1. Hebrew Bible, Jeremiah, 29.10 (8th cent. BCE - 5th cent. BCE)
| 29.10. For thus saith the LORD: After seventy years are accomplished for Babylon, I will remember you, and perform My good word toward you, in causing you to return to this place." |
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2. Hebrew Bible, Ezra, 1.1 (5th cent. BCE - 4th cent. BCE)
| 1.1. כְּפוֹרֵי זָהָב שְׁלֹשִׁים כְּפוֹרֵי כֶסֶף מִשְׁנִים אַרְבַּע מֵאוֹת וַעֲשָׂרָה כֵּלִים אֲחֵרִים אָלֶף׃ 1.1. וּבִשְׁנַת אַחַת לְכוֹרֶשׁ מֶלֶךְ פָּרַס לִכְלוֹת דְּבַר־יְהוָה מִפִּי יִרְמְיָה הֵעִיר יְהוָה אֶת־רוּחַ כֹּרֶשׁ מֶלֶךְ־פָּרַס וַיַּעֲבֶר־קוֹל בְּכָל־מַלְכוּתוֹ וְגַם־בְּמִכְתָּב לֵאמֹר׃ | 1.1. NOW IN the first year of Cyrus king of Persia, that the word of the LORD by the mouth of Jeremiah might be accomplished, the LORD stirred up the spirit of Cyrus king of Persia, that he made a proclamation throughout all his kingdom, and put it also in writing, saying:" |
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3. Anon., 1 Enoch, 1.2, 13.6-13.8, 39.9, 39.12-39.14, 83.2, 91.1 (3rd cent. BCE - 2nd cent. BCE)
| 1.2. living in the day of tribulation, when all the wicked and godless are to be removed. And he took up his parable and said -Enoch a righteous man, whose eyes were opened by God, saw the vision of the Holy One in the heavens, which the angels showed me, and from them I heard everything, and from them I understood as I saw, but not for this generation, but for a remote one which i 13.6. eyes to heaven for shame of their sins for which they had been condemned. Then I wrote out their petition, and the prayer in regard to their spirits and their deeds individually and in regard to their 13.7. requests that they should have forgiveness and length. And I went off and sat down at the waters of Dan, in the land of Dan, to the south of the west of Hermon: I read their petition till I fell 13.8. asleep. And behold a dream came to me, and visions fell down upon me, and I saw visions of chastisement, and a voice came bidding (me) I to tell it to the sons of heaven, and reprimand them. 39.9. In those days I praised and extolled the name of the Lord of Spirits with blessings and praises, because He hath destined me for blessing and glory according to the good pleasure of the Lord of ' 39.12. generation unto generation. Those who sleep not bless Thee: they stand before Thy glory and bless, praise, and extol, saying: 'Holy, holy, holy, is the Lord of Spirits: He filleth the earth with spirits.' And here my eyes saw all those who sleep not: they stand before Him and bless and say: 'Blessed be Thou, and blessed be the name of the Lord for ever and ever.' And my face was changed; for I could no longer behold. 83.2. them before thee. Two visions I saw before I took a wife, and the one was quite unlike the other: the first when I was learning to write: the second before I took thy mother, (when) I saw a terrible 91.1. And now, my son Methuselah, call to me all thy brothers And gather together to me all the sons of thy mother; For the word calls me, And the spirit is poured out upon me, That I may show you everything That shall befall you for ever.' 91.1. And the righteous shall arise from their sleep, And wisdom shall arise and be given unto them. |
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4. Hebrew Bible, Daniel, 2.17-2.20, 9.2-9.19, 9.24-9.27 (2nd cent. BCE - 2nd cent. BCE)
| 2.17. אֱדַיִן דָּנִיֵּאל לְבַיְתֵהּ אֲזַל וְלַחֲנַנְיָה מִישָׁאֵל וַעֲזַרְיָה חַבְרוֹהִי מִלְּתָא הוֹדַע׃ 2.18. וְרַחֲמִין לְמִבְעֵא מִן־קֳדָם אֱלָהּ שְׁמַיָּא עַל־רָזָה דְּנָה דִּי לָא יְהֹבְדוּן דָּנִיֵּאל וְחַבְרוֹהִי עִם־שְׁאָר חַכִּימֵי בָבֶל׃ 2.19. אֱדַיִן לְדָנִיֵּאל בְּחֶזְוָא דִי־לֵילְיָא רָזָה גֲלִי אֱדַיִן דָּנִיֵּאל בָּרִךְ לֶאֱלָהּ שְׁמַיָּא׃ 9.2. בִּשְׁנַת אַחַת לְמָלְכוֹ אֲנִי דָּנִיֵּאל בִּינֹתִי בַּסְּפָרִים מִסְפַּר הַשָּׁנִים אֲשֶׁר הָיָה דְבַר־יְהוָה אֶל־יִרְמִיָה הַנָּבִיא לְמַלֹּאות לְחָרְבוֹת יְרוּשָׁלִַם שִׁבְעִים שָׁנָה׃ 9.2. וְעוֹד אֲנִי מְדַבֵּר וּמִתְפַּלֵּל וּמִתְוַדֶּה