NOW ABRAM WAS NINETY YEARS OLD, ETC. R. Jose discoursed on the text: Thy people are all righteous, they shall inherit the land for ever (Is. 60, 21). He said: ‘Happy are Israel above all peoples, in that the Holy One, blessed be He, has called them righteous. For so we have learnt from tradition that there are a hundred and twenty-eight thousand winged creatures who flit about over the world ready to catch up any voice that they hear;
for, as tradition tells us, there is nothing done in the world which does not produce a certain sound, and this soars to the firmament and is caught up by those winged creatures, who carry it aloft to be judged, whether for good or ill, as it is written, “For a bird of the heaven shall carry the voice and that which hath wings shall tell the matter” (Eccl. 10, 20).’
At what time do they judge the voice? R. Hiya said: ‘At the time when a man is asleep in his bed, when his soul leaves him and testifies against him; it is then that the voice is judged, for so it says, “from her that lieth in thy bosom keep the doors of thy mouth” (Mich. 7, 5), because it is she who testifies against a man.’ R. Judah said: ‘Whatever a man does in the day his soul testifies against him at night.’
We have learnt as follows: R. Eleazar says: ‘At the beginning of the first hour of the night, when the day is expiring and the sun going down, the keeper of the keys of the sun finishes his process through the twelve gates that were open in the day, and they are all closed.
A herald then proclaims to the guardians of the gates, “Each one to his place to lock the gates.” When the herald has finished, all of them come together and go aloft without uttering a sound. Then the accusing angels below begin to stir and to fly about the world, and the moon begins to shine and the trumpeters sound a blast.
At the second blast, the angels of song start up and chant before their Lord. Emissaries of chastisement also start up, and punishment commences in the world. Then the souls of men who are sleeping give their testimony and are declared guilty, but the Holy One, blessed be He, deals kindly with men and allows the soul to return to its place.
At midnight, when the cock crows, a wind blows from the North, but at the same time a current from the South arises and strikes against it, causing it to subside. Then the Holy One, blessed be He, rises as is His wont to disport himself with the righteous in the Garden of Eden.
Happy the portion of the man who rises at that hour to study with zest the Torah, for the Holy One, blessed be He, and all the righteous listen to his voice; for so it is written, “Thou that dwellest in the gardens, the companions hearken for thy voice, cause me to hear it” (S. S. 8, 13).
Nay more, God draws round him a certain thread of grace which secures him the protection both of the higher and the lower angels, as it is written, “By day the Lord will command his grace, and at night I shall chant his song” (Ps. 42, 9).’
R. Hizkiah said: ‘Whoever studies the Torah at that hour has constantly a portion in the future world.’ Said R. Jose to him: ‘What do you mean by “constantly”?’ He replied: ‘I have learnt that at midnight, when the Holy One, blessed be He, enters the Garden of Eden, all the plants of the Garden are watered more plenteously by the stream which is called “the ancient stream” and “the stream of delight”, the waters of which never cease to flow. When a man rises and studies the Torah at this hour, the water of that stream is, as it were, poured on his head and he is watered by it along with the other plants of the Garden of Eden.
Moreover, because all the righteous in the Garden listen to him, he is given a right to be watered by that stream, and in this way he has a portion constantly in the future world.’
R. Abba was journeying from Tiberias to meet other learned scholars at the house of his father-in-law. He was accompanied by his son, R. Jacob. Coming to Kfar Tarsha, they decide to spend the night there. Said R. Abba to his host, ‘Have you a cock here?’ He said, ‘Why?’ ‘Because,’ he said, ‘I want to get up precisely at midnight.’
He answered; ‘You have no need of a cock for that. I have a water-clock by my bed from which the water issues drop by drop till exactly midnight, when all the water is emptied and the wheel swings back with a great noise which wakens the whole house. I made it for the sake of a certain old man who used to get up every night at midnight to study the Torah.’
Said R. Abba, ‘Blessed be God for sending me here.’ At midnight the wheel of the water-clock swung back, and R. Abba and R. Jacob got up. They heard the voice of their host, who was sitting in the lower part of the house with his two sons and saying: ‘It is written: Midnight I will rise to give thanks to thee because of thy righteous judgments (Ps. 119, 62). Since the word “at” is omitted, we may take “Midnight” as an appellation of the Holy One, blessed be He, who is addressed thus by David
Said R. Abba to R. Jacob: ‘Truly we have now an opportunity to associate with the Shekinah.’ So they went and sat by him, and said to him, ‘Repeat what you just said, for it is excellent. Where did you get it from?’ He replied: ‘I learnt it from my grandfather.1Al. ‘Old visitor’.
