סנהדרין צז

סנהדרין צז

אֶת סֻכַּת דָּוִיד הַנֹּפֶלֶת״. אֲמַר לֵיהּ: הָכִי אָמַר רַבִּי יוֹחָנָן: דּוֹר שֶׁבֶּן דָּוִד בָּא בּוֹ, תַּלְמִידֵי חֲכָמִים מִתְמַעֲטִים, וְהַשְּׁאָר עֵינֵיהֶם כָּלוֹת בְּיָגוֹן וַאֲנָחָה, וְצָרוֹת רַבּוֹת וּגְזֵרוֹת קָשׁוֹת מִתְחַדְּשׁוֹת, עַד שֶׁהָרִאשׁוֹנָה פְּקוּדָה, שְׁנִיָּה מְמַהֶרֶת לָבֹא.

the Tabernacle of David that is fallen [hanofelet]” (Amos 9:11). That is why the Messiah is called bar nifli. Rabbi Yitzḥak said to him that this is what Rabbi Yoḥanan says: During the generation in which the Messiah, son of David, comes, Torah scholars decrease; and as for the rest of the people, their eyes fail with sorrow and grief, and troubles increase. And the harsh decrees will be introduced; before the first passes the second quickly comes.

תָּנוּ רַבָּנַן: שָׁבוּעַ שֶׁבֶּן דָּוִד בָּא בּוֹ, שָׁנָה רִאשׁוֹנָה מִתְקַיֵּים מִקְרָא זֶה ״וְהִמְטַרְתִּי עַל עִיר אֶחָת וְעַל עִיר אַחַת לֹא אַמְטִיר״. שְׁנִיָּה, חִיצֵּי רָעָב מִשְׁתַּלְּחִים. שְׁלִישִׁית, רָעָב גָּדוֹל, וּמֵתִים אֲנָשִׁים וְנָשִׁים וָטַף, חֲסִידִים וְאַנְשֵׁי מַעֲשֶׂה, וְתוֹרָה מִשְׁתַּכַּחַת מִלּוֹמְדֶיהָ. בִּרְבִיעִית, שׂוֹבַע וְאֵינוֹ שׂוֹבַע. בַּחֲמִישִׁית, שׂוֹבַע גָּדוֹל, וְאוֹכְלִין וְשׁוֹתִין וּשְׂמֵחִין, וְתוֹרָה חוֹזֶרֶת לְלוֹמְדֶיהָ. בְּשִׁשִּׁית, קוֹלוֹת. בִּשְׁבִיעִית, מִלְחָמוֹת. בְּמוֹצָאֵי שְׁבִיעִית, בֶּן דָּוִד בָּא.

The Sages taught in a baraita: With regard to the seven-year period, i.e., the Sabbatical cycle, during which the Messiah, son of David, comes: During the first year, this verse will be fulfilled: “And I will cause it to rain upon one city and cause it not to rain upon another city” (Amos 4:7). During the second year of that period, arrows of famine will be shot, indicating that there will be famine only in certain places. During the third year there will be a great famine, and men, women, children, the pious, and men of action will die, and the Torah is forgotten by those who study it. During the fourth year there will be plenty but not great plenty. During the fifth year there will be great plenty and they will eat, and drink, and rejoice, and the Torah will return to those who study it. During the sixth year, heavenly voices will be heard. During the Sabbatical Year, wars, e.g., the war of Gog and Magog, will be waged involving the Jewish people. During the year after the conclusion of the Sabbatical Year, the son of David will come.

אָמַר רַב יוֹסֵף: הָא כַּמָּה שָׁבוּעֵי דַּהֲוָה כֵּן, וְלָא אֲתָא! אָמַר אַבָּיֵי: בְּשִׁשִּׁית קוֹלוֹת, בִּשְׁבִיעִית מִלְחָמוֹת – מִי הֲוָה? וְעוֹד, כְּסִדְרָן מִי הֲוָה?

Rav Yosef said: Haven’t there been several Sabbatical cycles during which events transpired in that manner and nevertheless, the Messiah did not come? Abaye said: Have the phenomena: During the sixth year, heavenly voices, and during the Sabbatical Year, wars, transpired? And furthermore, have all these phenomena transpired in the order in which they were listed in the baraita?

״אֲשֶׁר חֵרְפוּ אוֹיְבֶיךָ ה׳ אֲשֶׁר חֵרְפוּ עִקְּבוֹת מְשִׁיחֶךָ״. תַּנְיָא: רַבִּי יְהוּדָה אוֹמֵר, דּוֹר שֶׁבֶּן דָּוִד בָּא בּוֹ – בֵּית הַוַּועַד יִהְיֶה לִזְנוּת, וְהַגָּלִיל יֶחֱרַב, וְהַגַּבְלָן יֵאשַׁם, וְאַנְשֵׁי גְבוּל יְסוֹבְבוּ מֵעִיר לָעִיר וְלֹא יְחוֹנָנוּ, וְחׇכְמַת הַסּוֹפְרִים תִּסְרַח, וְיִרְאֵי חֵטְא יִמָּאֵסוּ, וּפְנֵי הַדּוֹר כִּפְנֵי כֶלֶב.

