Makkot 24b (כד:) — the Talmud in English

He said to them: That is why I am rejoicing.

And if those who transgress His will

who bow down to their idols

thus

sit in tranquility and security,

then it is a

kal va-chomer

for Israel, who are

those who do His will; all the more so

that God will pay them a good reward.

Once again they were going up to Jerusalem.

When they reached Mount Scopus,

from which the site of the Temple can be seen,

they rent their garments,

as this is the law.

When they reached the Temple Mount, they saw a fox emerging from the Holy of Holies.

They began to weep, while Rabbi Akiva rejoiced.

They said to him: Why are you rejoicing?

He said to them: Why are you weeping?

They said to him: In the place about which it is written [

Numbers 1 ]

“And the non-priest who approaches shall be put to death,” and now foxes walk there—and we should not weep?!

He said to them: That is why I am rejoicing,

as it is written: [

Isaiah 8 ]

“And I will appoint for Myself faithful witnesses, Uriah the priest and Zechariah son of Jeberechiah.”

But what connection is there between Uriah and Zechariah?

For

Uriah lived during the First Temple

period,

whereas Zechariah

was one of the later prophets,

during the Second Temple

period.

Rather, the verse made Zechariah’s prophecy dependent on Uriah’s prophecy.

Concerning Uriah it is written: [

Micah 3 ]

“Therefore, because of you, Zion shall be plowed like a field, Jerusalem shall become heaps of ruins, and the Temple Mount like the high places of a forest.”

And

concerning Zechariah it is written: [

Zechariah 8 ]

“The elderly men and elderly women shall yet sit in the streets of Jerusalem,

and a man

with his staff in his hand because of his old age.”

Therefore,

until Uriah’s prophecy had been fulfilled, I was afraid that Zechariah’s prophecy would not be fulfilled.

Now that Uriah’s prophecy has been fulfilled, it is evident that Zechariah’s prophecy will be fulfilled!

In these words they said to him: Akiva, you have comforted us! Akiva, you have comforted us!

We shall return to you, chapter “These Are They Who Are Lashed,” and tractate Makkot is concluded.