He told me that during the first three hours of the night the accusing angels below are actively going about the world, but at midnight precisely God enters the Garden of Eden and the accusations below cease.
These nightly ceremonies above take place only at midnight precisely; we know this from what it says of Abraham, that “the night was divided for them” (Gen. 14, 15); also from the words “and it came to pass at the middle of the night” in the account of the Exodus (Ex. 12, 29), and from many other places in the Scripture. David knew this,
because-so the old man told me-his kingship depended on this; and therefore he used to rise at this hour and chant praises, and for this reason he addressed God as “Midnight”. He also said, “I rise to give thanks to Thee for Thy righteous judgements” because this is the fount of justice, and the judgements of earthly kings derive from here; therefore David never neglected to rise and sing praises at this hour.’ R. Abba came and kissed him, saying, ‘Of a surety it is so. Blessed be God who has sent me here!
For night is the time of judgement in every place, as we have fully established, and as has been discussed in the presence of R. Simeon.’ The young son of the inn-keeper thereupon asked: ‘If so, why does it say “midnight”?’ He replied: ‘It is laid down that the heavenly Majesty rises at midnight.’ Said the boy: ‘I can give another explanation.’ Said R. Abba: ‘Speak, my child; for the voice of the Lamp1R. Simeon. will speak through thy mouth.’
He thereupon said: ‘What I have heard is this. Night is in truth the time of the royal judgement, and that judgement extends to all parts alike. Midnight, however, is fed from two sides, from justice and from clemency; only the first half of the night is the time of judgement, but the second half is illumined from the side of clemency (hesed). Therefore David said “Midnight”.’
R. Abba rose and placed his hands on his head and blessed him. He said: ‘I thought indeed that wisdom was to be found only in a few favoured pious ones. Now I see that even children in the generation of R. Simeon are endowed with heavenly wisdom. Happy art thou, R. Simeon! Woe to the generation when thou departest from it!’ So they sat till morning studying the Torah.
R. Abba then discoursed on the text: Thy people are all righteous, they shall for ever inherit the earth, a branch of my planting, etc. (Is. 60, 21). He said: ‘Our colleagues have pointed out that these words cannot be taken literally, seeing how many sinners there are in Israel who transgress the precepts of the Law.
The meaning is, as we have learnt in the esoteric teaching of our Mishnah: “Happy are Israel who bring an acceptable offering to the Almighty by circumcising their sons on the eighth day. They thereby become the portion of the ‘Zaddik (Righteous One) who is the foundation of the world’, and are called righteous; and therefore ‘they shall for ever inherit the earth’.
They are ‘the branch of my planting’: that is, a branch of those shoots which God planted in the Garden of Eden, and of which the ‘earth’ mentioned here is one; hence Israel have a goodly portion in the future world, as it is written ‘the righteous shall inherit the earth’ (Ps. 37, 29).”
וַיְהִי אַבְרָם בֶּן תִּשְׁעִים שָׁנָה וְגו'. רַבִּי יוֹסֵי פָּתַח (ישעיהו ס׳:כ״א) וְעַמֵּךְ כֻּלָּם צַדִּיקִים לְעוֹלָם יִירְשׁוּ אָרֶץ וְגו'. זַכָּאִין אִנּוּן יִשְׂרָאֵל מִכָּל שְׁאָר עַמִּין, דְּקוּדְשָׁא בְּרִיךְ הוּא קָרָא לוֹן צַדִּיקִים. דְּתַנְיָא מֵאָה וְעֶשְׂרִים (ד"א ל"ג וחמש) וּתְמַנְיָא אַלְפֵי מָארֵי דְגַדְּפִין דְּאָזְלִין וְטָאסִין כָּל עָלְמָא וְשָׁמְעִין קָלָא וְאַחֲדִין לֵיהּ לְהַהוּא קָלָא.
NOW ABRAM WAS NINETY YEARS OLD, ETC. R. Jose discoursed on the text: Thy people are all righteous, they shall inherit the land for ever (Is. 60, 21). He said: ‘Happy are Israel above all peoples, in that the Holy One, blessed be He, has called them righteous. For so we have learnt from tradition that there are a hundred and twenty-eight thousand winged creatures who flit about over the world ready to catch up any voice that they hear;
כְּמָה דְּתָנִינָן לֵית לָךְ מִלָּה בְּעָלְמָא דְּלֵית לָהּ קָלָא, וְאָזְלָא וְטָאסָא בָּרְקִיעָא, וְאַחֲדִין לָהּ מָארֵי דְגַדְפִין וְסָלְקִין הַהוּא קָלָא (ד"א למאריהון) דְּאָמְרִין (נ"א דמדין) וְדַיְינִין לָהּ הֵן לְטַב הֵן לְבִישׁ דִּכְתִיב, (קהלת י׳:כ׳) כִּי עוֹף הַשָּׁמַיִם יוֹלִיךְ אֶת הַקּוֹל וְגו'.
for, as tradition tells us, there is nothing done in the world which does not produce a certain sound, and this soars to the firmament and is caught up by those winged creatures, who carry it aloft to be judged, whether for good or ill, as it is written, “For a bird of the heaven shall carry the voice and that which hath wings shall tell the matter” (Eccl. 10, 20).’
