Daf 115a (דַּף קט״ו ע״א)

Come and see (תָּא חֲזֵי): when Tzedek [Righteousness] is aroused in its judgments (בְּשַׁעֲתָא דְּאִתְּעַר צֶדֶק בְּדִינוֹי), how many sides of purity are aroused from the right and from the left (כַּמָה סִטְרֵי טְהִירִין, מִתְעָרִין מִימִינָא וּמִשְּׂמָאלָא). How many rods go forth (כַּמָה שַׁרְבִיטִין נָפְקִין): among them, rods of fire (מִנְּהוֹן שַׁרְבִיטֵי אֶשָּׁא), rods of coals (שַׁרְבִיטֵי גּוּמְרִין), and rods of flame (שַׁרְבִיטֵי שַׁלְהוֹבָא). All of them go forth and are aroused in the world (כֻּלְּהוּ נָפְקִין וּמִתְעָרִין בְּעָלְמָא), and smite people (וְלָקָאן לִבְנֵי נָשָׁא). Beneath them are other appointed ones (תְּחוֹתַיְיהוּ מְמָנָן אָחֳרָנִין), masters of forms (מָארֵי טַפְסִין), appointed over thirty-nine (מְמָנָן דְּאַרְבְּעִין חָסֵר חַד). They wander and descend (שָׁאטִין וְנַחְתִּין), smite and ascend (לָקָאן וְסַלְּקִין), and take permission (וְנַטְלִין רְשׁוּתָא). They enter into the female of the great abyss (עַיְילִין בְּנוּקְבָּא דִּתְהוֹמָא רַבָּא), color the forms (מְצַבְעִין טַפְסֵי), and the burning fire is joined with them (וְנוֹרָא דְּדָלִיק אִתְחַבַּר בְּהוּ). Coals go forth (נַפְקֵי גּוּמְרִין), wander and descend (וְשָׁאטִין וְנַחְתִּין), and are found opposite people (וְאִשְׁתְּכָחוּ לָקֳבְלֵיהוֹן דִּבְנֵי נָשָׁא). And this is what is written (וְהַיְינוּ דִכְתִיב): “And I will add to chastise you” (וְיָסַפְתִּי לְיַסְּרָה אֶתְכֶם) (Vayikra 26:18)—I will give you over to the masters of judgment (אֶתֵּן לְמָארֵיהוֹן דְּדִינָא), an addition to their judgment (תּוֹסֶפֶת עַל דִּינָא דִלְהוֹן). As you say (כְּמָה דְאַתְּ אָמֵר): “I will not again curse the ground any more for man’s sake” (לֹא אוֹסִיף לְקַלֵּל עוֹד אֶת הָאֲדָמָה בַּעֲבוּר הָאָדָם) (Bereshit 8:21). What is meant by “I will not again”? (מַאי לֹא אוֹסִיף).

I will not give an addition to the masters of judgment to destroy the world, but an addition such as the world is able to bear (לֹא אֶתֵּן תּוֹסֶפֶת לְמָארֵי דִּינָא לְשֵׁיצָאָה עָלְמָא, אֶלָּא תּוֹסֶפֶת כְּגַוְונָא דְּיָכִיל עָלְמָא לְמִסְבַּל). And because of this: And I will add-I will surely give addition (וְעַל דָּא וְיָסַפְתִּי, אֶתֵּן תּוֹסֶפֶת וַדַּאי). Why addition? (תּוֹסֶפֶת אֲמַאי). In order to chastise you seven times for your sins (בְּגִין לְיַסְּרָה אֶתְכֶם שֶׁבַע עַל חַטֹּאתֵיכֶם).

