Daf 196a (דַּף קצ״ו ע״א)

And these are the mourners of Zion (וְאִלֵּין אִינּוּן אֲבֵלֵי צִיּוֹן), and those who wept over the destruction of the Beit Mikdash (וְאִינּוּן דְּבָכוּ עַל חָרְבַּן בֵּי מַקְדְּשָׁא). And during the watch of the middle four hours (וּבְשֵׁירוּתָא דְּאַרְבַּע שַׁעְתֵּי אֶמְצָעֲיָּן), they opened and said (פַּתְחֵי וְאַמְרֵי): By the rivers of Babylon, there we sat and also we wept, etc. (עַל נַהֲרוֹת בָּבֶל שָׁם יָשַׁבְנוּ גַּם בָּכִינוּ וְגוֹ') (Psalms 137). And these are they who wept by the rivers of Babylon (וְאִלֵּין אִינּוּן דְּבָכוּ עַל נַהֲרוֹת בָּבֶל), together with Yisrael (עִמְּהוֹן דְּיִשְׂרָאֵל), as implied from what is written: also we wept (מִמַּשְׁמַע דִּכְתִיב גַּם בָּכִינוּ). And how do we know that they wept there? (וּמְנָלָן דְּבָכוּ תַּמָּן)

For it is written: Behold, their heroes cried out outside (דִּכְתִיב הֵן אֶרְאֶלָּם צָעֲקוּ חוּצָה) (Isaiah 33). What is “outside”? This is Babylon (מַהוּ חוּצָה דָּא בָּבֶל), because all of them dragged the Shekhinah down to Babylon (בְּגִין דְּכֻלְּהוּ אוֹזְפוּהָ לִשְׁכִינָה עַד בָּבֶל), and there they wept with Yisrael (וְתַמָּן בָּכוּ עִמְּהוֹן דְּיִשְׂרָאֵל). And for this reason, they began with this verse and concluded with: Remember Hashem, the children of Edom, etc. (וְעַל דָּא פַּתְחֵי בְּהַאי וּמְסַיְּימֵי זְכוֹר יְיָ לִבְנֵי אֱדוֹם וְגוֹ').

Then Kudsha Berikh Hu was aroused in His place (כְּדֵין אִתְּעַר קוּדְשָׁא בְּרִיךְ הוּא בְּדַרְגּוֹי), and struck the heavens, as we have said (וּבָטַשׁ בִּרְקִיעִין כִּדְאַמָרָן), and twelve thousand worlds trembled (וְאִזְדַּעֲזָעוּ תְּרֵיסַר אַלְפֵי עָלְמִין), and He groaned and wept (וְגָעֵי וּבָכֵי), as it is written: Hashem shall roar from on high, and from His holy habitation He shall give forth His voice, roaring He shall roar over His dwelling place (דִּכְתִיב יְיָ מִמָּרוֹם יִשְׁאָג וּמִמְּעוֹן קָדְשׁוֹ יִתֵּן קוֹלוֹ שָׁאוֹג יִשְׁאַג עַל נָוֵהוּ) (Jeremiah 25). And He remembered them, Yisrael (וְאַדְכַּר לוֹן לְיִשְׂרָאֵל), and brought down two tears into the Great Sea (וְאָחִית תְּרֵין דִּמְעִין לְגוֹ יַמָּא רַבָּא). Then a flame was aroused from the side of the north (וּכְדֵין אִתְּעַר שַׁלְהוֹבִיתָא חַד דְּבִסְטַר צָפוֹן), and a wind from the north struck that flame (וּבָטַשׁ רוּחָא חַד דְּבִסְטַר צָפוֹן בְּהַהוּא שַׁלְהוֹבִיתָא), and it went and traveled through the world (וְאַזְלָא וְשָׁאֲטָא בְּעָלְמָא).