אֵימָתַי דָּיְינִין לְהַהוּא קָלָא. רַבִּי חִיָּיא אָמַר בְּשַׁעֲתָא דְּבַּר נָשׁ שָׁכִיב וְנָאִים, וְנִשְׁמְתֵיהּ נָפְקַת מִנֵּיהּ, וְהִיא אַסְהִידַת בֵּיהּ בְּבַּר נָשׁ, וּכְדֵין דָּיְינִין לְהַהוּא קָלָא הֲדָא הוּא דִכְתִיב, (מיכה ז׳:ה׳) מִשֹּׁכֶבֶת חֵיקֶךָ שְׁמֹר פִּתְחֵי פִיךָ. מַאי טַעְמָא, מִשּׁוּם דְּהִיא אַסְהִידַת בְּבַר נָשׁ. רַבִּי יְהוּדָה אָמַר כָּל מַה דְּבַּר נָשׁ עֲבִיד בְּכָל יוֹמָא נִשְׁמָתֵיהּ אַסְהִידַת בֵּיהּ בְּבַר נָשׁ בְּלֵילְיָא.
At what time do they judge the voice? R. Hiya said: ‘At the time when a man is asleep in his bed, when his soul leaves him and testifies against him; it is then that the voice is judged, for so it says, “from her that lieth in thy bosom keep the doors of thy mouth” (Mich. 7, 5), because it is she who testifies against a man.’ R. Judah said: ‘Whatever a man does in the day his soul testifies against him at night.’
תָּאנָא אָמַר רַבִּי אֶלְעָזָר בִּתְחִלַת שַׁעֲתָא קַמַּיְיתָא בְּלֵילְיָא כַּד נָשַׁף יְמָמָא וְעָאל שִׁמְשָׁא מָארֵי דְּמַפְתְּחָן דִּמְמַנָּן עַל שִׁמְשָׁא עָאל בִּתְרֵיסַר תַּרְעִין דִּפְתִיחִין בִּימָמָא, בָּתַר דְּעָל בְּכֻלְהוּ, כָּל אִנּוּן תַּרְעִין סְתִימִין (נ"א פתחין),
We have learnt as follows: R. Eleazar says: ‘At the beginning of the first hour of the night, when the day is expiring and the sun going down, the keeper of the keys of the sun finishes his process through the twelve gates that were open in the day, and they are all closed.
כָּרוֹזָא קָאִים וְשָׁרֵי לְאַכְרָזָא, קָאִים מָאן דְּקָאִים וְאָחִיד לְאִנּוּן מַפְתְּחָן, בָּתַר דְּסִיֵּים כָּרוֹזָא, כָּל אִנּוּן נְטוּרֵי עָלְמָא מִתְכַּנְשִׁין וְסָלְקִין, לֵית מָאן דְּפָתַח (פומא) פִּטְרָא כֹּלָּא מִשְׁתַּכְּכִין. כְּדֵין דִּינִין דִּלְתַתָּא מִתְעָרִין וְאָזְלִין וְשָׁאטִין בְּעָלְמָא, וְסִיהֲרָא שָׁארֵי לְאַנְהָרָא.
A herald then proclaims to the guardians of the gates, “Each one to his place to lock the gates.” When the herald has finished, all of them come together and go aloft without uttering a sound. Then the accusing angels below begin to stir and to fly about the world, and the moon begins to shine and the trumpeters sound a blast.
וּמָארֵי דִיבָבָא תָּקְעִין וּמְיַלְּלִין. תָּקְעִין תִּנְיָינוּת כְּדֵין מִתְעָרֵי שִׁירָתָא וּמְזַמְּרִין קַמֵּי מָארֵיהוֹן, כַּמָּה מָארֵי תְּרֵיסִין קָיְימוּ בְּקִיּוּמַיְיהוּ וְאִתְעָרִין דִּינִין בְּעָלְמָא, כְּדֵין בְּנֵי נָשָׁא נָיְימִין וְנִשְׁמָתָא נָפְקַת וְאַסְהִידַת סַהֲדוּתָא וְאִתְחַיְיבַת בְּדִינָא, וְקוּדְשָׁא בְּרִיךְ הוּא עָבִיד חֶסֶד בְּבַר נָשׁ וְנִשְׁמְתָא תָּבַת לְאַתְרָהּ.