Seven-but behold, if Kudsha Berikh Hu were to collect what is His, the world could not endure even one moment (שֶׁבַע, וְהָא קוּדְשָׁא בְּרִיךְ הוּא אִי גָּבֵי הַהוּא דִּילָיהּ לָא יָכִיל עָלְמָא לְמִסְבַּל אֲפִילּוּ רִגְעָא חֲדָא). This is what is written (הֲדָא הוּא דִכְתִיב): If You, Hashem, should mark iniquities, O Lord, who shall stand? (אִם עֲוֹנוֹת תִּשְׁמוֹר יָהּ יְיָ מִי יַעֲמוֹד) (Psalms 130). Yet you said: seven times for your sins (וְאַתְּ אַמָרְתְּ שֶׁבַע עַל חַטֹּאתֵיכֶם). But what is the teaching to say “seven”? (אֶלָּא מַה תַּלְמוּד לוֹמַר שֶׁבַע). Rather, this seven is against you (אֶלָּא הָא שֶׁבַע לָקֳבְלַיְיכוּ). And what is it? This is Shemitah, which is seven, which is called seven (וּמַאי אִיהִי. דָּא שְׁמִיטָּה, דְּאִיהִי שֶׁבַע, דְּאִקְרֵי שֶׁבַע). As you say: At the end of seven years you shall make a release (כְּמָה דְאַתְּ אָמֵר מִקֵּץ שֶׁבַע שָׁנִים תַּעֲשֶׂה שְׁמִיטָּה) (Deuteronomy 15).

And because of this: seven for your sins, and it is called seven, and it is called Bat-Sheva (וְעַל דָּא שֶׁבַע עַל חַטֹּאתֵיכֶם, וְאִקְרֵי שֶׁבַע, וְאִקְרֵי בַּת שֶׁבַע). What is the difference between this and that? (מַה בֵּין הַאי לְהַאי). Rather, “seven” by itself is to make Shemitah and to make judgments, to bring out freedom of all in her (אֶלָּא שֶׁבַע בִּלְחוֹדָהָא, לְמֶעְבַּד שְׁמִטָּה, וּלְמֶעְבַּד דִּינִין, לְאַפָּקָא חֵירוּ דְּכֹלָּא בָּהּ). “Bat-Sheva” is called, for she is joined with another as one, to illuminate, to rule in kingship, to make known the kingship in the earth and in all, “Bat-Sheva” is called (בַּת שֶׁבַע אִקְרֵי, דְּאִתְחַבָּר בְּאַחְרָא כַּחֲדָא, לְאַנְהָרָא, לְמִשְׁלַט בְּמַלְכוּתָא, לְאוֹדָעָא מַלְכוּתָא בְּאַרְעָא וּבְכֹלָּא, בַּת שֶׁבַע אִקְרֵי). It is written (כְּתִיב): Therefore the name of the city is Be’er-Sheva to this day (עַל כֵּן שֵׁם הָעִיר בְּאֵר שֶׁבַע עַד הַיּוֹם הַזֶּה) (Bereshit 26). Be’er-Sheva-this is the well of Yitzḥak, and all is one matter (בְּאֵר שֶׁבַע, בְּאֵרָה דְּיִצְחָק הוּא, וְכֹלָּא חַד מִלָּה הוּא).

Rabbi Abba said (רִבִּי אַבָּא אָמַר): And I will chastise you, even I, seven for your sins (וְיִסַּרְתִּי אֶתְכֶם אַף אָנִי שֶׁבַע עַל חַטֹּאתֵיכֶם) (Leviticus 26). And I will chastise you-by the hand of other appointed ones, as it has been established (וְיִסַּרְתִּי אֶתְכֶם, עַל יְדָא דִּמְמָנָן אָחֳרָנִין, כְּמָה דְּאוּקְמוּהָ). Even I-behold I will arouse against you (אַף אָנִי, הָא אֲנָא אִתְּעַר לָקֳבְלַיְיכוּ). This “seven” is to be aroused upon you (הָא שֶׁבַע, לְאִתְּעָרָא עָלַיְיכוּ).

