Shir HaShirim Rabbah 8.9

אִם חוֹמָה הִיא נִבְנֶה עָלֶיהָ טִירַת כָּסֶף, אִם חוֹמָה הִיא, זֶה אַבְרָהָם, אָמַר הַקָּדוֹשׁ בָּרוּךְ הוּא אִם מַעֲמִיד הוּא דְּבָרִים כַּחוֹמָה, נִבְנֶה עָלֶיהָ טִירַת כָּסֶף, נַצִּילֶנּוּ וְנִבְנֶה אוֹתוֹ בָּעוֹלָם. וְאִם דֶּלֶת הִיא נָצוּר עָלֶיהָ לוּחַ אָרֶז, אִם דַּל הוּא מִמִּצְווֹת וּמְטַלְטֵל מַעֲשָׂיו כְּדֶלֶת, נָצוּר עָלֶיהָ לוּחַ אָרֶז, מַה צּוּרָה זוֹ אֵינָהּ מִתְקַיֶּמֶת אֶלָּא לְשָׁעָה אַחַת, כָּךְ אֵינִי מִתְקַיֵּם עָלָיו אֶלָּא לְשָׁעָה אַחַת. אֲנִי חוֹמָה, אָמַר אַבְרָהָם לִפְנֵי הַקָּדוֹשׁ בָּרוּךְ הוּא: אֲנִי חוֹמָה, וְאַעֲמִיד מַעֲשִׂים טוֹבִים כַּחוֹמָה, וְשָׁדַי כַּמִּגְדָּלוֹת, שֶׁאֲנִי עֲתִידָה לְהַעֲמִיד כִּתִּים כִּתִּים וַחֲבוּרוֹת שֶׁל צַדִּיקִים כַּיּוֹצֵא בִּי בְּעוֹלָמֶךָ. אָז הָיִיתִי בְעֵינָיו כְּמוֹצְאֵת שָׁלוֹם, אָמַר לוֹ הַקָּדוֹשׁ בָּרוּךְ הוּא, כְּשֵׁם שֶׁיָּרַדְתָּ לְכִבְשַׁן הָאֵשׁ כָּךְ אֲנִי מוֹצִיאֲךָ בְּשָׁלוֹם, הֲדָא הוּא דִכְתִיב (בראשית טו, ז): אֲנִי ה' אֲשֶׁר הוֹצֵאתִיךָ מֵאוּר כַּשְׂדִּים.

“If she is a wall, we will build upon her a silver turret; and if she is a door, we will affix upon her a cedar panel. I am a wall, and my breasts are like towers; then I was in his eyes as one who finds peace” (Song of Songs 8:9–10). “If she is a wall, we will build upon her a silver turret”; “if she is a wall” – this is Abraham. The Holy One blessed be He said: If he stands firm in his convictions like a wall, “we will build upon her a silver turret” – we will rescue him and build him up in this world. “And if she is a door [delet], we will affix upon her a cedar panel” – if he is poor [dal] in mitzvot and sways to and fro in his actions like a door, “we will affix [natzur] upon her a cedar panel” – just as a drawing [tzura] exists only for a short while, so I will stand with him only for a short while. “I am a wall” – Abraham said before the Holy One blessed be He: ‘I am a wall, and I will establish my good deeds like a wall.’ “And my breasts are like towers” – as I am destined to establish factions and groups of righteous men like me in the world. “Then I was in his eyes as one who finds peace” – the Holy One blessed be He said to him: ‘Just as you descended into the fiery furnace, so, I will extricate you intact.’ That is what is written: “I am the Lord who took you out of Ur of the Chaldeans” (Genesis 15:7).

