Daf 114a (דַּף קי״ד ע״א)

Come and see (תָּא חֲזֵי), at the time when Yisrael are found meritorious before Kudsha Berikh Hu (בְּשַׁעֲתָא דְּאִשְׁתְּכָחוּ יִשְׂרָאֵל זַכָּאִין קַמֵּי קוּדְשָׁא בְּרִיךְ הוּא), what is written: And I will give peace in the land (מַה כְּתִיב, וְנָתַתִּי שָׁלוֹם בָּאָרֶץ). This is above (הַאי לְעֵילָּא). That Kudsha Berikh Hu comes to join with Kenesset Yisrael (דְּאָתֵי קוּדְשָׁא בְּרִיךְ הוּא לְאִתְחַבְּרָא בִּכְנֶסֶת יִשְׂרָאֵל). Then: And you shall lie down and none shall make you afraid (כְּדֵין וּשְׁכַבְתֶּם וְאֵין מַחֲרִיד). What is the reason? (מַאי טַעֲמָא).

Because: And I will cause the evil beast to cease from the land (בְּגִין וְהִשְׁבַּתִּי חַיָּה רָעָה מִן הָאָרֶץ). This is the beast of evil kinds below (דָּא חַיָּה דְּזִינָא בִּישָׁא לְתַתָּא). And what is it? It is Iggaret daughter of Maḥalat, she and all her company (וּמַאי אִיהִי. אִגֶּרֶת בַּת מַחֲלַת, הִיא, וְכָל סִיעָתָא דִּילָהּ). This is at night (הַאי בְּלֵילְיָא). By day-men who come from this side, this is what is written: (Leviticus 26) And a sword shall not pass through your land (בִּימָמָא, בְּנֵי נָשָׁא דְּאָתוּ מִסִּטְרָהָא דָּא, הֲדָא הוּא דִכְתִיב וְחֶרֶב לֹא תַעֲבוֹר בְּאַרְצְכֶם).

Rabbi Abba said (רִבִּי אַבָּא אָמַר), this has been established, that even a sword of peace, like Pharaoh Necho (הָא אוּקְמוּהָ דֲּאֲפִילּוּ חֶרֶב שֶׁל שָׁלוֹם, כְּגוֹן פַּרְעֹה נְכֹה). But: And a sword shall not pass-this is her company (אֲבָל וְחֶרֶב לֹא תַעֲבוֹר, דָּא סִיעָתָא דִּילָהּ). And I will cause the evil beast to cease-that it shall not rule in the land (וְהִשְׁבַּתִּי חַיָּה רָעָה, דְּלָא תִּשְׁלוֹט בְּאַרְעָא). And even transgression in the world shall not pass upon you (וַאֲפִילּוּ הַעֲבָרָה בְּעָלְמָא לֹא תַעֲבוֹר עָלַיְיכוּ). And even the sword of other nations, and even a man armed, shall not pass over you (וַאֲפִילּוּ חֶרֶב דִּשְׁאָר עַמִּין, וַאֲפִילּוּ בַּר נָשׁ מִזְיָינָא, לָא יַעֲבוֹר עָלַיְיכוּ). And this is what King Yoshiyahu expounded (וְדָא דָּרִישׁ יֹאשִׁיָּהוּ מַלְכָּא), and it has been established that he was seized in the sins of Yisrael (וְאוֹקְמוּהָ דְּהוּא אַתְפַּס בְּחוֹבַיְיהוּ דְּיִשְׂרָאֵל). As it is written: (Lamentations 4) The breath of our nostrils, the anointed of Hashem, was captured in their pits, etc. (כְּמָה דִּכְתִיב רוּחַ אַפֵּינוּ מְשִׁיחַ יְיָ נִלְכַּד בִּשְׁחִיתוֹתָם וְגוֹ׳).

Here it is to be looked at (הָכָא אִית לְאִסְתַּכְּלָא): for we have learned, if the head of the people is good, all the people are saved on his account (דְּהָא תָּנֵינָן אִי רֵישָׁא דְּעַמָּא הוּא טַב, כָּל עַמָּא מִשְׁתֶּזְבָן בְּגִינֵיהּ). And if the head of the people is not bound, all the people are seized in his sin (וְאִי רֵישָׁא דְּעַמָּא לָא אִתְכֵּשָׁר, כָּל עַמָּא אִתָּפְסָן בְּחוֹבֵיהּ). And behold Yoshiyahu was a fitting head, and his deeds were upright (וְהָא יֹאשִׁיָּהוּ רֵישָׁא דְּכַשְׁרָא הֲוָה, וְעוֹבָדוֹי מִתְכַּשְּׁרָן). Why then was he seized in the sins of Yisrael? (אֲמַאי אִתְפַּס בְּחוֹבֵיהוֹן דְּיִשְׂרָאֵל).