Come and see (תָּא חֲזֵי), the supernal love of Kudsha Berikh Hu for Yisrael (רְחִימוּתָא עִלָּאָה דְּקוּדְשָׁא בְּרִיךְ הוּא בְּיִשְׂרָאֵל). Like a king who had an only son, and the son sinned before the king (לְמַלְכָּא דְּהֲוָה לֵיהּ בַּר יְחִידָאי, וַהֲוָה חָטֵי קַמֵּי מַלְכָּא). One day he transgressed before the king (יוֹמָא חַד סָרַח קַמֵּי מַלְכָּא). The king said: all these days I have chastised you and you did not accept (אָמַר מַלְכָּא, כָּל הָנֵי יוֹמִין אַלְקֵינָא לָךְ, וְלָא קַבִּלְתְּ). From here on, see what I will do with you (מִכָּאן וְאֵילָךְ חָמֵי מַאי אַעְבִּיד לָךְ). If I cast you from the land and remove you from kingship, perhaps the bears of the field, or the wolves of the field, or bandits, will rise against you and remove you from the world (אִי אַתָּרִיךְ לָךְ מִן אַרְעָא, וְאַפִּיק לָךְ מִמַּלְכוּתָא, דִּילְמָא יְקוּמוּן עֲלָךְ דּוּבֵּי חַקְלָא, אוֹ זְאֵבֵי חַקְלָא, אוֹ לִסְטִין, וְיַעַבְרוּן לָךְ מֵעָלְמָא). What shall I do? (מַה אַעְבִּיד).

Rather, I and you will go out from the land (אֶלָּא אֲנָא וְאַנְתְּ נֵיפוּק מֵאַרְעָא). So also even I, I and you will go out from the land (כַּךְ אַף אָנִי, אֲנָא וְאַנְתְּ נִיפוּק מֵאַרְעָא), even I and you will go into exile and go out together (אַף אֲנָא וְאַנְתְּ נֵהַךְ בְּגָלוּתָא וְנִיפוּק כַּחֲדָא). Thus said Kudsha Berikh Hu (כַּךְ אָמַר קוּדְשָׁא בְּרִיךְ הוּא): Yisrael, what shall I do to you? (יִשְׂרָאֵל מַה אַעְבִּיד לְכוּ). Behold, I chastised you and you did not incline your ears (הָא אַלְקֵינָא לְכוּ, וְלָא אַרְכִּיתוּ אוּדְנַיְיכוּ). Behold, I brought upon you masters of shields, masters of forms, to chastise you, and you did not listen (הָא אַיְיתֵינָא עָלַיְיכוּ מָארֵי תְּרִיסִין, מָארֵי טַפְסִין, לְאַלְקָאָה לְכוֹן, וְלָא שְׁמַעְתּוּן). If I cast you out from the land by yourselves, I fear for you lest bears of the field, wolves of the field, or bandits will rise against you and remove you from the world (אִי אַפִּיק לְכוּ מֵאַרְעָא לְחוֹדְכוֹן, דָּחִילְנָא עָלַיְיכוּ מִכַּמָּה דּוּבִּין, מִכַּמָּה זְאֵבִין, דִּיקוּמוּן עָלַיְיכוּ, וְיַעַבְרוּן לָכוּ מֵעָלְמָא).

But what shall I do to you? (אֲבָל מַה אַעְבִּיד לְכוּן). Rather I and you shall go out from the land, and we shall go into exile (אֶלָּא אֲנָא וְאַתּוּן נֵפוּק מֵאַרְעָא, וּנְהַךְ בְּגָלוּתָא). This is what is written (הֲדָא הוּא דִכְתִיב): And I will chastise you to go into exile (וְיִסַּרְתִּי אֶתְכֶם לְמֵהַךְ בְּגָלוּתָא). And if you say that I will abandon you-even I am with you (וְאִי תֵּימְרוּן דְּאֶשְׁבּוֹק לְכוֹן, אַף אָנִי עִמְּכוֹן). Seven for your sins-this is the seven that shall be exiled with you. And why? For your sins (שֶׁבַע עַל חַטֹּאתֵיכֶם, דָּא שֶׁבַע דְּיִתְתָּרָךְ עִמְּכוֹן, וַאֲמַאי. עַל חַטֹּאתֵיכֶם). This is what is written (הֲדָא הוּא דִכְתִיב): For your transgressions your mother was sent away (וּבְפִשְׁעֵיכֶם שֻׁלְּחָה אִמְּכֶם) (Isaiah 50). Kudsha Berikh Hu said (אָמַר קוּדְשָׁא בְּרִיךְ הוּא): you caused that I and you should not dwell together in the world (אַתּוּן גְּרַמְתּוּן, דַּאֲנָא וְאַתּוּן לָא נֵידוּר בְּעָלְמָא). Some say: in the land (ס״א בְּאַרְעָא). Some say: we shall be cast out from the world (נ״א נִטְרוֹד [ס״א מֵאַרְעָא] מֵעָלְמָא).