The verse states: “That Your enemies taunted, Lord, that they have taunted the footsteps of Your anointed” (Psalms 89:52). It is taught in a baraita that Rabbi Yehuda says: During the generation that the son of David comes, the hall of the assembly of the Sages will be designated for prostitution, and the Galilee will be destroyed, and the Gavlan, i.e., Bashan, will be desolate, and the residents of the border who flee the neighboring gentiles will circulate from city to city and will receive no sympathy. The wisdom of scholars will diminish, and sin-fearing people will be despised. And the face of the generation will be like the face of a dog in its impudence and shamelessness.

״וְהָאֱמֶת נֶעְדֶּרֶת״, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר: ״וַתְּהִי הָאֱמֶת נֶעְדֶּרֶת וְסָר מֵרָע מִשְׁתּוֹלֵל״. מַאי ״וַתְּהִי הָאֱמֶת נֶעְדֶּרֶת״? אָמְרִי דְּבֵי רַב: מְלַמֵּד שֶׁנַּעֲשֵׂית עֲדָרִים עֲדָרִים וְהוֹלֶכֶת לָהּ. מַאי ״וְסָר מֵרָע מִשְׁתּוֹלֵל״? אָמְרִי דְּבֵי רַבִּי שֵׁילָא: כׇּל מִי שֶׁסָּר מֵרָע מִשְׁתּוֹלֵל עַל הַבְּרִיּוֹת.

And the truth will be lacking, as it is stated: “And the truth is lacking [ne’ederet], and he who departs from evil is negated” (Isaiah 59:15). What is the meaning of the phrase: And the truth is lacking [ne’ederet]? The Sages of the study hall of Rav said: This teaches that truth will become like so many flocks [adarim] and walk away. What is the meaning of the phrase: “And he that departs from evil is negated”? The Sages of the study hall of Rabbi Sheila said: Anyone who deviates from evil is deemed insane by the people.

אָמַר רָבָא: מֵרֵישׁ הֲוָה אָמֵינָא, לֵיכָּא קוּשְׁטָא בְּעָלְמָא. אֲמַר לִי הָהוּא מֵרַבָּנַן, וְרַב טָבוּת שְׁמֵיהּ – וְאָמְרִי לַהּ רַב טָבְיוֹמֵי שְׁמֵיהּ – דְּאִי הֲווֹ יָהֲבִי לֵיהּ כֹּל חֲלָלֵי דְּעָלְמָא לָא הֲוָה מְשַׁנֵּי בְּדִיבּוּרֵיהּ. זִימְנָא חֲדָא אִיקְּלַעִי לְהָהוּא אַתְרָא, וְקוּשְׁטָא שְׁמֵיהּ, וְלָא הֲווֹ מְשַׁנֵּי בְּדִיבּוּרַיְיהוּ, וְלָא הֲוָה מָיֵית אִינִישׁ מֵהָתָם בְּלָא זִימְנֵיהּ. נְסֵיבִי אִיתְּתָא מִינְּהוֹן, וַהֲווֹ לִי תְּרֵין בְּנִין מִינַּהּ.

§ Concerning the lack of truth, Rava says: Initially I would say that there is no truth anywhere in the world. There was a certain one of the Sages, and Rav Tavut is his name, and some say Rav Tavyomei is his name, who was so honest that if they were to give him the entire world, he would not deviate from the truth in his statement. He said to me: One time I happened to come to a certain place, and Truth is its name, and its residents would not deviate from the truth in their statements, and no person from there would die prematurely. I married a woman from among them, and I had two sons from her.

יוֹמָא חַד הֲוָה יָתְבָא דְּבֵיתְהוּ וְקָא חָיְיפָא רֵישָׁא. אֲתַאי שִׁיבָבְתַהּ, טְרַפָא אַדַּשָּׁא. סְבַרִי: לָאו אוֹרַח אַרְעָא. אֲמַרִי לַהּ: לֵיתַהּ הָכָא. שְׁכִיבוּ לֵיהּ תְּרֵין בְּנֵיהּ. אֲתוֹ אִינָשֵׁי דְּאַתְרָא לְקַמֵּיהּ, אֲמַרוּ לֵיהּ: מַאי הַאי? אֲמַר לְהוּ: הָכִי הֲוָה מַעֲשֶׂה. אֲמַרוּ לֵיהּ: בְּמָטוּתָא מִינָּךְ, פּוֹק מֵאַתְרִין וְלָא תְּגָרֵי בְּהוּ מוֹתָנָא בְּהָנָךְ אִינָשֵׁי.