רַבִּי יוֹחָנָן פָּתַר קְרָאֵי בִּסְדוֹם וּבְיִשְׂרָאֵל, אָחוֹת לָנוּ, זוֹ סְדוֹם, הֲדָא הוּא דִכְתִיב (יחזקאל טז, מו): וַאֲחוֹתֵךְ הַגְּדוֹלָה שֹׁמְרוֹן. וְשָׁדַיִם אֵין לָהּ, שֶׁלֹּא הֵנִיקָה מִצְווֹת וּמַעֲשִׂים טוֹבִים. מַה נַּעֲשֶׂה לַאֲחוֹתֵנוּ בַּיּוֹם שֶׁגָּזַר בֵּית דִּין שֶׁל מַעְלָה שֶׁתִּשָֹּׂרֵף בָּאֵשׁ, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר (בראשית יט, כד): וַה' הִמְטִיר עַל סְדֹם וְעַל עֲמֹרָה גָּפְרִית וָאֵשׁ. אִם חוֹמָה הִיא נִבְנֶה עָלֶיהָ, אֵלּוּ יִשְׂרָאֵל, אָמַר הַקָּדוֹשׁ בָּרוּךְ הוּא אִם מַעֲמִידִין יִשְׂרָאֵל מַעֲשֵׂיהֶן כַּחוֹמָה, נִבְנֶה עֲלֵיהֶם וְנַצִּילֵם. וְאִם דֶּלֶת הִיא, אִם מְטַלְטְלִין הֵן דִּבְרֵיהֶם כְּדֶלֶת זוֹ, נָצוּר עָלֶיהָ לוּחַ אָרֶז, מַה צּוּרָה זוֹ אֵינָהּ מִתְקַיֶּמֶת אֶלָּא לְשָׁעָה אַחַת, כָּךְ אֵינִי מִתְקַיֵּם עָלָיו אֶלָּא לְשָׁעָה אַחַת. אֲנִי חוֹמָה, אָמְרוּ יִשְׂרָאֵל לִפְנֵי הַקָּדוֹשׁ בָּרוּךְ הוּא, רִבּוֹנוֹ שֶׁל עוֹלָם אָנוּ חוֹמָה וְנַעֲמִיד מִצְווֹת וּמַעֲשִׂים טוֹבִים כַּחוֹמָה. וְשָׁדַי כַּמִּגְדָּלוֹת, שֶׁאָנוּ עֲתִידִים לְהַעֲמִיד כִּתּוֹת כִּתּוֹת שֶׁל צַדִּיקִים כַּיּוֹצֵא בָּנוּ בְּעוֹלָמֶךָ. אָז הָיִיתִי בְעֵינָיו כְּמוֹצְאֵת שָׁלוֹם, לָמָּה, שֶׁהָיוּ כָּל אֻמּוֹת הָעוֹלָם מוֹנִין לְיִשְׂרָאֵל וְאוֹמְרִים לָהֶם, אִם כֵּן, לָמָּה הִגְלָה אֶתְכֶם מֵאַרְצוֹ, וְלָמָּה הֶחֱרִיב לְמִקְדָּשׁוֹ, וְיִשְׂרָאֵל הָיוּ מְשִׁיבִין לָהֶם אָנוּ דּוֹמִין לְבַת מְלָכִים שֶׁהָלְכָה לַעֲשׂוֹת רֶגֶל רְדוּפִים בְּבֵית אָבִיהָ, סוֹף שֶׁחוֹזֶרֶת לְבֵיתָהּ בְּשָׁלוֹם. דָּבָר אַחֵר, אִם חוֹמָה הִיא, זֶה חֲנַנְיָה מִישָׁאֵל וַעֲזַרְיָה, אָמַר הַקָּדוֹשׁ בָּרוּךְ הוּא אִם מַעֲמִידִין הֵן חֲנַנְיָה מִישָׁאֵל וַעֲזַרְיָה מַעֲשֵׂיהֶם, נִבְנֶה עֲלֵיהֶם הָעוֹלָם וְנַצִּילֵם. וְאִם דֶּלֶת, וְאִם מְטַלְטְלִין הֵן מַעֲשֵׂיהֶן כְּדֶלֶת זוֹ, נָצוּר עָלֶיהָ לוּחַ אָרֶז, מַה צּוּרָה זוֹ אֵינָהּ מִתְקַיֶּמֶת אֶלָּא לְשָׁעָה אַחַת, כָּךְ אֵינִי מִתְקַיֵם עֲלֵיהֶן אֶלָּא לְשָׁעָה אַחַת. אֲנִי חוֹמָה, אָמְרוּ לִפְנֵי הַקָּדוֹשׁ בָּרוּךְ הוּא, אָנוּ חוֹמָה וְאָנוּ מַעֲמִידִין מִצְווֹת וּמַעֲשִׂים טוֹבִים כַּחוֹמָה. וְשָׁדַי כַּמִּגְדָּלוֹת, אָנוּ עֲתִידִין לְהַעֲמִיד בְּעוֹלָמְךָ כִּתּוֹת שֶׁל צַדִּיקִים כַּיּוֹצֵא בָנוּ. אָז הָיִיתִי בְעֵינָיו כְּמוֹצְאֵת שָׁלוֹם, אָמַר לָהֶם הַקָּדוֹשׁ בָּרוּךְ הוּא, כְּשֵׁם שֶׁיְּרַדְתֶּם לְכִבְשַׁן הָאֵשׁ בְּשָׁלוֹם, כָּךְ אוֹצִיא אֶתְכֶם מִשָּׁם בְּשָׁלוֹם, הֲדָא הוּא דִכְתִיב (דניאל ג, כו): בֵּאדַיִן נָפְקִין שַׁדְרַךְ מֵישַׁךְ וַעֲבֵד נְגוֹ.

