Daf 64b (דַּף ס״ד ע״ב)

He opened and said (פָּתַח וְאָמַר), “‘Cold water upon a weary soul’ — this is the Orayta” (מַיִם קָרִים עַל נֶפֶשׁ עֲיֵפָה, דָּא אוֹרַיְיתָא). For whoever merits to engage in Orayta (דְּכָל מַאן דְּזָכֵי לְמִלְעֵי בְּאוֹרַיְיתָא), and satisfies his soul from it (וּמְרַוִי נַפְשָׁא מִנָּהּ) — what is written? “‘And good news from a far country’” (מַה כְּתִיב וּשְׁמוּעָה טוֹבָה מֵאֶרֶץ מֶרְחָק) (Proverbs 25). Kudsha Berikh Hu proclaims about him how good it is to bestow goodness upon him in this world and in the World to Come (קוּדְשָׁא בְּרִיךְ הוּא אַכְרִיז עָלֵיהּ כַּמָה טָבָאן לְאוֹטָבָא לֵיהּ בְּעָלְמָא דֵּין וּבְעָלְמָא דְּאָתֵי).

This is what is written: “‘And good news’” (הֲדָא הוּא דִכְתִיב, וּשְׁמוּעָה טוֹבָה). From where? “‘From a far country’” (מַאן אֲתַר מֵאֶרֶץ מֶרְחָק). From that place where Kudsha Berikh Hu was distant from him at first (מֵאֲתַר דְּקוּדְשָׁא בְּרִיךְ הוּא הֲוָה רָחִיק מִנֵּיהּ בְּקַדְמִיתָא). From that place where a person was in conflict with Him at first (מֵאֲתַר דְּהֲוָה בַּר נָשׁ בִּדְבָבוּ עִמֵּיהּ בְּקַדְמִיתָא). As it is written, “‘And the earth rises up against him’” (דִּכְתִיב וְאֶרֶץ מִתְקוֹמָמָה לוֹ) (Job 20).

From that place, they hasten peace toward him (מֵהַהוּא אֲתַר מַקְדִּימִין לֵיהּ שְׁלָם). This is what is written: “‘From a far country’” (הֲדָא הוּא דִכְתִיב, מֵאֶרֶץ מֶרְחָק). And it is written, “‘From afar Hashem appeared to me, with an everlasting love have I loved you, therefore I have drawn you with kindness’” (וּכְתִיב מֵרָחוֹק יְיָ׳ נִרְאָה לִי וְאַהֲבַת עוֹלָם אַהֲבְתִּיךְ עַל כֵּן מְשַׁכְתִּיךְ חָסֶד) (Jeremiah 31).

(Missing text: (כָּאן חָסֵר). “‘And he shall go out unto the altar that is before Hashem, and make atonement upon it’” (וְיָצָא אֶל הַמִּזְבֵּחַ אֲשֶׁר לִפְנֵי יְיָ׳ וְכִפֶּר עָלָיו) (Leviticus 16). Rabbi Yehudah opened and said (רִבִּי יְהוּדָה פָּתַח וְאָמַר): “‘A Psalm of Asaf. God, Hashem, has spoken and called the earth from the rising of the sun to its going down’” (מִזְמוֹר לְאָסָף אֵל אֱלֹהִים יְיָ׳ דִּבֵּר וַיִּקְרָא אָרֶץ מִמִּזְרָח שֶׁמֶשׁ עַד מְבוֹאוֹ) (Psalms 50). It was taught (תָּאנָא): one million five hundred and fifty myriad masters of song (אֶלֶף וַחֲמֵשׁ מְאָה וְחַמְשִׁין רִבּוֹא מָארֵי שִׁירָתָא) sing to Kudsha Berikh Hu when the day shines (מְזַמְּרִין לְּקוּדְשָׁא בְּרִיךְ הוּא, כַּד נָהִיר יְמָמָא). And one million five hundred and forty-eight in brightness (וְאֶלֶף וַחֲמֵשׁ מְאָה וְאַרְבְּעִין וּתְמַנְיָא בְּטִיהֲרָא). And one million five hundred and ninety myriad at that time which is called “between the evenings” (וְאֶלֶף וַחֲמֵשׁ מְאָה וְתִשְׁעִין אֶלֶף רִבּוֹא בְּהַהִיא שַׁעֲתָא דְּאִקְרֵי בֵּין הָעַרְבַּיִם).

