כד, ז): כֹּל אֲשֶׁר דִּבֶּר ה' נַעֲשֶׂה וְנִשְׁמָע. אָמַר רַבִּי יוֹחָנָן, שִׁמְעָה עַמִּי, לְשֶׁעָבַר. וַאֲדַבֵּרָה, לֶעָתִיד לָבוֹא. שִׁמְעָה עַמִּי, בָּעוֹלָם הַזֶּה. וַאֲדַבֵּרָה, בָּעוֹלָם הַבָּא. כְּדֵי שֶׁיְּהֵא לִי פִּתְחוֹן פֶּה בִּפְנֵי שָׂרֵי אֻמּוֹת הָעוֹלָם שֶׁעֲתִידִין לְקַטְרְגָם לְפָנַי וְלוֹמַר רִבּוֹן הָעוֹלָמִים, אֵלּוּ עוֹבְדִין עֲבוֹדַת כּוֹכָבִים וְאֵלּוּ עוֹבְדִין עֲבוֹדַת כּוֹכָבִים, אֵלּוּ גִּלּוּ עֲרָיוֹת וְאֵלּוּ גִּלּוּ עֲרָיוֹת, אֵלּוּ שָׁפְכוּ דָמִים וְאֵלּוּ שָׁפְכוּ דָמִים, אֵלּוּ יוֹרְדִין לְגַן עֵדֶן וְאֵלּוּ יוֹרְדִין לְגֵיהִנֹּם. אוֹתָהּ שָׁעָה סָנֵיגוֹרָן שֶׁל יִשְׂרָאֵל מִשְׁתַּתֵּק, הֲדָא הִיא דְתֵימָא (דניאל יב, א): וּבָעֵת הַהִיא יַעֲמֹד מִיכָאֵל, וְכִי יֵשׁ יְשִׁיבָה לְמַעְלָה, וְהָא אָמַר רַבִּי חֲנִינָא אֵין יְשִׁיבָה לְמַעְלָה, דִּכְתִיב (דניאל ז, טז): קִרְבֵת עַל חַד מִן קָאֲמַיָּא, מַהוּ דֵין לָשׁוֹן קָאֲמַיָּא, קַיָּימָא, דִּכְתִיב (ישעיה ו, ב): שְׂרָפִים עֹמְדִים מִמַּעַל לוֹ. וּכְתִיב (מלכים א כב, יט) (דברי הימים ב יח, יח): וְכָל צְבָא הַשָּׁמַיִם עֹמְדִים עָלָיו מִימִינוֹ וּמִשְׂמֹאלוֹ, וְאַתָּה אוֹמֵר יַעֲמֹד. מַהוּ יַעֲמֹד, מִשְׁתַּתֵּק, כְּמָה דְאַתְּ אָמַר (איוב לב, טז): וְהוֹחַלְתִּי כִּי לֹא יְדַבֵּרוּ [כי עמדו לא ענו עוד]. אוֹמֵר לוֹ הַקָּדוֹשׁ בָּרוּךְ הוּא נִשְׁתַּתַּקְתָּ וְאֵין אַתָּה מְלַמֵּד סָנֵיגוֹרְיָא עַל בָּנַי, חַיֶּיךָ שֶׁאֲנִי מְדַבֵּר בִּצְדָקָה וּמוֹשִׁיעַ אֶת בָּנַי. בְּאֵיזוֹ צְדָקָה, רַבִּי אֶלְעָזָר וְרַבִּי יוֹחָנָן, חַד אָמַר בִּצְדָקָה שֶׁעֲשִׂיתֶם אֶת עוֹלָמִי, עַל שֶׁקִּבַּלְתֶּם אֶת תּוֹרָתִי, שֶׁאִלּוּ לֹא קִבַּלְתֶּם אֶת תּוֹרָתִי, הָיִיתִי מַחֲזִיר אוֹתוֹ לְתֹהוּ וָבֹהוּ, דְּאָמַר רַבִּי הוּנָא בְּשֵׁם רַבִּי אַחָא (תהלים עה, ד): נְמוֹגִים אֶרֶץ וְכָל ישְׁבֶיהָ, כְּבָר הָיָה הָעוֹלָם מִתְמוֹגֵג וְהוֹלֵךְ, אִלּוּלֵי שֶׁעָמְדוּ יִשְׂרָאֵל לִפְנֵי הַר סִינַי וכו', וּמִי בִּסֵּם אֶת הָעוֹלָם (תהלים עה, ד): אָנֹכִי תִכַּנְתִּי עַמּוּדֶיהָ, בִּזְכוּת אָנֹכִי תִּכַּנְתִּי עַמּוּדֶיהָ סֶלָּה. וְחַד אָמַר בִּצְדָקָה שֶׁעֲשִׂיתֶם אֶת עַצְמְכֶם עַל שֶׁקִּבַּלְתֶּם אֶת תּוֹרָתִי, שֶׁאִלּוּלֵי כֵן הָיִיתִי מְכַלֶּה אֶתְכֶם מִן הָעַמִּים. (תהלים נ, ז): אֱלֹהִים אֱלֹהֶיךָ אָנֹכִי, רַבִּי יוֹחָנָן אָמַר דַּיֶּךָּ אֲנִי פַּטְרוֹנְךָ. וְרֵישׁ לָקִישׁ אָמַר אַף עַל פִּי שֶׁאֲנִי פַּטְרוֹנְךָ, מַה פַּטְרוֹנֵי מְהַנֵּי בְּדִינָא. תָּאנֵי רַבִּי שִׁמְעוֹן בֶּן יוֹחָאי, אֱלֹהִים אָנֹכִי לְכָל בָּאֵי עוֹלָם, וְלֹא יִחַדְתִּי שְׁמִי אֶלָּא עַל עַמִּי יִשְׂרָאֵל, אֵין אֲנִי נִקְרָא אֱלֹהֵי כָּל הָאֻמּוֹת, אֶלָּא אֱלֹהֵי יִשְׂרָאֵל. אֱלֹהִים אֱלֹהֶיךָ אָנֹכִי. רַבִּי יוּדָן פָּתַר קְרָיָיא בְּמשֶׁה, אָמַר הַקָּדוֹשׁ בָּרוּךְ הוּא לְמשֶׁה, אַף עַל פִּי שֶׁקָּרָאתִי אוֹתְךָ אֱלֹהִים לְפַרְעֹה, אֱלֹהֶיךָ אָנֹכִי, אֲנִי עַל גַּבְּךָ. רַבִּי אַבָּא בַּר יוּדָן פָּתַר קְרָיָיא בְּיִשְׂרָאֵל, אַף עַל פִּי שֶׁקָּרָאתִי אֶתְכֶם אֱלֹהִים, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר (תהלים פב, ו): אֲנִי אָמַרְתִּי אֱלֹהִים אַתֶּם, אֱלֹהֶיךָ אָנֹכִי, דְּעוּ שֶׁאָנֹכִי עַל גַּבֵּיכֶם. רַבָּנָן פַּתְרֵי קְרָיָיא בְּדַיָּנִים, אַף עַל פִּי שֶׁקָּרָאתִי אֶתְכֶם אֱלֹהִים, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר (שמות כב, כז): אֱלֹהִים לֹא תְקַלֵּל, דְּעוּ שֶׁאֲנִי עַל גַּבֵּיכֶם, וְחָזַר וְאָמַר לְיִשְׂרָאֵל אֲנִי חָלַקְתִּי כָּבוֹד לַדַּיָּנִים וְקָרָאתִי אוֹתָם אֱלֹהִים, וְהֵן מְבַזִּים אוֹתָם, אוֹי לַדּוֹר שֶׁשָּׁפְטוּ אֶת שׁוֹפְטֵיהֶם.