חַטָּאתִי וְחַטַּאת עַמִּי יִשְׂרָאֵל וּמַפִּיל תְּחִנָּתִי לִפְנֵי יְהוָה אֱלֹהַי עַל הַר־קֹדֶשׁ אֱלֹהָי׃ 9.3. וָאֶתְּנָה אֶת־פָּנַי אֶל־אֲדֹנָי הָאֱלֹהִים לְבַקֵּשׁ תְּפִלָּה וְתַחֲנוּנִים בְּצוֹם וְשַׂק וָאֵפֶר׃ 9.4. וָאֶתְפַּלְלָה לַיהוָה אֱלֹהַי וָאֶתְוַדֶּה וָאֹמְרָה אָנָּא אֲדֹנָי הָאֵל הַגָּדוֹל וְהַנּוֹרָא שֹׁמֵר הַבְּרִית וְהַחֶסֶד לְאֹהֲבָיו וּלְשֹׁמְרֵי מִצְוֺתָיו׃ 9.5. חָטָאנוּ וְעָוִינוּ והרשענו [הִרְשַׁעְנוּ] וּמָרָדְנוּ וְסוֹר מִמִּצְוֺתֶךָ וּמִמִּשְׁפָּטֶיךָ׃ 9.6. וְלֹא שָׁמַעְנוּ אֶל־עֲבָדֶיךָ הַנְּבִיאִים אֲשֶׁר דִּבְּרוּ בְּשִׁמְךָ אֶל־מְלָכֵינוּ שָׂרֵינוּ וַאֲבֹתֵינוּ וְאֶל כָּל־עַם הָאָרֶץ׃ 9.7. לְךָ אֲדֹנָי הַצְּדָקָה וְלָנוּ בֹּשֶׁת הַפָּנִים כַּיּוֹם הַזֶּה לְאִישׁ יְהוּדָה וּלְיוֹשְׁבֵי יְרוּשָׁלִַם וּלְכָל־יִשְׂרָאֵל הַקְּרֹבִים וְהָרְחֹקִים בְּכָל־הָאֲרָצוֹת אֲשֶׁר הִדַּחְתָּם שָׁם בְּמַעֲלָם אֲשֶׁר מָעֲלוּ־בָךְ׃ 9.8. יְהוָה לָנוּ בֹּשֶׁת הַפָּנִים לִמְלָכֵינוּ לְשָׂרֵינוּ וְלַאֲבֹתֵינוּ אֲשֶׁר חָטָאנוּ לָךְ׃ 9.9. לַאדֹנָי אֱלֹהֵינוּ הָרַחֲמִים וְהַסְּלִחוֹת כִּי מָרַדְנוּ בּוֹ׃ 9.11. וְכָל־יִשְׂרָאֵל עָבְרוּ אֶת־תּוֹרָתֶךָ וְסוֹר לְבִלְתִּי שְׁמוֹעַ בְּקֹלֶךָ וַתִּתַּךְ עָלֵינוּ הָאָלָה וְהַשְּׁבֻעָה אֲשֶׁר כְּתוּבָה בְּתוֹרַת מֹשֶׁה עֶבֶד־הָאֱלֹהִים כִּי חָטָאנוּ לוֹ׃ 9.12. וַיָּקֶם אֶת־דבריו [דְּבָרוֹ ] אֲשֶׁר־דִּבֶּר עָלֵינוּ וְעַל שֹׁפְטֵינוּ אֲשֶׁר שְׁפָטוּנוּ לְהָבִיא עָלֵינוּ רָעָה גְדֹלָה אֲשֶׁר לֹא־נֶעֶשְׂתָה תַּחַת כָּל־הַשָּׁמַיִם כַּאֲשֶׁר נֶעֶשְׂתָה בִּירוּשָׁלִָם׃ 9.13. כַּאֲשֶׁר כָּתוּב בְּתוֹרַת מֹשֶׁה אֵת כָּל־הָרָעָה הַזֹּאת בָּאָה עָלֵינוּ וְלֹא־חִלִּינוּ אֶת־פְּנֵי יְהוָה אֱלֹהֵינוּ לָשׁוּב מֵעֲוֺנֵנוּ וּלְהַשְׂכִּיל בַּאֲמִתֶּךָ׃ 9.14. וַיִּשְׁקֹד יְהוָה עַל־הָרָעָה וַיְבִיאֶהָ עָלֵינוּ כִּי־צַדִּיק יְהוָה אֱלֹהֵינוּ עַל־כָּל־מַעֲשָׂיו אֲשֶׁר עָשָׂה וְלֹא שָׁמַעְנוּ בְּקֹלוֹ׃ 9.15. וְעַתָּה אֲדֹנָי אֱלֹהֵינוּ אֲשֶׁר הוֹצֵאתָ אֶת־עַמְּךָ מֵאֶרֶץ מִצְרַיִם בְּיָד חֲזָקָה וַתַּעַשׂ־לְךָ שֵׁם כַּיּוֹם הַזֶּה חָטָאנוּ רָשָׁעְנוּ׃ 9.16. אֲדֹנָי כְּכָל־צִדְקֹתֶךָ יָשָׁב־נָא אַפְּךָ וַחֲמָתְךָ מֵעִירְךָ יְרוּשָׁלִַם הַר־קָדְשֶׁךָ כִּי בַחֲטָאֵינוּ וּבַעֲוֺנוֹת אֲבֹתֵינוּ יְרוּשָׁלִַם וְעַמְּךָ לְחֶרְפָּה לְכָל־סְבִיבֹתֵינוּ׃ 9.17. וְעַתָּה שְׁמַע אֱלֹהֵינוּ אֶל־תְּפִלַּת עַבְדְּךָ וְאֶל־תַּחֲנוּנָיו וְהָאֵר פָּנֶיךָ עַל־מִקְדָּשְׁךָ הַשָּׁמֵם לְמַעַן אֲדֹנָי׃ 9.18. הַטֵּה אֱלֹהַי אָזְנְךָ וּשֲׁמָע פקחה [פְּקַח] עֵינֶיךָ וּרְאֵה שֹׁמְמֹתֵינוּ וְהָעִיר אֲשֶׁר־נִקְרָא שִׁמְךָ עָלֶיהָ כִּי לֹא עַל־צִדְקֹתֵינוּ אֲנַחְנוּ מַפִּילִים תַּחֲנוּנֵינוּ לְפָנֶיךָ כִּי עַל־רַחֲמֶיךָ הָרַבִּים׃ 9.19. אֲדֹנָי שְׁמָעָה אֲדֹנָי סְלָחָה אֲדֹנָי הַקֲשִׁיבָה וַעֲשֵׂה אַל־תְּאַחַר לְמַעֲנְךָ אֱלֹהַי כִּי־שִׁמְךָ נִקְרָא עַל־עִירְךָ וְעַל־עַמֶּךָ׃ 9.24. שָׁבֻעִים שִׁבְעִים נֶחְתַּךְ עַל־עַמְּךָ וְעַל־עִיר קָדְשֶׁךָ לְכַלֵּא הַפֶּשַׁע ולחתם [וּלְהָתֵם] חטאות [חַטָּאת] וּלְכַפֵּר עָוֺן וּלְהָבִיא צֶדֶק עֹלָמִים וְלַחְתֹּם חָזוֹן וְנָבִיא וְלִמְשֹׁחַ קֹדֶשׁ קָדָשִׁים׃ 9.25. וְתֵדַע וְתַשְׂכֵּל מִן־מֹצָא דָבָר לְהָשִׁיב וְלִבְנוֹת יְרוּשָׁלִַם עַד־מָשִׁיחַ נָגִיד שָׁבֻעִים שִׁבְעָה וְשָׁבֻעִים שִׁשִּׁים וּשְׁנַיִם תָּשׁוּב וְנִבְנְתָה רְחוֹב וְחָרוּץ וּבְצוֹק הָעִתִּים׃ 9.26. וְאַחֲרֵי הַשָּׁבֻעִים שִׁשִּׁים וּשְׁנַיִם יִכָּרֵת מָשִׁיחַ וְאֵין לוֹ וְהָעִיר וְהַקֹּדֶשׁ יַשְׁחִית עַם נָגִיד הַבָּא וְקִצּוֹ בַשֶּׁטֶף וְעַד קֵץ מִלְחָמָה נֶחֱרֶצֶת שֹׁמֵמוֹת׃ 9.27. וְהִגְבִּיר בְּרִית לָרַבִּים שָׁבוּעַ אֶחָד וַחֲצִי הַשָּׁבוּעַ יַשְׁבִּית זֶבַח וּמִנְחָה וְעַל כְּנַף שִׁקּוּצִים מְשֹׁמֵם וְעַד־כָּלָה וְנֶחֱרָצָה תִּתַּךְ עַל־שֹׁמֵם׃ | 2.17. Then Daniel went to his house, and made the thing known to Haiah, Mishael, and Azariah, his companions;" 2.18. that they might ask mercy of the God of heaven concerning this secret; that Daniel and his companions should not perish with the rest of the wise men of Babylon." 2.19. Then was the secret revealed unto Daniel in a vision of the night. Then Daniel blessed the God of heaven." 2.20. Daniel spoke and said: Blessed be the name of God From everlasting even unto everlasting; For wisdom and might are His;" 9.2. in the first year of his reign I Daniel meditated in the books, over the number of the years, whereof the word of the LORD came to Jeremiah the prophet, that He would accomplish for the desolations of Jerusalem seventy years." 