1. Hebrew Bible, Deuteronomy, 7.13, 8.12, 9.26, 10.18, 11.14, 11.17, 28.12, 28.24 (9th cent. BCE - 3rd cent. BCE)
| 7.13. וַאֲהֵבְךָ וּבֵרַכְךָ וְהִרְבֶּךָ וּבֵרַךְ פְּרִי־בִטְנְךָ וּפְרִי־אַדְמָתֶךָ דְּגָנְךָ וְתִירֹשְׁךָ וְיִצְהָרֶךָ שְׁגַר־אֲלָפֶיךָ וְעַשְׁתְּרֹת צֹאנֶךָ עַל הָאֲדָמָה אֲשֶׁר־נִשְׁבַּע לַאֲבֹתֶיךָ לָתֶת לָךְ׃ 8.12. פֶּן־תֹּאכַל וְשָׂבָעְתָּ וּבָתִּים טוֹבִים תִּבְנֶה וְיָשָׁבְתָּ׃ 9.26. וָאֶתְפַּלֵּל אֶל־יְהוָה וָאֹמַר אֲדֹנָי יְהוִה אַל־תַּשְׁחֵת עַמְּךָ וְנַחֲלָתְךָ אֲשֶׁר פָּדִיתָ בְּגָדְלֶךָ אֲשֶׁר־הוֹצֵאתָ מִמִּצְרַיִם בְּיָד חֲזָקָה׃ 10.18. עֹשֶׂה מִשְׁפַּט יָתוֹם וְאַלְמָנָה וְאֹהֵב גֵּר לָתֶת לוֹ לֶחֶם וְשִׂמְלָה׃ 11.14. וְנָתַתִּי מְטַר־אַרְצְכֶם בְּעִתּוֹ יוֹרֶה וּמַלְקוֹשׁ וְאָסַפְתָּ דְגָנֶךָ וְתִירֹשְׁךָ וְיִצְהָרֶךָ׃ 11.17. וְחָרָה אַף־יְהוָה בָּכֶם וְעָצַר אֶת־הַשָּׁמַיִם וְלֹא־יִהְיֶה מָטָר וְהָאֲדָמָה לֹא תִתֵּן אֶת־יְבוּלָהּ וַאֲבַדְתֶּם מְהֵרָה מֵעַל הָאָרֶץ הַטֹּבָה אֲשֶׁר יְהוָה נֹתֵן לָכֶם׃ 28.12. יִפְתַּח יְהוָה לְךָ אֶת־אוֹצָרוֹ הַטּוֹב אֶת־הַשָּׁמַיִם לָתֵת מְטַר־אַרְצְךָ בְּעִתּוֹ וּלְבָרֵךְ אֵת כָּל־מַעֲשֵׂה יָדֶךָ וְהִלְוִיתָ גּוֹיִם רַבִּים וְאַתָּה לֹא תִלְוֶה׃ 28.24. יִתֵּן יְהוָה אֶת־מְטַר אַרְצְךָ אָבָק וְעָפָר מִן־הַשָּׁמַיִם יֵרֵד עָלֶיךָ עַד הִשָּׁמְדָךְ׃ | 7.13. and He will love thee, and bless thee, and multiply thee; He will also bless the fruit of thy body and the fruit of thy land, thy corn and thy wine and thine oil, the increase of thy kine and the young of thy flock, in the land which He swore unto thy fathers to give thee." 8.12. lest when thou hast eaten and art satisfied, and hast built goodly houses, and dwelt therein;" 9.26. And I prayed unto the LORD, and said: ‘O Lord GOD, destroy not Thy people and Thine inheritance, that Thou hast redeemed through Thy greatness, that Thou hast brought forth out of Egypt with a mighty hand." 10.18. He doth execute justice for the fatherless and widow, and loveth the stranger, in giving him food and raiment." 11.14. that I will give the rain of your land in its season, the former rain and the latter rain, that thou mayest gather in thy corn, and thy wine, and thine oil." 11.17. and the anger of the LORD be kindled against you, and He shut up the heaven, so that there shall be no rain, and the ground shall not yield her fruit; and ye perish quickly from off the good land which the LORD giveth you." 28.12. The LORD will open unto thee His good treasure the heaven to give the rain of thy land in its season, and to bless all the work of thy hand; and thou shalt lend unto many nations, but thou shalt not borrow." 28.24. The LORD will make the rain of thy land powder and dust; from heaven shall it come down upon thee, until thou be destroyed." |
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2. Hebrew Bible, Exodus, 19.16 (9th cent. BCE - 3rd cent. BCE)
| 19.16. וַיְהִי בַיּוֹם הַשְּׁלִישִׁי בִּהְיֹת הַבֹּקֶר וַיְהִי קֹלֹת וּבְרָקִים וְעָנָן כָּבֵד עַל־הָהָר וְקֹל שֹׁפָר חָזָק מְאֹד וַיֶּחֱרַד כָּל־הָעָם אֲשֶׁר בַּמַּחֲנֶה׃ | 19.16. And it came to pass on the third day, when it was morning, that there were thunders and lightnings and a thick cloud upon the mount, and the voice of a horn exceeding loud; and all the people that were in the camp trembled." |
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3. Hebrew Bible, Job, 5.10, 37.6 (9th cent. BCE - 3rd cent. BCE)
| 37.6. כִּי לַשֶּׁלַג יֹאמַר הֱוֵא אָרֶץ וְגֶשֶׁם מָטָר וְגֶשֶׁם מִטְרוֹת עֻזּוֹ׃ | 5.10. Who giveth rain upon the earth, And sendeth waters upon the fields;" 37.6. For He saith to the snow: ‘Fall thou on the earth’; Likewise to the shower of rain, and to the showers of His mighty rain." |
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4. Hebrew Bible, 1 Kings, 8.35-8.36 (8th cent. BCE - 5th cent. BCE)
| 8.35. בְּהֵעָצֵר שָׁמַיִם וְלֹא־יִהְיֶה מָטָר כִּי יֶחֶטְאוּ־לָךְ וְהִתְפַּלְלוּ אֶל־הַמָּקוֹם הַזֶּה וְהוֹדוּ אֶת־שְׁמֶךָ וּמֵחַטָּאתָם יְשׁוּבוּן כִּי תַעֲנֵם׃ 8.36. וְאַתָּה תִּשְׁמַע הַשָּׁמַיִם וְסָלַחְתָּ לְחַטַּאת עֲבָדֶיךָ וְעַמְּךָ יִשְׂרָאֵל כִּי תוֹרֵם אֶת־הַדֶּרֶךְ הַטּוֹבָה אֲשֶׁר יֵלְכוּ־בָהּ וְנָתַתָּה מָטָר עַל־אַרְצְךָ אֲשֶׁר־נָתַתָּה לְעַמְּךָ לְנַחֲלָה׃ | 8.35. When heaven is shut up, and there is no rain, when they do sin against Thee; if they pray toward this place, and confess Thy name, and turn from their sin, when Thou dost afflict them;" 8.36. then hear Thou in heaven, and forgive the sin of Thy servants, and of Thy people Israel, when Thou teachest them the good way wherein they should walk; and send rain upon Thy land, which Thou hast given to Thy people for an inheritance." |
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5. Hebrew Bible, 2 Samuel, 1.21 (8th cent. BCE - 5th cent. BCE)
| 1.21. הָרֵי בַגִּלְבֹּעַ אַל־טַל וְאַל־מָטָר עֲלֵיכֶם וּשְׂדֵי תְרוּמֹת כִּי שָׁם נִגְעַל מָגֵן גִּבּוֹרִים מָגֵן שָׁאוּל בְּלִי מָשִׁיחַ בַּשָּׁמֶן׃ | 1.21. Mountains of Gilboa, let there be no dew, neither let there be rain, upon you, nor fields of offerings: for there the shield of the mighty is vilely cast away, the shield of Sha᾽ul, as though not anointed with oil." |
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6. Hebrew Bible, Amos, 9.13-9.14 (8th cent. BCE - 6th cent. BCE)