Rabbi Yoḥanan interpreted the verse regarding Sodom and Israel. “We have a [little] sister” (Song of Songs 8:8) – this is Sodom. That is what is written: “Your elder sister is Samaria […and your younger sister…is Sodom]” (Ezekiel 16:46). “And she has no breasts” (Song of Songs 8:8) – it did not suckle mitzvot and good deeds. “What shall we do for our sister on the day” (Song of Songs 8:8) that the supernal court decreed that it will burn in fire, as it is stated: “The Lord rained sulfur and fire on Sodom and on Gomorrah” (Genesis 19:24)? “If she is a wall, we will build upon her” – this is Israel. The Holy One blessed be He said: If Israel stands firm in their deeds like a wall, we will build them up and rescue them. “And if she is a door” – if they sway in their words to and fro like a door, “we will affix [natzur] upon her a cedar panel.” Just as a drawing [tzura] exists only for a short while, so I will stand with him only for a short while. “I am a wall” – Israel said before the Holy One blessed be He: ‘Master of the universe, we are a wall and we will stand firm like a wall in [performing] mitzvot and good deeds.’ “And my breasts are like towers” – as we are destined to establish factions and groups of righteous men like us in the world. “Then I was in his eyes as one who finds peace” – why? Because all the nations of the world were provoking Israel and saying to them: ‘If so, why did He exile you from His land, and why did He destroy His Temple?’ Israel would respond to them: ‘We are comparable to the daughter of a king who hurries to spend the festival in her father’s home. Ultimately, she returns to her home in peace.’ Another matter: “If she is a wall” – this is [a reference to] Ḥananya, Mishael, and Azarya. The Holy One blessed be He said: If Ḥananya, Mishael, and Azarya stand firm in their deeds, we will build the world upon them and rescue them. “And if [she is] a door” – if they sway in their deeds to and fro like a door, “we will affix [natzur] upon her a cedar panel.” Just as a drawing [tzura] exists only for a short while, so I will stand with them only for a short while. “I am a wall” – they said before the Holy One blessed be He: ‘We will stand firm in mitzvot and good deeds like a wall.’ “And my breasts are like towers” – as we are destined to establish in Your world factions and groups of righteous men like us. “Then I was in his eyes as one who finds peace” – the Holy One blessed be He said to them: ‘Just as you descended into the fiery furnace intact, so I will extricate you intact.’ That is what is written: “Then Shadrakh, Meshakh, and Aved Nego emerged [from within the fire]” (Daniel 3:26).