Petichta

“It was during the days when the judges judged, there was a famine in the land. A man from Bethlehem of Judah went to reside in the field of Moav, he, his wife, and his two sons” (Ruth 1:1). “It was during the days when the judges judged” – Rabbi Yoḥanan began and said: “Hear My people and I will speak; [Israel, and I will forewarn you]” (Psalms 50:7). Rabbi Yoḥanan said: One forewarns only one who can hear it. Rabbi Yudan ben Rabbi Simon said: In the past they were called Israel like all other nations: “Savta, Rama, and Savtekha” (Genesis 10:7); from here forward, they are called only My people. “Hear My people and I will speak” – from where did you merit to be called My people? From “and I will speak” – from what you spoke before Me at Sinai and said: “Everything that the Lord has spoken we will do and we will heed” (Exodus 24:7). Rabbi Yoḥanan said: “Hear My people” – [what I have said] in the past; “and I will speak” – in the future. “Hear My people” – in this world; “and I will speak” – in the World to Come. So I will have a response to the angels of the nations of the world who are destined to accuse them before Me and say: ‘Master of the universe, these worship idols and those worship idols, these engaged in forbidden sexual relations and those engaged in forbidden sexual relations, these spilled blood and those spilled blood, and these are going down to the Garden of Eden and those are going down to Gehenna?’ At that time, the advocate of Israel is silenced. That is what you say: “At that time Mikhael will stand” (Daniel 12:1). Is there sitting on high? Did Rabbi Ḥanina not say: There is no sitting on high, as it is written: “I approached one of those standing [kamaya]” (Daniel 7:16). What is this language kamaya? Standing [kayama], as it is written: “Seraphim stood above Him” (Isaiah 6:2), and it is written: “The entire host of heaven standing in His presence on His right hand and on His left” (see I Kings 22:19). And you say “will stand”? [Rather,] what is “will stand”? It is stand silent, as you say: “Shall I wait, because they do not speak, <because they stand silent [amdu] and do not answer>?” (Job 32:16). The Holy One blessed be He says to him: ‘Do you stand silent and not advocate on behalf of My children? By your life, I will speak in support of their righteousness and rescue My children.’ What righteousness? Rabbi Elazar and Rabbi Yoḥanan, one says: Due to the righteousness that you established My world because you accepted My Torah, as had you not accepted My Torah, I would have restored it [the world] to emptiness and disorder, as Rabbi Huna said in the name of Rabbi Aḥa: “Earth and all its inhabitants dissolve, [I set its pillars, selah]” (Psalms 75:4). The world would have already dissolved, had Israel not stood before Mount Sinai… And who established the world? “I [anokhi] set its pillars” (Psalms 75:4). Due to the merit of anokhi, “I set its pillars, selah.” One said: Due to the righteousness you did for yourselves in accepting My Torah, as had you not done so, I would have eliminated you from among the nations. “God; I am your God” (Psalms 50:7) – Rabbi Yoḥanan said: It is sufficient for you that I am your patron. Reish Lakish said: Although I am your patron, how does My patronage help at trial? Rabbi Shimon bar Yoḥai taught: I am the God for all humankind, but I have designated My name only upon My people Israel. I am not called the God of all the nations, but rather, the God of Israel. “God [Elohim]; I am your God” – Rabbi Yudan interpreted the verse in reference to Moses: The Holy One blessed be He said to Moses: ‘Even though I called you “god to Pharaoh” (Exodus 7:1), “I am your God” – I am above you.’ Rabbi Abba bar Yudan interpreted the verse in reference to Israel: Although I called you god, as it is stated: “I said you are godlike [elohim]” (Psalms 82:6), “I am your God” – know that I am above you. The Rabbis interpreted the verse in reference to judges: Even though I called you elohim, as it is stated: “Do not curse elohim” (Exodus 22:27), know that I am above you. Then He said to Israel: ‘I accorded honor to the judges and called them elohim, and they demean them. Woe unto a generation that judges their judges.’

וַיְהִי בִּימֵי שְׁפֹט הַשֹּׁפְטִים, (משלי יט, טו): עַצְלָה תַּפִּיל תַּרְדֵּמָה, עַל יְדֵי שֶׁנִּתְעַצְּלוּ יִשְׂרָאֵל לַעֲשׂוֹת גְּמוּל חֶסֶד לִיהוֹשֻׁעַ, הֲדָא הוּא דִכְתִיב (יהושע כד, ל): וַיִּקְבְּרוּ אוֹתוֹ בִּגְבוּל נַחֲלָתוֹ מִצָּפוֹן לְהַר גָּעַשׁ, אָמַר רַבִּי בֶּרֶכְיָה חָזַרְנוּ עַל כָּל הַמִּקְרָא וְלֹא מָצִינוּ מָקוֹם שֶׁשְּׁמוֹ גַּעַשׁ, וּמַהוּ הַר גַּעַשׁ, עַל יְדֵי שֶׁנִּתְגָּעֲשׁוּ יִשְׂרָאֵל מֵעֲשׂוֹת גְּמִילוּת חֶסֶד לִיהוֹשֻׁעַ, בְּאוֹתָהּ שָׁעָה נֶחְלְקָה אֶרֶץ יִשְׂרָאֵל וְהָיְתָה חִלּוּקָהּ חֲבִיבָה עֲלֵיהֶם יוֹתֵר מִדַּאי, וְהָיוּ יִשְׂרָאֵל עוֹסְקִין בִּמְלַאכְתָּן, זֶה עוֹסֵק בְּשָׂדֵהוּ, זֶה עוֹסֵק בְּכַרְמוֹ, וְזֶה עוֹסֵק בְּזֵיתָיו, וְזֶה עוֹסֵק בְּפָצוּמוֹ לְפָרֵשׁ (יהושע כד, ל): וְנֶפֶשׁ רְמִיָּה תִרְעָב, נִתְגָּעֲשׁוּ מֵעֲשׂוֹת גְּמִילוּת חֶסֶד לִיהוֹשֻׁעַ, וּבִקֵּשׁ הַקָּדוֹשׁ בָּרוּךְ הוּא לְהַרְעִישׁ אֶת הָעוֹלָם כֻּלּוֹ עַל יוֹשְׁבָיו, כְּמָה דְאַתְּ אָמַר (תהלים יח, ח): וַתִּגְעַשׁ וַתִּרְעַשׁ הָאָרֶץ. וְנֶפֶשׁ רְמִיָּה תִרְעָב, עַל שֶׁהָיוּ מְרַמִּין לְהַקָּדוֹשׁ בָּרוּךְ הוּא, מֵהֶם עוֹבְדֵי עֲבוֹדַת כּוֹכָבִים, לְכָךְ הִרְעִיבָן הַקָּדוֹשׁ בָּרוּךְ הוּא מֵרוּחַ הַקֹּדֶשׁ, דִּכְתִיב (שמואל א ג, א): וּדְבַר ה' הָיָה יָקָר בַּיָּמִים הָהֵם. דָּבָר אַחֵר, עַצְלָה תַּפִּיל תַּרְדֵּמָה, עַל יְדֵי שֶׁנִּתְעַצְּלוּ יִשְׂרָאֵל מִלַּעֲשׂוֹת תְּשׁוּבָה בִּימֵי אֵלִיָּהוּ, תַּפִּיל תַּרְדֵּמָה, רָבְתָה הַנְּבוּאָה. רָבְתָה, וְאַתְּ אֲמַרְתְּ תַּפִּיל, כְּמָה דְאַתְּ אָמַר נְפַל שַׁעֲרֵיהוֹן דְּפוּרְיָא. אָמַר רַבִּי סִימוֹן כְּאִינִישׁ דַּאֲמַר לְחַבְרֵיהּ הָא סַקָּא וְהָא סַלְּעָא וְהָא סְאָה קוּם אֱכֹל. דְּאָמַר רַבִּי דְרוֹסָא שִׁשִּׁים רִבּוֹא נְבִיאִים עָמְדוּ לָהֶם לְיִשְׂרָאֵל בִּימֵי אֵלִיָּהוּ, רַבִּי יַעֲקֹב אָמַר מֵאָה וְעֶשְׂרִים רִבּוֹא. אָמַר רַבִּי יוֹחָנָן מִגְּבַת וְעַד אַנְטִיפְרָס שִׁשִּׁים רִבּוֹא עֲיָרוֹת הֵן, וְאֵין לְךָ עֲיָרוֹת מְקוּלְקָלוֹת מֵהֶן מִבֵּית אֵל וִירִיחוֹ, יְרִיחוֹ עַל שֶׁאֵרַרָהּ יְהוֹשֻׁעַ, בֵּית אֵל עַל שֶׁהָיוּ עֲגָלִים שֶׁל יָרָבְעָם עוֹמְדִים שָׁם, וּכְתִיב (מלכים ב ב, ג): וַיֵּצְאוּ בְנֵי הַנְּבִיאִים אֲשֶׁר בֵּית אֵל אֶל אֱלִישָׁע, נְבִיאִים, אֵין נְבִיאִים פָּחוֹת מִשְּׁנַיִם, וּמִפְּנֵי מָה לֹא נִתְפַּרְסְמָה נְבוּאָתָם, שֶׁלֹא הָיָה בָּהּ צֹרֶךְ לְדוֹרוֹת. אֱמֹר מֵעַתָּה כָּל נְבוּאָה שֶׁאֵינָהּ צֹרֶךְ לְדוֹרוֹת לֹא נִתְפַּרְסְמָה, אֲבָל לֶעָתִיד לָבוֹא הַקָּדוֹשׁ בָּרוּךְ הוּא בָּא וּמְבִיאָן עִמּוֹ וְתִתְפַּרְסֵם נְבוּאָתָם, הֲדָא הוּא דִכְתִיב (זכריה יד, ה): וּבָא ה' אֱלֹהַי כָּל קְדשִׁים עִמָּךְ. וְנֶפֶשׁ רְמִיָּה תִרְעָב, עַל יְדֵי שֶׁהָיוּ מְרַמִּים לְהַקָּדוֹשׁ בָּרוּךְ הוּא, מֵהֶם עוֹבְדִין לַעֲבוֹדַת כּוֹכָבִים, וּמֵהֶם עוֹבְדִים לְהַקָּדוֹשׁ בָּרוּךְ הוּא, הוּא שֶׁאֵלִיָּהוּ אוֹמֵר לָהֶם (מלכים א יח, כא): עַד מָתַי אַתֶּם פּוֹסְחִים עַל שְׁתֵּי הַסְּעִפִּים. תִרְעָב, הִרְעִיבָן הַקָּדוֹשׁ בָּרוּךְ הוּא בִּימֵי אֵלִיָּהוּ, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר (מלכים א יז, א): חַי ה' אֲשֶׁר עָמַדְתִּי לְפָנָיו. דָּבָר אַחֵר, עַצְלָה תַּפִּיל תַּרְדֵּמָה, עַל יְדֵי שֶׁנִּתְעַצְּלוּ יִשְׂרָאֵל מִלַּעֲשׂוֹת תְּשׁוּבָה בִּימֵי שׁוֹפְטִים, תַּפִּיל תַּרְדֵּמָה. וְנֶפֶשׁ רְמִיָּה תִרְעָב, עַל יְדֵי שֶׁהָיוּ מְרַמִּים לְהַקָּדוֹשׁ בָּרוּךְ הוּא, מֵהֶם עוֹבְדִין לַעֲבוֹדַת כּוֹכָבִים, וּמֵהֶם עוֹבְדִים לְהַקָּדוֹשׁ בָּרוּךְ הוּא, הִרְעִיבָן הַקָּדוֹשׁ בָּרוּךְ הוּא בִּרְעָבוֹן בִּימֵי שׁוֹפְטֵיהֶם.