| 9.13. הִנֵּה יָמִים בָּאִים נְאֻם־יְהוָה וְנִגַּשׁ חוֹרֵשׁ בַּקֹּצֵר וְדֹרֵךְ עֲנָבִים בְּמֹשֵׁךְ הַזָּרַע וְהִטִּיפוּ הֶהָרִים עָסִיס וְכָל־הַגְּבָעוֹת תִּתְמוֹגַגְנָה׃ 9.14. וְשַׁבְתִּי אֶת־שְׁבוּת עַמִּי יִשְׂרָאֵל וּבָנוּ עָרִים נְשַׁמּוֹת וְיָשָׁבוּ וְנָטְעוּ כְרָמִים וְשָׁתוּ אֶת־יֵינָם וְעָשׂוּ גַנּוֹת וְאָכְלוּ אֶת־פְּרִיהֶם׃ | 9.13. Behold, the days come, saith the LORD, That the plowman shall overtake the reaper, And the treader of grapes him that soweth seed; And the mountains shall drop sweet wine, And all the hills shall melt." 9.14. And I will turn the captivity of My people Israel, And they shall build the waste cities, and inhabit them; And they shall plant vineyards, and drink the wine thereof; They shall also make gardens, and eat the fruit of them." |
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7. Hebrew Bible, Isaiah, 30.23 (8th cent. BCE - 5th cent. BCE)
| 30.23. וְנָתַן מְטַר זַרְעֲךָ אֲשֶׁר־תִּזְרַע אֶת־הָאֲדָמָה וְלֶחֶם תְּבוּאַת הָאֲדָמָה וְהָיָה דָשֵׁן וְשָׁמֵן יִרְעֶה מִקְנֶיךָ בַּיּוֹם הַהוּא כַּר נִרְחָב׃ | 30.23. And He will give the rain for thy seed, wherewith thou sowest the ground, And bread of the increase of the ground, and it shall be fat and plenteous; In that day shall thy cattle feed in large pastures." |
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8. Hebrew Bible, Jeremiah, 3.3 (8th cent. BCE - 5th cent. BCE)
| 3.3. וַיִּמָּנְעוּ רְבִבִים וּמַלְקוֹשׁ לוֹא הָיָה וּמֵצַח אִשָּׁה זוֹנָה הָיָה לָךְ מֵאַנְתְּ הִכָּלֵם׃ | 3.3. Therefore the showers have been withheld, and there hath been no latter rain; yet thou hadst a harlot’s forehead, thou refusedst to be ashamed." |
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9. Hebrew Bible, Ezekiel, 34.27-34.28, 36.8 (6th cent. BCE - 5th cent. BCE)
| 34.27. וְנָתַן עֵץ הַשָּׂדֶה אֶת־פִּרְיוֹ וְהָאָרֶץ תִּתֵּן יְבוּלָהּ וְהָיוּ עַל־אַדְמָתָם לָבֶטַח וְיָדְעוּ כִּי־אֲנִי יְהוָה בְּשִׁבְרִי אֶת־מֹטוֹת עֻלָּם וְהִצַּלְתִּים מִיַּד הָעֹבְדִים בָּהֶם׃ 34.28. וְלֹא־יִהְיוּ עוֹד בַּז לַגּוֹיִם וְחַיַּת הָאָרֶץ לֹא תֹאכְלֵם וְיָשְׁבוּ לָבֶטַח וְאֵין מַחֲרִיד׃ 36.8. וְאַתֶּם הָרֵי יִשְׂרָאֵל עַנְפְּכֶם תִּתֵּנוּ וּפֶרְיְכֶם תִּשְׂאוּ לְעַמִּי יִשְׂרָאֵל כִּי קֵרְבוּ לָבוֹא׃ | 34.27. And the tree of the field shall yield its fruit, and the earth shall yield her produce, and they shall be safe in their land; and they shall know that I am the LORD, when I have broken the bars of their yoke, and have delivered them out of the hand of those that made bondmen of them." 34.28. And they shall no more be a prey to the nations, neither shall the beast of the earth devour them; but they shall dwell safely, and none shall make them afraid." 36.8. But ye, O mountains of Israel, ye shall shoot forth your branches, and yield your fruit to My people Israel; for they are at hand to come." |
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10. Hebrew Bible, Haggai, 1.10-1.11 (6th cent. BCE - 5th cent. BCE)
| 1.11. וָאֶקְרָא חֹרֶב עַל־הָאָרֶץ וְעַל־הֶהָרִים וְעַל־הַדָּגָן וְעַל־הַתִּירוֹשׁ וְעַל־הַיִּצְהָר וְעַל אֲשֶׁר תּוֹצִיא הָאֲדָמָה וְעַל־הָאָדָם וְעַל־הַבְּהֵמָה וְעַל כָּל־יְגִיעַ כַּפָּיִם׃ | 1.10. Therefore over you the heaven hath kept back, so that there is no dew, and the earth hath kept back her produce." 1.11. And I called for a drought upon the land, and upon the mountains, and upon the corn, and upon the wine, and upon the oil, and upon that which the ground bringeth forth, and upon men, and upon cattle, and upon all the labour of the hands.’" |
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11. Hebrew Bible, Zechariah, 8.12, 10.1, 14.17 (5th cent. BCE - 4th cent. BCE)
| 8.12. כִּי־זֶרַע הַשָּׁלוֹם הַגֶּפֶן תִּתֵּן פִּרְיָהּ וְהָאָרֶץ תִּתֵּן אֶת־יְבוּלָהּ וְהַשָּׁמַיִם יִתְּנוּ טַלָּם וְהִנְחַלְתִּי אֶת־שְׁאֵרִית הָעָם הַזֶּה אֶת־כָּל־אֵלֶּה׃ 10.1. שַׁאֲלוּ מֵיְהוָה מָטָר בְּעֵת מַלְקוֹשׁ יְהוָה עֹשֶׂה חֲזִיזִים וּמְטַר־גֶּשֶׁם יִתֵּן לָהֶם לְאִישׁ עֵשֶׂב בַּשָּׂדֶה׃ 10.1. וַהֲשִׁיבוֹתִים מֵאֶרֶץ מִצְרַיִם וּמֵאַשּׁוּר אֲקַבְּצֵם וְאֶל־אֶרֶץ גִּלְעָד וּלְבָנוֹן אֲבִיאֵם וְלֹא יִמָּצֵא לָהֶם׃ 14.17. וְהָיָה אֲשֶׁר לֹא־יַעֲלֶה מֵאֵת מִשְׁפְּחוֹת הָאָרֶץ אֶל־יְרוּשָׁלִַם לְהִשְׁתַּחֲוֺת לְמֶלֶךְ יְהוָה צְבָאוֹת וְלֹא עֲלֵיהֶם יִהְיֶה הַגָּשֶׁם׃ | 8.12. For as the seed of peace, the vine shall give her fruit, and the ground shall give her increase, and the heavens shall give their dew; and I will cause the remt of this people to inherit all these things." 10.1. Ask ye of the LORD rain in the time of the latter rain, Even of the LORD that maketh lightnings; And He will give them showers of rain, To every one grass in the field." 14.17. And it shall be, that whoso of the families of the earth goeth not up unto Jerusalem to worship the King, the LORD of hosts, upon them there shall be no rain." |
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12. Anon., 1 Enoch, 76.5, 76.12, 76.14, 100.12 (3rd cent. BCE - 2nd cent. BCE)
| 76.5. And the first wind from those portals, called the east wind, comes forth through the first portal which is in the east, inclining towards the south: from it come forth desolation, drought, heat 76.12. And after these [four] are the west winds: through the first portal adjoining the north come forth dew and hoar-frost, and cold and snow and frost. And from the middle portal come forth dew and rain, and prosperity and blessing; and through the last portal which adjoins the south come forth drought and desolation, and burning and destruction. And the twelve portals of the four quarters of the heaven are therewith completed, and all their laws and all their plagues and all their benefactions have I shown to thee, my son Methuselah. 100.12. hall be mindful of your sins. And now give presents to the rain that it be not withheld from descending upon you, nor yet the dew, when it has received gold and silver from you that it may descend. When the hoar-frost and snow with their chilliness, and all the snow-storms with all their plagues fall upon you, in those days ye shall not be able to stand before them. |