Rabbi Yose said (רִבִּי יוֹסֵי אָמַר): when the day shines (כַּד נָהִיר יְמָמָא), all those masters of song (כָל אִינּוּן מָארֵי דִּיבָבָא) praise with words of praise (מְשַׁבְּחָן בְּמִלֵי תּוּשְׁבְּחָן), before this morning (לָקֳבְלֵיהּ דְּהַאי בֹּקֶר). Some say: “When this morning is aroused, all are sweetened, judgment is removed, and they utter praises” (ס״א: כַּד אִתְּעַר הַאי בֹּקֶר, כֻּלְּהוּ מִתְבַסְּמִין, וְדִינָא אִשְׁתְּכִיךְ, וְאָמְרִין תּוּשְׁבְּחָן). 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). And at that time (וְהַהוּא זִמְנָא), joy and blessings are found in the world (חֶדְוָותָא וּבִרְכָּאן מִשְׁתַּכְּחִין בְּעָלְמָא). And Kudsha Berikh Hu is aroused toward Avraham to revive him (וְקוּדְשָׁא בְּרִיךְ הוּא אִתְּעַר לְאַבְרָהָם לְאַחֲיָיא לֵיהּ), and He delights in him (וְאִשְׁתַּעֲשַׁע בֵּיהּ), and gives him dominion in the world (וְאַשְׁלְטֵיהּ בְּעָלְמָא). And from where do we know that this morning is Avraham’s? (וּמְנָא לָן דְּהַאי בֹּקֶר דְּאַבְרָהָם הוּא). As it is written: “‘And Avraham rose early in the morning’” (דִּכְתִיב וַיַּשְׁכֵּם אַבְרָהָם בַּבֹּקֶר) (Bereshit 19). At that time of bein ha‘arbayim (בְּהַהוּא זִמְנָא דְּבֵין הָעַרְבַּיִם), all those one million five hundred and ninety myriad masters of song are called (כָל אִינּוּן אֶלֶף וַחֲמֵשׁ מְאָה וְתִשְׁעִין אֶלֶף רִבּוֹא מָארֵי דִּילָלָה אִקְרוּן), and they sing at that time (וּמְזַמְּרִין בְּהַהִיא שַׁעֲתָא).

And conflict rests in the world (וּקְטָטוּתָא שַׁרְיָא בְּעָלְמָא). And at that time the arousal is aroused of Kudsha Berikh Hu toward Yitzḥak (וְהַהִיא שַׁעֲתָא אִתְּעָרוּתָא דְּאִתְּעַר קוּדְשָׁא בְּרִיךְ הוּא לְיִצְחָק). And he arises and judges the guilty who transgress the words of the Orayta (וְקָם וְדָאִין לְחַיָּיבַיָּא דְּעַבְרִין עַל פִּתְגָּמֵי אוֹרַיְיתָא). And seven rivers of fire flow and go forth (וְשִׁבְעָה נַהֲרֵי אֶשָּׁא נַגְדִּין וְנָפְקִין), and descend upon the heads of the wicked (וְחָלִין עַל רֵישֵׁיהוֹן דְּרַשִׁיעַיָּיא). And fiery flames of burning coals are aroused from above to below (וְשַׁלְהוֹבֵי גּוּמְרִין דְּנוּרָא מִתְעָרִין מֵעֵילָּא לְתַתָּא). And then Avraham returns to his place (וּכְדֵין תָּב אַבְרָהָם לְאַתְרֵיהּ), as it is said, “‘And Avraham returned to his place’” (כְּמָה דְאַתְּ אָמֵר וְאַבְרָהָם שָׁב לִמְקוֹמוֹ) (Bereshit 18). And the day turns (וְיוֹמָא אִתְפְּנֵי), and the guilty of Gehinom cry out and say (וְחַיָּיבֵי גֵּיהִנָּם צַוְוחִין וְאַמְרִין): “‘Woe to us, for the day has turned, for the shadows of evening are stretched out’” (אוֹי לָנוּ כִּי פָּנָה הַיּוֹם כִּי יִנָּטוּ צִלְלֵי עָרֶב) (Jeremiah 6). And at that time, a man must beware with the prayer of Minḥah (וְהַהִיא שַׁעֲתָא, בָּעֵי בַּר נָשׁ לְאִזְדַּהֲרָא, בִּצְלוֹתָא דְּמִנְחָה). At the time when night arrives (בְּזִמְנָא דְּמָטֵי לֵילְיָא), those one million five hundred and forty-eight are called from outside the veil (אִינּוּן אֶלֶף וְה' מְאָה וְאַרְבְּעִין וּתְמַנְיָא, אִקְרוּן מִבָּרָא לְפָרוֹכְתָּא), and they sing song (וְאָמְרִין שִׁירָתָא).

Then the judgments below are aroused (כְּדֵין דִּינִין דִּלְתַתָּא מִתְעָרִין), and they go and roam in the world (וְאָזְלִין וְשָׁאטִין בְּעָלְמָא), and these utter song (וְאִלֵּין אַמְרִין שִׁירָתָא), until the night divides into watch and half (עַד דְּיִתְפְּלִיג לֵילְיָא מִשְׁמָרָה וּפַלְגָּא). After the night divides (בָּתַר דְּיִתְפְּלִיג לֵילְיָא), all the others are assembled together (מִזְדַמְנֵי כֻּלְּהוּ אַחֲרִינֵי כַּחֲדָא), and they utter praises (וְאַמְרֵי תְּהִלּוֹת), as it is said, “‘And the praises of Hashem they shall proclaim’” (כְּמָה דְאַתְּ אָמֵר וּתְהִלּוֹת יְיָ׳ יְבַשֵּׂרוּ) (Isaiah 60). Rabbi Yehudah said (רִבִּי יְהוּדָה אָמַר): when desire is found in the morning (כַּד רַעֲוָא אִשְׁתְּכַח בְּצַפְרָא), the praises of Hashem are proclaimed (תְּהִלּוֹת יְיָ׳ מְבַשְּׂרִין).