רַבָּנָן פָּתְרֵי קְרָא בְּעוֹלֵי גוֹלָה, אָחוֹת לָנוּ קְטַנָּה, אֵלּוּ עוֹלֵי גוֹלָה. קְטַנָה, שֶׁהָיוּ דַּלִּים בְּאֻכְלוּסִין. וְשָׁדַיִם אֵין לָהּ, אֵלּוּ חֲמִשָּׁה דְבָרִים שֶׁהָיָה בַּיִת אַחֲרוֹן חָסֵר מִן הָרִאשׁוֹן, וְאֵלּוּ הֵן: אֵשׁ שֶׁל מַעְלָה, וְשֶׁמֶן הַמִּשְׁחָה, אָרוֹן, רוּחַ הַקֹּדֶשׁ, וְאוּרִים וְתוּמִים, הֲדָא הוּא דִכְתִיב (חגי א, ח): וְאֶרְצֶה בּוֹ וְאֶכָּבְדָ וְאֶכָּבְדָ כְּתִיב חָסֵר ה, מַה נַּעֲשֶׂה לַאֲחוֹתֵינוּ, מַה נַּעֲשֶׂה בַּיּוֹם שֶׁנִגְזַר דִּי עֲבַר פְּרָת עֲבַר דִּי לָא עֲבַר לָא יַעֲבֹר. אִם חוֹמָה הִיא, אִלּוּ יִשְׂרָאֵל הָעֳלוּ חוֹמָה מִבָּבֶל, לֹא חָרַב בֵּית הַמִּקְדָּשׁ בְּהַהִיא שַׁעְתָּא פַּעַם שֵׁנִית. רַבִּי זְעֵירָא נָפֵיק לֵיהּ לְשׁוּקָא לְמִזְבַּן מְקָמָא, אֲמַר לֵיהּ לְדֵין דַּהֲוָא תָּקֵיל תְּקִיל יָאוּת, וַאֲמַר לֵיהּ לֵית אַתְּ אָזֵיל לָן מִן הָכָא בַּבְלָיָא דִּי חָרְבוּן אֲבָהָתֵיהּ, בְּהַהִיא עָנָתָה אָמַר רַבִּי זְעִירָא לֵית אֲבָהָתַי כַּאֲבָהָתְהוֹן דְּהָדֵין, עָל לְבֵית וַעֲדָא וְשָׁמַע קָלֵיהּ דְּרַבִּי שִׁילָא יָתֵיב דָּרִישׁ, אִם חוֹמָה הִיא, אִלּוּ עָלוּ יִשְׂרָאֵל חוֹמָה מִן הַגּוֹלָה, לֹא חָרַב בֵּית הַמִּקְדָּשׁ פַּעַם שְׁנִיָּה, אָמַר יָפֶה לִמְּדַנִי עַם הָאָרֶץ. וְאִם דֶּלֶת הִיא נָצוּר עָלֶיהָ לוּחַ אָרֶז, מַה צּוּרָה זוֹ אַף עַל פִּי שֶׁהִיא מִטַּשְׁטֶשֶׁת, מְקוֹמָהּ נִכָּר, כָּךְ אַף עַל פִּי שֶׁחָרַב בֵּית הַמִּקְדָשׁ, לֹא בִּטְּלוּ יִשְׂרָאֵל פַּעֲמֵי רְגָלִים שֶׁלָּהֶם שָׁלשׁ פְּעָמִים בַּשָּׁנָה. אֲנִי חוֹמָה, אָמַר רַבִּי אַיְּבוּ אָמַר הַקָּדוֹשׁ בָּרוּךְ הוּא עָתִיד אֲנִי לֵעָשׂוֹת לְיִשְׂרָאֵל סָנֵיגוֹר בֵּין אֻמּוֹת הָעוֹלָם, אֵי זֶה זֶה, זֶה בַּת קוֹל, הֲדָא הוּא דִכְתִיב (ישעיה א, ט): לוּלֵי ה' צְבָאוֹת הוֹתִיר לָנוּ שָׂרִיד. תָּנָא מִשֶּׁמֵּתוּ נְבִיאִים אַחֲרוֹנִים, חַגַּי, זְכַרְיָה וּמַלְאָכִי, פָּסְקָה רוּחַ הַקֹּדֶשׁ מִיִּשְׂרָאֵל, אַף