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13. Septuagint, Ecclesiasticus (Siracides), 43.13-43.19 (2nd cent. BCE - 2nd cent. BCE)
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14. Anon., 2 Baruch, 29.5-29.7 (1st cent. CE - 2nd cent. CE)
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15. Mishnah, Sotah, 9.15 (1st cent. CE - 3rd cent. CE)
| 9.15. When Rabbi Meir died, the composers of fables ceased. When Ben Azzai died, the diligent students [of Torah] ceased. When Ben Zoma died, the expounders ceased. When Rabbi Joshua died, goodness ceased from the world. When Rabban Shimon ben Gamaliel died, locusts come and troubles multiplied. When Rabbi Elazar ben Azaryah died, the sages ceased to be wealthy. When Rabbi Akiba died, the glory of the Torah ceased. When Rabbi Hanina ben Dosa died, men of wondrous deeds ceased. When Rabbi Yose Katnuta died, the pious men (hasidim) ceased and why was his name called Katnuta? Because he was the youngest of the pious men. When Rabban Yoha ben Zakkai died, the splendor of wisdom ceased. When Rabban Gamaliel the elder died, the glory of the torah ceased, and purity and separateness perished. When Rabbi Ishmael ben Fabi died, the splendor of the priesthood ceased. When Rabbi died, humility and fear of sin ceased. Rabbi Phineas ben Yair says: when Temple was destroyed, scholars and freemen were ashamed and covered their head, men of wondrous deeds were disregarded, and violent men and big talkers grew powerful. And nobody expounds, nobody seeks, and nobody asks. Upon whom shall we depend? Upon our father who is in heaven. Rabbi Eliezer the Great says: from the day the Temple was destroyed, the sages began to be like scribes, scribes like synagogue-attendants, synagogue-attendants like common people, and the common people became more and more debased. And nobody seeks. Upon whom shall we depend? Upon our father who is in heaven. In the footsteps of the messiah insolence (hutzpah) will increase and the cost of living will go up greatly; the vine will yield its fruit, but wine will be expensive; the government will turn to heresy, and there will be no one to rebuke; the meeting-place [of scholars] will be used for licentiousness; the Galilee will be destroyed, the Gablan will be desolated, and the dwellers on the frontier will go about [begging] from place to place without anyone to take pity on them; the wisdom of the learned will rot, fearers of sin will be despised, and the truth will be lacking; youths will put old men to shame, the old will stand up in the presence of the young, “For son spurns father, daughter rises up against mother, daughter-in-law against mother-in-law a man’s own household are his enemies” (Micah 7:6). The face of the generation will be like the face of a dog, a son will not feel ashamed before his father. Upon whom shall we depend? Upon our father who is in heaven. Rabbi Pinchas ben Yair says, “Heedfulness leads to cleanliness, cleanliness leads to purity, purity leads to separation, separation leads to holiness, holiness leads to modesty, modesty leads to fear of sin, fear of sin leads to piety, piety leads to the Holy Spirit, The Holy Spirit leads to the resurrection of the dead, and the resurrection of the dead comes from Elijah, blessed be his memory, Amen.”" |
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16. Babylonian Talmud, Ketuvot, None (3rd cent. CE - 6th cent. CE)
| 111a. (ירמיהו כז, כב) בבלה יובאו ושמה יהיו עד יום פקדי אותם נאם ה' ורבי זירא ההוא בכלי שרת כתיב,ורב יהודה כתיב קרא אחרינא (שיר השירים ב, ז) השבעתי אתכם בנות ירושלים בצבאות או באילות השדה וגו',ורבי זירא ההוא שלא יעלו ישראל בחומה ורב יהודה השבעתי אחרינא כתיב ורבי זירא,ההוא מיבעי ליה לכדרבי יוסי ברבי חנינא דאמר ג' שבועות הללו למה אחת שלא יעלו ישראל בחומה ואחת שהשביע הקדוש ברוך הוא את ישראל שלא ימרדו באומות העולם ואחת שהשביע הקדוש ברוך הוא את העובדי כוכבים שלא ישתעבדו בהן בישראל יותר מדאי,ורב יהודה (שיר השירים ב, ז) אם תעירו ואם תעוררו כתיב ורבי זירא,מיבעי ליה לכדרבי לוי דאמר שש שבועות הללו למה תלתא הני דאמרן אינך שלא יגלו את הקץ ושלא ירחקו את הקץ ושלא יגלו הסוד לעובדי כוכבים,(שיר השירים ב, ז) בצבאות או באילות השדה אמר רבי אלעזר אמר להם הקב"ה לישראל אם אתם מקיימין את השבועה מוטב ואם לאו אני מתיר את בשרכם כצבאות וכאילות השדה,אמר רבי אלעזר כל הדר בארץ ישראל שרוי בלא עון שנאמר (ישעיהו לג, כד) ובל יאמר שכן חליתי העם היושב בה נשוא עון א"ל רבא לרב אשי אנן בסובלי חלאים מתנינן לה,אמר רב ענן כל הקבור בארץ ישראל כאילו קבור תחת המזבח כתיב הכא (שמות כ, כד) מזבח אדמה תעשה לי וכתיב התם (דברים לב, מג) וכפר אדמתו עמו,עולא הוה רגיל דהוה סליק לארץ ישראל נח נפשיה בחוץ לארץ אתו אמרו ליה לרבי אלעזר אמר אנת עולא (עמוס ז, יז) על אדמה טמאה תמות אמרו לו ארונו בא אמר להם אינו דומה קולטתו מחיים לקולטתו לאחר מיתה,ההוא גברא דנפלה ליה יבמה בי חוזאה אתא לקמיה דר' חנינא א"ל מהו למיחת וליבמה,א"ל אחיו נשא כותית ומת ברוך המקום שהרגו והוא ירד אחריו,אמר רב יהודה אמר שמואל כשם שאסור לצאת מארץ ישראל לבבל כך אסור לצאת מבבל לשאר ארצות רבה ורב יוסף דאמרי תרוייהו אפילו מפומבדיתא לבי כובי ההוא דנפק מפומבדיתא לבי כובי שמתיה רב יוסף ההוא דנפק מפומבדיתא לאסתוניא שכיב אמר אביי