R. Abba said: ‘It is written: “for my sword is bathed in heaven” (Isa. 34, 5), which refers to the Lord’s judgement on the supernal princes, the “sword” being a symbol of judgement.’
R. Abba further said: ‘The sword is identical with the execution of judgement, as it is written, “and he saw the angel of the Lord standing between the earth and the heaven, having a drawn sword in his hand” (I Chron. 21, 16). Now, can we imagine a drawn sword literally having been in the hand of the angel? But what it means is that he possessed the authorization to execute judgement.’
Said R. Isaac: ‘What do you make of the remark of R. Joshua, son of Levi, that “the angel of death once said to me: Were it not that I have regard for the dignity of mankind I would cut their throats as is done to an animal”?’ R. Abba replied: ‘This only means that he has authorization to execute judgement; and the same is meant by the phrase, “with his sword drawn in his hand” (Jos. 5, 16).’ ‘If that be so, what is the meaning of “and he put his sword back into the sheath thereof’ (I Chron. 21, 27)?’ Said R. Abba: ‘It signifies that the power delegated to him was restored to its rightful possessor, to Him to whom authority belongs.’
אָמַר רִבִּי אַבָּא, כְּשֶׁהַקָדוֹשׁ בָּרוּךְ הוּא עוֹשֶׂה דִּין בַּשָּׂרִים שֶׁל מַעְלָה, מַה כְּתִיב, (ישעיהו ל״ד:ה׳) כִּי רִוְּתָה בַּשָׁמַיִם חַרְבִּי. וְכִי חֶרֶב אִית לַיְיָ'. אֶלָּא אָמַר רִבִּי יִצְחָק, חֶרֶב אִית לֵיהּ, דִּכְתִּיב, (ישעיהו ל״ד:ה׳) חֶרֶב לַיְיָ' מָלְאָה דָּם. וּכְתִיב (ישעיהו ס״ו:ט״ז) וּבְחַרְבּוֹ אֶת כָּל בָּשָׂר.
R. Abba said: ‘It is written: “for my sword is bathed in heaven” (Isa. 34, 5), which refers to the Lord’s judgement on the supernal princes, the “sword” being a symbol of judgement.’
אָמַר רִבִּי אַבָּא, הַחֶרֶב הַזֶּה הוּא הַדִּין שֶׁעוֹשֶׂה, דִּכְתִּיב, (דברי הימים א כ״א:ט״ז) וַיַּרְא (דוד) אֶת מַלְאַךְ ה' עוֹמֵד בֵּין הָאָרֶץ וּבֵין הַשָּׁמַיִם וְחַרְבּוֹ שְׁלוּפָה בְּיָדוֹ. וְכִי חֶרֶב שְׁלוּפָה הָיְתָה בְּיַד הַמַּלְאָךְ, אֶלָּא, שֶׁהָיְתָה הָרְשׁוּת נְתוּנָה בְּיָדוֹ לַעֲשׂוֹת דִּין.
R. Abba further said: ‘The sword is identical with the execution of judgement, as it is written, “and he saw the angel of the Lord standing between the earth and the heaven, having a drawn sword in his hand” (I Chron. 21, 16). Now, can we imagine a drawn sword literally having been in the hand of the angel? But what it means is that he possessed the authorization to execute judgement.’
וְהָא אָמַר רִבִּי יְהוֹשֻׁעַ בֶּן לֵוִי, אָמַר לִי מַלְאָךְ הַמָּוֶת, אִי לָאו דְּחֵיְיסְנָא לִיקָרָא דְּבִרְיָיתָא, פָּרַעְנָא לְהוּ בֵּית הַשְּׁחִיטָה, כַּבְּהֵמָה. אָמַר רִבִּי אַבָּא, כֹּלָּא מִשּׁוּם דְּאִתְיְיהִיב רְשׁוּתָא בִּידֵיהּ, לְמֶעְבַּד גְּמַר דִּינָא, הֲדָא הוּא דִכְתִיב, (יהושע ה׳:י״ג) וְחַרְבּוֹ שְׁלוּפָה בְּיָדוֹ, הָרְשׁוּת נְתוּנָה בְּיָדוֹ לַעֲשׂוֹת דִּין. אִי הָכִי מַאי (דברי הימים א כ״א:כ״ז) וַיָּשֶׁב חַרְבּוֹ אֶל נְדָנָהּ. אָמַר רִבִּי אַבָּא, שֶׁנֶּחֱזַר הַדִּין לְבַעַל הַדִּין, וְהָרְשׁוּת לְמִי שֶהָרְשׁוּת שֶׁלּוֹ.
Said R. Isaac: ‘What do you make of the remark of R. Joshua, son of Levi, that “the angel of death once said to me: Were it not that I have regard for the dignity of mankind I would cut their throats as is done to an animal”?’ R. Abba replied: ‘This only means that he has authorization to execute judgement; and the same is meant by the phrase, “with his sword drawn in his hand” (Jos. 5, 16).’ ‘If that be so, what is the meaning of “and he put his sword back into the sheath thereof’ (I Chron. 21, 27)?’ Said R. Abba: ‘It signifies that the power delegated to him was restored to its rightful possessor, to Him to whom authority belongs.’