9.3. And I set my face unto the Lord God, to seek by prayer and supplications, with fasting, and sackcloth, and ashes." 9.4. And I prayed unto the LORD my God, and made confession, and said: ‘O Lord, the great and awful God, who keepest covet and mercy with them that love Thee and keep Thy commandments," 9.5. we have sinned, and have dealt iniquitously, and have done wickedly, and have rebelled, and have turned aside from Thy commandments and from Thine ordices;" 9.6. neither have we hearkened unto Thy servants the prophets, that spoke in Thy name to our kings, our princes, and our fathers, and to all the people of the land." 9.7. Unto Thee, O Lord, belongeth righteousness, but unto us confusion of face, as at this day; to the men of Judah, and to the inhabitants of Jerusalem, and unto all Israel, that are near, and that are far off, through all the countries whither Thou hast driven them, because they dealt treacherously with Thee." 9.8. O LORD, to us belongeth confusion of face, to our kings, to our princes, and to our fathers, because we have sinned against Thee." 9.9. To the Lord our God belong compassions and forgivenesses; for we have rebelled against Him;" 9.10. neither have we hearkened to the voice of the LORD our God, to walk in His laws, which He set before us by His servants the prophets. ." 9.11. Yea, all Israel have transgressed Thy law, and have turned aside, so as not to hearken to Thy voice; and so there hath been poured out upon us the curse and the oath that is written in the Law of Moses the servant of God; for we have sinned against Him." 9.12. And He hath confirmed His word, which He spoke against us, and against our judges that judged us, by bringing upon us a great evil; so that under the whole heaven hath not been done as hath been done upon Jerusalem." 9.13. As it is written in the Law of Moses, all this evil is come upon us; yet have we not entreated the favour of the LORD our God, that we might turn from our iniquities, and have discernment in Thy truth." 9.14. And so the LORD hath watched over the evil, and brought it upon us; for the LORD our God is righteous in all His works which He hath done, and we have not hearkened to His voice." 9.15. And now, O Lord our God, that hast brought Thy people forth out of the land of Egypt with a mighty hand, and hast gotten Thee renown, as at this day; we have sinned, we have done wickedly." 9.16. O Lord, according to all Thy righteousness, let Thine anger and Thy fury, I pray Thee, be turned away from Thy city Jerusalem, Thy holy mountain; because for our sins, and for the iniquities of our fathers, Jerusalem and Thy people are become a reproach to all that are about us." 9.17. Now therefore, O our God, hearken unto the prayer of Thy servant, and to his supplications, and cause Thy face to shine upon Thy sanctuary that is desolate, for the Lord’s sake." 9.18. O my God, incline Thine ear, and hear; open Thine eyes, and behold our desolations, and the city upon which Thy name is called; for we do not present our supplications before Thee because of our righteousness, but because of Thy great compassions." 9.19. O Lord, hear, O Lord, forgive, O Lord, attend and do, defer not; for Thine own sake, O my God, because Thy name is called upon Thy city and Thy people.’" 9.24. Seventy weeks are decreed upon thy people and upon thy holy city, to finish the transgression, and to make an end of sin, and to forgive iniquity, and to bring in everlasting righteousness, and to seal vision and prophet, and to anoint the most holy place." 9.25. Know therefore and discern, that from the going forth of the word to restore and to build Jerusalem unto one anointed, a prince, shall be seven weeks; and for threescore and two weeks, it shall be built again, with broad place and moat, but in troublous times." 9.26. And after the threescore and two weeks shall an anointed one be cut off, and be no more; and the people of a prince that shall come shall destroy the city and the sanctuary; but his end shall be with a flood; and unto the end of the war desolations are determined." 9.27. And he shall make a firm covet with many for one week; and for half of the week he shall cause the sacrifice and the offering to cease; and upon the wing of detestable things shall be that which causeth appalment; and that until the extermination wholly determined be poured out upon that which causeth appalment.’" |