One day his wife was sitting and washing the hair on her head. Her neighbor came and knocked on the door. He thought: It is not proper conduct to tell the neighbor that his wife is bathing. He said to her: She is not here. Since he deviated from the truth his two sons died. The people residing in that place came before him and said to him: What is the meaning of this? He said to them: This was the nature of the incident, and told them what happened. They said to him: Please leave our place and do not provoke premature death upon these people.

תַּנְיָא: רַבִּי נְהוֹרַאי אוֹמֵר, דּוֹר שֶׁבֶּן דָּוִד בָּא בּוֹ – נְעָרִים יַלְבִּינוּ פְּנֵי זְקֵנִים, וּזְקֵנִים יַעַמְדוּ לִפְנֵי נְעָרִים, וּבַת קָמָה בְּאִמָּהּ, וְכַלָּה בַּחֲמוֹתָהּ, וּפְנֵי הַדּוֹר כִּפְנֵי כֶלֶב, וְאֵין הַבֵּן מִתְבַּיֵּישׁ מֵאָבִיו.

The Gemara resumes its discussion of the messianic period. It is taught in a baraita that Rabbi Nehorai says: During the generation in which the son of David comes, youths will humiliate elders and elders will stand in deference before youths, and a daughter will rebel against her mother, and a bride against her mother-in-law, and the face of the generation will be like the face of a dog, and a son will not be ashamed before his father.

תַּנְיָא: רַבִּי נְחֶמְיָה אוֹמֵר, דּוֹר שֶׁבֶּן דָּוִד בָּא בּוֹ, הָעַזּוּת תִּרְבֶּה, וְהַיּוֹקָר יְעַוֵּת, וְהַגֶּפֶן יִתֵּן פִּרְיוֹ וְהַיַּיִן בְּיוֹקֶר, וְנֶהֱפָכָה כׇּל הַמַּלְכוּת לְמִינוּת, וְאֵין תּוֹכֵחָה. מְסַיַּיע לֵיהּ לְרַבִּי יִצְחָק, דְּאָמַר רַבִּי יִצְחָק: אֵין בֶּן דָּוִד בָּא עַד שֶׁתִּתְהַפֵּךְ כׇּל הַמַּלְכוּת לְמִינוּת. אָמַר רָבָא: מַאי קְרָא? ״כֻּלּוֹ הָפַךְ לָבָן טָהוֹר הוּא״.

It is taught in a baraita that Rabbi Neḥemya says: During the generation that the son of David comes, arrogance will proliferate and the cost of living will corrupt people so they will engage in deceit. The vine will produce its fruit, and nevertheless, the wine will be costly. And the entire gentile monarchy will be converted to the heresy of Christianity, and there will be no inclination among the people to accept rebuke. This baraita supports the opinion of Rabbi Yitzḥak, as Rabbi Yitzḥak says: The son of David will not come until the entire kingdom will be converted to heresy. Rava says: What is the verse from which this statement is derived? It is the verse: “It is all turned white; he is ritually pure” (Leviticus 13:13). One is a leper and ritually impure only if he has a leprous mark, however small, but not if his skin is completely leprous. Similarly, the world will be redeemed only when the Jewish people reach their lowest point.

תָּנוּ רַבָּנַן: ״כִּי יָדִין ה׳ עַמּוֹ [וְגוֹ׳] כִּי יִרְאֶה כִּי אָזְלַת יָד וְאֶפֶס עָצוּר וְעָזוּב״. אֵין בֶּן דָּוִד בָּא עַד שֶׁיִּרְבּוּ הַמָּסוֹרוֹת. דָּבָר אַחֵר: עַד שֶׁיִּתְמַעֲטוּ הַתַּלְמִידִים. דָּבָר אַחֵר: עַד שֶׁתִּכְלֶה פְּרוּטָה מִן הַכִּיס. דָּבָר אַחֵר: עַד שֶׁיִּתְיָיאֲשׁוּ מִן הַגְּאוּלָּה, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר: ״וְאֶפֶס עָצוּר וְעָזוּב״ – כִּבְיָכוֹל אֵין סוֹמֵךְ וְעוֹזֵר לְיִשְׂרָאֵל.

The Sages taught in a baraita: The verse states: “For the Lord shall judge His people and atone for His servants, when He sees that their power is gone and there is none shut up or left” (Deuteronomy 32:36). From the phrase “their power is gone” it is derived that the son of David will not come until informers will proliferate. Alternatively, the Messiah will not come until the number of students of Torah diminishes. Alternatively, the Messiah will not come until the peruta will cease from the purse. Alternatively, the Messiah will not come until they despair from the redemption, as it is stated: “And there is none shut up or left,” as though there were no supporter or helper for the Jewish people.

