Opening materialMishnah 12 (מִשְׁנָה י״ב)

Mishnah 12 (מִשְׁנָה י״ב)

And furthermore, twelve precious stones (וְעוֹד י״ב אֲבָנִים טוֹבוֹת), in the hand of Chilak son of Shimmur the Levi (בְּיַד חִילֵק בֶּן שִׁמּוּר הַלֵּוִי), were entrusted into his hand to conceal them and to return them to the tribes (נִמְסְרוּ בְיָדוֹ לְהַצְנִיעָם וּלְהַחֲזִירָם לַשְּׁבָטִים), upon which the names of the tribes were engraved (שֶׁהָיוּ שֵׁמוֹת הַשְּׁבָטִים חֲקוּקִים עֲלֵיהֶם). And they would shine upon the heads of the tribes (שֶׁהָיוּ מֵאִירוֹת עַל רָאשֵׁי הַשְּׁבָטִים). Each one was superior and more precious than the other in value (מְעוּלוֹת וִיקָרִים דְּמֵיהֶן זוֹ מִזּוֹ). And neither king, nor prophet, nor man knew in what place they were concealed, except for Chilak son of Shimmur the Levi (וְאֵלוּ מֶלֶךְ וְנָבִיא וְאִישׁ לֹא יָדַע בְּאֵיזֶה מָקוֹם נִגְנְזוּ, אֶלָּא חִילֵק בֶּן שִׁמּוּר הַלֵּוִי). And the rest of the wealth and the honor that was in Jerusalem (וְשְׁאָר הָעוֹשֶׁר וְהַכָּבוֹד שֶׁהָיָה בִּירוּשָׁלַיִם), Shamsi’el the angel took (לָקַח אוֹתוֹ שַׁמְשִׁיאֵ״ל הַמַּלְאָךְ). And Shimmur and Chilak, their companions the Levi’im, returned and showed it to Mikha’el and Gavri’el (וְחָזְרוּ וְהִרְאוּ אוֹתוֹ שִׁמּוּר וְחִילֵק חֲבֵרֵיהֶם הַלְוִיִּם לְמִיכָאֵל וּגְבַרְאֵל). And all Israel concealed the vessels (וְכָל יִשְׂרָאֵל הֶחְבִּיאוּ הַכֵּלִים), until the King of Righteousness shall arise for Israel (עַד שֶׁיָּקוּם מֶלֶךְ צֶדֶק לְיִשְׂרָאֵל). And not only this, but they swore a great oath, both these and those (וְלֹא עוֹד אֶלָּא שֶׁנִּשְׁבְּעוּ שְׁבוּעָה גְּדוֹלָה אֵלּוּ וְאֵלּוּ), that they will not reveal these vessels until David ben David shall arise (שֶׁלֹּא יְגַלּוּ הַכֵּלִים הָאֵלֶּה עַד שֶׁיָּקוּם דָּוִד בֶּן דָּוִד). And they will deliver into his hand all the silver and the gold and the pearls which they had concealed (וִימְסְרוּ בְיָדוֹ כָּל כֶּסֶף וְהַזָּהָב וּמַרְגָּלִיּוֹת שֶׁהִטְמִינוּ). At the time when the exiles of Israel will be gathered from the four corners of the world (בַּשָּׁעָה שֶׁיִּתְקַבְּצוּ גָּלוּיוֹתֵיהֶם שֶׁל יִשְׂרָאֵל מִד׳ רוּחוֹת הָעוֹלָם), and they will ascend with greatness and great exaltation to the Land of Israel (וְיַעֲלוּ בִגְדוּלָּה וּמַעֲלָה גְּדוֹלָה עַל אֶרֶץ יִשְׂרָאֵל). And at that time a great river will go forth from the House of the Holy of Holies (וּבָעֵת הַהִיא יֵצֵא נָהָר גָּדוֹל מִבֵּית קֹדֶשׁ הַקֳּדָשִׁים), its name is Gichon (שְׁמוֹ גִּיחוֹן), and it will sweep forth until the great and fearful desert (וְיִשְׁטֹף עַד הַמִּדְבָּר הַגָּדוֹל וְהַנּוֹרָא). And it will mingle with the river Perat (וְיִתְעָרֵב בְּנַהֲר פְּרָת). And immediately all the vessels will ascend and be revealed (וּמִיָּד יַעֲלוּ וְיִתְגַּלּוּ כָּל הַכֵּלִים).

The Mishnayot are concluded (סָלִיק הַמִּשְׁנָיוֹת)