“It was during the days when the judges judged.” “Indolence casts into a deep sleep” (Proverbs 19:15) – because Israel were indolent in paying their respects to Joshua; that is what is written: “They buried him on the border of his inheritance…north of Mount Gaash” (Joshua 24:30). Rabbi Berekhya said: We reviewed the entire Bible and did not find a place named Gaash. What is Mount Gaash? It is because Israel was negligent [nitgaashu] in doing kindness for Joshua. At that time, the Land of Israel was being divided [among the tribes], and its division [i.e., the land] was too beloved to them. Israel were engaged in their labor; this one was occupied in his field, this one was occupied in his vineyard, this one was occupied in his olives, and this one was occupied with his planks [for construction]. “A deceitful soul will starve” (Proverbs 19:15) – Israel was negligent [nitgaashu] in doing kindness for Joshua, and the Holy One blessed be He sought to bring an earthquake upon the world, upon all its inhabitants, as you say: “The earth shook [vatigash] and quaked” (Psalms 18:8). “A deceitful soul will starve” – because they were deceitful to the Holy One blessed be He: Some of them worshipped idols. Therefore, the Holy One blessed be He starved them of the divine spirit, as it is stated: “The word of the Lord was rare in those days” (I Samuel 3:1). Another interpretation: “Indolence casts into a deep sleep” (Proverbs 19:15) – due to the fact that Israel was indolent about repenting during the days of Elijah, “casts into [tapil] a deep sleep” – prophecy proliferated. Proliferated? But you said tapil. It is as you say: The price of fruit has fallen. Rabbi Simon said: Like a person who says to another: ‘Here is a sack, here is a sela coin, arise and eat.’ As Rabbi Derosa said: Six hundred thousand prophets arose for Israel during the days of Elijah; Rabbi Yaakov said: One million two hundred thousand. Rabbi Yoḥanan said: Between Gevat and Antipatris there were six hundred thousand towns, and there were no towns more corrupt that Beit El and Jericho; Jericho, because Joshua cursed it (see Joshua 6:26), and Beit El, because Yerovam’s calves were situated there (see I Kings 12:28–29). It is stated: “The disciples of the prophets who were in Beit El went out to Elisha” (II Kings 2:3). “Prophets” – prophets are no fewer than two. Why were their prophecies not publicized? It is because they served no purpose for future generations. On this basis, say: Any prophecy that served no purpose for future generations was not publicized. But in the future, the Holy One blessed be He will come and bring them with Him, and their prophecy will be publicized; that is what is written: “The Lord my God will come, all the holy ones with You” (Zechariah 14:5). “A deceitful soul will starve” (Proverbs 19:15) – because they would deceive the Holy One blessed be He: Some of them worshipped idols and some of them worshipped the Holy One blessed be He. This is what Elijah said to them: “How long will you waver between the two opinions” (I Kings 18:21)? “Will starve” – the Holy One blessed be He starved them during the days of Elijah, as it is stated: “By the life of the Lord [. . .] before whom I have stood [there will not be dew or rain during these years]” (I Kings 17:1). Another interpretation: “Indolence casts into a deep sleep” (Proverbs 19:15) – because Israel were indolent about repenting during the days of the judges, a deep sleep will be cast upon them. “A deceitful soul will starve” – because they deceived the Holy One blessed be He with some of them worshipping idols and some of them worshipping the Holy One blessed be He, the Holy One blessed be He starved them with a famine during the days of their judges.

וַיְהִי בִּימֵי שְׁפֹט הַשֹּׁפְטִים וַיְהִי רָעָב, (משלי כא, ח): הֲפַכְפַּךְ דֶּרֶךְ אִישׁ וָזָר, זֶה עֵשָׂו הָרָשָׁע שֶׁהוּא מִתְהַפֵּךְ וּבָא עַל יִשְׂרָאֵל בִּגְזֵרוֹת, גְּנַבְתּוּן לָא גְנַבְנוּן, קְטַלְתּוּן לָא קְטַלְנוּן, לָא גְנַבְתָּ מַאן גְּנַב עִמָּךְ, לָא קְטַלְתָּ מַאן קְטַל עִמָּךְ, קָנֵיס לְהוֹן, יַזְמֵי לְהוֹן, אַיְיתֵי אַרְנוֹנָךְ, אַיְיתֵי גוּלְגַּלְתָּךְ, אַיְיתֵי דִימוֹסָיךְ. אִישׁ זֶה עֵשָׂו הָרָשָׁע, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר (בראשית כה, כז): וַיְהִי עֵשָׂו אִישׁ יֹדֵעַ צַיִּד. וָזָר, שֶׁעָשָׂה עַצְמוֹ זָר לַמִּלָּה וְזָר לַמִּצְווֹת. וְזַךְ זֶה הַקָּדוֹשׁ בָּרוּךְ הוּא שֶׁהוּא נוֹהֵג עִמּוֹ בְּמִדּוֹת יְשָׁרוֹת, וְנוֹתֵן לוֹ שְׂכָרוֹ בָּעוֹלָם הַזֶּה כְּפוֹעֵל הָעוֹשֶׂה מְלָאכָה עִם בַּעַל הַבַּיִת בֶּאֱמוּנָה. דָּבָר אַחֵר, הֲפַכְפַּךְ דֶּרֶךְ אִישׁ, אֵלּוּ אֻמּוֹת הָעוֹלָם שֶׁמְהַפְּכִין וּבָאִין עַל יִשְׂרָאֵל בִּגְזֵרוֹת. אִישׁ, הַבָּאִים מִנֹּחַ שֶׁנִּקְרָא אִישׁ. וָזָר, שֶׁהֵם עוֹבְדִין עֲבוֹדַת כּוֹכָבִים. וְזַךְ יָשָׁר פָּעֳלוֹ, זֶה הַקָּדוֹשׁ בָּרוּךְ הוּא שֶׁנּוֹהֵג עִמָּהֶם בְּיַשְׁרוּת. רַבִּי אַחָא אָמַר הֲפַכְפַּךְ דֶּרֶךְ, אֵלּוּ יִשְׂרָאֵל, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר (דברים לב, כ): כִּי דּוֹר תַּהְפֻּכֹת הֵמָּה. אִישׁ (שופטים כא, א): וְאִישׁ יִשְׂרָאֵל נִשְׁבַּע. וָזָר, שֶׁעָשׂוּ עַצְמָם לִפְנֵי הַקָּדוֹשׁ בָּרוּךְ הוּא כְּזָרִים, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר (הושע ה, ז): בַּה' בָּגָדוּ כִּי בָנִים זָרִים יָלָדוּ. וְזַךְ, זֶה הַקָּדוֹשׁ בָּרוּךְ הוּא, שֶׁנּוֹהֵג עִמָּהֶם בְּמִדַּת ישֶׁר בָּעוֹלָם הַזֶּה, וְנוֹתֵן שְׂכָרָם שָׁלֵם לֶעָתִיד, כְּאֻמָּן הָעוֹשֶׂה מְלָאכָה בֶּאֱמוּנָה אֵצֶל בַּעַל הַבַּיִת, בְּאוֹתָהּ שָׁעָה אָמַר הַקָּדוֹשׁ בָּרוּךְ הוּא, בָּנַי סַרְבָנִין הֵן, לְכַלּוֹתָן אִי אֶפְשָׁר, לְהַחֲזִירָן לְמִצְרַיִם אִי אֶפְשָׁר, לְהַחֲלִיפָם בְּאֻמָּה אַחֶרֶת אֵינִי יָכוֹל, אֶלָּא מָה אֶעֱשֶׂה לָהֶם, הֲרֵינִי מְיַסְּרָן בְּיִסּוּרִים, וּמְצָרְפָן בִּרְעָבוֹן, בִּימֵי שְׁפֹט הַשֹּׁפְטִים, הֲדָא הוּא דִכְתִיב: וַיְהִי בִּימֵי שְׁפֹט הַשֹּׁפְטִים וַיְהִי רָעָב בָּאָרֶץ.