אי בעי האי צורבא מרבנן הוה חיי,רבה ורב יוסף דאמרי תרוייהו כשרין שבבבל א"י קולטתן כשרין שבשאר ארצות בבל קולטתן למאי אילימא ליוחסין והאמר מר כל הארצות עיסה לארץ ישראל וארץ ישראל עיסה לבבל אלא לענין קבורה,אמר רב יהודה כל הדר בבבל כאילו דר בארץ ישראל שנאמר (זכריה ב, יא) הוי ציון המלטי יושבת בת בבל אמר אביי נקטינן בבל לא חזיא חבלי דמשיח תרגמה אהוצל דבנימין וקרו ליה קרנא דשיזבתא,א"ר אלעזר מתים שבחוץ לארץ אינם חיים שנאמר (יחזקאל כו, כ) ונתתי צבי בארץ חיים ארץ שצביוני בה מתיה חיים שאין צביוני בה אין מתיה חיים,מתיב ר' אבא בר ממל (ישעיהו כו, יט) יחיו מתיך נבלתי יקומון מאי לאו יחיו מתיך מתים שבא"י נבלתי יקומון מתים שבחוץ לארץ ומאי ונתתי צבי בארץ חיים אנבוכד נצר הוא דכתיב דאמר רחמנא מייתינא עלייהו מלכא דקליל כי טביא,א"ל רבי מקרא אחר אני דורש (ישעיהו מב, ה) נותן נשמה לעם עליה ורוח להולכים בה ואלא הכתיב נבלתי יקומון ההוא בנפלים הוא דכתיב,ורבי אבא בר ממל האי נותן נשמה לעם עליה מאי עביד ליה מיבעי ליה לכדרבי אבהו דאמר ר' אבהו אפילו שפחה כנענית שבא"י מובטח לה שהיא בת העולם הבא כתיב הכא לעם עליה וכתיב התם (בראשית כב, ה) שבו לכם פה עם החמור עם הדומה לחמור,ורוח להולכים בה א"ר ירמיה בר אבא א"ר יוחנן כל המהלך ארבע אמות בארץ ישראל מובטח לו שהוא בן העולם הבא,ולר' אלעזר צדיקים שבחוץ לארץ אינם חיים אמר רבי אילעא ע"י גלגול מתקיף לה ר' אבא סלא רבא גלגול לצדיקים צער הוא אמר אביי מחילות נעשות להם בקרקע,(בראשית מז, ל) ונשאתני ממצרים וקברתני בקבורתם אמר קרנא דברים בגו יודע היה יעקב אבינו שצדיק גמור היה ואם מתים שבחוצה לארץ חיים למה הטריח את בניו שמא לא יזכה למחילות,כיוצא בדבר אתה אומר (בראשית נ, כה) וישבע יוסף את בני ישראל וגו' א"ר חנינא דברים בגו יודע היה יוסף בעצמו שצדיק גמור היה ואם מתים שבחוצה לארץ חיים למה הטריח את אחיו ארבע מאות פרסה שמא לא יזכה למחילות,שלחו ליה אחוהי לרבה יודע היה יעקב שצדיק גמור היה וכו' אילפא מוסיף בה דברים מעשה באחד שהיה מצטער על אשה אחת וביקש לירד כיון ששמע כזאת גלגל בעצמו עד יום מותו,אף על פי שחכם גדול אתה אינו דומה לומד מעצמו ללומד מרבו וא"ת אין לך רב יש לך רב ומנו רבי יוחנן,ואם אין אתה עולה הזהר בשלשה דברים אל תרבה בישיבה שישיבה קשה לתחתוניות ואל תרבה בעמידה שעמידה קשה ללב ואל תרבה בהליכה שהליכה קשה לעינים אלא שליש בישיבה שליש בעמידה שליש בהילוך,כל ישיבה שאין עמה סמיכה עמידה נוחה הימנה עמידה ס"ד והאמרת עמידה קשה ללב אלא ישיבה | 111a. b“They shall be taken to Babylonia and there they shall remain until the day that I recall them, said the Lord”(Jeremiah 27:22). Based on that verse, Rav Yehuda held that since the Babylonian exile was imposed by divine decree, permission to leave Babylonia for Eretz Yisrael could be granted only by God. The Gemara asks: bAndhow does bRabbi Zeirainterpret that verse? The Gemara answers that Rabbi Zeira maintains that bthatverse bis written aboutthe Temple bservice vessels,and it does not refer to the Jewish people, as the previous verse states: “Thus says the Lord of Hosts, the God of Israel, concerning the vessels that remain in the house of the Lord” (Jeremiah 27:21). Consequently, Rabbi Zeira sought to ascend to Eretz Yisrael.,The Gemara asks: bAndhow does bRav Yehudarespond to this argument? The verse is clearly referring to the Temple vessels, not to the people. The Gemara answers that banother verse is written: “I adjure you, O daughters of Jerusalem, by the gazelles and by the hinds of the field,that you not awaken or stir up love, until it please” (Song of Songs 2:7). Rabbi Yehuda derived from here that no act of redemption should be performed until a time arrives when it pleases God to bring about the redemption., bAnd Rabbi Zeiramaintains that the oath mentioned in bthatverse means bthat the Jews should not ascendto Eretz Yisrael bas a wall,i.e., en masse, whereas individuals may immigrate as they wish. The Gemara asks: bAndwhat does bRav Yehudareply to this? The Gemara answers that this command is derived from banotherverse in which b“I adjure you”(Song of Songs 3:5) is bwritten /b. The Gemara asks: bAndhow does bRabbi Zeiraexplain the repetition of this oath in these verses?,The Gemara explains: bThatverse bis necessary for thatwhich was taught by bRabbi Yosei, son of Rabbi Ḥanina, who said: Whyare bthese three oaths(Song of Songs 2:7, 3:5, 8:4) needed? bOne,so bthat the Jews should not ascendto Eretz Yisrael bas a wall,but little by little. bAndanother bone, that the Holy One, Blessed be He, adjured the Jews that they should not rebel againstthe rule of bthe nations of the world. Andthe last boneis bthat the Holy One, Blessed be He, adjured the nationsof the world bthat they should not subjugate the Jews excessively. /b, bAndhow does bRav Yehudarespond? It is bwritten: “That you not awaken or stir uplove” (Song of Songs 2:7), which serves to amplify and include a prohibition against Jews immigrating to Eretz Yisrael. The Gemara asks: bAndhow does bRabbi Zeiraexplain the extra emphasis of this phrase?,The Gemara explains: bHe needsthis phrase bfor thatwhich was taught by bRabbi Levi, who said: These six oaths,i.e., the aforementioned three verses containing oaths, each of which contains the phrase “That you not awaken or stir up,” bwhyare they necessary? bThree are those that we saidand explained above. bThe otherthree oaths are as follows: bThatthose who know bshould not reveal the endof days; band that they should not distance the endof days by saying that it is still distant; band that they should not reveal the secretof the Jews bto the nations. /b,§ The Gemara discusses a phrase in the verse cited above. “I adjure you, O daughters of Jerusalem, bby the gazelles and by the hinds of the