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5. Anon., Sibylline Oracles, 3.1-3.7, 5.51 (1st cent. BCE - 5th cent. CE)
| 3.1. O THOU high-thundering blessed heavenly One 3.2. Who hast set in their place the cherubim 3.3. I, who have uttered what is all too true 3.4. Entreat thee, let me have a little rest; 3.5. 5 For my heart has grown weary from within. 3.6. But why again leaps my heart, and my soul 3.7. With a whip smitten from within constrained 5.51. By one another. Then a great destroyer |
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6. Anon., 2 Baruch, 5.5, 5.7, 6.2, 12.5, 21.1 (1st cent. CE - 2nd cent. CE)
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7. Babylonian Talmud, Megillah, None (3rd cent. CE - 6th cent. CE)
| 12a. תניא נמי הכי ועוד שנה אחרת לבבל ועמד דריוש והשלימה,אמר רבא אף דניאל טעה בהאי חושבנא דכתיב (דניאל ט, ב) בשנת אחת למלכו אני דניאל בינותי בספרים מדקאמר בינותי מכלל דטעה,מ"מ קשו קראי אהדדי כתיב (ירמיהו כט, י) מלאות לבבל וכתיב (דניאל ט, ב) לחרבות ירושלם,אמר רבא לפקידה בעלמא והיינו דכתיב (עזרא א, ב) כה אמר כורש מלך פרס כל ממלכות הארץ נתן לי ה' אלהי השמים והוא פקד עלי לבנות לו בית בירושלם,דרש רב נחמן בר רב חסדא מאי דכתיב (ישעיהו מה, א) כה אמר ה' למשיחו לכורש אשר החזקתי בימינו וכי כורש משיח היה אלא א"ל הקב"ה למשיח קובל אני לך על כורש אני אמרתי הוא יבנה ביתי ויקבץ גליותי והוא אמר (עזרא א, ג) מי בכם מכל עמו ויעל:,(אסתר א, ג) חיל פרס ומדי הפרתמים וכתיב למלכי מדי ופרס אמר רבא אתנויי אתנו בהדדי אי מינן מלכי מינייכו איפרכי ואי מינייכו מלכי מינן איפרכי,(שם, ד) בהראותו את עושר כבוד מלכותו א"ר יוסי בר חנינא מלמד שלבש בגדי כהונה כתיב הכא יקר תפארת גדולתו וכתיב התם (שמות כח, ב) לכבוד ולתפארת,(שם, ה) ובמלאות הימים האלה וגו' רב ושמואל חד אמר מלך פיקח היה וחד אמר מלך טיפש היה מאן דאמר מלך פיקח היה שפיר עבד דקריב רחיקא ברישא דבני מאתיה כל אימת דבעי מפייס להו ומאן דאמר טיפש היה דאיבעי ליה לקרובי בני מאתיה ברישא דאי מרדו ביה הנך הני הוו קיימי בהדיה,שאלו תלמידיו את רשב"י מפני מה נתחייבו שונאיהן של ישראל שבאותו הדור כליה אמר להם אמרו אתם אמרו לו מפני שנהנו מסעודתו של אותו רשע אם כן שבשושן יהרגו שבכל העולם כולו אל יהרגו אמרו לו אמור אתה אמר להם מפני שהשתחוו לצלם,אמרו לו וכי משוא פנים יש בדבר אמר להם הם לא עשו אלא לפנים אף הקב"ה לא עשה עמהן אלא לפנים והיינו דכתיב (איכה ג, לג) כי לא ענה מלבו:,(שם) בחצר גנת ביתן המלך רב ושמואל חד אמר הראוי לחצר לחצר הראוי לגינה לגינה הראוי לביתן לביתן וחד אמר הושיבן בחצר ולא החזיקתן בגינה ולא החזיקתן עד שהכניסן לביתן והחזיקתן במתניתא תנא הושיבן בחצר ופתח להם שני פתחים אחד לגינה ואחד לביתן,(שם, ו) חור כרפס ותכלת מאי חור רב אמר חרי חרי ושמואל אמר מילת לבנה הציע להם כרפס אמר ר' יוסי בר חנינא כרים של פסים,על גלילי כסף ועמודי שש מטות זהב וכסף תניא ר' יהודה אומר הראוי לכסף לכסף הראוי לזהב לזהב אמר לו ר' נחמיה א"כ אתה מטיל קנאה בסעודה אלא הם של כסף ורגליהן של זהב,בהט ושש א"ר אסי אבנים שמתחוטטות על בעליהן וכן הוא אומר (זכריה ט, טז) אבני נזר מתנוססות על אדמתו,ודר וסוחרת רב אמר דרי דרי ושמואל אמר אבן טובה יש בכרכי הים ודרה שמה הושיבה באמצע סעודה ומאירה להם כצהרים דבי רבי ישמעאל תנא שקרא דרור לכל בעלי סחורה,(שם, ז) והשקות בכלי זהב וכלים מכלים שונים משונים מיבעי ליה אמר רבא יצתה בת קול ואמרה להם ראשונים כלו מפני כלים ואתם שונים בהם ויין מלכות רב אמר רב מלמד שכל אחד ואחד השקהו יין שגדול הימנו בשנים,(שם, ח) והשתיה כדת (אין אונס) מאי כדת א"ר חנן משום ר"מ כדת של תורה מה דת של תורה אכילה מרובה משתיה אף סעודתו של אותו רשע אכילה מרובה משתיה,אין אונס אמר רבי אלעזר מלמד שכל אחד ואחד השקהו מיין מדינתו לעשות כרצון איש ואיש אמר רבא לעשות כרצון מרדכי