עַל פִּי כֵן הָיוּ מְשַׁמְּשִׁין בְּבַת קוֹל, מַעֲשֶׂה שֶׁנִּמְנוּ חֲכָמִים בַּעֲלִיַּת בֵּית גַּדְיָא בִּירִיחוֹ, יָצְתָה בַּת קוֹל וְאָמְרָה לָהֶם, יֵשׁ בֵּינֵיכֶם אָדָם אֶחָד שֶׁהוּא רָאוּי לְרוּחַ הַקֹּדֶשׁ אֶלָּא שֶׁאֵין דּוֹרוֹ כְּדַי לְכָךְ, נָתְנוּ עֵינֵיהֶם בְּהִלֵּל הַזָּקֵן, כְּשֶׁמֵּת הָיוּ אוֹמְרִים עָלָיו הֵא עָנָו הֵא חָסִיד תַּלְמִידוֹ שֶׁל עֶזְרָא. שׁוּב מַעֲשֶׂה שֶׁנִּמְנוּ בְּכֶרֶם בְּיַבְנֶה חַכְמֵי יִשְׂרָאֵל, וְכִי בְּכֶרֶם הָיוּ, אֶלָּא זוֹ סַנְהֶדְרִין שֶׁעֲשׂוּיָה שׁוּרוֹת שׁוּרוֹת דְּגָלִים דְּגָלִים כְּמַטַּעַת שֶׁל כֶּרֶם. יָצְתָה בַּת קוֹל וְאָמְרָה לָהֶם, יֵשׁ בְּנֵיכֶם אָדָם אֶחָד שֶׁהוּא רָאוּי לְרוּחַ הַקֹּדֶשׁ, אֶלָּא שֶׁאֵין דּוֹרוֹ כְּדַי לְכָךְ, נָתְנוּ עֵינֵיהֶם בִּשְׁמוּאֵל הַקָּטָן, וּכְשֶׁמֵּת אָמְרוּ עָלָיו הֵא עָנָו הֵא חָסִיד תַּלְמִידוֹ שֶׁל הִלֵּל הַזָּקֵן. אַף הוּא אָמַר שְׁלשָׁה דְבָרִים בִּשְׁעַת מִיתָתוֹ, שִׁמְעוֹן וְיִשְׁמָעֵאל, לְחַרְבָּא וּשְׁאָר חַבְרוֹהִי לְקַטְלָא, וּשְׁאָר עַמָּא לְבִיזָא, וְעָקָן סַגִּיאָן עֲתִידִין לְמֵיתֵי בְּעַלְמָא, וּבַאֲרָמִי אֲמָרָן. וְאַף עַל יְהוּדָה בֶּן בָּבָא הִתְקִינוּ שֶׁיְּהוּ אוֹמְרִין עָלָיו הֵא עָנָו הֵא חָסִיד תַּלְמִידוֹ שֶׁל שְׁמוּאֵל, אֶלָּא שֶׁנִּטְרְפָה לוֹ שָׁעָה, שֶׁאֵין מַסְפִּידִין הֲרוּגֵי מַלְכוּת. מַעֲשֶׂה שֶׁשָּׁמַע יוֹחָנָן כֹּהֵן גָּדוֹל בַּת קוֹל יוֹצֵאת מִקֹּדֶשׁ הַקֳּדָשִׁים וְאָמְרָה נִצְּחוּ טַלַּיָּא דַּאֲזֵיל לַאֲגָחָא קְרָבָא בְּאַנְטוֹכְיָא, וְכָתְבוּ אוֹתוֹ הַיּוֹם וְאוֹתָהּ שָׁעָה וְהָיָה כֵן, וּבְאוֹתוֹ הַיּוֹם נִצְּחוּ. מַעֲשֶׂה שֶׁשָּׁמַע שִׁמְעוֹן הַצַּדִּיק בַּת קוֹל יוֹצֵאת מִבֵּית קֹדֶשׁ הַקֳּדָשִׁים וַאֲמָרַת בְּטֵילַת עֲבִידְתָּא דִי אֲמַר סַנְאָה לְמִיחְרְבָא הֵיכָלָא וְנֶהֱרַג גְּיוֹסְלוֹקִין וּבָטְלוּ גְּזֵרוֹתָיו, וּבִלְשׁוֹן אֲרָמִי שְׁמָעָן. רַבִּי חוֹנְיָא בְּשֵׁם רַבִּי