כִּי הָא דְּרַבִּי זֵירָא, כִּי הֲוָה מַשְׁכַּח רַבָּנַן דְּמִעַסְּקִי בֵּיהּ, אֲמַר לְהוּ: בְּמָטוּתָא, בָּעֵינָא מִנַּיְיכוּ לָא תְּרַחֲקוּהּ, דִּתְנֵינָא: שְׁלֹשָׁה בָּאִין בְּהֶיסַּח הַדַּעַת, אֵלּוּ הֵן: מָשִׁיחַ, מְצִיאָה, וְעַקְרָב.

This is as in that practice of Rabbi Zeira, who, when he would find Sages who were engaging in discussions about the coming of the Messiah, said to them: Please, I ask of you, do not delay his coming by calculating the end of days. As we learn in a baraita: There are three matters that come only by means of diversion of attention from those matters, and these are they: The Messiah, a lost item, and a scorpion.

אָמַר רַב קַטִּינָא: שֵׁית אַלְפֵי שְׁנֵי הָוֵי עָלְמָא, וְחַד חָרוּב, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר: ״וְנִשְׂגַּב ה׳ לְבַדּוֹ בַּיּוֹם הַהוּא״. אַבָּיֵי אָמַר: תְּרֵי חָרוּב, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר: ״יְחַיֵּינוּ מִיֹּמָיִם בַּיּוֹם הַשְּׁלִישִׁי יְקִמֵנוּ וְנִחְיֶה לְפָנָיו״.

§ Rav Ketina says: Six thousand years is the duration of the world, and it is in ruins for one thousand years. The duration of the period during which the world is in ruins is derived from a verse, as it is stated: “And the Lord alone shall be exalted on that day” (Isaiah 2:11), and the day of God lasts one thousand years. Abaye says: It is in ruins for two thousand years, as it is stated: “After two days He will revive us; in the third day He will revive us, and we shall live in His presence” (Hosea 6:2).

תַּנְיָא כְּוָתֵיהּ דְּרַב קַטִּינָא: כְּשֵׁם שֶׁהַשְּׁבִיעִית מְשַׁמֶּטֶת שָׁנָה אַחַת לְשֶׁבַע שָׁנִים, כָּךְ הָעוֹלָם מְשַׁמֵּט אֶלֶף שָׁנִים לְשִׁבְעַת אֲלָפִים שָׁנָה, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר: ״וְנִשְׂגַּב ה׳ לְבַדּוֹ בַּיּוֹם הַהוּא״, וְאוֹמֵר: ״מִזְמוֹר שִׁיר לְיוֹם הַשַּׁבָּת״ – יוֹם שֶׁכּוּלּוֹ שַׁבָּת. וְאוֹמֵר: ״כִּי אֶלֶף שָׁנִים בְּעֵינֶיךָ כְּיוֹם אֶתְמוֹל כִּי יַעֲבֹר״.

It is taught in a baraita in accordance with the opinion of Rav Ketina: Just as the Sabbatical Year abrogates debts once in seven years, so too, the world abrogates its typical existence for one thousand years in every seven thousand years, as it is stated: “And the Lord alone shall be exalted on that day,” and it states: “A psalm, a song for the Shabbat day” (Psalms 92:1), meaning a day, i.e., one thousand years, that is entirely Shabbat. And it says in explanation of the equation between one day and one thousand years: “For a thousand years in Your eyes are but like yesterday when it is past, and like a watch in the night” (Psalms 90:4).

תָּנָא דְּבֵי אֵלִיָּהוּ: שֵׁשֶׁת אֲלָפִים שָׁנָה הָוֵי עָלְמָא, שְׁנֵי אֲלָפִים תּוֹהוּ, שְׁנֵי אֲלָפִים תּוֹרָה, שְׁנֵי אֲלָפִים יְמוֹת הַמָּשִׁיחַ.

The school of Eliyahu taught: Six thousand years is the duration of the world. Two thousand of the six thousand years are characterized by chaos; two thousand years are characterized by Torah, from the era of the Patriarchs until the end of the mishnaic period; and two thousand years are the period of the coming of the Messiah.

וּבַעֲוֹנוֹתֵינוּ שֶׁרַבּוּ, יָצְאוּ מֵהֶם מָה שֶׁיֵּצְאוּ.

That is the course that history was to take, but due to our many sins, the Messiah did not come after four thousand years passed, and furthermore, the years that elapsed since then, which were to have been the messianic era, have elapsed.