והמן, מרדכי דכתיב איש יהודי המן איש צר ואויב,(שם, ט) גם ושתי המלכה עשתה משתה נשים בית המלכות בית הנשים מיבעי ליה אמר רבא שניהן לדבר עבירה נתכוונו היינו דאמרי אינשי איהו בקרי ואתתיה | 12a. bThis is also taughtin a ibaraita /i, as an indication that the years counted were only partial years: bAndwhen Belshazzar was killed, bthere was still another yearleft bfor Babyloniabefore the reckoning of the seventy years was completed. bAndthen bDarius arose and completed it.Although seventy years were previously counted according to Belshazzar’s count, from the exile of Jehoiakim, because the years were only partial, there was still one year left in order to complete those seventy years., bRava said: Daniel also erred in this calculation, as it is written: “In the first year of his reign, I, Daniel, meditated in the booksover the number of the years, whereof the word of the Lord came to Jeremiah the prophet, that He would accomplish for the desolations of Jerusalem seventy years” (Daniel 9:2). bFromthe fact bthat he said “I meditated,”a term indicating recounting and calculating, bit can be inferred that he hadpreviously berred. /b,The Gemara comments: bIn any case, the verses contradict each otherwith regard to how the seventy years should be calculated. In one verse bit is written:“After seventy years bare accomplished for BabyloniaI will remember [ iefkod /i] you, and perform My good word toward you, in causing you to return to this place” (Jeremiah 29:10), which indicates that the seventy years should be counted from the Babylonian exile. bAndin another verse bit is written:“That he would accomplish bfor the desolations of Jerusalemseventy years” (Daniel 9:2), indicating that the seventy years are calculated from the destruction of Jerusalem., bRava saidin response: The seventy years that “are accomplished for Babylonia” were bonly for being remembered [ ilifekida /i],as mentioned in the verse, allowing the Jews to return to Eretz Yisrael but not to build the Temple. bAnd this is as it is writtenwith regard to Cyrus’s proclamation permitting the Jewish people’s return to Eretz Yisrael, in the seventieth year of the Babylonian exile: b“Thus says Cyrus king of Persia: The Lord, God of heaven, has given me all the kingdoms of the earth; and He has charged [ ipakad /i] me to build Him a house in Jerusalem”(Ezra 1:2). The verse makes use of the same root, ipeh-kuf-dalet /i, heralding the return to Jerusalem to build the Temple, but not its actual completion.,Apropos its mention of Cyrus, the Gemara states that bRav Naḥman bar Rav Ḥisda interpreted homileticallya verse concerning Cyrus: bWhat isthe meaning of that bwhich is written: “Thus says the Lord to His anointed, to Cyrus, whose right hand I have held”(Isaiah 45:1), which seemingly is referring to Cyrus as God’s anointed? bNow was CyrusGod’s anointed one, i.e., the bMessiah,that the verse should refer to him in this manner? bRather,the verse should be understood as God speaking to the Messiah with regard to Cyrus: bThe Holy One, Blessed be He, said to the Messiah: I am complaining to you about Cyrus,who is not acting in accordance with what he is intended to do. bI had said: “He shall build My House and gather My exiles”(see Isaiah 45:13), but he did not carry this out. bRather, he said: “Whoever is among you of all His people…let him go upto Jerusalem” (Ezra 1:3). He gave permission to return to Israel, but he did no more than that.,§ The Gemara returns to its interpretations of verses in the Megilla. The Megilla mentions that among those invited to the king’s feast were: b“The army of Persia and Media, the noblesand princes of the provinces” (Esther 1:3), band it is writtennear the conclusion of the Megilla: “In the book of chronicles bof the kings of Media and Persia”(Esther 10:2). Why is Persia mentioned first at the beginning of the Megilla, while later in the Megilla, Media is mentioned first? bRava saidin response: These two peoples, the Persians and the Medes, bstipulated with each