“It was during the days when the judges judged, there was a famine.” “The path of a man is erratic [hafakhpakh] and strange, [but as for the pure, his conduct is upright]” (Proverbs 21:8) – this is the wicked Esau [Rome] who would erratically [mithapekh] assail Israel with [evil] decrees. ‘Did you steal?’ ‘We did not steal.’ ‘Did you kill?’ ‘We did not kill.’ ‘You did not steal, who stole with you?’ ‘You did not kill, who killed with you?’ They would confiscate from them and impose monetary penalties upon them: Bring your property tax, bring your head tax, bring your state tax. “Man” – this is the wicked Esau, as it is stated: “Esau was a man who knew hunting” (Genesis 25:27). “And strange” – as he made himself estranged from circumcision and estranged from mitzvot. “Pure” – this is the Holy One blessed be He, who treats him in upright ways and gives him his reward in this world, like a laborer who performs labor in good faith with his employer. Another interpretation: “The path of a man [ish] is erratic [hafakhpakh] and strange” (Proverbs 21:8) – these are the nations of the world who constantly [mehapekhin] assail Israel with [evil] decrees. “A man” – they who descend from Noah, who was called “a man” (Genesis 6:9); “and strange” – as they worship idols. “But as for the pure, his conduct is upright [yashar]” – this is the Holy One blessed be He, who treats them in an upright manner. Rabbi Aḥa said: “The path…is erratic” – this is Israel, as it is stated: “As they are an erratic generation” (Deuteronomy 32:20). “A man [ish]” – “The men [ish] of Israel took an oath” (Judges 21:1). “And strange [vazar]” – because they estranged themselves from the Holy One blessed be He, as it is stated: “They betrayed the Lord, as they begot foreign [zarim] children” (Hosea 5:7). “But as for the pure” – that is the Holy One blessed be He, who conducts Himself with uprightness in this world and gives them a complete reward in the future, like a craftsman who performs his labor in good faith with his employer. At that time, the Holy One blessed be He said: My children are recalcitrant; to eliminate them is impossible, to return them to Egypt is impossible, to exchange them with another nation, I am unable. What shall I do to them? I will afflict them with suffering and will refine them with famine during the days when the judges judged. That is what is written: “It was during the days when the judges judged, there was a famine in the land.”

רַבִּי יְהוּדָה בְּרַבִּי סִימוֹן פָּתַח (דברים לב, כ): וַיֹּאמֶר אַסְתִּירָה פָנַי מֵהֶם, לְבֶן מֶלֶךְ שֶׁיָּצָא לַשּׁוּק וּמַכֶּה וְאֵינוֹ לוֹקֶה, מְבַזֶּה וְאֵינוֹ מִתְבַּזֶּה, וְהָיָה עוֹלֶה אֵצֶל אָבִיו בִּמְרוּצָה, אָמַר לוֹ אָבִיו מַה אַתְּ סָבוּר שֶׁבִּכְבוֹדְךָ אַתְּ מִתְכַּבֵּד, אֵין אַתְּ מִתְכַּבֵּד אֶלָּא בִּכְבוֹדִי, מֶה עָשָׂה אָבִיו הִפְלִיג דַּעְתּוֹ מִמֶּנּוּ, וְלֹא הָיָה בִּרְיָה מַשְׁגַּחַת עָלָיו. כָּךְ בְּשָׁעָה שֶׁיָּצְאוּ יִשְׂרָאֵל מִמִּצְרַיִם נָפְלָה אֵימָתָן עַל כָּל הָאֻמּוֹת, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר (שמות טו, יד): שָׁמְעוּ עַמִּים יִרְגָּזוּן חִיל אָחַז ישְׁבֵי פְּלָשֶׁת אָז נִבְהֲלוּ אַלּוּפֵי אֱדוֹם אֵילֵי מוֹאָב יֹאחֲזֵמוֹ רָעַד נָמֹגוּ כֹּל ישְׁבֵי כְנָעַן תִּפֹּל עֲלֵיהֶם אֵימָתָה וָפַחַד, כֵּיוָן שֶׁבָּאוּ לִידֵי עֲבֵרוֹת וּמַעֲשִׂים רָעִים, אָמַר לָהֶם הַקָּדוֹשׁ בָּרוּךְ הוּא מָה אַתֶּם סְבוּרִים שֶׁבִּכְבוֹדְכֶם אַתֶּם מִתְכַּבְּדִים, אֵין אַתֶּם מִתְכַּבְּדִים אֶלָּא בִּשְׁבִיל כְּבוֹדִי, מֶה עָשָׂה הַקָּדוֹשׁ בָּרוּךְ הוּא הִפְלִיג דַּעְתּוֹ מֵהֶם קִימְעָא וּבָאוּ עֲמָלֵקִים וְנִזְדַּוְּגוּ לָהֶם לְיִשְׂרָאֵל, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר (שמות יז, ח): וַיָּבֹא עֲמָלֵק וַיִּלָּחֶם עִם יִשְׂרָאֵל בִּרְפִידִם. וְעוֹד בָּאוּ כְּנַעֲנִיִים וְנִזְדַּוְּגוּ לְיִשְׂרָאֵל, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר (במדבר כא, א): וַיִּשְׁמַע הַכְּנַעֲנִי. אָמַר הַקָּדוֹשׁ בָּרוּךְ הוּא אֵין בָּכֶם אֲמָנָה שֶׁל מַמָּשׁ, אֵין אַתֶּם מַאֲמִינִין לְדִבְרֵיכֶם, הֲפַכְפָּכִין אַתֶּם, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר (דברים לב, כ): כִּי דוֹר תַּהְפֻּכֹת הֵמָּה בָּנִים לֹא אֵמֻן בָּם. אָמֵן כְּתִיב, בְּשָׁעָה שֶׁהַנְּבִיאִים מְבָרְכִין אוֹתָן לֹא פָּתַח אֶחָד מֵהֶם לוֹמַר אָמֵן, עַד שֶׁאֲמָרוֹ יִרְמְיָה, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר (ירמיה יא, ה): וָאַעַן וָאֹמַר אָמֵן ה'. בְּאוֹתָהּ שָׁעָה אָמַר הַקָּדוֹשׁ בָּרוּךְ הוּא הֲפַכְפָּכִין אַתֶּם, טַרְחָנִין הֵם, סַרְבָנִין הֵם, לְכַלּוֹתָן אִי אֶפְשָׁר, לְהַחֲזִירָן לְמִצְרַיִם אִי אֶפְשָׁר, לְהַחֲלִיפָן בְּאוּמָה אַחֶרֶת אִי אֶפְשָׁר וכו'.

Rabbi Yehuda ben Rabbi Simon began: “He said: I will hide My face from them” (Deuteronomy 32:20). [It is analogous] to a king’s son who went out to the marketplace and struck but was not hit, demeaned but was not demeaned, and he went running up to his father. He [his father] said to him: ‘What do you think, that you are honored because your own honor? You are honored only because of my honor.’ What did his father do? He repudiated him, and no one paid any attention to him [the son]. So, when Israel departed from Egypt, dread of them fell over all the nations, as it is stated: “Peoples heard, they were agitated; terror gripped the dwellers of Philistia. Then the chieftains of Edom were confounded, trembling gripped the powers of Moav, all the dwellers of Canaan dissolved. Dread and fear fall upon them” (Exodus 15:14–16). When they began transgressing and performing evil deeds, the Holy One blessed be He said to them: What do you think, that you are honored due to your own honor? You are honored only due to My honor. What did the Holy One blessed be He do? He repudiated them a bit, and the Amalekites came and confronted Israel, as it is stated: “Amalek came and waged war with Israel in Refidim” (Exodus 17:8). In addition, the Canaanites came and confronted Israel, as it is stated: “The Canaanites heard […and waged war with Israel]” (Numbers 21:1). The Holy One blessed be He said: You have no faithfulness, you are not true to your word, you are erratic, as it is stated; “As they are an erratic generation, children in whom there is no trust [emun]” (Deuteronomy 32:20). It is written amen. When the prophets would bless them, not one of them began to say amen until Jeremiah said it, as it is stated: “I responded, saying: Amen, Lord” (Jeremiah 11:5). At that time, the Holy One blessed be He said: You are erratic, you are bothersome, you are recalcitrant; to eliminate them is impossible, to return them to Egypt is impossible, to exchange them with another nation is impossible…

רַבִּי נְחֶמְיָה פָּתַח (יחזקאל יג, ד): כְּשֻׁעָלִים בָּחֳרָבוֹת נְבִיאֶיךָ יִשְׂרָאֵל הָיוּ, מָה הַשּׁוּעָל הַזֶּה מְצַפֶּה בָּחֳרָבוֹת לִכְשֶׁיִּרְאֶה בְּנֵי אָדָם לְאֵיזֶה צַד יְהֵי בּוֹרֵחַ, כָּךְ כְּשֻׁעָלִים בָּחֳרָבוֹת [נביאיך], לֹא עֲלִיתֶם בַּפְּרָצוֹת כְּמשֶׁה, לְמִי הָיָה דוֹמֶה משֶׁה רַבֵּנוּ, לְרוֹעֶה נֶאֱמָן שֶׁנָּפְלָה גָּדֵר סָמוּךְ לַחֲשֵׁכָה, עָמַד וּגְדָרָהּ מִשָּׁלשׁ רוּחוֹתֶיהָ, נִשְׁתַּיֵּיר פִּרְצָה וְלֹא הָיָה לוֹ שָׁעָה לְגָדְרָהּ, וְעָמַד הוּא בְּתוֹךְ הַפִּרְצָה, בָּא אֲרִי וְעָמַד כְּנֶגְדוֹ, בָּא זְאֵב וְעָמַד כְּנֶגְדוֹ, אֲבָל אַתֶּם לֹא עֲמַדְתֶּם בְּתוֹךְ הַפִּרְצָה כְּמשֶׁה, שֶׁאִלּוּ עֲלִיתֶם בַּפְּרָצוֹת כְּמשֶׁה, הֱיִיתֶם יְכוֹלִין לַעֲמֹד בַּמִּלְחָמָה בְּיוֹם אַף ה'.