Rather, because he did not believe in Yirmiyahu (אֶלָּא עַל דְּלָא הַיְּמִין בֵּיהּ בְּיִרְמִיָהוּ), and he did not force Yisrael, for he thought that all were meritorious like him (וְלָא כָּפִית לְהוּ לְיִשְׂרָאֵל, דְּחָשִׁיב דְּכֻלְּהוּ זַכָּאִין כְּוָותֵיהּ). And Yirmiyahu would say to him, and he did not believe in him (וַהֲוָה אָמַר לֵיהּ יִרְמִיָּה, וְלָא הַיְּמִין בֵּיהּ). And because of this he was seized in their sins (וּבְגִין כָּךְ אִתְפַּס בְּחוֹבֵיהוֹן). And further, because the moon was diminishing its light and was about to be darkened (וְעוֹד דְּסִיהֲרָא הֲוָה מָאִיךְ נְהוֹרָא, וּבַעְיָא לְאַסְתְּמָא). (Leviticus 26) And I will set My dwelling among you, etc. (וִיקְרָא כ״ו וְנָתַתִּי מִשְׁכָּנִי בְּתוֹכְכֶם וְגוֹ׳). And I will set My dwelling-this is the Shekhinah (וְנָתַתִּי מִשְׁכָּנִי, דָּא שְׁכִינְתָּא). My dwelling-My pledge (מִשְׁכָּנִי: מַשְׁכּוֹנָא דִּילִי). For she was pledged in the sins of Yisrael (דְּהִיא אִתְמַשְׁכְּנָא בְּחוֹבַיְיהוּ דְּיִשְׂרָאֵל). And I will set My dwelling-My pledge indeed (וְנָתַתִּי מִשְׁכָּנִי, מַשְׁכּוֹנִי וַדַּאי).

It is like a man who loved another (מְתַל לְבַּר נָשׁ דְּהֲוָה רְחִימָא לְאָחֳרָא), and said to him: surely with the great love that I have for you, I wish to dwell with you (אָמַר לֵיהּ וַדַּאי בִּרְחִימוּתָא עִלָּאָה דְּאִית לִי גַּבָּךְ, בָּעֵינָא לְדַיְּירָא עִמָּךְ). He said: how will I know that you will dwell with me? (אָמַר הֵיךְ אֶנְדַּע דְּתֵידוּר גַּבַּאי). He took all the treasures of his house and brought them to him (נָטַל כָּל כִּסּוּפָא דְּבֵיתֵיהּ, וְאַיְיתֵי לְגַבֵּיהּ). He said: here is a pledge with you, that I will never be separated from you (אָמַר הָא מַשְׁכּוֹנָא לְגַבָּךְ, דְּלָא אִתְפְּרַשׁ מִנָךְ לְעָלְמִין). So Kudsha Berikh Hu desired to dwell with Yisrael (כַּךְ קוּדְשָׁא בְּרִיךְ הוּא, בָּעָא לְדַיְּירָא בְּהוּ בְּיִשְׂרָאֵל). What did He do? He took His treasures and descended to Yisrael (מָה עֲבַד, נָטַל כִּסּוּפָא דִּילֵיהּ, וְנָחִית לְהוּ לְיִשְׂרָאֵל). He said to them: Yisrael, here is My pledge with you, so that I will never be separated from you (אָמַר לוֹן, יִשְׂרָאֵל, הָא מַשְׁכּוֹנָא דִּילִי גַּבַּיְיכוּ, בְּגִין דְּלָא אִתְפְּרַשׁ מִנַּיְיכוּ לְעָלְמִין). And even though Kudsha Berikh Hu distanced Himself from us (וְאַף עַל גַּב דְּקוּדְשָׁא בְּרִיךְ הוּא אִתְרְחִיק מִינָן), He left His pledge in our hand (מַשְׁכּוֹנָא שָׁבִיק בִּידָן). And we guard that treasure of His (וַאֲנָן נַטְרִין הַהוּא כִּסּוּפָא דִּילֵיהּ).

Whoever desires His pledge comes that He may dwell with us (מַאן דְּיִבְעֵי מַשְׁכּוֹנֵיהּ יֵיתֵי לְדַיְּירָא גַּבָּן). Because of this it is written: And I will set My dwelling among you-a pledge I will give into your hands, so that I may dwell with you (בְּגִין כָּךְ וְנָתַתִּי מִשְׁכָּנִי בְּתוֹכְכֶם, מַשְׁכּוֹנָא אֶתֵּן בִּידַיְיכוּ, בְּגִין דְּאֵדּוּר עִמְּכוֹן). And even though Yisrael are now in exile (וְאַף עַל גַּב דְּיִשְׂרָאֵל הַשְׁתָּא בְּגָלוּתָא), the pledge of Kudsha Berikh Hu is with them, and they have never left Him (מַשְׁכּוֹנָא דְּקוּדְשָׁא בְּרִיךְ הוּא, הוּא גַּבַּיְיהוּ, וְלָא שָׁבְקוּ לֵיהּ לְעָלְמִין). And My soul shall not abhor you (וְלֹא תִגְעַל נַפְשִׁי אֶתְכֶם), like a man who loves his friend and desires to dwell with him (לְבַּר נָשׁ דְּרָחִים לְחַבְרֵיהּ, וּבָעָא לְדַיְּירָא עִמֵּיהּ). What does he do? He takes his bed and brings it into his friend’s house (מַה עֲבַד, נָטַל עַרְסָא דִּילֵיהּ וְאַיְיתִי לְבֵיתֵיהּ).