field”(Song of Songs 2:7). bRabbi Elazar said: The Holy One, Blessed be He, said to the Jewish people: If you fulfill the oath, it is good, and if not, I will abandon your fleshand all will devour you blike the gazelles and like the hinds of the field. /b, bRabbi Elazar said: Anyone who resides in Eretz Yisrael dwells without transgression, as it is stated: “And the inhabitant shall not say: I am sick; the people that dwell there shall be forgiven their iniquity”(Isaiah 33:24). bRava said to Rav Ashi: We learned thispromise bwith regard to those who suffer from sickness.The phrase “I am sick” indicates that they are the ones who are forgiven their sins., bRav A said: Anyone who is buried in Eretz Yisraelis considered bas thoughhe is bburied beneath the altar. It is stated here: “An altar of earth [ iadama /i] you shall make for Me”(Exodus 20:21), band it is stated there:“For He does avenge the blood of His servants, and renders vengeance to His adversaries, band atones for the land of [ iadmato /i] His people”(Deuteronomy 32:43). This teaches that one who is buried in the earth of Eretz Yisrael is considered as though he is buried beneath the altar in the Temple.,§ The Gemara relates: bUlla was accustomed to ascend to Eretz Yisraelfrom time to time. However, bhe died outsideof bEretzYisrael. bThey came and said to Rabbi Elazarthat Ulla had passed away. bHe said:Woe for byou Ulla,as through you a verse was fulfilled: b“You shall die in an unclean land”(Amos 7:17). bThey said to him: But his coffin is comingfor burial in Eretz Yisrael. bHe said to them:Even so, bone who was absorbedby the soil of Eretz Yisrael bwhilehe was yet balive is not similar to one who was absorbedonly bafter death. /b,The Gemara relates with regard to ba certain manfrom Eretz Yisrael bthat a iyevama /i,i.e., a woman whose childless husband died and left a surviving brother, bhappenedbefore him, the surviving brother, for levirate marriage. This iyevamawas living in the district of bBei Ḥoza’a,far away in southeast Babylonia. The man bcame before Rabbi Ḥaninaand bsaid to him: What isthe ihalakhaas to whether I may bdescendto Babylonia bto enter into levirate marriagewith this woman?,Rabbi Ḥanina bsaid to him: His brother married a Samaritan woman [ ikutit /i] and died.Rabbi Ḥanina described the man’s late brother in these terms because he had left Eretz Yisrael to marry, and for the same reason he called his wife a Samaritan. bBlessed be the Omnipresent who killed him. Andyet the brother wishes btofollow in his footsteps and bdescend after him?Better that he stay in Eretz Yisrael.,§ bRav Yehuda saidthat bShmuel said: Just as it is prohibited to leave Eretz Yisraeland go bto Babylonia, so too, is it prohibited to leave Babylonia forany of bthe other lands. Rabba and Rav Yosef both say: Evento go bfrom Pumbedita to Bei Kuvei,which is located beyond the border of Babylonia proper, is not permitted. The Gemara relates: bA certainman bleft Pumbedita tolive in bBei Kuvei,and bRav Yosef excommunicated him. A certainman bleft Pumbedita tolive in bAstonia,which also lay beyond the borders of Babylonia proper, and he bdied. Abaye said: Had this Torah scholar wanted, he wouldstill bbe alive,as he could have stayed in Babylonia., bRabba and Rav Yosef both say:With regard to bthe worthy of Babylonia, Eretz Yisrael absorbs them;with regard to bthe worthy of other lands, Babylonia absorbs them.The Gemara asks: With regard bto whatmatter did they issue this statement? bIf we saythat they were referring btomatters of blineage, didn’t the Master say:Lineage of residents of ball landsare bmuddledcompared btothat of bEretz Yisrael, andlineage of residents of bEretz Yisrael is muddledcompared btothat of bBabylonia.This means that the lineage of Babylonians was purer than that of the residents of Eretz Yisrael. bRather,they taught this with regard bto matters of burial,i.e., the worthy of Babylonia are buried in Eretz Yisrael., bRav Yehuda said:With regard to banyone who resides in Babylon,it is bas though he is residing in Eretz Yisrael, as it is stated: “Ho Zion, escape, you who dwells with the daughter of Babylon”(Zechariah 2:11). This verse equates the two countries. bAbaye said: We have a traditionthat bBabylonia will not see the pangs of the Messiah,i.e., it will be spared the suffering that will be prevalent at the time of his arrival. Abaye binterpretedthis statement in reference btothe city of bHutzal deVinyaminin Babylonia, bandas a result people bcall it Karna deShizavta,Horn of Salvation, as its residents will not endure the travails of the time of the Messiah.,§ bRabbi Elazar said: The dead ofthe lands boutsideof bEretzYisrael will bnotcome baliveand be resurrected in the future, bas it is stated: “And I will set glory [ itzvi /i] in the land of the living”(Ezekiel 26:20). This teaches that with regard to ba land which contains My desire [ itzivyoni /i], its deadwill come balive;however, with regard to a land bwhich does not contain My desire,i.e., outside of Eretz Yisrael, bits deadwill bnotcome balive. /b, bRabbi Abba bar Memel raised an objectionfrom a different verse: b“Your dead shall live; my dead bodies shall arise”(Isaiah 26:19). bWhat, is it notthe case that the phrase b“Your dead shall live”is referring to bthe dead of Eretz Yisrael,whereas the subsequent phrase b“My dead bodies shall arise”is referring to bthe dead ofthe lands boutsideof bEretzYisrael? bAndif