אֲמַר לֵיהּ אֵלִיָּהוּ לְרַב יְהוּדָה אֲחוּהּ דְּרַב סַלָּא חֲסִידָא: אֵין הָעוֹלָם פָּחוֹת מִשְּׁמוֹנִים וַחֲמִשָּׁה יוֹבְלוֹת, וּבַיּוֹבֵל הָאַחֲרוֹן בֶּן דָּוִד בָּא. אֲמַר לֵיהּ: בִּתְחִילָּתוֹ אוֹ בְּסוֹפוֹ? אֲמַר לֵיהּ: אֵינִי יוֹדֵעַ. כָּלֶה אוֹ אֵינוֹ כָּלֶה? אֲמַר לֵיהּ: אֵינִי יוֹדֵעַ. רַב אָשֵׁי אָמַר: הָכִי אֲמַר לֵיהּ: עַד הָכָא לָא תִּיסְתַּכֵּי לֵיהּ, מִכָּאן וְאֵילָךְ אִיסְתַּכֵּי לֵיהּ.

Elijah the prophet said to Rav Yehuda, brother of Rav Sala Ḥasida: The world will exist no fewer than eighty-five Jubilee cycles, or 4,250 years. And during the final Jubilee, the son of David will come. Rav Yehuda said to Elijah: Will the Messiah come during the beginning of the Jubilee or during its end? Elijah said to Rav Yehuda: I do not know. Rav Yehuda asked: Will this last Jubilee cycle end before the Messiah comes or will it not yet end before his coming? Elijah said to him: I do not know. Rav Ashi says: This is what Elijah said to him: Until that time do not anticipate his coming; from this point forward anticipate his coming. Elijah did not inform Rav Yehuda of the date of the coming of the Messiah.

שְׁלַח לֵיהּ רַב חָנָן בַּר תַּחְלִיפָא לְרַב יוֹסֵף: מָצָאתִי אָדָם אֶחָד וּבְיָדוֹ מְגִילָּה אַחַת כְּתוּבָה אַשּׁוּרִית וּלְשׁוֹן קֹדֶשׁ. אָמַרְתִּי לוֹ: זוֹ מִנַּיִין לָךְ? אָמַר לִי: לַחֲיָילוֹת שֶׁל רוֹמִי נִשְׂכַּרְתִּי וּבֵין גִּינְזֵי רוֹמִי מְצָאתִיהָ. וְכָתוּב בָּהּ: לְאַחַר אַרְבַּעַת אֲלָפִים וּמָאתַיִם וְתִשְׁעִים וְאֶחָד שָׁנָה לִבְרִיאָתוֹ שֶׁל עוֹלָם, הָעוֹלָם יִתּוֹם. מֵהֶן מִלְחֲמוֹת תַּנִּינִים, מֵהֶן מִלְחָמוֹת גּוֹג וּמָגוֹג, וּשְׁאָר יְמוֹת הַמָּשִׁיחַ. וְאֵין הַקָּדוֹשׁ בָּרוּךְ הוּא מְחַדֵּשׁ אֶת עוֹלָמוֹ אֶלָּא לְאַחַר שִׁבְעַת אֲלָפִים שָׁנָה. רַב אַחָא בְּרֵיהּ דְּרָבָא אָמַר: לְאַחַר חֲמֵשֶׁת אֲלָפִים שָׁנָה אִיתְּמַר.

Rav Ḥanan bar Taḥlifa sent a message to Rav Yosef: I found one man, and in his hand there was one scroll written in Ashurit script and in the sacred tongue, Hebrew. I said to him: From where did this scroll come into your possession? He said to me: I was hired to serve in the Roman army and I found the scroll among the Roman archives. It was clear that the scroll was written by Jews, not Romans. And it is written in the scroll: After 4,291 years have elapsed from the creation of the world, the world will end; during those years there will be the wars of the sea monsters between the leviathan and the animals, and among those years there will be the wars of Gog and Magog and the remaining years of the messianic period. Then the world will be destroyed. And the Holy One, Blessed be He, will renew His world only after the passage of seven thousand years. Rav Aḥa, son of Rava, says that it was stated: After the passage of five thousand years.

תַּנְיָא: רַבִּי נָתָן אוֹמֵר, מִקְרָא זֶה נוֹקֵב וְיוֹרֵד עַד תְּהוֹם: ״כִּי עוֹד חֲזוֹן לַמּוֹעֵד וְיָפֵחַ לַקֵּץ וְלֹא יְכַזֵּב אִם יִתְמַהְמָהּ חַכֵּה לוֹ כִּי בֹא יָבֹא לֹא יְאַחֵר״.

§ It is taught in a baraita that Rabbi Natan says: This verse penetrates and descends until the depths; just as the depths are unfathomable, so too, the period depicted in the following verse is unquantifiable. “For the vision is yet for the appointed time; and it declares of the end, and does not lie; though it tarry, wait for it, because it will surely come; it will not delay” (Habakkuk 2:3).