He says: this is my bed in your house, so that I may not be far from you, your bed and your vessels (אָמַר דָּא עַרְסָא דִּילִי בְּבֵיתָיךְ, בְּגִין דְּלָא אַרְחִיק מִינָךְ, עַרְסָךְ, וּמָאנָךְ). So Kudsha Berikh Hu said (כַּךְ קוּדְשָׁא בְּרִיךְ הוּא אָמַר): And I will set My dwelling among you, and My soul shall not abhor you (וְנָתַתִּי מִשְׁכָּנִי בְּתוֹכְכֶם וְלֹא תִגְעַל נַפְשִׁי אֶתְכֶם). Behold, My bed is in your houses (הָא עַרְסָא דִּילִי בְּבֵיתַיְיכוּ). Since My bed is with you, you shall know that I have not separated from you, and because of this: And My soul shall not abhor you (כֵּיוָן דְּעַרְסָא דִּילִי עִמְּכוֹן, תִּנְדְּעוּן דְּלָא אִתְפְּרַשׁ מִנַּיְיכוּ, וּבְגִין כָּךְ וְלֹא תִגְעַל נַפְשִׁי אֶתְכֶם). (Leviticus 26) And I will walk among you, and I will be your God (וִיקְרָא כו וְהִתְהַלַּכְתִּי בְּתוֹכְכֶם וְהָיִיתִי לָכֶם לֵאלֹהִים). Since My dwelling is with you, surely you will know that I go with you (כֵּיוָן דְּמַשְׁכְּנָא דִּילִי גַּבַּיְיכוּ, בְּוַדַּאי תִּנְדְּעוּן דַּאֲנָא אָזִיל עִמָּכוֹן). As it is said: (Deuteronomy 23) For Hashem your God walks in the midst of your camp, to save you and to give your enemies before you, and your camp shall be holy (כְּמָה דְאַתְּ אָמֵר דְּבָרִים כג כִּי יְיָ אֱלֹהֶיךָ מִתְהַלֵּךְ בְּקֶרֶב מַחֲנֶיךָ לְהַצִּילְךָ וְלָתֵת אוֹיְבֶיךָ לְפָנֶיךָ וְהָיָה מַחֲנֶיךָ קָדוֹשׁ).

Rabbi Yitzḥak and Rabbi Yehudah were staying one night in a village near the sea of Tiverya (רִבִּי יִצְחָק וְרִבִּי יְהוּדָה, הֲווֹ שְׁכִיחֵי לֵילְיָא חַד בִּכְפַר קָרִיב לְיַמָּא דִּטְבֶרְיָא). They arose at midnight (קָמוּ בְּפַלְגוּת לֵילְיָא). Rabbi Yitzḥak said to Rabbi Yehudah (אָמַר רִבִּי יִצְחָק לְרִבִּי יְהוּדָה): let us speak in words of Orayta, for even though we are in this place, I do not desire to be separated from the Tree of Life (נֵימָא בְּמִלֵּי דְּאוֹרַיְיתָא דְּאַף עַל גַּב דַּאֲנָן בַּאֲתַר דָּא, לָא בָּעֵינָא לְאִתְפָּרְשָׁא מֵאִילָנָא דְּחַיֵּי).

Rabbi Yehudah opened and said (פָּתַח רִבִּי יְהוּדָה וְאָמַר): (Exodus 33) And Moshe took the tent and pitched it outside the camp, etc. (שְׁמוֹת לג וּמֹשֶׁה יִקַּח אֶת הָאֹהֶל וְנָטָה לוֹ מִחוּץ לַמַּחֲנֶה וְגוֹ׳). And Moshe took the tent-why? (וּמֹשֶׁה יִקַּח אֶת הָאֹהֶל, אֲמַאי). Rather, Moshe said: since Yisrael have denied Kudsha Berikh Hu and exchanged His glory (אֶלָּא אָמַר מֹשֶׁה, הוֹאִיל וְיִשְׂרָאֵל קָא מְשַׁקְּרֵי בֵּיהּ בְּקוּדְשָׁא בְּרִיךְ הוּא, וְאַחְלִיפוּ יְקָרָא דִּילֵיהּ), behold, His pledge shall be in the hand of the faithful one, until we see with whom it will remain (הָא מַשְׁכּוֹנָא דִּילֵיהּ יְהֵא בִּידָא דִּמְהֵימָנָא, עַד דְּנֶחֱמֵי בְּמַאן יִשְׁתְּאַר).