Behold, the Matronita went out from the palace with you (הָא מַטְרוֹנִיתָא נַפְקַת מֵהֵיכָלָה עִמְּכוֹן). Behold, all is destroyed-the palace, Mine and yours, is destroyed (הָא אִתְחַרֵב כֹּלָּא, הֵיכָלָא דִּילִי וְדִלְכוֹן אִתְחָרַב). For to the King, the palace is not fitting unless He enters together with the Matronita (דְּהָא לְמַלְכָּא לָא אִתְחֲזֵי הֵיכָלָא, אֶלָּא כַּד אִיהוּ עָיֵיל עִם מַטְרוֹנִיתָא). And the joy of the King is not found (וְחֶדְוָה דְּמַלְכָּא לָא אִשְׁתְּכַח). But at the time when He entered the palace of the Matronita (אֶלָּא בְּשַׁעֲתָא דְּעָאל בְּהֵיכָלָא דְּמַטְרוֹנִיתָא), and the Son was found with her in the palace (וְאִשְׁתְּכַח בְּרָהָא עִמָּהּ בְּהֵיכָלָא), then they are all rejoicing as one (חַדָּאן כֻּלְּהוּ כַּחֲדָא). Now that the Son and the Matronita are not found, behold the palace is destroyed of everything (הַשְׁתָּא דְּלָא אִשְׁתְּכָחוּ בְּרָא וּמַטְרוֹנִיתָא, הָא הֵיכָלָא חֲרֵיבָא מִכֹּלָּא). But what shall I do? (אֶלָּא אֲנָא מַה אַעְבִּיד). Even I am with you (אַף אֲנָא עִמְּכוֹן). And now, even though Yisrael are in exile, Kudsha Berikh Hu is found with them, and does not abandon them (וְהַשְׁתָּא אַף עַל גַּב דְּיִשְׂרָאֵל אִינְהוּ בְּגָלוּתָא, קוּדְשָׁא בְּרִיךְ הוּא אִשְׁתְּכַח עִמְּהוֹן, וְלָא שָׁבִיק לוֹן). For when Yisrael go out from exile, Kudsha Berikh Hu will return with them (דְּכַד יִפְקוּן, יִשְׂרָאֵל מִן גָּלוּתָא, קוּדְשָׁא בְּרִיךְ הוּא, יְתוּב עִמְּהוֹן). It is written (דִּכְתִּיב): And Hashem your God will return-and Hashem your God will return indeed (וְשָׁב יְיָ אֱלֹהֶיךָ, וְשָׁב יְיָ אֱלֹהֶיךָ וַדַּאי) (Deuteronomy 30). And this has been said (וְהָא אִתְּמַר).

Rabbi Ḥiyya and Rabbi Yosei were walking on the road, and they happened upon that cave in the field (רִבִּי חִיָּיא וְרִבִּי יוֹסֵי הֲווֹ אָזְלֵי בְּאָרְחָא, אַעְרָעוּ בְּהַהִיא מְעַרְתָּא בְּחַקְלָא). Rabbi Ḥiyya said to Rabbi Yosei (אָמַר רִבִּי חִיָּיא לְרִבִּי יוֹסֵי): this which is written: These are the words of the covenant… besides the covenant (הַאי דִּכְתִּיב, אֵלֶּה דִּבְרֵי הַבְּרִית וְגוֹ׳, מִלְּבַד הַבְּרִית) (Deuteronomy 28). What are “the words of the covenant”? (מַאי דִּבְרֵי הַבְּרִית). It should have said “words of might” (דִּבְרֵי גְּבוּרָה) some say: these curses (ס״א הָאֵלֶּה) (מִבָּעֵי לֵיהּ). He said to him (אָמַר לֵיהּ): this has been established, these were from the mouth of the Mighty One, and these were from the mouth of Moshe himself-and this has already been said (הָא אוּקְמוּהָ, הַלָּלוּ מִפִּי הַגְּבוּרָה, וְהַלָּלוּ מִפִּי עַצְמוֹ שֶׁל מֹשֶׁה, וְהָא אִתְּמַר).