other,saying: bIf the kingswill come bfrom us, the ministerswill come bfrom you; and if the kingswill come bfrom you, the ministerswill come bfrom us.Therefore, in reference to kings, Media is mentioned first, whereas in connection with nobles and princes, Persia is given priority.,The verse states: b“When he showed the riches of his glorious [ ikevod /i] kingdomand the honor of his majestic [ itiferet /i] greatness” (Esther 1:4). bRabbi Yosei bar Ḥanina said: This teaches thatAhasuerus bwore the priestly vestments.Proof for this assertion may be adduced from the fact that the same terms are written with regard to the priestly vestments, as bit is written here:“The riches of his glorious [ ikevod /i] kingdom and bthe honor of his majestic [ itiferet /i] greatness.” And it is written there,with regard to the priestly garments: b“For glory [ ikavod /i] and for majesty [ itiferet /i]”(Exodus 28:2).,The verse states: b“And when these days were fulfilled,the king made a feast for all the people that were present in Shushan the capital” (Esther 1:5). bRav and Shmueldisagreed as to whether this was a wise decision. bOne said:Ahasuerus arranged a feast for the residents of Shushan, the capital, after the feast for foreign dignitaries that preceded it, as mentioned in the earlier verses, indicating that bhe was a clever king. Andthe other bone said:It is precisely this that indicates that bhe was a foolish king. The one who saidthat this proves that bhe was a clever kingmaintains bthat he acted well when he first brought close thosemore bdistantsubjects by inviting them to the earlier celebration, bas he could appease the residents of hisown bcity whenever he wished. And the one who saidthat bhe was foolishmaintains bthat he should have invited the residents of his city first, so that if thosefaraway subjects brebelled against him, thesewho lived close by bwould have stood with him. /b, bThe students of Rabbi Shimon bar Yoḥai asked him: For whatreason bwere the enemies of Jewish people,a euphemism for the Jewish people themselves when exhibiting behavior that is not in their best interests, bin that generation deserving of annihilation? He,Rabbi Shimon, bsaid to them: Saythe answer to your question byourselves. They said to him: It is because they partook of the feast of that wicked one,Ahasuerus, and they partook there of forbidden foods. Rabbi Shimon responded: bIf so, those in Shushan should have been killedas punishment, but bthose in the rest of the world,who did not participate in the feast, bshould not have been killed. They said to him:Then byou sayyour response to our question. bHe said to them: It is because they prostrated before the idolthat Nebuchadnezzar had made, as is recorded that the entire world bowed down before it, except for Haiah, Mishael, and Azariah., bThey said to him:But if it is true that they worshipped idols and therefore deserved to be destroyed, why was a miracle performed on their behalf? bIs there favoritismexpressed by God bhere? He said to them: They did notreally worship the idol, but pretended to bdoso bonly for appearance,acting as if they were carrying out the king’s command to bow before the idol. bSo too, the Holy One, Blessed be He, did notdestroy them but bdidact angry bwith them only for appearance.He too merely pretended to desire to destroy them, as all He did was issue a threat, but in the end the decree was annulled. bAnd this is as it is written: “For He does not afflict from His heartwillingly” (Lamentations 3:33), but only for appearances’ sake.,The verse states: b“In the court of the garden of the king’s palace”(Esther 1:5). bRav and Shmueldisagreed with regard to how to understand the relationship between these three places: Court, garden, and palace: bOne said:The guests were received in different places. bOnewho, according to his stature, was bfit for the courtyardwas brought bto the courtyard; onewho was bfit for the gardenwas brought bto the garden;and bonewho was bfit for the palacewas