At that moment the night was split (וְהַהִיא שַׁעֲתָא אִתְפְּלַג לֵילְיָא), and the flame went and struck the wings of the rooster (וְשַׁלְהוֹבִיתָא אַזְלָא וּבָטַשׁ בְּגַדְפוֹי דְּתַרְנְגוֹלָא), and it crowed (וְקָארֵי). Then Kudsha Berikh Hu entered the Garden of Eden (כְּדֵין קוּדְשָׁא בְּרִיךְ הוּא עָאל בְּגִּנְתָּא דְּעֵדֶן). And Kudsha Berikh Hu has no contentment (וְקוּדְשָׁא בְּרִיךְ הוּא לֵית לֵיהּ נַיְיחָא) until He enters the Garden of Eden (עַד דְּעָאל לְגִנְתָּא דְּעֵדֶן), to delight in the souls of the righteous (לְאִשְׁתַּעְשְׁעָא בְּנִשְׁמָתֵיהוֹן דְּצַדִּיקַיָּיא).

And the sign is: “For we have been sold, I and my people…” (וְסִימָן כִּי נִמְכַּרְנוּ אֲנִי וְעַמִּי וְגוֹ') (Esther 7). And the king said, “Who is this…?” and the king arose in his wrath from the feast of wine to the palace garden (וַיֹּאמֶר הַמֶּלֶךְ מִי הוּא זֶה וְגוֹ' וְהַמֶּלֶךְ קָם בַּחֲמָתוֹ מִמִּשְׁתֵּה הַיַּיִן אֶל גִּנַּת הַבִּיתָן וְגוֹ'). At the time when Kudsha Berikh Hu enters the Garden of Eden (בְּשַׁעֲתָא דְּקוּדְשָׁא בְּרִיךְ הוּא עָאל בְּגִּנְתָּא דְּעֵדֶן), then all those trees of the Garden (כְּדֵין כָּל אִינּוּן אִילָנִין דְּגִּנְתָּא), and all those souls of the righteous (וְכָל אִינּוּן נִשְׁמָתִין דְּצַדִּיקַיָּיא), open and say (פַּתְחֵי וְאַמְרֵי): Lift up your heads, O gates, etc. (שְׂאוּ שְׁעָרִים רָאשֵׁיכֶם וְגוֹ') (Psalms 24). Who is this King of Glory, etc.? (מִי זֶה מֶלֶךְ הַכָּבוֹד וְגוֹ'). Lift up your heads, O gates, etc. (שְׂאוּ שְׁעָרִים רָאשֵׁיכֶם וְגוֹ'). And at the time when the souls of the righteous on earth return to their bodies (וּבְשַׁעֲתָא דְּנִשְׁמָתְהוֹן דְּצַדִּיקַיָּיא דִּי בְּאַרְעָא אָהַדְרוּ לְגוּפַיְיהוּ), then all those angels are strengthened over them (כְּדֵין אַתְקִיפוּ בְּהוּ כָּל אִינּוּן מַלְאָכִין), and say (וְאַמְרֵי): Behold, bless Hashem, all you servants of Hashem (הִנֵּה בָּרְכוּ אֶת יְיָ כָּל עַבְדֵּי יְיָ') (Psalms 134).

And we have learned that this is what the third watch says (וְאוֹלִיפְנָא דְּדָא מַשִּׁרְיָיא תְּלִיתָאָה קָא אַמְרֵי דָּא), during the last four hours (בְּאַרְבַּע שַׁעְתֵּי בַּתְרַיְיתָא). And they sing praise (וְקָאֲמְרֵי שִׁירָתָא), until the light of morning ascends (עַד דְּסָלִיק נְהוֹרָא דְּצַפְרָא), for then all the stars and constellations praise their Master (דִּכְדֵין מְשַׁבְּחִין לְמָרֵיהוֹן כָּל אִינּוּן כֹּכָבַיָא וּמַזָּלֵי), and all those supernal angels whose dominion is by day (וְכָל אִינּוּן מַלְאָכִין עִלָּאִין דִּי שֻׁלְטָנֵיהוֹן בִּימָמָא), all of them praise their Master and sing song (כֻּלְּהוּ מְשַׁבְּחָן לְמָארִיהוֹן וְאַמְרֵי שִׁירָתָא). This is what is written: When the morning stars sang together, and all the sons of Elohim shouted for joy (הֲדָא הוּא דִכְתִיב בְּרָן יַחַד כֹּכְבֵי בֹקֶר וַיָּרִיעוּ כָּל בְּנֵי אֱלֹהִים) (Job 38). At the time when the sun goes out, in the day (בְּשַׁעֲתָא דְּשִׁמְשָׁא נָפִיק בִּימָמָא), Yisrael takes up the song below (יִשְׂרָאֵל נַטְלֵי שִׁירָתָא לְתַתָּא), and the sun above (וְשִׁמְשָׁא לְעֵילָּא), as it is written: They shall fear You with the sun (דִּכְתִּיב יִירָאוּךָ עִם שָׁמֶשׁ) (Psalms 72). At the time when the sun takes its course in its wheel (בְּשַׁעֲתָא דְּנָטִיל שִׁמְשָׁא בְּגַלְגְלוֹי), it opens a pleasant voice and sings praise (פָּתַח קַל נְעִימוּתָא וְאָמַר שִׁירָתָא).