רְאוּבֵן, מֶלֶךְ בַּמְּדִינָה צוֹעֲקִים לוֹ וְהוּא עוֹשֶׂה, אִם אֵין מֶלֶךְ בַּמְּדִינָה, אִיקוֹנִין שֶׁלּוֹ שָׁם, אֶלָּא שֶׁאֵין אִיקוֹנִין עוֹשֶׂה מַה שֶּׁהַמֶּלֶךְ עוֹשֶׂה. רַבִּי יוֹחָנָן וְרַבִּי שְׁמוּאֵל בַּר נַחְמָן, רַבִּי יוֹחָנָן אָמַר כְּתִיב (דברים כח, סה): וְנָתַן ה' לְךָ שָׁם לֵב רַגָּז, כֵּיוָן שֶׁעָלוּ רֹגֶז נִתַּן וְעָלָה עִמָּהֶם. רַבִּי שְׁמוּאֵל אָמַר שָׁמָּה לֵב רַגָּז, כֵּיוָן שֶׁעָלוּ נִתְרַפְּאוּ. רֵישׁ לָקִישׁ כַּד הֲוָה חָמֵי לְהוֹן מְצַמְּתִין בְּשׁוּקָא הֲוָה אָמַר לְהוֹן בַּדַּרוּ גַּרְמֵיכוֹן, אָמַר לוֹ בַּעֲלִיַּתְכֶם לֹא נַעֲשֵׂיתֶם חוֹמָה וְכָאן בָּאתֶם לַעֲשׂוֹת חוֹמָה. רַבִּי יוֹחָנָן כַּד הֲוָה חָמֵי לְהוֹן הֲוָה מְקַנְתֵּר לְהוֹן, אָמַר מַה נָּבִיא מְקַנְתֵּר לְהוֹן, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר (הושע ט, יז): יִמְאָסֵם אֱלֹהַי כִּי לֹא שָׁמְעוּ לוֹ, וַאֲנָא לֵית אֲנָא מְקַנְתֵּר לְהוֹן. אָמַר רַבִּי אַבָּא בַּר כַּהֲנָא, אִם רָאִיתָ סַפְסָלִין מְלֵאִין בַּבְלִיִּין בְּאֶרֶץ יִשְׂרָאֵל, צַפֵּה לְרַגְלֵי מֶלֶךְ הַמָּשִׁיחַ, מַה טַּעַם (איכה א, יג): פָּרַשׂ רֶשֶׁת לְרַגְלַי. תָּנֵי רַבִּי שִׁמְעוֹן בֶּן יוֹחָאי אִם רָאִיתָ סוּס פַּרְסִי קָשׁוּר בְּקִבְרֵי אֶרֶץ יִשְׂרָאֵל, צַפֵּה לְרַגְלָיו שֶׁל מָשִׁיחַ, מַה טַּעַם (מיכה ה, ד): וְהָיָה זֶה שָׁלוֹם אַשּׁוּר כִּי יָבוֹא בְאַרְצֵנוּ וְכִי יִדְרֹךְ בְּאַרְמְנוֹתֵינוּ וַהֲקֵמֹנוּ עָלָיו שִׁבְעָה רֹעִים וגו', וְאֵלּוּ הֵן שִׁבְעָה רוֹעִים, דָּוִד בָּאֶמְצַע, אָדָם, שֵׁת, מְתוּשֶׁלַח מִימִינוֹ, אַבְרָהָם וְיַעֲקֹב וּמשֶׁה מִשְׂמֹאלוֹ, וְיִצְחָק לְהֵיכָן הָלַךְ, הָלַךְ וְיָשַׁב עַל פִּתְחָהּ שֶׁל גֵּיהִנֹּם לְהַצִּיל בָּנָיו מִדִּינָהּ שֶׁל גֵּיהִנֹּם, (מיכה ה, ד): וּשְׁמֹנָה נְסִיכֵי אָדָם, אֵלּוּ הֵן שְׁמוֹנָה נְסִיכִים, יִשַׁי, שָׁאוּל וּשְׁמוּאֵל, עָמוֹס, צְפַנְיָה, חִזְקִיָּה, אֵלִיָּהוּ וּמֶלֶךְ הַמָּשִׁיחַ.