Rabbi Neḥemya began: “Israel, your prophets have been like foxes in ruins. [You did not go up into the breaches or build a fence for the house of Israel, to stand in battle on the day of the Lord]” (Ezekiel 13:4–5) – just as this fox anticipates in the ruins so that when he sees people he will know to which direction to flee, so <your prophets> have been like foxes in the ruins. You did not go up into the breaches like Moses. To whom was Moses our master similar? It is to a faithful shepherd for whom a fence fell just before dark. He arose and fenced on three sides, but a breach remained, and he did not have time to fence it. He stood in the breach; a lion came, and he stood against it. A wolf came, and he stood against it. You [the prophets], however, did not stand in the breach like Moses, for if you had gone up into the breaches like Moses, you would have been able to stand in battle on the day of God’s wrath.

וְשֵׁם הָאִישׁ אֱלִימֶלֶךְ, כֵּיוָן דַּאֲתַת עָקְתָה אֲזַלְתְּ לָךְ וּשְׁבַקְתְּ לְהוֹן, וַיֵּלֶךְ אִישׁ מִבֵּית לֶחֶם יְהוּדָה. זֶהוּ שֶׁאָמַר הַכָּתוּב (תהלים קמד, יד): אַלּוּפֵינוּ מְסֻבָּלִים, רַבִּי יוֹחָנָן אָמַר סוֹבְלִין אֵין כְּתִיב כָּאן, אֶלָּא מְסֻבָּלִים, בְּשָׁעָה שֶׁהַקְּטַנִּים סוֹבְלִין אֶת הַגְּדוֹלִים, אֵין פֶּרֶץ, אֵין פִּרְצָה שֶׁל מַגֵּפָה, כְּמָה דְתֵימָא (תהלים קו, כט): וַתִּפְרָץ בָּם מַגֵּפָה. וְאֵין יוֹצֵאת, אֵין יְצִיאָתָהּ שֶׁל מַגֵּפָה, כְּמָה דְתֵימָא (ויקרא ט, כד): וַתֵּצֵא אֵשׁ מִלִּפְנֵי ה', אֵין צְוָחָה, אֵין צְוָחָה שֶׁל מַגֵּפָה, כְּמָה דְתֵימָא (במדבר טז, לד): וְכָל יִשְׂרָאֵל אֲשֶׁר סְבִיבֹתֵיהֶם נָסוּ לְקֹלָם. רֵישׁ לָקִישׁ מְסָרֵס קְרָא, בְּשָׁעָה שֶׁהַגְּדוֹלִים סוֹבְלִים אֶת הַקְּטַנִּים, אֵין פֶּרֶץ שֶׁל גָּלוּת, דִּכְתִיב (עמוס ד, ג): וּפְרָצִים תֵּצֶאנָה. וְאֵין יוֹצֵאת שֶׁל גָּלוּת, דִּכְתִיב (ירמיה טו, א): שַׁלַּח מֵעַל פָּנַי וְיֵצֵאוּ. וְאֵין צְוָחָה שֶׁל גָּלוּת, דִכְתִיב (ירמיה ח, יט): הִנֵּה קוֹל שַׁוְעַת בַּת עַמִּי, וּכְתִיב (ירמיה יד, ב): וְצִוְחַת יְרוּשָׁלָיִם עָלָתָה. רַבִּי לוּלִיאָנִי אָמַר בְּשָׁעָה שֶׁהַקְּטַנִּים שׁוֹמְעִים אֶת הַגְּדוֹלִים וְאֵין הַגְּדוֹלִים נוֹשְׂאִין מַשָֹּׂאָן שֶׁל קְטַנִּים, עֲלֵיהֶן הַכָּתוּב אוֹמֵר (ישעיה ג, יד): ה' בְּמִשְׁפָּט יָבוֹא. וְשֵׁם הָאִישׁ אֱלִימֶלֶךְ, כַּד אֲתַת עָקְתָא אֲזֵילְתְּ לָךְ וּשְׁבַקְתְּ לְהוֹן, וַיֵּלֶךְ אִישׁ מִבֵּית לֶחֶם יְהוּדָה.

“The name of the man was Elimelekh, and the name of his wife Naomi, and the name of his two sons Maḥlon and Khilyon, Efratites of Bethlehem in Judah. They came to the field of Moav, and they were there” (Ruth 1:2). “The name of the man was Elimelekh” – once trouble came, you went and abandoned them. “A man from Bethlehem of Judah” (Ruth 1:1) – that is what the verse says: “Our oxen [alufeinu] are laden [mesubalim]; [there is no breach, none have gone out; there is no outcry in our plazas]” (Psalms 144:14). Rabbi Yoḥanan says: It is not written here: Bearing [sovelim], but rather: “Are laden [mesubalim].” When the lesser bear the burden [sovelim] of the greater, “there is no breach [peretz]” – there is no outbreak [pirtza] of plague, as you say: “A plague broke out among them” (Psalms 106:29). “None have gone out [yotzet]” (Psalms 144:14) – there is no emergence of a plague, as you say: “Fire emerged [vatetzeh] from before the Lord” (Leviticus 9:24). “There is no outcry” (Psalms 144:14) – there is no outcry of plague, as you say: “All Israel that were around them fled at their cry” (Numbers 16:34). Reish Lakish reverses the order of the verse: When the greater tolerate the lesser there is no breach of exile, as it is written: “Through breaches they will go out” (Amos 4:3). “None have gone out” – to exile, as it is written: “Cast them from before Me and let them go out” (Jeremiah 15:1). “There is no outcry” – of exile, as it is written: “Behold the sound of the outcry of the daughter of my people” (Jeremiah 8:19), and it is written: “And the outcry of Jerusalem has risen up” (Jeremiah 14:2). Rabbi Luliani said: When the lesser heed the greater, but the greater do not bear the burden of the lesser, about them Scripture states: “The Lord will enter into judgment” (Isaiah 3:14). “The name of the man was Elimelekh” – when trouble came, you [Elimelekh] went and abandoned them: “A man from Bethlehem of Judah went” (Ruth 1:1).