לֹא כְּרַבּוֹתֵינוּ שֶׁהָיוּ דּוֹרְשִׁין: ״עַד עִדָּן עִדָּנִין וּפְלַג עִדָּן״.

The Messiah will come not in accordance with the opinion of our Rabbis, who would interpret the verse: “For a period and periods and a half period” (Daniel 7:25), to mean that the duration of the ultimate exile will be three and a half times the duration of the period of the exile in Egypt.

וְלָא כְּרַבִּי שִׂמְלַאי, שֶׁהָיָה דּוֹרֵשׁ: ״הֶאֱכַלְתָּם לֶחֶם דִּמְעָה וַתַּשְׁקֵמוֹ בִּדְמָעוֹת שְׁלִישׁ״.

And the Messiah will come not in accordance with the opinion of Rabbi Simlai, who would interpret the verse: “You have fed them with the bread of tears and have given them tears to drink in great measure [shalish]” (Psalms 80:6), to mean that the duration of the ultimate exile will be three times the duration of the period of the exile in Egypt.

וְלָא כְּרַבִּי עֲקִיבָא, שֶׁהָיָה דּוֹרֵשׁ: ״עוֹד אַחַת מְעַט הִיא וַאֲנִי מַרְעִישׁ אֶת הַשָּׁמַיִם וְאֶת הָאָרֶץ״.

And the Messiah will come not in accordance with the opinion of Rabbi Akiva, who would interpret the verse: “Yet once, it is a little while, and I will shake the heavens and the earth” (Haggai 2:6), to mean that the redemption would transpire soon after the destruction of the Temple.

אֶלָּא מַלְכוּת רִאשׁוֹנָה – שִׁבְעִים שָׁנָה, מַלְכוּת שְׁנִיָּה – חֲמִשִּׁים וּשְׁתַּיִם, וּמַלְכוּת בֶּן כּוֹזֵיבָא – שְׁתֵּי שָׁנִים וּמֶחֱצָה.

Rather, the first, great, Hasmonean monarchy ruled seventy years. The second kingdom, of Herod and his descendants, ruled fifty-two years, and the duration of the monarchy of bar Koziva, or bar Kokheva, was two and a half years. The duration of the exile that follows is unknown.

מַאי ״וְיָפֵחַ לַקֵּץ וְלֹא יְכַזֵּב״? אָמַר רַבִּי שְׁמוּאֵל בַּר נַחְמָנִי אָמַר רַבִּי יוֹנָתָן: תִּיפַּח עַצְמָן שֶׁל מְחַשְּׁבֵי קִיצִּין, שֶׁהָיוּ אוֹמְרִים כֵּיוָן שֶׁהִגִּיעַ (אֶת) הַקֵּץ וְלֹא בָּא – שׁוּב אֵינוֹ בָּא. אֶלָּא חַכֵּה לוֹ, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר: ״אִם יִתְמַהְמָהּ חַכֵּה לוֹ״. שֶׁמָּא תֹּאמַר: אָנוּ מְחַכִּין וְהוּא אֵינוֹ מְחַכֶּה? תַּלְמוּד לוֹמַר: ״וְלָכֵן יְחַכֶּה ה׳ לַחֲנַנְכֶם וְלָכֵן יָרוּם לְרַחֶמְכֶם״.

The Gemara asks: What is the meaning of the phrase “And it declares [veyafe’aḥ] of the end, and does not lie”? Rabbi Shmuel bar Naḥmani says that Rabbi Yonatan says: May those who calculate the end of days be cursed [tippaḥ], as they would say once the end of days that they calculated arrived and the Messiah did not come, that he will no longer come at all. Rather, the proper behavior is to continue to wait for his coming, as it is stated: “Though it tarry, wait for it.” Lest you say we are expectantly awaiting the end of days and the Holy One, Blessed be He, is not awaiting the end of days and does not want to redeem His people, the verse states: “And therefore will the Lord wait, to be gracious to you; and therefore will He be exalted, to have mercy upon you; for the Lord is a God of judgment; happy are all they who wait for Him” (Isaiah 30:18).

וְכִי מֵאַחַר שֶׁאָנוּ מְחַכִּים, וְהוּא מְחַכֶּה, מִי מְעַכֵּב? מִדַּת הַדִּין מְעַכֶּבֶת. וְכִי מֵאַחַר שֶׁמִּדַּת הַדִּין מְעַכֶּבֶת, אָנוּ לָמָּה מְחַכִּין? לְקַבֵּל שָׂכָר, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר: ״אַשְׁרֵי כׇּל חוֹכֵי לוֹ״.