And what song does it say? (וּמַאי שִׁירָתָא קָאַמְרֵי): Give thanks to Hashem, call upon His name, etc. (הוֹדוּ לַיְיָ קִרְאוּ בִשְׁמוֹ וְגוֹ') (Psalms 105). Sing to Him, make music to Him, etc. (שִׁירוּ לוֹ זַמְּרוּ לוֹ וְגוֹ') (Psalms 105). And Yisrael praise Kudsha Berikh Hu during the day with the sun (וְיִשְׂרָאֵל מְשַׁבְּחָן לְקוּדְשָׁא בְּרִיךְ הוּא בִּימָמָא עִם שִׁמְשָׁא). This is what is written: They shall fear You with the sun (הֲדָא הוּא דִכְתִיב יִירָאוּךָ עִם שָׁמֶשׁ), and even though we have already established this verse (וְאַף עַל גַּב דְּהָא אוֹקִימְנָא לְהַאי קְרָא), Rabbi El'azar said (אָמַר רִבִּי אֶלְעָזָר): Were it not that the people of the world have sealed hearts and blocked eyes (אִלְמָלֵא דִּבְנֵי עָלְמָא אֲטִימִין לִבָּא וּסְתִימִין עַיְינִין), they could not endure the pleasant voice of the orb of the sun when it rises and praises before Kudsha Berikh Hu (לָא יַכְלִין לְמֵיקָם מִקָּל נְעִימוּתָא דְּגַלְגָלָא דְּשִׁמְשָׁא כַּד נָטִיל וּמְשַׁבַּח קָמֵי קוּדְשָׁא בְּרִיךְ הוּא). Meanwhile, as they were engaged in the Orayta (אַדְּהָכִי דְּאִתְעַסְּקוּ בְּאוֹרַיְיתָא), the day shone (נָהַר יְמָמָא).

They rose and came before Rabbi Shim‘on (קָמוּ וְאָתוּ לְקָמֵיהּ דְּרַבִּי שִׁמְעוֹן). When he saw them (כֵּיוָן דְּחָמָא לוֹן), Rabbi Shim‘on said (אָמַר רַבִּי שִׁמְעוֹן): El‘azar, my son (אֶלְעָזָר בְּרִי), you and your Friends conceal yourselves these three days (אַנְתְּ וְחַבְרַיָּיא אַסְתִּימוּ גַּרְמַיְיכוּ אִלֵּין תְּלַת יוֹמִין), and do not go outside (דְּלָא תִּפְקוּן לְבַר), because the Angel of Death is present in the city (בְּגִין דְּמַלְאָךְ הַמָּוֶת אִשְׁתְּכַח בְּמָתָא), and he has permission to harm (וְאִית לֵיהּ רְשׁוּ לְחַבְּלָא). And once he has been given permission to harm (וְכֵיוָן דְּאִתְיְיהִיב לֵיהּ רְשׁוּ לְחַבְּלָא), he can harm anyone who appears before him (יָכִיל לְחַבְּלָא לְכָל מַאן דְּאִתְחָזֵי קַמֵיהּ). Moreover, when a person appears before him (וְתוּ דְּבַר נָשׁ דְּאִתְחָזֵי קַמֵּיהּ), he ascends and accuses him (סָלִיק וְאַסְטֵי עָלֵיהּ), recalls his sins (וְאַדְכַּר חוֹבוֹי), and demands judgment before Kudsha Berikh Hu (וּבָעֵי דִּינָא מִקַּמֵּי קוּדְשָׁא בְּרִיךְ הוּא). And he is not removed from there (וְלָא אִתְעָדֵי מִתַּמָּן), until that person is judged (עַד דְּאִתְּדָּן הַהוּא בַּר נָשׁ), and permission is given, and he kills him (וְאִתְיְיהִיב לֵיהּ רְשׁוּ וְקָטִיל לֵיהּ).