רַבִּי תַּנְחוּמָא בְּשֵׁם רַבִּי חִיָּא רַבָּה וְרַבִּי בֶּרֶכְיָה בְּשֵׁם רַבִּי אֶלְעָזָר, הַמִּדְרָשׁ הַזֶּה עָלָה בְּיָדֵינוּ מִן הַגּוֹלָה, כָּל מָקוֹם שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר וַיְהִי, צָרָה. רַבִּי חִיָּא רַבָּה כָּל מָקוֹם שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר וַיְהִי, מְשַׁמֵּשׁ צָרָה וְשִׂמְחָה, אִם צָרָה אֵין כַּיּוֹצֵא בָהּ, אִם שִׂמְחָה אֵין כַּיּוֹצֵא בָהּ. רַבִּי שְׁמוּאֵל אָמַר חֲמִשָּׁה בִּימֵי הֵם (בראשית יד, א): וַיְהִי בִּימֵי אַמְרָפֶל, מַה צָּרָה הָיְתָה שָׁם, עָשׂוּ מִלְחָמָה, לְאוֹהֲבוֹ שֶׁל מֶלֶךְ שֶׁהָיָה שָׁרוּי בִּמְדִינָה וּבִשְׁבִילוֹ הָיָה הַמֶּלֶךְ נִזְקָק לַמְּדִינָה, פַּעַם אַחַת בָּאוּ הַבַּרְבָּרִיִּין וְנִזְדַּוְּגוּ לוֹ, אוֹמְרִים אוֹי לָנוּ שֶׁאֵין הַמֶּלֶךְ נִזְקָק לַמְּדִינָה כְּמוֹת שֶׁהָיָה, כָּךְ כָּל הָעוֹלָם כֻּלּוֹ לֹא נִבְרָא אֶלָּא בִּזְכוּת אַבְרָהָם אָבִינוּ, הֲדָא הוּא דִכְתִיב (בראשית יד, ז): וַיָּשֻּׁבוּ וַיָּבֹאוּ אֶל עֵין מִשְׁפָּט הִיא קָדֵשׁ. אָמַר רַבִּי אַחָא לֹא בָּאוּ לְהִזְדַּוֵּג אֶלָּא לְגַלְגַּל עֵינוֹ שֶׁל עוֹלָם, עַיִן שֶׁעָשְׂתָה מִדַּת הַדִּין בָּעוֹלָם אַתֶּם מְבַקְּשִׁים לְסַמּוֹתָהּ. הִיא קָדֵשׁ, אָמַר רַבִּי אַחָא הוּא קָדֵשׁ, הוּא אָבִינוּ אַבְרָהָם שֶׁקִּדֵּשׁ שְׁמוֹ בְּכִבְשַׁן הָאֵשׁ, וְכֵיוָן שֶׁבָּאוּ אוֹתָם הַמְּלָכִים וְנִזְדַּוְּגוּ לוֹ הִתְחִילוּ הַכֹּל צוֹוְחִים וַוי, הֱוֵי וַיְהִי בִּימֵי אַמְרָפֶל. (ישעיה ז, א): וַיְהִי בִּימֵי אָחָז, מַה צָּרָה הָיְתָה שָׁם, (ישעיה ט, יא): אֲרָם מִקֶּדֶם וּפְלִשְׁתִּים מֵאָחוֹר, לְבֶן מְלָכִים שֶׁנִּזְדַּמֵּן לוֹ פַּדְגּוֹג אֶחָד לַהֲמִיתוֹ, אָמַר אוֹתוֹ פַּדְגּוֹג אִם אֲנִי מְמִיתוֹ הֲרֵינִי חַיָּב לַמַּלְכוּת, אֶלָּא הֲרֵינִי מוֹשֵׁךְ מֵינִקְתּוֹ וּמֵעַצְמוֹ הוּא מֵת. כָּךְ אָמַר אָחָז, אִם אֵין גְּדָיִּים אֵין תְּיָישִׁים, אִם אֵין תְּיָישִׁים אֵין צֹאן, אִם אֵין צֹאן אֵין רוֹעֶה. כָּךְ אָחָז הָיָה סָבוּר בְּדַעְתּוֹ לוֹמַר אִם אֵין קְטַנִּים אֵין גְּדוֹלִים, אִם אֵין גְּדוֹלִים אֵין תַּלְמִידִים, וְאִם אֵין תַּלְמִידִים אֵין חֲכָמִים, וְאִם אֵין חֲכָמִים אֵין בָּתֵּי כְנֵסִיּוֹת וּבָתֵּי מִדְרָשׁוֹת, וְאִם אֵין בָּתֵּי כְנֵסִיּוֹת וּבָתֵּי מִדְרָשׁוֹת כִּבְיָכוֹל אֵין הַקָּדוֹשׁ בָּרוּךְ הוּא מַשְׁרֶה שְׁכִינָתוֹ עַל הָעוֹלָם, אֶלָּא הֲרֵינִי אוֹחֵז בָּתֵּי כְנֵסִיּוֹת וּבָתֵּי מִדְרָשׁוֹת, וְעָלָיו הַכָּתוּב אוֹמֵר (ישעיה ח, טז): צוֹר תְּעוּדָה חֲתוֹם תּוֹרָה בְּלִמֻּדָי. רַבִּי חֲנִינָא אָמַר לָמָּה נִקְרָא שְׁמוֹ אָחָז, שֶׁאָחַז בָּתֵּי כְנֵסִיּוֹת וּבָתֵּי מִדְרָשׁוֹת. רַבִּי יַעֲקֹב בְּשֵׁם רַבִּי אָבִין אָמַר יְשַׁעְיָה (ישעיה ח, טז): וְחִכִּיתִי לַה' הַמַּסְתִּיר פָּנָיו מִבֵּית יַעֲקֹב, אֵין לְךָ שָׁעָה קָשָׁה כְּאוֹתָהּ שָׁעָה, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר (דברים לא, יח): וְאָנֹכִי הַסְתֵּר אַסְתִּיר פָּנַי בָּעוֹלָם הַזֶּה, וּמֵאוֹתָהּ שָׁעָה וְקִוֵּיתִי לוֹ, שֶׁאָמַר (דברים לא, כא): כִּי לֹא תִשָּׁכַח מִפִּי זַרְעוֹ, מַה הוֹעִיל לוֹ (ישעיה ח, יח): הִנֵּה אָנֹכִי וְהַיְּלָדִים אֲשֶׁר נָתַן לִי ה', וְכִי יְלָדָיו הָיוּ וַהֲלֹא תַּלְמִידָיו הָיוּ, אֶלָּא מְלַמֵּד שֶׁהָיוּ חֲבִיבִין עָלָיו כְּבָנָיו, וְכֵיוָן שֶׁאָחַז בָּתֵּי כְנֵסִיּוֹת וּבָתֵּי מִדְרָשׁוֹת הִתְחִילוּ צוֹוְחִין וַוי, הֱוֵי וַיְהִי בִּימֵי אָחָז. (ירמיה א, ג): וַיְהִי בִּימֵי יְהוֹיָקִים, מַה צָּרָה הָיְתָה שָׁם, (ירמיה ד, כג): רָאִיתִי אֶת הָאָרֶץ וְהִנֵּה תֹהוּ וָבֹהוּ וְאֶל הַשָּׁמַיִם וְאֵין אוֹרָם, לְמֶלֶךְ שֶׁשָּׁלַח פְּרוֹסְטִיגְמָא שֶׁלּוֹ לַמְּדִינָה, מֶה עָשׂוּ לוֹ בְּנֵי הַמְּדִינָה, נָטְלוּ אוֹתָהּ וּקְרָעוּהָ וּשְׂרָפוּהָ בָּאֵשׁ, אָמְרוּ אוֹי לָנוּ כְּשֶׁיַּרְגִּישׁ הַמֶּלֶךְ בִּדְבָרִים אֵלּוּ, הֲדָא הוּא דִכְתִיב (ירמיה לו, כג): וַיְהִי כִּקְרוֹא יְהוּדִי שָׁלשׁ דְּלָתוֹת וְאַרְבָּעָה, תְּלָתָא אַרְבְּעָה פְּסוּקִים, כֵּיוָן שֶׁהִגִּיעַ לַפָּסוּק הַחֲמִישִׁי הָיוּ צָרֶיהָ לְרֹאשׁ, מִיָּד יִקְרָעֶהָ בְּתַעַר הַסֹּפֵר וְהַשְׁלֵךְ אֶל הָאֵשׁ אֲשֶׁר אֶל הָאָח עַד תֹּם כָּל הַמְגִלָּה עַל הָאֵשׁ אֲשֶׁר עַל הָאָח. כֵּיוָן שֶׁרָאוּ כֵּן הִתְחִילוּ צוֹוְחִים וַוי, הֱוֵי וַיְהִי בִּימֵי יְהוֹיָקִים. (אסתר א, א): וַיְהִי בִּימֵי אֲחַשְׁוֵרוֹשׁ, מַה צָּרָה הָיְתָה שָׁם, לַהֲרֹג וּלְאַבֵּד אֶת כָּל הַיְּהוּדִים. לְמֶלֶךְ שֶׁהָיָה לוֹ כֶּרֶם וְנִזְדַּוְּגוּ לוֹ שְׁלשָׁה שׂוֹנְאִים, הָאֶחָד הִתְחִיל מְקַטֵּף בָּעוֹלֵלוֹת, וְהַשֵּׁנִי מְזַנֵּב בָּאֶשְׁכּוֹלוֹת, וְהַשְּׁלִישִׁי בִּקֵּשׁ לַעֲקֹר אֶת כָּל הַגְּפָנִים. כָּךְ פַּרְעֹה הָרָשָׁע הִתְחִיל מְקַטֵּף בָּעוֹלֵלוֹת, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר (שמות א, כב): כָּל הַבֵּן הַיִּלּוֹד הַיְאֹרָה תַּשְׁלִיכֻהוּ. נְבוּכַדְנֶצַּר הָרָשָׁע הִתְחִיל מְזַנֵּב בָּאֶשְׁכּוֹלוֹת, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר (מלכים ב כד, טז): הֶחָרָשׁ וְהַמַּסְגֵּר אֶלֶף. רַבִּי בֶּרֶכְיָה בְּשֵׁם רַבִּי יְהוּדָה אָמַר הֶחָרָשׁ אֶלֶף וְהַמַּסְגֵּר אֶלֶף. רַבִּי יוֹחָנָן אָמַר כֻּלָּן אֶלֶף. רַבִּי שְׁמוּאֵל אָמַר אֵלּוּ הַבַּלְיוֹטִין. רַבִּי יְהוּדָה בְּרַבִּי סִימוֹן אָמַר אֵלּוּ תַּלְמִידֵי חֲכָמִים. הָמָן הָרָשָׁע בִּקֵּשׁ לַעֲקֹר אֶת כָּל הַבֵּיצָה, אָמְרֵי זָבִין בְּבֵיעָתָא (אסתר ג, יג): לְהַשְּׁמִיד לַהֲרֹג וּלְאַבֵּד, וְכֵיוָן שֶׁרָאוּ כֵּן הִתְחִילוּ צוֹוְחִין וַוי, הֱוֵי וַיְהִי בִּימֵי אֲחַשְׁוֵרוֹשׁ. וַיְהִי בִּימֵי שְׁפֹט הַשֹּׁפְטִים, מַה צָּרָה הָיְתָה שָׁם, וַיְהִי רָעָב בָּאָרֶץ, לִמְדִינָה שֶׁהָיְתָה חַיֶּיבֶת לִיפְסֵי לַמֶּלֶךְ, מֶה עָשָׂה הַמֶּלֶךְ שָׁלַח טַמִּיאוֹן לִגְבוֹתָה, מֶה עָשׂוּ בְּנֵי הַמְדִינָה, נָטְלוּ אוֹתוֹ וְהִלְקוּהוּ וְגָבוּ אוֹתוֹ, אָמְרוּ מַה שֶּׁהָיָה מְבַקֵּשׁ לַעֲשׂוֹת לָנוּ עָשִׂינוּ לוֹ. כָּךְ בִּימֵי שְׁפֹט הַשֹּׁפְטִים הָיָה אָדָם מִיִּשְׂרָאֵל עוֹבֵד עֲבוֹדַת כּוֹכָבִים, וְהָיָה הַדַּיָּן מְבַקֵּשׁ לַעֲשׂוֹת בּוֹ דִּין, וְהָיָה הוּא בָּא וּמַלְקֶּה הַדַּיָּן, וְאָמַר מַה דִּבְעָא מֶעֱבַד לִי עֲבַדְתִּי לֵיהּ, אוֹי לַדּוֹר שֶׁשּׁוֹפְטָיו נִשְׁפָּטִין, הֱוֵי וַיְהִי בִּימֵי שְׁפֹט הַשֹּׁפְטִים. שִׁמְעוֹן בְּרַבִּי אַבָּא אָמַר בְּשֵׁם רַבִּי יוֹחָנָן כָּל מָקוֹם שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר צָרָה וְשִׂמְחָה, אִם צָרָה אֵין צָרָה כְּמוֹתָהּ, אִם שִׂמְחָה אֵין שִׂמְחָה כְּמוֹתָהּ בָּעוֹלָם. אֲתָא רַבִּי שְׁמוּאֵל בַּר נַחְמָנִי וַעֲבַדָּהּ פַּלְגָּא, כָּל מָקוֹם שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר וַיְהִי צָרָה, וְהָיָה שִׂמְחָה, וְהָא כְתִיב (בראשית א, ג): וַיֹּאמֶר אֱלֹהִים יְהִי אוֹר, אָמַר לָהֶם אַף הִיא אֵינָהּ אוֹרָה שֶׁל שִׂמְחָה, שֶׁלֹא זָכָה הָעוֹלָם לְהִשְׁתַּמֵּשׁ בְּאוֹתָהּ אוֹרָה, שֶׁאוֹתָהּ אוֹרָה שֶׁנִּבְרָאת בְּיוֹם רִאשׁוֹן אָדָם צוֹפֶה מִסּוֹף הָעוֹלָם וְעַד סוֹפוֹ, וְכֵיוָן שֶׁרָאָה שֶׁעֲתִידִין רְשָׁעִים לָצֵאת, כְּדוֹר אֱנוֹשׁ וְאַנְשֵׁי דוֹר הַמַּבּוּל וְדוֹר הַפְלָגָה וּכְאַנְשֵׁי סְדוֹם, לְקָחָהּ. הֲדָא הוּא דִכְתִיב (איוב לח, טו): וְיִמָּנַע