so, bwhatis the meaning of the verse b“And I will set glory [ itzvi /i] in the land of the living”?This verse bis writtenwith regard bto Nebuchadnezzar, as the Merciful One states: I will bring upon you a king who is as swift as a deer [ itzvi /i]. /b,Rabbi Elazar bsaid toRabbi Abba bar Memel: bMy teacher, I teachit from ba different verse,as it is stated: b“He gives breath to the people upon it, and spirit to they who walk there”(Isaiah 42:5). This indicates that the future resurrection is specifically for those who dwell in Eretz Yisrael. Rabbi Abba retorted: bBut isn’t it written: “My dead bodies shall arise”?How do you interpret this verse? Rabbi Elazar replied: bThatverse is not referring to those living outside Eretz Yisrael; rather, bit is writtenwith regard to bstillborns,as they too will merit resurrection.,The Gemara asks: bAnd what does Rabbi Abba bar Memel do with thisverse b“He gives breath to the people upon it”?The Gemara answers: bHe requiresthat verse bfor thatwhich was taught by bRabbi Abbahu. As Rabbi Abbahu said: Even a Canaanite maidservant in Eretz Yisrael is assureda place in bthe World-to-Come. It is written here: “To the people [ ila’am /i] upon it,” and it is written there: “Abide you here with [ iim /i] the donkey”(Genesis 22:5). This verse in Genesis is traditionally interpreted to mean: bA people [ iam /i] that is similar to a donkey,from which it may be inferred that even the members of this people merit a share in the world to come.,With regard to the aforementioned verse b“And spirit to they who walk there”(Isaiah 42:5), bRabbi Yirmeya bar Abba saidthat bRabbi Yoḥa said: Anyone who walks four cubits in Eretz Yisrael is assured ofa place in bthe World-to-Come. /b,The Gemara asks: bAnd according tothe opinion of bRabbi Elazar,will bthe righteous outsideof bEretzYisrael bnotcome baliveat the time of the resurrection of the dead? bRabbi Ile’a said:They will be resurrected bby means of rolling,i.e., they will roll until they reach Eretz Yisrael, where they will be brought back to life. bRabbi Abba Salla Rava strongly objects to this: Rolling isan ordeal that entails bsuffering for the righteous. Abaye said: Tunnels are prepared for them in the ground,through which they pass to Eretz Yisrael.,§ The verse states that Jacob commanded Joseph: b“You shall carry me out of Egypt and bury me in their burying-place”(Genesis 47:30). bKarna said:There are binner mattershere, i.e., a secret meaning: bOur Patriarch Jacob knew that he was completely righteous, and if the dead ofthe lands boutsideof bEretzYisrael come balive, why did he trouble his sonsto bring him to Eretz Yisrael? The reason is that he was concerned blest he not merit the tunnels. /b, bOn a similar note, you say: “And Joseph took an oath of the children of Israel,saying: God will surely remember you, and you shall carry up my bones from here” (Genesis 50:25). bRabbi Ḥanina said:There are binner mattershere. bJoseph knew concerning himself that he was completely righteous, and if the dead ofthe lands boutsideof bEretzYisrael come balive, why did he trouble his brothersto carry his coffin bfour hundreds parasangsto Eretz Yisrael? The reason is that he was concerned blest he not merit the tunnels. /b,§ bRabba’s brothers sent hima letter to Babylonia from Eretz Yisrael, in which they mentioned this idea that bJacob knew that he was completely righteous,as detailed above. They continued by writing that bIlfa adds matters tothis statement: bAn incidentoccurred binvolving one who was sufferingthrough his love bfor a certain womanhe desired to marry, band he sought to descendfrom Eretz Yisrael. bWhen he heard thisidea concerning the tremendous significance of living in Eretz Yisrael, bhe sufferedwithout leaving the country buntil the day he died. /b,Rabba’s brothers further wrote in their letter: bAnd although you are a great Sage, one who studies by himself is not similar to one who studies from his teacher,and therefore you should come to Eretz Yisrael. bAnd if you saythat byou do not have a teacherin Eretz Yisrael, in fact byou do have a teacher. And who is he?He is bRabbi Yoḥa. /b, bAnd if you do not ascendto Eretz Yisrael, bbe careful in three matters: Do not sit excessively, as sitting is harmful with regard to hemorrhoids; do not stand excessively, as standing is harmful with regard to hearttrouble; band do not walk excessively, as walking is harmful with regard to eyeproblems. bRather,divide your time: bOne-third for sitting, one-third for standing, and one-third for walking. /b,Rabba’s brothers offered him more advice in their letter: With regard to bany sitting that is without support,i.e., an object on which to lean, bstanding is more comfortable than thatposition. The Gemara asks: Can it benter your mindthat bstandingis better than sitting? bDidn’t you say that standing is harmful with regard to hearttrouble? bRather,with regard to bsitting /b |
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17. Babylonian Talmud, Sanhedrin, None (3rd cent. CE - 6th cent. CE)
| 97a. את סוכת דוד הנופלת א"ל הכי אמר רבי יוחנן דור שבן דוד בא בו תלמידי חכמים מתמעטים והשאר עיניהם כלות ביגון ואנחה וצרות רבות וגזרות קשות מתחדשות עד שהראשונה פקודה שניה ממהרת לבא,ת"ר שבוע שבן דוד בא בו שנה ראשונה מתקיים מקרא זה (עמוס ד, ז) והמטרתי על עיר אחת ועל עיר אחת לא אמטיר שניה חיצי רעב משתלחים שלישית רעב גדול ומתים אנשים ונשים וטף חסידים ואנשי מעשה ותורה משתכחת מלומדיה ברביעית שובע ואינו שובע בחמישית שובע גדול ואוכלין ושותין ושמחין ותורה חוזרת ללומדיה בששית קולות בשביעית מלחמות במוצאי שביעית בן דוד בא,אמר רב יוסף הא כמה שביעית דהוה כן ולא אתא אמר אביי בששית קולות בשביעית מלחמות מי הוה ועוד כסדרן מי הוה,(תהלים פט, נב) (אשר חרפו אויביך ה' אשר חרפו עקבות משיחך) תניא ר' יהודה אומר דור שבן דוד בא בו בית הוועד יהיה לזנות והגליל יחרב והגבלן יאשם ואנשי גבול יסובבו מעיר לעיר ולא יחוננו וחכמת הסופרים תסרח ויראי חטא ימאסו ופני הדור כפני כלב,והאמת נעדרת שנאמר (ישעיהו נט, טו) ותהי האמת נעדרת (וסר מרע משתולל) מאי ותהי האמת נעדרת אמרי דבי רב מלמד שנעשית עדרים עדרים והולכת לה מאי וסר מרע משתולל אמרי דבי ר' שילא כל מי שסר מרע משתולל על הבריות,אמר רבא מריש הוה אמינא ליכא קושטא בעלמא אמר לי ההוא מרבנן ורב טבות שמיה ואמרי לה רב טביומי שמיה דאי הוו יהבי ליה כל חללי דעלמא לא הוה משני בדבוריה זימנא חדא איקלעי לההוא אתרא וקושטא שמיה ולא הוו משני בדיבורייהו ולא הוה מיית איניש מהתם בלא זימניה נסיבי איתתא מינהון והוו לי תרתין בנין מינה,יומא חד הוה יתבא דביתהו וקא חייפא רישה אתאי שיבבתה טרפא אדשא סבר לאו אורח ארעא אמר לה ליתא הכא שכיבו ליה תרתין בנין אתו אינשי דאתרא לקמיה אמרו ליה מאי האי אמר להו הכי הוה מעשה א"ל במטותא מינך פוק מאתרין ולא תגרי בהו מותנא בהנך אינשי,תניא ר' נהוראי אומר דור שבן דוד בא בו נערים ילבינו פני זקנים וזקנים יעמדו לפני נערים ובת קמה באמה וכלה בחמותה ופני הדור כפני כלב ואין הבן מתבייש מאביו,תניא ר' נחמיה אומר דור שבן דוד בא בו העזות תרבה והיוקר יעות והגפן יתן פריו והיין ביוקר ונהפכה כל המלכות למינות ואין תוכחה מסייע ליה לר' יצחק דא"ר יצחק אין בן דוד בא עד שתתהפך כל המלכות למינות אמר רבא מאי קרא (ויקרא יג, יג) כולו הפך לבן טהור הוא,ת"ר (דברים לב, לו) כי ידין ה' עמו [וגו'] כי יראה כי אזלת יד ואפס עצור ועזוב אין בן דוד בא עד שירבו המסורות ד"א עד שיתמעטו התלמידים ד"א עד שתכלה פרוטה מן הכיס ד"א עד שיתייאשו מן הגאולה שנאמר ואפס עצור ועזוב כביכול אין סומך ועוזר לישראל,כי הא דר' זירא כי הוה משכח רבנן דמעסקי ביה אמר להו במטותא בעינא מנייכו לא תרחקוה דתנינא ג' באין בהיסח הדעת אלו הן משיח מציאה ועקרב,אמר רב קטינא שית אלפי שני הוו עלמא וחד חרוב שנאמר (ישעיהו ב, יא) ונשגב ה' לבדו ביום ההוא אביי אמר תרי חרוב שנאמר (הושע ו, ב) יחיינו מיומים ביום השלישי יקימנו ונחיה לפניו,תניא כותיה דרב קטינא כשם שהשביעית משמטת שנה אחת לז' שנים כך העולם משמט אלף שנים לשבעת אלפים שנה שנאמר ונשגב ה' לבדו ביום ההוא ואומר (תהלים צב, א) מזמור שיר ליום השבת יום שכולו שבת ואומר (תהלים צ, ד) כי אלף שנים בעיניך כיום אתמול כי יעבור,תנא דבי אליהו ששת אלפים שנה הוי עלמא שני אלפים תוהו שני אלפים תורה שני אלפים ימות המשיח | 97a. bthe Tabernacle of David that is fallen [ ihanofelet /i]”(Amos 9:11). That is why the Messiah is called ibar nifli /i. Rabbi Yitzḥak bsaid to himthat bthisis what bRabbi Yoḥa says:During bthe generation in whichthe Messiah, bson of David, comes, Torah scholars decrease; andas for bthe restof the people, btheir eyes fail with sorrow and grief, and troubles increase. And the harsh decrees will be introduced; before the first passes the second quickly comes. /b, bThe Sages taughtin a ibaraita /i: With regard to bthe seven-yearperiod, i.e., the Sabbatical cycle, bduring whichthe Messiah, bson of David, comes:During bthe first year, this verse will be fulfilled: “And I will cause it to rain upon one city and cause it not to rain upon another city”(Amos 4:7). During the bsecondyear of that period, barrows of famine will be shot,indicating that there will be famine only in certain places. During the bthirdyear bthere will be a great famine, and men, women, children, the pious, and men of action will die, and the Torah is forgotten by those who study it. During the fourthyear there will be bplenty but notgreat bplenty. During the fifthyear there will be bgreat plenty and they will eat, and drink, and rejoice, and the Torah will return to those who study it. During the sixthyear, heavenly bvoiceswill be heard. bDuring the SabbaticalYear, bwars,e.g., the war of Gog and Magog, will be waged involving the Jewish people. bDuringthe year after bthe conclusion of the SabbaticalYear, bthe son of David will come. /b, bRav Yosef said: Haven’t there been several Sabbaticalcycles during bwhichevents btranspiredin bthatmanner bandnevertheless, the Messiah bdid not come? Abaye said: Havethe phenomena: bDuring the sixthyear, heavenly bvoices,and bduring the SabbaticalYear, bwars, transpired? And furthermore, haveall these phenomena btranspired inthe borderin which they were listed in the ibaraita /i?,The verse states: b“That Your enemies taunted, Lord, that they have taunted the footsteps of Your anointed”(Psalms 89:52). bIt is taughtin a ibaraitathat bRabbi Yehuda says: During the generation that the son of David comes, the hall of the assemblyof the Sages bwill bedesignated bfor prostitution, and the Galilee will be destroyed, and the Gavlan,i.e., Bashan, bwill be desolate, and the residents of the borderwho flee the neighboring gentiles bwill circulate from city to city and will receive no sympathy. The wisdom of scholars will diminish, and sin-fearingpeople bwill be despised. And the face of the generation will be like the face of a dogin its impudence and shamelessness., bAnd the truth will be lacking, as it is stated: “And the truth is lacking [ ine’ederet /i], and he who departs from evil is negated”(Isaiah 59:15). bWhatis the meaning of the phrase: bAnd the truth is lacking [ ine’ederet /i]?The Sages of bthe study hall of Rav said:This bteaches thattruth bwill become likeso many bflocks [ iadarim /i] and walkaway. bWhatis the meaning