Rabbi Shim‘on said (אָמַר רַבִּי שִׁמְעוֹן): Ha-Elohim (הָאֱלֹהִים), the majority of people in the world do not die until their time has come (רוּבָּא דְּעָלְמָא לָא מִיתוּ עַד לָא מָטָא זִמְנַיְיהוּ), except those who do not know to guard themselves (בַּר דְּלָא יַדְעֵי לְאִסְתַּמְּרָא גַּרְמַיְיהוּ). For at the time of death, when one is taken from his house to the cemetery (דְּהָא בְּשַׁעֲתָא דְּמִיתָא אַפְקֵי לֵיהּ מִבֵּיתֵיהּ לְבֵי קִבְרֵי), the Angel of Death is found among the women (מַלְאָךְ הַמָּוֶת אִשְׁתְּכַח בֵּינֵי נְשֵׁי).

Why among the women? (אֲמַאי בֵּינֵי נְשֵׁי) Because that is his custom (דְּהָכִי הוּא אוֹרְחוֹי), from the day he enticed Ḥavah (מִיּוֹמָא דְּפַתֵּי לְחַוָּה), and through her brought death to all the world (וּבְגִינָהּ גָּרִים מוֹתָא לְכָל עָלְמָא). And for that reason, he kills the man (וְעַל דָּא קָטִיל בַּר נָשׁ), and men are found with death (וְגוּבְרֵי אִשְׁתְּכַחוּ עִם מִיתָא), because he enters among the women on the way (עָאל בֵּינֵי נְשֵׁי בְּאָרְחָא). And he has permission to kill people (וְאִית לֵיהּ רְשׁוּ לְמִקְטַל בְּנֵי נָשָׁא), and he gazes upon their faces on the way when they appear before him (וְאִסְתָּכַּל בְּאַנְפַּיְיהוּ בְּאָרְחָא דְּאִתְחֲזִיאוּ קַמֵּיהּ), from the moment they are taken from the house to the cemetery (מִשַׁעֲתָא דְּמָפְקֵי לֵיהּ מִבֵּיתֵיהּ לְבֵי קִבְרֵי), until they return to their homes (עַד דְּאָהַדְרוּ לְבֵיתַיְּיהוּ). And because of them, he causes the death of many men in the world before their time (וּבְגִינֵיהוֹן גָּרִים מוֹתָא לְכַמָּה גּוּבְרִין בְּעָלְמָא עַד לָא מָטָא זִמְנַיְיהוּ). And on this it is written: And there are those who perish without judgment (וְעַל דָּא כְּתִיב וְיֵשׁ נִסְפֶּה בְּלֹא מִשְׁפָּט) (Proverbs 13), because he ascended and accused, and recalled the sins of that person before Kudsha Berikh Hu (בְּגִין דְּסָלִיק וְאַסְטִין וְאַדְכַּר חוֹבוֹי דְּבַר נָשׁ קַמֵּי קוּדְשָׁא בְּרִיךְ הוּא), and he was judged for those sins and was taken before his time (וְאִתְדַן עַל אִינּוּן חוֹבִין וְאִסְתַּלָּק עַד לָא מָטָא זִמְנֵיהּ).