מֵרְשָׁעִים אוֹרָם, וּגְנָזוֹ לַצַּדִּיקִים לֶעָתִיד לָבוֹא, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר (תהלים צז, יא): אוֹר זָרֻעַ לַצַּדִּיק. מֵיתִיבִין לֵיהּ וְהָכְתִיב (בראשית א, א): וַיְהִי עֶרֶב וַיְהִי בֹקֶר יוֹם אֶחָד, אָמַר לָהֶם אַף הִיא אֵינָהּ שִׂמְחָה, שֶׁעֲתִידִין שָׁמַיִם לְהִבָּלוֹת, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר (ישעיה נא, ו): כִּי שָׁמַיִם כֶּעָשָׁן נִמְלָחוּ, מֵיתִיבִין לֵיהּ וְהָא כְתִיב וַיְהִי עֶרֶב וַיְהִי בֹקֶר יוֹם שֵׁנִי, וּשְׁלִישִׁי, וּרְבִיעִי, חֲמִישִׁי, וְשִׁשִּׁי. אָמַר לָהֶם אַף הִיא אֵינָהּ שִׂמְחָה, שֶׁכָּל מַה שֶּׁנִּבְרָא בְּשֵׁשֶׁת יְמֵי בְרֵאשִׁית צְרִיכִים עֲשִׂיָּה, כְּגוֹן הַחַרְדָּל צָרִיךְ לְהַמְתִּיקוֹ, הַתּוּרְמוֹסִין צְרִיכִין לִמָּתֵק, הַחִטִּים צְרִיכִין לִטָּחֵן. וְהָא כְתִיב (בראשית לט, ב): וַיְהִי ה' אֶת יוֹסֵף, אָמַר אַף הִיא אֵינָהּ שִׂמְחָה, דִּכְתִיב (בראשית מ, טו): כִּי שָׂמוּ אֹתִי בַּבּוֹר. וְהָא כְתִיב (במדבר ז, א): וַיְהִי בְּיוֹם כַּלּוֹת משֶׁה, אָמַר לָהֶם אַף הִיא אֵינָהּ שִׂמְחָה, שֶׁבּוֹ נִגְנַז בִּנְיַן בֵּית הַמִּקְדָּשׁ, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר (שמות מ, לה): וְלֹא יָכֹל משֶׁה לָבוֹא אֶל אֹהֶל מוֹעֵד. וְהָא כְתִיב (יהושע ה, יג): וַיְהִי בִּהְיוֹת יְהוֹשֻׁעַ, אָמַר לָהֶם אַף הִיא אֵינָהּ שִׂמְחָה, שֶׁבּוֹ קָרַע יְהוֹשֻׁעַ שִׂמְלוֹתָיו, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר (יהושע ז, ו): וַיִּקְרַע יְהוֹשֻׁעַ שִׂמְלֹתָיו. וְהָא כְתִיב (ויקרא ט, א): וַיְהִי בַּיּוֹם הַשְּׁמִינִי, אָמַר לָהֶם אַף הִיא אֵינָהּ שִׂמְחָה, שֶׁבּוֹ מֵתוּ נָדָב וַאֲבִיהוּא. וְהָא כְתִיב (שמואל ב ז, א): וַיְהִי כִּי יָשַׁב הַמֶּלֶךְ בְּבֵיתוֹ, אָמַר לָהֶם אַף הִיא אֵינָהּ שִׂמְחָה, שֶׁבּוֹ בָּא נָתָן הַנָּבִיא וְאָמַר לוֹ (מלכים א ח, יט): רַק אַתָּה לֹא תִבְנֶה הַבָּיִת. אָמְרֵי לֵיהּ אָמְרִינַן אֲנַן דִּידָן, אֱמֹר אַתְּ דִּידָךְ, אָמַר לָהֶם (יואל ד, יח): וְהָיָה בַיּוֹם הַהוּא יִטְּפוּ הֶהָרִים עָסִיס. (זכריה יד, ח): וְהָיָה בַּיּוֹם הַהוּא יֵצְאוּ מַיִם חַיִּים. (ישעיה יא, יא): וְהָיָה בַּיּוֹם הַהוּא יוֹסִיף ה' שֵׁנִית יָדוֹ. (ישעיה ז, כא): וְהָיָה בַּיּוֹם הַהוּא יְחַיֶּה אִישׁ. (ישעיה כז, יג): וְהָיָה בַּיּוֹם הַהוּא יִתָּקַע בְּשׁוֹפָר גָּדוֹל. (ישעיה ד, ג): וְהָיָה הַנִּשְׁאָר בְּצִיּוֹן וְהַנּוֹתָר בִּירוּשָׁלַיִם. מֵיתִיבִין לֵיהּ וְהָא כְתִיב (ירמיה לח, כח): וְהָיָה כַּאֲשֶׁר נִלְכְּדָה יְרוּשָׁלָיִם, אָמַר לָהֶם אַף הִיא אֵינָהּ צָרָה, אֶלָּא שִׂמְחָה, שֶׁבּוֹ בַּיּוֹם נָטְלוּ יִשְׂרָאֵל אוֹפָכִין שְׁלֵמָה עַל עֲוֹנוֹתֵיהֶם בַּיּוֹם שֶׁחָרַב בֵּית הַמִּקְדָּשׁ. סְלִיק פְּתִיחָתָא דְרוּת רַבָּה

Rabbi Tanḥuma in the name of Rabbi Ḥiyya the Great, and Rabbi Berekhya in the name of Rabbi Elazar: This midrash came up with us from the Exile: Any place that “It was [vayhi]” is stated, [it alludes to] trouble. Rabbi Ḥiyya the Great: Any place that “It was [vayhi]” is stated, it can serve [to allude to] either trouble or joy. If it is trouble, there is none like it. If it is joy, there is none like it. Rabbi Shmuel said: There are five [instances of] “during the days of [bimei].” “It was [vayhi] during the days of [bimei] Amrafel” (Genesis 14:1) – what was the trouble there? They waged a war. [It is analogous] to the friend of a king who was located in a certain province. Because of him, the king took care of the province. One time, barbarians came and beset him [the king’s friend]. They say: Woe for us, the king will no longer care for the province as he had done. Likewise, the entire world was created only due to the merit of Abraham our patriarch; that is what is written: “They turned back and came to Ein Mishpat, which is [hi] Kadesh” (Genesis 14:7). Rabbi Aḥa said: They came to beset the eyeball of the world. The eye that overcame the attribute of justice in the world you seek to blind? “Which is [hi] Kadesh” – Rabbi Aḥa said: Hu Kadesh. He [Abraham] sanctified [kidesh] the name of the Holy One blessed be He in the fiery furnace. When everyone saw that all the kings came to beset him, they began screaming: Woe [vai]; that is, “It was [vayhi] during the reign of Amrafel.” “It was during the days of Aḥaz” (Isaiah 7:1) – what was the trouble there? “Aram from the east and the Philistines from the west” (Isaiah 9:11) – [it is analogous] to the son of a king who had a tutor who sought to kill him. He [the tutor] said: If I kill him, I will be condemned to death by the king; instead, I will withhold his wet nurse from him, and he will die on his own. So did Aḥaz say: If there are no kids, there are no rams, and if there are no rams there is no flock, and if there is no flock there is no shepherd. So Aḥaz thought to say: If there are no children, there are no adults, and if there are no adults there are no students, if there are no students there are no scholars, if there are no scholars, there are no synagogues and study halls, if there are no synagogues and study halls, the Holy One blessed be He, as it were, cannot rest His Divine Presence in the world. Therefore, I will seize all the synagogues and study halls. That is what is written: “Bind the testimony, seal the Torah in my disciples” (Isaiah 8:16). Rabbi Ḥanina said: Why was he named Aḥaz? It is because he seized [aḥaz] the synagogues and study halls. Rabbi Yaakov bar Abba in the name of Rabbi Avin: Isaiah said: “I will wait for the Lord, who conceals His face from the house of Jacob” (Isaiah 8:17). There was no time that was as difficult for Israel as that time, as it is stated: “I will conceal My face” (Deuteronomy 31:18) – in this world. But from that moment, “I hoped for Him” (Isaiah 8:17), as it is written: “As it will not be forgotten from the mouths of their descendants” (Deuteronomy 31:21). Was it [this verse] fulfilled for him [Isaiah]? “Behold, I and the children whom the Lord gave me” (Isaiah 8:18) – were they his [Isaiah’s] children? Were they not his students? It teaches that they were as dear to him as his sons. Once everyone saw that he seized the synagogues and study halls, they began screaming: Woe [vai]: that is, “It was [vayhi] during the days of Aḥaz.” “It was during the days of Yehoyakim” (Jeremiah 1:3) – what was the trouble there? “I saw the land, and behold, it is emptiness and disorder, and the heavens, and their light is not” (Jeremiah 4:23) – [it is analogous] to a king who sent a proclamation to a province. What did the residents of the province do to it? They took it, ripped it, and burned it in fire. They said: Woe to us when the king becomes aware of these matters. That is what is