brought bto the palace. Andthe other bone said: Hefirst bsat them in the courtyard, but it did not hold them,as they were too numerous. He then sat them bin the garden, but it did not hold themeither, buntil he brought them into the palace and it held them.A third understanding bwas taught in a ibaraita /i: He sat them in the courtyard and opened two entranceways for them, one to the garden and one to the palace. /b,The verse states: “There were hangings of iḥur /i, ikarpas /i, and sky blue”(Esther 1:6). The Gemara asks: bWhat is iḥur /i? Rav said:A fabric fashioned with bmany holes [ iḥarei ḥarei /i],similar to lace. bAnd Shmuel said: He spread out for themcarpets of bwhite wool,as the word iḥavarmeans white. And what is ikarpas /i? Rabbi Yosei bar Ḥanina said: Cushions [ ikarim /i] of velvet [ ipasim /i]. /b,The verse states: b“On silver rods and pillars of marble; the couches were of gold and silver”(Esther 1:6). bIt is taughtin a ibaraita /i: bRabbi Yehuda says:Some couches were of gold and others of silver. bOnewho, according to his stature, was bfit for silversat on a couch of bsilver,and bonewho was bfit for goldsat on one of bgold. Rabbi Neḥemya said to him:This was not done. bIf so, youwould bcast jealousy into the feast,for the guests would be envious of each other. bRather,the couches bthemselveswere made bof silver, and their feetwere made bof gold. /b,The verse continues: “Upon a pavement of ibahatand marble”(Esther 1:6). bRabbi Asi saidwith regard to the definition of ibahat /i: These are bstones that ingratiate themselves with their owners,as they are precious stones that people are willing to spend large amounts of money to acquire. bAnd similarly, it stateselsewhere that the Jewish people will be likened to precious stones: “And the Lord their God shall save them in that day as the flock of His people; for they shall be as b“the stones of a crown, glittering over His land”(Zechariah 9:16).,The verse concludes: b“And idarand isoḥaret /i”(Esther 1:6). bRav said: iDarmeans bmany rows [ idarei darei /i]around. Similarly, isoḥaretis derived from iseḥor seḥor /i, around and around, meaning that the floor was surrounded with numerous rows of ibahatand marble stones. bAnd Shmuel said:There is ba precious stone in the seaports, and its name is idara /i,and Ahasuerus bplaced it in the center ofthe bfeast, and it illuminatedthe festivities bfor them asthe sun illuminates the world bat midday.He explains that the word isoḥaretis derived from itzohar /i, a light. A scholar from bthe school of Rabbi Yishmael taughta ibaraita /i: This means bthat he proclaimed a remission for all the merchants,absolving them from paying their taxes, understanding that the word idarderives from ideror /i, freedom, and isoḥaretfrom isoḥer /i, merchant.,The verse states: b“And they gave them drink in vessels of gold, the vessels being diverse [ ishonim /i] from one another”(Esther 1:7). The Gemara asks: Why does the verse use the term ishonimto express that they are different? bIt should have saidthe more proper term imeshunim /i. Rava said: A Divine Voice issued forth and said to them: The early ones,referring to Belshazzar and his people, bwere destroyed becausethey used bthese vessels,the vessels of the Temple, bandyet byou use them again [ ishonim /i]?The verse continues: b“And royal wine in abundance [ irav /i]”(Esther 1:7). bRav said: This teaches that each and everyguest at the feast bwas pouredwell-aged bwine that was older [ irav /i] than himself in years. /b,The verse states: b“And the drinking was according to the law; none did compel”(Esther 1:8). The Gemara asks: bWhat isthe meaning of b“according to the law”? Rabbi Ḥa said in the name of Rabbi Meir:The drinking was baccording to the law of the Torah. Just as,according to bthe law of the Torah,with regard to offerings, bthe foodsacrificed on the altar bis greaterin quantity bthan the drink,for the wine libation is quantitatively much smaller than the sacrificial offerings it accompanies, bso