At the second blast, the angels of song start up and chant before their Lord. Emissaries of chastisement also start up, and punishment commences in the world. Then the souls of men who are sleeping give their testimony and are declared guilty, but the Holy One, blessed be He, deals kindly with men and allows the soul to return to its place.
בְּפַלְגוּת לֵילְיָא כַּד צִפֳּרִין מִתְעָרִין, סִטְרָא דְּצָפוֹן אִתְעַר בְּרוּחָא, קָם בְּקִיּוּמֵיהּ שַׁרְבִיטָא דְּבִסְטַר דָּרוֹם וּבָטַשׁ בְּהַהוּא רוּחָא וְשָׁכִיךְ וְאִתְבַּסָּם, כְּדֵין אִתְעַר קוּדְשָׁא בְּרִיךְ הוּא בְּנִימוּסוֹי לְאִשְׁתַּעְשְׁעָא עִם צַדִּיקַיָּא בְּגִנְתָא דְעֵדֶן.
At midnight, when the cock crows, a wind blows from the North, but at the same time a current from the South arises and strikes against it, causing it to subside. Then the Holy One, blessed be He, rises as is His wont to disport himself with the righteous in the Garden of Eden.
בְּהַהוּא שַׁעֲתָא זַכָּאָה חוּלָקֵיהּ דְּבַּר נָשׁ דְּקָאִים לְאִשְׁתַּעֲשַׁע בְּאוֹרַיְיתָא, דְּהָא קוּדְשָׁא בְּרִיךְ הוּא וְכָל צַדִּיקַיָא דִּבְגִנְתָּא דְעֵדֶן כֻּלְהוּ צָיְיתִין לְקָלֵיהּ הֲדָא הוּא דִכְתִיב, (שיר השירים ח׳:י״ג) הַיּוֹשֶׁבֶת בַּגַּנִּים חֲבֵרִים מַקְשִׁיבִים לְקוֹלֵךְ הַשְׁמִיעִנִי.
Happy the portion of the man who rises at that hour to study with zest the Torah, for the Holy One, blessed be He, and all the righteous listen to his voice; for so it is written, “Thou that dwellest in the gardens, the companions hearken for thy voice, cause me to hear it” (S. S. 8, 13).
וְלֹא עוֹד אֶלָּא דְּקוּדְשָׁא בְּרִיךְ הוּא מָשִׁיךְ עֲלֵיהּ חַד חוּטָא דְּחֶסֶ"ד לְמֶהֱוֵי (ד"א ל"ג תדיר) נְטִיר בְּעָלְמָא, דְּהָא עִלָּאִין וְתַתָּאִין נָטְרִין לֵיהּ הֲדָא הוּא דִכְתִיב, (תהילים מ״ב:ט׳) יוֹמָם יְצַוֶּה יְיָ חַסְדּוֹ וּבַלַּיְלָה שִׁירֹה עִמִּי.
Nay more, God draws round him a certain thread of grace which secures him the protection both of the higher and the lower angels, as it is written, “By day the Lord will command his grace, and at night I shall chant his song” (Ps. 42, 9).’
אָמַר רַבִּי חִזְקִיָּה כָּל מַאן דְּאִשְׁתַּדַּל בְּהַאי שַׁעֲתָא בְּאוֹרַיְיתָא וַדַּאי אִית לֵיהּ חוּלָקָא תָּדִיר בְּעָלְמָא דְּאָתֵי. אָמַר רַבִּי יוֹסֵי מַאי טַעְמָא תָּדִּיר. אָמַר לֵיהּ הָכִי אוֹלִיפְנָא דְּכָל פַּלְגוּת לֵילְיָא כַּד קוּדְשָׁא בְּרִיךְ הוּא אִתְעַר בְּגִנְתָא דְעֵדֶן כָּל אִנּוּן נְטִיעָן דְּגִינְתָא אִשְׁתַּקְיָין יַתִּיר מֵהַהוּא נַחֲלָא דְּאִקְרֵי נַחַל קְדוּמִים נַחַל עֲדָנִים דְּלָא פָּסְקוּ מֵימוֹי לְעָלְמִין, כִּבְיָכוֹל הַהוּא דְּקָאִים וְאִשְׁתְּדָּל בְּאוֹרַיְיתָא כְּאִילוּ הַהוּא נַחֲלָא אִתְרַק עַל רֵישֵׁיהּ וְאַשְׁקֵי לֵיהּ בְּגוֹ אִנּוּן נְטִיעָן דִּבְגִנְתָּא דְעֵדֶן.