written: “It was, as Yehudi would read three columns or four” (Jeremiah 36:23) – three or four verses. When he reached the fifth verse: “Its besiegers are ascendant” (Lamentations 1:5), immediately: “He would cut it with a scribe’s razor and cast it into the fire that was in the fireplace, until the end of the scroll, upon the fire that was in the fireplace” (Jeremiah 36:23). Once they saw that it was so, they began screaming: Woe [vai]; that is, “it was [vayhi] during the days of Yehoyakim.” “It was during the days of Aḥashverosh” (Esther 1:1) – what was the trouble there? [It was] “to kill, and to eliminate all the Jews” (Esther 3:13). [It is analogous] to a king who entered a vineyard and three enemies beset him: The first began picking unripe grapes, the second began trimming the clusters, and the third sought to uproot all the vines. Likewise, the wicked Pharaoh begin picking the unripe grapes; that is what is written: “[Pharaoh commanded all his people, saying:] Every son who is born you shall cast into the Nile” (Exodus 1:22). The wicked Nebuchadnezzar began trimming the clusters; that is what is written: “[He exiled Yehoyakhin.…] and the artisans and the smiths, one thousand” (II Kings 24:15–16). Rabbi Berekhya in the name of Rabbi Yehuda said: One thousand artisans and one thousand smiths; Rabbi Yoḥanan said: All of them were one thousand. Rabbi Shmuel bar Rabbi Yitzḥak said: These are the notables. Rabbi Yehuda son of Rabbi Simon said: These are the Torah scholars. Haman the wicked sought to uproot the entire egg; [as] they say buy [the hen] with the egg – “to destroy, to kill, and to eliminate” (Esther 3:13). When they saw that it was so, they began screaming: Woe [vai]; “it was [vayhi] during the days of Aḥashverosh.” “It was during the days when the judges judged” (Ruth 1:1) – what was the trouble there? “There was a famine in the land” (Ruth 1:1) – [it is analogous] to a province that owed a tax to the king. What did the king do? He sent a tax collector to collect it. What did the residents of the province do? They took him, struck him, and extracted it [the money] from him. They said: What he sought to do to us we did to him. Likewise, during the days when the judges judged, an Israelite person would worship idols, and a judge would seek to bring him to trial, and he would come and flog the judge. He would say: What he sought to do to me, I did to him. Woe unto a generation whose judges are judged; that is, “It was during the days when the judges judged.” Shimon bar Rabbi Abba said in the name of Rabbi Yoḥanan: Everywhere that it [“it was,” vayhi] is stated, [it alludes to] trouble or to joy; if trouble, there is no trouble like it, if joy, there is no joy like it in the world. Rabbi Shmuel bar Naḥman came and suggested a [different] distinction: Everywhere that it says, “it was [vayhi],” [it alludes to] trouble, everywhere that it says “it will be [vehaya],” joy. But it is written: “God said: Let there be light, and there was [vayhi] light.” He said to them: Even that is not light of joy, as the world did not merit to use that light. By the light that was created on the first day, a person could look out and see from one end of the world to the other end. When He perceived that the wicked were destined to appear, like the generation of Enosh, the generation of the Flood, and the generation of the Dispersion, and like the people of Sodom, He took it [the light] away. That is what is written: “From the wicked their light is withheld” (Job 38:15). He sequestered it for the righteous in the future, as it is stated: “Light is sown for the righteous” (Psalms 97:11). They objected to him: “It was [vayhi] evening and it was morning, one day” (Genesis 1:5). He said to them: That, too, is not joy, as the heavens are destined to wither; that is what is written: “As the heavens will be eroded like smoke” (Isaiah 51:6). They objected to him: Is it not written: “It was [vayhi] evening and it was morning, a second day.… third.… fourth.… fifth.… sixth” (Genesis 1:8–31). He said to them: That, too, is not joy, as everything that was created during the six days of Creation requires action, e.g., it is necessary to sweeten mustard, lupines must be sweetened, and wheat requires grinding. But it is written: “The Lord was [vayhi] with Joseph” (Genesis 39:2). He said to them: That, too, is not joy, as it is written: “For they placed me in the pit” (Genesis 40:15). But it is written: “It was [vayhi] on the day that Moses completed [assembling the Tabernacle]” (Numbers 7:1). He said to them: That, too, is not joy, as it was sequestered when the Temple was built, as it is stated: “Moses was not able to enter into the Tent of Meeting” (Exodus 40:35). But it is written: “It was [vayhi] when Joshua was [at Jericho]” (Joshua 5:13). He said to them: That too is not joy, as Joshua rent his garments, as it is stated: “Joshua rent his garments” (Joshua 7:6). But it is written: “It was [vayhi] on the eighth day” (Leviticus 9:1). He said to them: That too is not joy, as on that day Nadav and Avihu died. But it is written: “It was [vayhi] when the king dwelled in his house” (II Samuel 7:1). He said to them: That too was not joy, as it was then that Natan the prophet came and said to him: “However, you will not build the House” (I Kings 8:19). They said to him: We said ours, now you say yours. He said to them: It is written: “It will be [vehaya] on that day, the mountains will drip with nectar” (Joel 4:18). “It will be [vehaya] on that day that spring water will emerge [from Jerusalem]” (Zechariah 14:8). “It will be on that day that the Lord will set His hand again the second time, [to recover the remnant of His people]” (Isaiah 11:11). “It will be [vehaya] on that day, each man shall keep [a calf of the herd and two sheep] alive” (Isaiah 7:21). “It will be [vehaya] on that day, that a great shofar will be sounded, [and they will come…and bow down to the Lord on the holy mountain in Jerusalem]” (Isaiah 27:13). “It will be that one who is left in Zion and he that remains in Jerusalem [will be called holy]” (Isaiah 4:3). They objected to him: It is written: “And it was [vehaya] when Jerusalem was captured” (Jeremiah 38:28). He said to them: Even that is not trouble but joy, as on that day, Israel made complete penance for their iniquities, on the day that the Temple was destroyed. Conclusion of the prologue to Rut Rabba