The Rabbis interpreted the verse regarding the returning exiles. “We have a little sister” (Song of Songs 8:8) – this is [a reference to] the returning exiles. “Little” – because they were small in number. “And she has no breasts” (Song of Songs 8:8) – these are the five matters that were lacking in the latter Temple relative to the first, and these are: Heavenly fire, anointing oil, the Ark, the Divine Spirit, and the Urim and the Tummim. That is what is written: “I will accept it and be honored [ve’ekaveda]” (Hagai 1:8); ve’ekaveda is written without a heh. “What shall we do for our sister?” (Song of Songs 8:8) – what shall we do on the day that it was decreed: Whoever has crossed the Euphrates has crossed, and whoever has not crossed shall not cross. “I am a wall” – had Israel ascended from Babylon like a wall, the Temple would not then have been destroyed a second time. Rabbi Ze’eira went out to the marketplace to purchase something. He said to the one who was weighing: ‘Weigh properly.’ He said to him: ‘Will you not go away from us, you Babylonian, whose ancestors caused the destruction?’ At that moment Rabbi Ze’eira said: Are my ancestors not like the ancestors of these? He went to the meeting place [of the Sages] and heard the voice of Rabbi Shila, who sat and expounded: Had Israel ascended from the exile like a wall, the Temple would not have been destroyed a second time. [Rabbi Ze’eira] said: That ignoramus taught me well. “And if she is a door, we will affix [natzur] upon her a cedar panel” – just as a drawing [tzura], even when it is blurred, its mark is noticeable, so too, even though the Temple was destroyed, Israel did not abrogate its footsteps to their pilgrimages three times a year. “I am a wall” – Rabbi Aivu said: The Holy One blessed be He said: I am destined to become an advocate for Israel among the nations of the world. How is that? This is the Divine voice. That is what is written: “Had the Lord of hosts not left us a remnant” (Isaiah 1:9). It is taught: Once the later prophets, Hagai, Zechariah, and Malachi, died, the Divine Spirit ceased from Israel. Even so, they would avail themselves of the Divine Voice. There was an incident where the Sages gathered to vote in the upper story of Beit Gadya in Jericho. A Divine Voice emerged and said to them: There is among you a man who is worthy of the Divine Spirit, but his generation is not worthy of it. They directed their glance to Hillel the Elder. When he died, they would say in his regard: How humble, how pious, a disciple of Ezra. There was another incident where the Sages of Israel gathered to vote in the vineyard of Yavne. Were they in a vineyard? Rather, this is the Sanhedrin, which is configured in rows and in tiers like the configuration of a vineyard. A Divine Voice emerged and said to them: ‘There is among you a man who is worthy of the Divine Spirit, but his generation is not worthy of it.’ They directed their glance to Shmuel HaKatan. When he died, they would say in his regard: How humble, how pious, a disciple of Hillel the Elder. He also said three matters at the time of his death: Shimon and Yishmael by sword, and the rest of their colleagues to death; and the rest of the people will be plundered; and great troubles are destined to befall the world; and he said it in Aramaic. Regarding Rabbi Yehuda ben Bava, as well, they instituted that they would say in his regard: How humble, how pious, a disciple of Shmuel. But the opportunity was missed, because one does not eulogize those executed by the monarchy. There was an incident where Yoḥanan the High Priest heard a Divine Voice emerging from the Holy of Holies that said: The lads who went to wage war in Antioch emerged victorious. They wrote that day and that hour, and it was so, they had emerged victorious on that same day. There was an incident where Shimon HaTzadik heard a Divine Voice emerging from the Holy of Holies that said: The matter that the enemy said, to destroy the Sanctuary, is void; Geyoslokin was killed, and his decrees were voided. He heard it in Aramaic. Rabbi Ḥonya [said] in the name of Rabbi Reuven: If the king is in the province, they cry out to him and he responds. If the king is not in the province, his image is there; however his image does not do what the king does. Rabbi Yoḥanan and Rabbi Shmuel bar Naḥman: Rabbi Yoḥanan said: It is written: “The Lord will give you there a trembling [ragaz] heart” (Deuteronomy 28:65). When they ascended, the wrath [rogez] that was given ascended with them. Rabbi Shmuel said: There, there was a trembling heart. Once they ascended, they were cured. Reish Lakish, when he would see them gathering in the marketplace, he would say to them: ‘Scatter yourselves.’ He said to them: ‘When you ascended, you did not consolidate into a wall, and here you are coming to consolidate into a wall?’ When Rabbi Yoḥanan would see them, he would provoke them. He said: If the prophet provoked them, as it is stated: “My God will spurn them because they did not heed Him” (Hosea 9:17), will I not provoke them? Rabbi Abba bar Kahana said: If you see benches filled with Babylonians in the Land of Israel, anticipate the footsteps of the messianic king. What is the source? “He spread [paras] a net for my feet” (Lamentations 1:13). Rabbi Shimon ben Yoḥai taught: If you see a Persian horse tied to a grave in the Land of Israel, anticipate the footsteps of the Messiah. What is the source? “This will be peace: When Assyria will come into our land, and when it will tread in our palaces, we shall raise against it seven shepherds…” (Micah 5:4). These are the seven shepherds: David in the center, Adam, Seth, Methuselah to his right, Abraham, Jacob, and Moses to his left. Where did Isaac go? He went and sat at the entrance to Gehenna to rescue his descendants from the judgment of Gehenna. “And eight princes of men” (Micah 5:4) – these are the eight princes: Yishai, Saul, Samuel, Amos, Zephaniah, Hezekiah, Elijah, and the messianic king.