R. Hizkiah said: ‘Whoever studies the Torah at that hour has constantly a portion in the future world.’ Said R. Jose to him: ‘What do you mean by “constantly”?’ He replied: ‘I have learnt that at midnight, when the Holy One, blessed be He, enters the Garden of Eden, all the plants of the Garden are watered more plenteously by the stream which is called “the ancient stream” and “the stream of delight”, the waters of which never cease to flow. When a man rises and studies the Torah at this hour, the water of that stream is, as it were, poured on his head and he is watered by it along with the other plants of the Garden of Eden.
(אמר רבי יוסי) וְלֹא עוֹד אֶלָּא הוֹאִיל וְכֻלְהוּ צַדִּיקַיָּיא דִּבְגוֹ גִנְתָא דְעֵדֶן צַיְיתִין לֵיהּ, חוּלְקָא שַׁוְיָין לֵיהּ בְּהַהוּא שַׁקְיוּ דְּנַחֲלָא. אִשְׁתְּכַח דְּאִית לֵיהּ חוּלָקָא תָּדִיר בְּעָלְמָא דְאָתֵי.
Moreover, because all the righteous in the Garden listen to him, he is given a right to be watered by that stream, and in this way he has a portion constantly in the future world.’
רַבִּי אַבָּא הֲוָה אָתֵי מִטְבֶרְיָה לְבֵי טְרוֹנְיָא דְּחָמוּי, וְרַבִּי יַעֲקֹב בְּרֵיהּ הֲוָה עִמֵּיהּ, אִעָרְעוּ בִּכְפַר טַרְשָׁא. כַּד בָּעוּ לְמִשְׁכַּב, אָמַר רַבִּי אַבָּא לְמָרֵיהּ דְּבֵיתָא אִית הָכָא תַּרְנְגוֹלָא. אָמַר לֵיהּ מָארָא דְבֵיתָא, אַמַּאי. אָמַר לֵיהּ בְּגִין דְּקָאִימְנָא בְּפַלְגוּת לֵילְיָא מַמָּשׁ.
R. Abba was journeying from Tiberias to meet other learned scholars at the house of his father-in-law. He was accompanied by his son, R. Jacob. Coming to Kfar Tarsha, they decide to spend the night there. Said R. Abba to his host, ‘Have you a cock here?’ He said, ‘Why?’ ‘Because,’ he said, ‘I want to get up precisely at midnight.’
אָמַר לֵיהּ לָא אִצְטְרִיךְ, דְּהָא סִימָנָא לִי בְּבֵיתָא דְּהָדֵין טִקְלָא דְּקַמֵּי עַרְסָאי מָלִינָא לֵיהּ מַיָא וְנָטִיף טִיף טִיף, בְּפַלְגוּת לֵילְיָא מַמָּשׁ אִתְרָקוּ כֻּלְהוּ מַיָא, וְאִתְגַּלְגָּל הָאי קִיטְפָא וְנָהִים, וְאִשְׁתְּמַע קָלֵיהּ בְּכָל בֵּיתָא, וּכְדֵין הוּא פַלְגּוּת לֵילְיָא מַמָּשׁ, וְחָד סָבָא הֲוָה לִי דַּהֲוָה קָם בְּכָל פַּלְגּוּת לֵילְיָא וְאִשְׁתַּדַּל בְּאוֹרַיְיתָא, וּבְגִינֵי כָּךְ עָבַד הָאי,
He answered; ‘You have no need of a cock for that. I have a water-clock by my bed from which the water issues drop by drop till exactly midnight, when all the water is emptied and the wheel swings back with a great noise which wakens the whole house. I made it for the sake of a certain old man who used to get up every night at midnight to study the Torah.’
אָמַר רִבִּי אַבָּא בְּרִיךְ רַחֲמָנָא דְשָׁדַרְנִי הָכָא, בְּפַלְגּוּת לֵילְיָא נָהִים הַהוּא גַּלְגָּלָא דְקִיטְפָא, קָמוּ רִבִּי אַבָּא וְרִבִּי יַעֲקֹב. שָׁמְעוּ לְהַהוּא גַבְרָא דַּהֲוָה יָתִיב בְשִׁפּוּלֵי בֵיתָא וּתְרִין בְּנוֹי עִמֵּיהּ, וַהֲוָה אָמַר כְּתִיב (תהלים קיט סב) חֲצוֹת לַיְלָה אָקוּם לְהוֹדוֹת לְךָ עַל מִשְׁפְּטֵי צִדְקֶךָ, מַאי קָא חָמָא דָוִד דְּאִיהוּ אָמַר חֲצוֹת לַיְלָה וְלָא בַּחֲצוֹת לַיְלָה. אֶלָּא חֲצוֹת לַיְלָה וַדַּאי, לְקוּדְשָׁא בְּרִיךְ הוּא אָמַר הָכִי.
Said R. Abba, ‘Blessed be God for sending me here.’ At midnight the wheel of the water-clock swung back, and R. Abba and R. Jacob got up. They heard the voice of their host, who was sitting in the lower part of the house with his two sons and saying: ‘It is written: Midnight I will rise to give thanks to thee because of thy righteous judgments (Ps. 119, 62). Since the word “at” is omitted, we may take “Midnight” as an appellation of the Holy One, blessed be He, who is addressed thus by David
וְכִי קוּדְשָׁא בְּרִיךְ הוּא הָכִי אִקְרֵי. אִין, דְּהָא חֲצוֹת לַיְלָה מַמָּשׁ קוּדְשָׁא בְּרִיךְ הוּא אִשְׁתְּכַח וְסִיעָתָא דִילֵיהּ וּכְדֵין הִיא שַׁעֲתָא דְּעָיִיל בְּגִנְתָא דְעֵדֶן לְאִשְׁתַּעְשְׁעָא עִם צַדִיקַיָא.
because He is to be found with His retinue at midnight, that being the hour when He enters the Garden of Eden to converse with the righteous.’
אָמַר רַבִּי אַבָּא לְרַבִּי יַעֲקֹב וַדַּאי נִשְׁתַּתֵּף בִּשְׁכִינְתָּא וְנִתְחַבַּר כְּחֲדָא, קָרִיבוּ וְיָתִיבוּ עִמֵּיהּ, אָמְרוּ לֵיהּ אֵימָא מִלָּה דְפוּמָךְ דְּשַׁפִּיר קָאֲמַרְתְּ. מְנָא לָךְ הַאי. אָמַר לוֹן מִלָּה דָא אוֹלִיפְנָא מִסָּבָאי.
Said R. Abba to R. Jacob: ‘Truly we have now an opportunity to associate with the Shekinah.’ So they went and sat by him, and said to him, ‘Repeat what you just said, for it is excellent. Where did you get it from?’ He replied: ‘I learnt it from my grandfather.1Al. ‘Old visitor’.
וְתוּ הֲוָה אָמַר דִּתְלַת (נ"א דתחלת) שַׁעֲתֵי קָמַיְיתָא דְּלֵילְיָא כָּל דִּינִין דִּלְתַתָּא מִתְעָרִין וְאָזְלִין וְשָׁאטִין בְּעָלְמָא. בְּפַלְגוּת לֵילְיָא מַמָּשׁ קוּדְשָׁא בְּרִיךְ הוּא אִתְעַר בְּגִנְתָא דְעֵדֶן וְדִינִין דִּלְתַתָּא לָא מִשְׁתַּכְּחָן.
He told me that during the first three hours of the night the accusing angels below are actively going about the world, but at midnight precisely God enters the Garden of Eden and the accusations below cease.
וְכָל נִימוּסִין דִּלְעֵילָא בְּלֵילְיָא לָא אִשְׁתְּכָחוּ אֶלָּא בְּפַלְגוּת לֵילְיָא מַמָּשׁ. מְנָלָן מֵאַבְרָהָם דִּכְתִיב וַיֵּחָלֵק עֲלֵיהֶם לַיְלָה. בְּמִצְרַיִם (שמות י״ב:כ״ט) וַיְהִי בַּחֲצִי הַלַּיְלָה, וּבְאַתְרִין סַגִּיאִין בְּאוֹרַיְיתָא הָכִי אִשְׁתְּכַח. וְדָוִד הֲוָה יָדַע.
These nightly ceremonies above take place only at midnight precisely; we know this from what it says of Abraham, that “the night was divided for them” (Gen. 14, 15); also from the words “and it came to pass at the middle of the night” in the account of the Exodus (Ex. 12, 29), and from many other places in the Scripture. David knew this,
(ומה) וּמְנָא הֲוָה יָדַע. אֶלָּא הָכִי אָמַר סָבָא. דְּמַלְכוּתָא דִילֵיהּ בְּהַאי (ליליא) תַּלְיָא. וְעַל דָּא קָאִים בְּהַהִיא שַׁעֲתָא וְאָמַר שִׁירָתָא, וּלְהָכִי קַרְיֵיה לְקוּדְשָׁא בְּרִיךְ הוּא חֲצוֹת לַיְלָה מַמָּשׁ, אָקוּם לְהוֹדוֹת לְךָ וְגו' דְּהָא כָּל דִּינִין תַּלְיָין מֵהָכָא, וְדִינִין דְּמַלְכוּתָא מֵהָכָא מִשְׁתַּכְּחִין, וְהַהִיא שַׁעֲתָא אִתְקְטִיר בָּהּ דָּוִד וְקָם וְאָמַר שִׁירָתָא. אֲתָא רַבִּי אַבָּא וּנְשָׁקֵיהּ, אָמַר לֵיהּ וַדַּאי הָכִי הוּא בְּרִיךְ רַחֲמָנָא דְּשַׁדְּרַנִי הָכָא.
because-so the old man told me-his kingship depended on this; and therefore he used to rise at this hour and chant praises, and for this reason he addressed God as “Midnight”. He also said, “I rise to give thanks to Thee for Thy righteous judgements” because this is the fount of justice, and the judgements of earthly kings derive from here; therefore David never neglected to rise and sing praises at this hour.’ R. Abba came and kissed him, saying, ‘Of a surety it is so. Blessed be God who has sent me here!
תָּא חֲזֵי, לַיְלָה דִינָא בְּכָל אֲתַר וְהָא אוֹקִימְנָא מִילֵּי, וְהָכִי הוּא וַדַּאי, וְהָא אִתְעַר קַמֵי דְרַבִּי שִׁמְעוֹן. אָמַר הַהוּא יְנוּקָא בְּרֵיהּ דְּהַהוּא גַבְרָא אִי הָכִי אַמַּאי כְּתִיב חֲצוֹת לַיְלָה. אָמַר לֵיהּ הָא אִתְּמָר בְּפַלְגוּת לֵילְיָא מַלְכוּתָא דִּשְׁמַיָא אִתְעָרַת. אָמַר אֲנָא שְׁמַעְנָא מִלָּה. אָמַר לֵיהּ רַבִּי אַבָּא, אֵימָא בְּרִי טַב דְּהָא מִלָּה דְּפוּמָךְ קָלָא דְבוּצִינָא לֶהוֵי.
For night is the time of judgement in every place, as we have fully established, and as has been discussed in the presence of R. Simeon.’ The young son of the inn-keeper thereupon asked: ‘If so, why does it say “midnight”?’ He replied: ‘It is laid down that the heavenly Majesty rises at midnight.’ Said the boy: ‘I can give another explanation.’ Said R. Abba: ‘Speak, my child; for the voice of the Lamp1R. Simeon. will speak through thy mouth.’
אָמַר אֲנָא שְׁמַעְנָא דְּהָא לַיְלָה דִינָא דְמַלְכוּתָא אִיהוּ וּבְכָל אֲתַר דִּינָא הוּא, וְהַאי דְּקָאֲמַר חֲצוֹת, בְּגִין דְּיַנְקָא בִּתְרֵי גַוְונִי (חצות) בְּדִינָא וְחֶסֶד, וַדַּאי פַּלְגוּתָא קַדְמִיתָא דִּינָא הוּא, דְּהָא פַּלְגוּתָא אָחֳרָא נְהִירוּ אַנְפָּהָא בְּסִטְרָא דְּחֶסֶד. וְעַל דָּא חֲצוֹת לַיְלָה כְּתִיב וַדַּאי.
He thereupon said: ‘What I have heard is this. Night is in truth the time of the royal judgement, and that judgement extends to all parts alike. Midnight, however, is fed from two sides, from justice and from clemency; only the first half of the night is the time of judgement, but the second half is illumined from the side of clemency (hesed). Therefore David said “Midnight”.’
קָם רַבִּי אַבָּא וְשַׁוֵּי יְדוֹי בְּרֵישֵׁיהּ וּבָרְכֵיהּ, אָמַר וַדַּאי חֲשִׁיבְנָא דְּחָכְמְתָא לָא אִשְׁתְּכַח בַּר בְּאִנּוּן זַכָּאֵי דְּזָכוּ בָּה. הַשְׁתָּא חָמֵינָא דְּאֲפִילּוּ יְנוּקֵי בְּדָרָא דְרַבִּי שִׁמְעוֹן זָכוּ לְחָכְמְתָא עִלָאָה. זַכָּאָה אַנְתְּ רַבִּי שִׁמְעוֹן. וַוי לְדָרָא דְּאַנְתְּ תִּסְתַּלַּק מִנֵּיהּ. יָתְבוּ עַד צַפְרָא וְאִשְׁתַּדְּלוּ בְּאוֹרַיְיתָא.