Rabbi Yose said (רִבִּי יוֹסֵי אָמַר): after the northern wind is aroused at midnight and goes away (בָּתַר דְּרוּחָא דְּצָפוֹן אִתְּעַר בְּפַלְגוּת לֵילְיָא וְאָזִיל לֵיהּ), praises are proclaimed (תְּהִלּוֹת מְבַשְּׂרֵי), until the morning comes (עַד דְּיֵיתֵי צַפְרָא), and this morning is aroused (וְאִתְּעַר הַאי בֹּקֶר). Then joy and blessings are found in the world (כְּדֵין חֶדְוָותָא וּבִרְכָּאן אִשְׁתְּכַח בְּעָלְמָא). It was taught, Rabbi Abba said (תָּאנָא, אָמַר רִבִּי אַבָּא): all of them are thus (כֻּלְּהוּ הָכִי), and above them are three chiefs (וְעֵילָּא מִנְּהוֹן סַרְכִין תְּלָתָא). At that time when the morning is aroused (בְּהַהִיא שַׁעֲתָא דְּאִתְּעַר הַאי בֹּקֶר), and praises are aroused (וּמִתְעָרִין תּוּשְׁבְּחָן), all those one million five hundred and fifty myriad (כָּל אִינּוּן אֶלֶף וַחֲמֵשׁ מְאָה וְחַמְשִׁין רִבּוֹא), there is appointed over them one overseer (אִתְמָנָא עָלַיְיהוּ חַד מְמָנָא), and his name is Heman (וְהֵימָן שְׁמֵיהּ) corresponding to below (לָקֳבְלֵיה דִּלְתַתָּא). And under his hand are chiefs appointed over them to arrange the song (וּתְחוֹת יְדֵיהּ סַרְכִין מְמָנָן עָלַיְיהוּ לְאַתְקְנָא שִׁירָתָא).

At that time when the season of bein ha'arbayim [between the evenings] is aroused (בְּהַהִיא שַׁעֲתָא דְּאִתְּעַר זִמְנָא דְּבֵין הָעַרְבַּיִם), and all those one million five hundred and ninety myriad masters of song sing (וְזַמְרִין כָּל אִינּוּן אֶלֶף וַחֲמֵשׁ מְאָה וְתִשְׁעִין אֶלֶף רִבּוֹא מָארֵי דִּילָלָה), one overseer is appointed over them (אִתְמָנָא עָלַיְיהוּ חַד מְמָנָא), and his name is Yedutun (וִידוּתוּן שְׁמֵיהּ), corresponding to that which is below (לָקֳבְלֵיהּ דִּלְתַתָּא). And under his hand chiefs are appointed over them to arrange that song (וּתְחוֹת יְדֵיהּ סַרְכִין מְמָנָן עָלַיְיהוּ, לְאַתְקְנָא הַהוּא זִמְרָא), as it is said (כְּמָה דְאַתְּ אָמֵר): “The song of the mighty ones” (זְמִיר עָרִיצִים) (Isaiah 25:5). At that time when night arrives (בְּהַהִיא שַׁעֲתָא דְּמָטֵי לֵילְיָא), all those outside the Parokhet [Veil] are aroused (מִתְעָרִין כָּל אִינּוּן דְּמִבָּרָא לְפָרוֹכְתָּא). Then all becomes still (כְּדֵין שָׁכִיךְ כֹּלָּא), and no release is found (וּפִטְרָא לָא אִשְׁתְּכַח), and the judgments below are aroused (וְדִינִין דִּלְתַּתָּא מִתְעָרִין). All of them are appointed together, these over those (כֻּלְּהוּ אִתְמָנָן כַּחֲדָא, אִלֵּין עַל אִלֵּין), until the night is divided (עַד דְּאִתְפְּלִיג לֵילְיָא). After the night is divided (בָּתַר דְּאִתְפְּלִיג לֵילְיָא), and they are all gathered together (וּמִתְכַּנְּשֵׁי כֻּלְּהוּ), one overseer is appointed over them (אִתְמָנָא עָלַיְיהוּ חַד מְמָנָא), and he gathers together all the camps (וְכָנִישׁ לְכָל מַשִּׁרְיָין), as it is said (כְּמָה דְאַתְּ אָמֵר): “He that gathers all the camps,” etc. (מְאַסֵּף לְכָל הַמַּחֲנוֹת וְגוֹ׳) (Numbers 10:25). And his name is Asaf (וְאָסָף שְׁמֵיהּ), corresponding to that which is below (לָקֳבְלֵיהּ דִּלְתַתָּא). And under his hand all those chiefs are appointed (וּתְחוֹת יְדֵיהּ כָּל אִינּוּן סַרְכִין מְמָנָן), and they proclaim praises (וּמְבַשְּׂרֵי תְּהִלּוֹת).