of the phrase: b“And he that departs from evil is negated”?The Sages of bthe study hall of Rabbi Sheila said: Anyone who deviates from evil is deemed insane by the people. /b,§ Concerning the lack of truth, bRava says: Initially I would saythat bthere is no truthanywhere bin the world.There was ba certain one of the Sages, and Rav Tavut is his name, and some say Rav Tavyomei is his name,who was so honest bthat if they wereto bgive him the entire world, he would not deviatefrom the truth bin his statement.He said to me: bOne time I happenedto come bto a certain place, and Truth is its name, andits residents bwould not deviatefrom the truth bin their statements, and no person from there would die prematurely. I married a woman fromamong bthem, and I had two sons from her. /b, bOne day his wife was sitting and washing thehair on her bhead. Her neighbor cameand bknocked on the door. He thought:It is bnot proper conductto tell the neighbor that his wife is bathing. bHe said to her: She is not here.Since he deviated from the truth bhis two sons died. The peopleresiding binthat bplace came before himand bsaid to him: Whatis the meaning of bthis? He said to them: This wasthe nature of the bincident,and told them what happened. bThey said to him: Please leave our place and do not provokepremature bdeath upon these people. /b,The Gemara resumes its discussion of the messianic period. bIt is taughtin a ibaraitathat bRabbi Nehorai says: During the generationin bwhich the son of David comes, youths will humiliate elders and elders will standin deference bbefore youths, and a daughter will rebel against her mother, and a bride against her mother-in-law, and the face of the generation will be like the face of a dog, and a son will not be ashamed before his father. /b, bIt is taughtin a ibaraitathat bRabbi Neḥemya says: During the generation that the son of David comes, arrogance will proliferate and the costof living bwill corruptpeople so they will engage in deceit. bThe vine will produce its fruit, andnevertheless, bthe winewill be bcostly. And the entiregentile bmonarchy will be converted tothe bheresyof Christianity, band there will be noinclination among the people to accept brebuke.This ibaraita bsupportsthe opinion of bRabbi Yitzḥak, as Rabbi Yitzḥak says: The son of David will not come until the entire kingdom will be converted to heresy. Rava says: What is the versefrom which this statement is derived? It is the verse: b“It is all turned white; he is ritually pure”(Leviticus 13:13). One is a leper and ritually impure only if he has a leprous mark, however small, but not if his skin is completely leprous. Similarly, the world will be redeemed only when the Jewish people reach their lowest point., bThe Sages taughtin a ibaraita /i: The verse states: b“For the Lord shall judge His peopleand atone for His servants, bwhen He sees that their power is gone and there is none shut up or left”(Deuteronomy 32:36). From the phrase “their power is gone” it is derived that bthe son of David will not come until informers will proliferate. Alternatively,the Messiah will not come buntil thenumber of bstudentsof Torah bdiminishes. Alternatively,the Messiah will not come buntilthe iperutawill cease from the purse. Alternatively,the Messiah will not come buntil they despair from the redemption, as it is stated: “And there is none shut up or left,” as though there were no supporter or helper for the Jewish people. /b,This is basin bthatpractice bof Rabbi Zeira,who, bwhen he would find Sages who were engaging indiscussions about the coming of the Messiah, bsaid to them: Please, I ask of you, do not delayhis coming by calculating the end of days. bAs we learnin a ibaraita /i: There are bthreematters that bcomeonly bby means of diversion of attentionfrom those matters, band these are they:The bMessiah, a lost item, and a scorpion. /b,§ bRav Ketina says: Six thousand years isthe duration of bthe world,and bit is in ruinsfor bonethousand years. The duration of the period during which the world is in ruins is derived from a verse, bas it is stated: “And the Lord alone shall be exalted on that day”(Isaiah 2:11), and the day of God lasts one thousand years. bAbaye says: It is in ruinsfor btwothousand years, bas it is stated: “After two days He will revive us; in the third day He will revive us, and we shall live in His presence”(Hosea 6:2)., bIt is taughtin a ibaraita bin accordance withthe opinion bof Rav Ketina: Just as the SabbaticalYear babrogatesdebts bonce in seven years, so too, the world abrogatesits typical existence for bone thousand years inevery bseven thousand years, as it is stated: “And the Lord alone shall be exalted on that day,” and it states: “A psalm, a song for the Shabbat day”(Psalms 92:1), meaning ba day,i.e., one thousand years, bthat is entirely Shabbat. And it saysin explanation of the equation between one day and one thousand years: b“For a thousand years in Your eyes are but like yesterday when it is past,and like a watch in the night” (Psalms 90:4)., bThe school of Eliyahu taught: Six thousand years isthe duration of bthe world. Two thousandof the six thousand years are characterized by bchaos; two thousandyears are characterized by bTorah,from the era of the Patriarchs until the end of the mishnaic period; and btwo thousand yearsare bthe period ofthe coming of bthe Messiah. /b |
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