R. Abba rose and placed his hands on his head and blessed him. He said: ‘I thought indeed that wisdom was to be found only in a few favoured pious ones. Now I see that even children in the generation of R. Simeon are endowed with heavenly wisdom. Happy art thou, R. Simeon! Woe to the generation when thou departest from it!’ So they sat till morning studying the Torah.
פָּתַח רַבִּי אַבָּא וְאָמַר (ישעיהו ס׳:כ״א) וְעַמֵּךְ כֻּלָּם צַדִּיקִים וְגו'. מִלָּה דָא הָא אוּקְמוּהָ חַבְרַיָיא מַאי טַעְמָא כְּתִיב וְעַמֵּךְ כֻּלָּם צַדִּיקִים, וְכִי כֻּלְהוּ יִשְׂרָאֵל צַדִּיקֵי נִינְהוּ. וְהָא כַּמָּה חַיָּיבִין אִית בְּהוּ בְּיִשְׂרָאֵל כַּמָּה חַטָּאִין וְכַמָּה רַשִּׁיעִין דְּעָבְרִין עַל פִּקּוּדֵי אוֹרַיְיתָא.
R. Abba then discoursed on the text: Thy people are all righteous, they shall for ever inherit the earth, a branch of my planting, etc. (Is. 60, 21). He said: ‘Our colleagues have pointed out that these words cannot be taken literally, seeing how many sinners there are in Israel who transgress the precepts of the Law.
אֶלָּא הָכִי תָנָא בְּרָזָא דְמַתְנִיתִין. זַכָּאִין אִנּוּן יִשְׂרָאֵל דְּעָבְדִין קָרְבָּנָא דְרַעֲוָא לְקוּדְשָׁא בְּרִיךְ הוּא דְּמַקְרִיבִין בְּנַיְיהוּ לִתְמַנְיָא יוֹמִין לְקָרְבָּנָא, וְכַד אִתְגְּזָרוּ עָאלוּ בְּהַאי חוּלָקָא טָבָא דְּקוּדְשָׁא בְּרִיךְ הוּא דִּכְתִיב, (משלי י׳:כ״ה) וְצַדִּיק יְסוֹד עוֹלָם. כֵּיוָן דְּעָאלוּ בְּהַאי חוּלָקָא דְצַדִּיק אִקְרוּן צַדִּיקִים, וַדַּאי כֻּלָּם צַדִּיקִים.
The meaning is, as we have learnt in the esoteric teaching of our Mishnah: “Happy are Israel who bring an acceptable offering to the Almighty by circumcising their sons on the eighth day. They thereby become the portion of the ‘Zaddik (Righteous One) who is the foundation of the world’, and are called righteous; and therefore ‘they shall for ever inherit the earth’.
וְעַל כֵּן לְעוֹלָם יִירְשׁוּ אָרֶץ. כְּדִכְתִיב, (תהילים קי״ח:כ׳) פִּתְחוּ לִי שַׁעֲרֵי צֶדֶק אָבֹא בָם. וּכְתִיב זֶה הַשַּׁעַר לַיְיָ צַדִּיקִים יָבֹאוּ בוֹ. אִנּוּן דְּאִתְגְּזָרוּ וְאִקְרוּן צַדִּיקִים. נֵצֶר מַטָּעַי. נִצֶר מֵאִנּוּן נְטִיעִין דְּנָטַע קוּדְשָׁא בְּרִיךְ הוּא בְּגִנְתָא דְעֵדֶן הַאי אֶרֶץ חַד מִנַיְיהוּ, וְעַל כֵּן אִית לְהוּ לְיִשְׂרָאֵל חוּלָקָא טָבָא בְּעָלְמָא דְּאָתֵי וּכְתִיב, (תהילים ל״ז:כ״ט) צַדִּיקִים יִירְשׁוּ אָרֶץ. (ישעיהו ס׳:כ״א) לְעוֹלָם יִירְשׁוּ אָרֶץ. מַהוּ לְעוֹלָם. כְּמָה דְּאוֹקִימְנָא בְּמַתְנִיתָּא דִילָן, וְהָא אִתְּמָר הַאי מִלָּה בֵּין חַבְרַיָיא.
They are ‘the branch of my planting’: that is, a branch of those shoots which God planted in the Garden of Eden, and of which the ‘earth’ mentioned here is one; hence Israel have a goodly portion in the future world, as it is written ‘the righteous shall inherit the earth’ (Ps. 37, 29).”