And seemingly, since we are awaiting the end of days and the Holy One, Blessed be He, is also awaiting the end of days, who is preventing the coming of the Messiah? It is the divine attribute of judgment that prevents his coming, as it is written: “For the Lord is a God of judgment,” and we are not worthy. And since the attribute of judgment prevents the coming of the Messiah and we are not worthy of redemption, why do we await his coming daily? We do so in order to receive a reward for awaiting his coming, as it is stated: “Happy are all they who wait for Him.”

אָמַר אַבָּיֵי: לָא פָּחֵית עָלְמָא מִתְּלָתִין וְשִׁיתָּא צַדִּיקֵי דִּמְקַבְּלִי אַפֵּי שְׁכִינָה בְּכֹל דָּרָא, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר ״אַשְׁרֵי כׇּל חוֹכֵי לוֹ״ – ״לוֹ״ בְּגִימַטְרִיָּא תְּלָתִין וְשִׁיתָּא הָווּ. אִינִי? וְהָאָמַר רָבָא: דָּרָא דְּקַמֵּי קוּדְשָׁא בְּרִיךְ הוּא תַּמְנֵי סְרֵי אַלְפֵי פַּרְסָה הָוֵאי, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר ״סָבִיב שְׁמֹנָה עָשָׂר אָלֶף״! לָא קַשְׁיָא: הָא דְּמִסְתַּכְּלִי בְּאִיסְפַּקְלַרְיָא הַמְּאִירָה, הָא דְּמִסְתַּכְּלִי בְּאִיסְפַּקְלַרְיָא שֶׁאֵינָהּ מְאִירָה.

Apropos that verse, Abaye said: The world has no fewer than thirty-six righteous people in each generation who greet the Divine Presence, as it is stated: “Happy are all they who wait for Him [lo]” (Isaiah 30:18). The numerical value of lo, spelled lamed vav, is thirty-six. The Gemara asks: Is that so? But doesn’t Rava say: The row of the righteous before the Holy One, Blessed be He, extends eighteen thousand parasangs, as it is stated with regard to the city of God at the end of days: “It shall be eighteen thousand reeds round about, and the name of the city from that day shall be: The Lord is there” (Ezekiel 48:35)? The Gemara answers: It is not difficult; this statement of Abaye refers to the thirty-six righteous people who view the Divine Presence through a luminous crystal [be’ispaklarya], and that statement of Rava refers to the multitudes who view the Divine Presence through a crystal that is not luminous.

וּמִי נְפִישִׁי כּוּלֵּי הַאי? וְהָאָמַר חִזְקִיָּה אָמַר רַבִּי יִרְמְיָה מִשּׁוּם רַבִּי שִׁמְעוֹן בֶּן יוֹחַי: רָאִיתִי בְּנֵי עֲלִיָּיה וְהֵן מוּעָטִין. אִם אֶלֶף הֵם – אֲנִי וּבְנִי מֵהֶם, אִם מֵאָה הֵם – אֲנִי וּבְנִי מֵהֶם, אִם שְׁנַיִם הֵם – אֲנִי וּבְנִי הֵם.

The Gemara asks: And are those who view the Divine Presence through a crystal that is luminous so numerous? But doesn’t Ḥizkiyya say that Rabbi Yirmeya says in the name of Rabbi Shimon bar Yoḥai: I have seen members of the group of the spiritually prominent, who are truly righteous, and they are few. If they number one thousand, I and my son are among them. If they number one hundred, I and my son are among them; and if they number two, I and my son are they. Apparently, it is conceivable that there are no more than two who view the Divine Presence through a luminous crystal.

לָא קַשְׁיָא, הָא דְּעָיְילִי בְּבַר, הָא דְּעָיְילִי בְּלָא בַּר.

The Gemara answers: It is not difficult. This statement of Abaye is referring to those who may enter to view the Divine Presence only by requesting and being granted permission [bar] from the angels. That statement of Rabbi Shimon ben Yoḥai is referring to the select few who may enter to view the Divine Presence even without requesting permission, for whom the gates of Heaven are open at all times.

אָמַר רַב: כָּלוּ כׇּל הַקִּיצִּין, וְאֵין הַדָּבָר תָּלוּי אֶלָּא בִּתְשׁוּבָה וּמַעֲשִׂים טוֹבִים. וּשְׁמוּאֵל אָמַר: דַּיּוֹ לָאָבֵל שֶׁיַּעֲמוֹד בְּאֶבְלוֹ. כְּתַנָּאֵי: רַבִּי אֱלִיעֶזֶר אוֹמֵר: אִם יִשְׂרָאֵל עוֹשִׂין תְּשׁוּבָה – נִגְאָלִין, וְאִם לָאו – אֵין נִגְאָלִין. אָמַר לוֹ רַבִּי יְהוֹשֻׁעַ: אִם אֵין עוֹשִׂין תְּשׁוּבָה אֵין נִגְאָלִין? אֶלָּא הַקָּדוֹשׁ בָּרוּךְ הוּא מַעֲמִיד לָהֶן מֶלֶךְ שֶׁגְּזֵרוֹתָיו קָשׁוֹת כְּהָמָן, וְיִשְׂרָאֵל עוֹשִׂין תְּשׁוּבָה וּמַחְזִירָן לְמוּטָב.