too,at the bfeast of that wicked man, the food was greaterin quantity bthan the drink. /b,The verse states: b“None did compel”(Esther 1:8). bRabbi Elazar said: This teaches that each and everyguest at the feast bwas poureda drink bfrom wine of hisown bcountry,so that he would feel entirely free, as if he were in his home country. The verse continues: b“That they should do according to every man’s pleasure”(Esther 1:8). bRavacommented on the literal meaning of the verse, which is referring to two men, a man and a man [ iish va’ish /i], and bsaid:The man and man whom they should follow indicates bthat they should do according to the wishes of Mordecai and Haman.The two of them served as butlers at the feast, and they were in charge of distributing the wine. Why is the verse interpreted in this way? bMordecaiis called “man,” bas it is written:“There was a certain bJewish man [ iish /i]in Shushan the castle, whose name was Mordecai, the son of Jair” (Esther 2:5). bAnd Hamanis also called man, as it states: b“A man [ iish /i] who is an adversary and an enemy,this evil Haman” (Esther 7:6).,The verse states: b“Also Vashti the queen made a feast for the women, in the royal house,which belonged to King Ahasuerus” (Esther 1:9). The Gemara questions why she held the feast in the royal house, a place of men, rather than in bthe women’s house,where it bshould have been. Rava saidin response: bThe two of them had sinful intentions.Ahasuerus wished to fornicate with the women, and Vashti wished to fornicate with the men. bThisexplains the folk saying bthat people say: He with pumpkins and his wife /b |
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8. Anon., 4 Ezra, 1.24
| 1.24. What shall I do to you, O Jacob? You would not obey me, O Judah. I will turn to other nations and will give them my name, that they may keep my statutes. |
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9. Anon., Apocalypse of Abraham, 12.1-12.2
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10. Anon., 4 Baruch, 4.11, 6.7-6.16
| 4.11. When he had said this, Baruch departed from the city, weeping andsaying: Grieving because of you, Jerusalem, I went out from you. 6.7. Revive in your tabernacle, in your virginal faith, and believe that you will live! 6.8. Look at this basket of figs -- for behold, they are 66 years old and have not become shrivelled or rotten, but they are dripping milk. 6.9. So it will be with you, my flesh, if you do what is commanded you by the angel of righteousness. 6.10. He who preserved the basket of figs, the same will again preserve you by his power. 6.11. When Baruch had said this, he said to Abimelech: Stand up and let us pray that the Lord may make known to us how we shall be able to send to Jeremiah in Babylon the report about the shelter provided for you on the way. 6.12. And Baruch prayed, saying: Lord God, our strength is the elect light which comes forth from your mouth. 6.13. We beseech and beg of your goodness -- you whose great name no one is able to know -- hear the voice of your servants and let knowledge come into our hearts. 6.13. These, then, are the words which the Lord, the God of Israel, spoke, who led us out of Egypt, out of the great furnace: Because you did not keep my ordices, but your heart was lifted up, and you were haughty before me, in anger and wrath I delivered you to the furnace in Babylon. 6.14. What shall we do, and how shall we send this report to Jeremiah in Babylon? 6.15. And while Baruch was still praying, behold an angel of the Lord cameand said all these words to Baruch: Agent of the light, do not be anxious about how you will send to Jeremiah; for an eagle is coming to you at the hour of light tomorrow, and you will direct him to Jeremiah. 6.16. Therefore, write in a letter: Say to the children of Israel: Let the stranger who comes among you be set apart and let 15 days go by; and after this I will lead you into your city, says the Lord. |
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