§ Rav says: All the ends of days that were calculated passed, and the matter depends only upon repentance and good deeds. When the Jewish people repent, they will be redeemed. And Shmuel says: It is sufficient for the mourner to endure in his mourning to bring about the coming of the Messiah. Even without repentance, they will be worthy of redemption due to the suffering they endured during the exile. The Gemara notes: This dispute is parallel to a dispute between tanna’im: Rabbi Eliezer says: If the Jewish people repent they are redeemed, and if not they are not redeemed. Rabbi Yehoshua said to him: If they do not repent, will they not be redeemed at all? Rather, the Holy One, Blessed be He, will establish a king for them whose decrees are as harsh as those issued by Haman, and the Jewish people will have no choice but to repent, and this will restore them to the right path.

תַּנְיָא אִידַּךְ: רַבִּי אֱלִיעֶזֶר אוֹמֵר, אִם יִשְׂרָאֵל עוֹשִׂין תְּשׁוּבָה – נִגְאָלִין, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר: ״שׁוּבוּ בָּנִים שׁוֹבָבִים אֶרְפָּא מְשׁוּבֹתֵיכֶם״. אָמַר לוֹ רַבִּי יְהוֹשֻׁעַ: וַהֲלֹא כְּבָר נֶאֱמַר: ״חִנָּם נִמְכַּרְתֶּם וְלֹא בְכֶסֶף תִּגָּאֵלוּ״? ״חִנָּם נִמְכַּרְתֶּם״ – בַּעֲבוֹדָה זָרָה, ״וְלֹא בְּכֶסֶף תִּגָּאֵלוּ״ – לֹא בִּתְשׁוּבָה וּמַעֲשִׂים טוֹבִים.

It is taught in another baraita that Rabbi Eliezer says: If the Jewish people repent they are redeemed, as it is stated: “Return, wayward children, I will heal your iniquities” (Jeremiah 3:22). Rabbi Yehoshua said to him: But isn’t it already stated: “So says the Lord: You were sold for naught, and without money you shall be redeemed” (Isaiah 52:3)? Rabbi Yehoshua explains: “You were sold for naught” means you were sold for idol worship, which is a sin with no basis. “And without money you shall be redeemed” means you will be redeemed not through repentance and good deeds, but through the will of God.

אָמַר לוֹ רַבִּי אֱלִיעֶזֶר לְרַבִּי יְהוֹשֻׁעַ: וַהֲלֹא כְּבָר נֶאֱמַר ״שׁוּבוּ אֵלַי וְאָשׁוּבָה אֲלֵיכֶם״? אָמַר לוֹ רַבִּי יְהוֹשֻׁעַ: וַהֲלֹא כְּבָר נֶאֱמַר ״כִּי אָנֹכִי בָּעַלְתִּי בָכֶם וְלָקַחְתִּי אֶתְכֶם אֶחָד מֵעִיר וּשְׁנַיִם מִמִּשְׁפָּחָה וְהֵבֵאתִי אֶתְכֶם צִיּוֹן״?

Rabbi Eliezer said to Rabbi Yehoshua: But isn’t it already stated: “Return to me and I will return to you” (Malachi 3:7)? Rabbi Yehoshua said to him: But isn’t it already stated: “For I have taken you to Myself; and I will take you one from a city and two from a family, and I will bring you to Zion” (Jeremiah 3:14), unconditionally?

אָמַר לוֹ רַבִּי אֱלִיעֶזֶר: וַהֲלֹא כְּבָר נֶאֱמַר ״בְּשׁוּבָה וָנַחַת תִּוָּשֵׁעוּן״? אָמַר לוֹ רַבִּי יְהוֹשֻׁעַ לְרַבִּי אֱלִיעֶזֶר: וַהֲלֹא כְּבָר נֶאֱמַר ״כֹּה אָמַר ה׳ גֹּאֵל יִשְׂרָאֵל קְדוֹשׁוֹ לִבְזֹה נֶפֶשׁ לִמְתָעֵב גּוֹי לְעֶבֶד מֹשְׁלִים

Rabbi Eliezer said to him: But isn’t it already stated: “In ease [beshuva] and rest shall you be saved” (Isaiah 30:15), indicating that redemption is dependent upon repentance [teshuva]? Rabbi Yehoshua said to Rabbi Eliezer: But isn’t it already stated: “So says the Lord, Redeemer of Israel, his Holy One, to him who is despised of man, to him who is abhorred of the nation, to a servant of rulers: