Taanit 23a — the Talmud in English

Another matter [

another explanation of the matter]:

“In their season”

speaks of the proper time for the rains to fall.

That is, that the rains should fall at the time most suitable for this. At a time when people are not accustomed to traveling on the roads, and the rains do not interfere with the course of life.

And this is

on Wednesday nights [

Wednesday nights]

and on Friday nights.

For at these times there is outside a sheda called Agrat bat Mahlat, and one hundred eighty thousand destructive angels, and they harm people. Therefore people do not go out at these times.

Lest you say: Since the rains fall only two days a week, they are insufficient!

This is not so. For those rains are blessed, and therefore they are equivalent to rains that fall all the days of the week, and even more than that.

For so we find in the days of Shimon ben Shetah, when

there was a time of favor, and although

there fell for them

for Israel

rains

only

on Wednesday nights

and on Friday nights,

nevertheless the produce was greatly blessed,

to the point

that

the kernels

of the

wheat

became large

like kidneys [

that is, each kernel of wheat was as large as a kidney],

and in the midrashim we find that the rains fell only on Friday nights. See Leviticus Rabbah, section 35, and elsewhere. We also find there that this was in the days of Queen Shelomtzion. In the Gemara in tractate Ketubot we find: “With the fat of kidney wheat” — they said: In the future wheat will be like the two kidneys of the great ox. And

the kernels of the

barley—

became large

like olive kernels [

because barley kernels are smaller than wheat kernels],

and lentils—

became large

like gold dinars.

And they bundled

the people of the generation

some of them,

from those wheat, barley, and lentils,

as a specimen

for safekeeping

for generations

to come,

to make known how greatly sin causes.

For had there been no sin, the produce would have needed to be of such a size. It is only because of sin that the produce is small as it is now.

As it is said: “Your iniquities have turned these away, and your sins have withheld the good from you.”

And so we find in the days of Herod,

who demolished the building of the Second Temple that Ezra had built, and built another building in its place, more beautiful than it [as we find in tractate Bava Batra, see there].

The people were

engaged

in building

that

Temple, and

so that the rains would not interfere with the people’s work,

the rains would fall

only

at night.

The next day

in the morning

the wind blew, the clouds dispersed, the sun shone, and the people went out to their work [

to the work of building the Temple].

And

through this, that the rains fell in such a manner that they did not interfere with the building work,

the people knew

that

the work of Heaven was in their hands.

That is, that this building was the will of the Holy One, blessed be He.

We learned in our Mishna:

“An incident in which they sent to Honi the Circle-Maker, and so forth.”

The Sages taught: Once, most of

had passed

of

the month of

Adar,

which is already the end of winter,

and

still

the rains had not fallen.

The people sent

to

Honi the Circle-Maker: Pray

for us—

and let rains fall!

He prayed

Honi for this—

and

still

the rains did not fall.

Honi drew

a

circle [

Honi drew a circle around himself]

and stood inside it, as the prophet Habakkuk had done.

As it is said: “At my watch I will stand and station myself upon the rampart, and so forth.”

And this means that Habakkuk did so: he drew a circle and stood inside it, and said that he would not leave there until the Holy One, blessed be He, answered him.

And so

said

Honi

before Him [

before the Holy One, blessed be He]:

“Master of the world! Your children have turned their faces to me

[

because they trust in me that my prayer will be effective], because

I am like a member of the household before You.

I swear by Your great Name that I will not move from here until You have mercy upon Your children,

and bring down rains for them.”

The rains began to drip

little by little.

His disciples said to him

to Honi:

“Rabbi, we have seen you and shall not die!”

That is, make an effort so that we may merit seeing you and not die from famine because of the withholding of the rains. For

we think that these rains

is

are falling only to release your oath.

You swore that you would not move from the circle until rains fell—and they have fallen.

But in truth, these scant rains do not benefit us at all.

Honi said

before

Him [

before the Holy One, blessed be He]:

“I did not ask for this.”

I did not request such rains, which are entirely of no benefit.

Rather, rains of

blessing, which will fill

pits, ditches, and caves,

so that the people will have what to drink.”

The rains fell

with

fury, until

the size of

each and every drop

was

the full mouth of a barrel.

And the Sages estimated

that the drops were so large

that

the measure of

a drop was no less than a log.

His disciples said to him

to Honi:

“Rabbi, may we see you and not die!”

“Rabbi, we have seen you and shall not die!”

Pray for us that we should not die

! We think that the rains are falling only to destroy the world!”

He said to them

Honi:

“You will not die.”

Honi said

before

Him [

before the Holy One, blessed be He]:

“I did not ask for this, but for rains of favor, blessing, and generosity.”

The rains fell

the rains

in their proper manner.

Not scant drops and not enormous drops, but ordinary rain. Yet they fell and fell without interruption,

until

all Jerusalem was flooded by them, and

all the people went up to the Temple Mount,

which is the highest place in Jerusalem,

because of the rains.

They said to him

Honi’s disciples:

“Rabbi, just as you prayed

for the rains

to fall—

and you were answered,

so pray

now concerning the rains—that they should stop

and go away.”

He said to them

Honi:

“Thus I have received

from my teachers:

One does not pray that an excess of goodness

should cease.

But

even so,

since you are requesting this,

bring me a thanksgiving bull,

to confess over it and lean upon it, and sacrifice it in the Temple [for Honi lived during the time of the Temple], and I shall pray for you.”

They brought him a thanksgiving bull.

He placed both his hands upon it and said before Him [

before the Holy One, blessed be He]:

“Master of the world! Your people Israel, whom You brought out of Egypt

, cannot endure

[

to bear]

either an excess of goodness

or an excess of calamity.

You became angry with them,

and withheld rains from them—

they cannot endure

that.

You bestowed upon them

an excess of

goodness—

they cannot endure

even that.

May it be Your will that the rains cease and there be relief in the world.”

Immediately the wind blew, and

Immediately the wind blew, and

through this

the clouds dispersed and the sun shone.

Shimon ben Shetaḥ sent him

The people went out to the field and brought them truffles and mushrooms

that had sprouted immediately after the rain fell, and they immediately had something to eat.

Shimon ben Shetah sent him

to Honi:

“If you were not Honi

[

if you were not Honi], that is, that you are a great man,—

I would decree

excommunication upon you

for what you did, because you did not conduct yourself properly in this, in that you spoke defiantly toward Heaven and said, “I did not ask for this.” And they decree excommunication for the honor of the master.

For if these years

in which the rains did not fall

were

like

the years of Elijah,

they

in which

he swore to Ahab that rains would not fall for three years, and he requested it from the Holy One, blessed be He, and He placed the

keys of rain in Elijah’s hand,

would

the Name of Heaven not be found profaned through you?!

For if this is so—that on the one hand there already exists an oath that rains will not fall, and on the other hand you swore that you would not move until rains fell—it follows that, whichever way it would be, there is here a vain oath!

But what shall I do with you, that you entreat [“entreat” is an expression of sin]

before

the Omnipresent—

and

nevertheless

He fulfills your will, like

a

son who entreats his father—

and He fulfills his will.

And he says to him: “Father, take me to bathe in hot water! Wash me in cold water

[

bathe me in cool water]

! Give me nuts, almonds, peaches, and pomegranates!”—

and he gives him

all his desire.

And concerning you Scripture says: “Let your father and your mother rejoice, and let the one who bore you exult.”

decreed below, upon the earth, that the rains should fall and that the rains should cease,

The Sages taught: What did the members of the Chamber of Hewn Stone [

the Sanhedrin]

send to Honi the Circle-Maker—

This verse:

“You shall also decree a matter, and it shall be established for you, and light shall shine upon your ways.”

They expounded this verse with reference to Honi. And this is how they expounded it:

“You shall also decree a matter.”

You,

Honi,

decreed below,

upon the earth, that the rains should fall and that the rains should cease,

and the Holy One, blessed be He, fulfills your utterance above.

“And light shall shine upon your ways.”

A generation that was dark

because of distress over the withholding of the rains—

you illumined

it

through your prayer.

It is further said in the continuation of that verse: “For they humbled themselves, and you will say, ‘Exaltation,’ and he who has downcast eyes will be saved; he will deliver the innocent, and he will be delivered through the purity of your hands.”

And so they expounded this verse with reference to Honi:

“For they humbled themselves, and you will say, ‘Exaltation.’”

A generation that was lowly—

you raised it up

through your prayer.

“And he will save the humble of eyes”.

A generation that was humbled

was bowed down

because of its sin—

you saved it through your prayer

from death, by bringing them satiety.

“He will rescue the one who is not innocent”.

A generation that was not innocent

of sin—

you rescued it

from punishment

through your prayer.

“And he will escape through the cleanness

of your hands.”

You rescued,

the generation,

through the clear work of your hands .

Rabbi Yohanan said: All the days of that righteous man, he was

troubled over

understanding

this verse

that is stated in Psalms:

“A Song of Ascents. When the Lord returns the return of Zion, we will be like dreamers.”

That is, the Babylonian exile, which lasted seventy years, was like a dream .

He said

and Honi wondered in his heart:

“Is there one who sleeps seventy years in a dream” [Could it be that a person sleeps seventy years in a single sleep without interruption]?

[can a person sleep for seventy years in a single, uninterrupted sleep]?

One day he was going along the road [One day Honi went along the road].

[one day Honi went along the road].

He saw a certain man who was planting a carob tree [He saw a man planting a carob tree].

[he saw a man planting a carob tree].

He said to him,

Honi:

“This one, after how many years does it bear fruit” [This tree, within how many years does it bear fruit]?

[within how many years does this tree bear fruit]?

He said to him,

that man:

“After seventy years” [Until seventy years].

[after seventy years].

He said to him,

Honi: If so, why are you planting this tree, when it is very doubtful whether you will benefit from its fruit? Is it

obvious to you that you will live for seventy years [Are you certain that you will live another seventy years]?

[are you certain that you will live another seventy years]?

He said to him,

that man:

“I found the world with carob trees” [I found carob trees in the world bearing fruit], which my ancestors planted.

[I found carob trees in the world bearing fruit], which my ancestors planted.

“Just as my ancestors planted for me, I too plant for my descendants” [And just as my ancestors planted for me, so I plant for the sake of my children].

[and just as my ancestors planted for me, so I plant for the sake of my children].

He sat and was eating bread [Honi sat and refreshed himself with bread].

[Honi sat down and refreshed himself with bread].

Sleep came upon him, and he slept [Sleep fell upon him, and he fell asleep].

[sleep fell upon him, and he fell asleep].

A rocky projection rose around him [A rocky projection rose around him

and surrounded him], and through this

he was concealed from view [He was concealed from people’s eyes, so that they would not find him and disturb him in his sleep],

[he was hidden from people’s eyes, so that no one would find him and disturb his sleep],

and he slept for seventy years [And he slept seventy consecutive years].

[and he slept for seventy consecutive years].

When he arose [When he awoke from his sleep after those seventy years],

[when he awoke from his sleep after those seventy years],

he saw a certain man who was gathering from them [He saw a certain man who was gathering fruit from that carob tree that had been planted before he fell asleep].

[he saw a man gathering fruit from the carob tree that had been planted before he fell asleep].

He said to him,

Honi said to that man:

“Are you the one who planted it” [Are you the man who planted this carob tree]?

[are you the man who planted this carob tree]?

He said to him: No. Rather,

No. Rather,

“I am his grandson” [I am the son of the planter’s son].

[I am the planter’s grandson].

He said to him: Infer from this that I slept for seventy years [It is proven that I slept for seventy years].

[it is clear that I slept for seventy years].

He saw that his donkey had been born offspring upon offspring [Honi saw that many offspring had been born to his donkey, on which he had ridden before falling asleep]

[Honi saw that his female donkey, which he had ridden before falling asleep, had given birth to many offspring].

And how did the matter happen?

The donkey had then been pregnant, and it gave birth to a male. And that offspring mated with it, and offspring were born to them .

He went to his house [Honi went to his house].

[Honi went to his home].

He said to them [He said to the members of the household]:

[he said to the members of the household]:

“Does the son of Honi the Circle-Maker live” [Is Honi’s son alive]?

[is Honi’s son alive]?

They said to him,

the members of the household:

“His son is not here” [Honi’s son is not here. He has already died].

[Honi’s son is no longer here, as he had already died].

“His grandson is here” [His grandson is alive].

[his grandson is alive].

He said to them,

to the members of the household:

“I” [It is I]

[I am the one,]

“Honi the Circle-Maker.”

They did not believe him [They did not believe him] .

[they did not believe him] .

Honi went

[Honi went]

to the beit-midrash.

He heard the Sages saying [He heard the Sages as they said]:

[he heard the Sages say]:

“Our teachings are clear as in the days of Honi the Circle-Maker” [This teaching that we have now learned is clear to us, as the teachings were clear to us in the days of Honi the Circle-Maker].

[this teaching that we have just learned is clear to us, just as the teachings were clear to us in the days of Honi HaMe’aggel].

For whenever he would enter the beit-midrash, every difficulty that the Sages had—

he would resolve for them [For when Honi would enter the beit-midrash, he would resolve every difficulty that the Sages had].

[when Honi entered the house of study, he would resolve every difficulty that the Sages had].

He said to them,

to the Sages:

“I am he” [I am Honi the Circle-Maker].

[I am Honi HaMe’aggel].

But they did not believe him, and they did not accord him the honor that was proper

for him [They did not believe him, and they did not honor him as was fitting for him] .

[they did not believe him and did not honor him as was proper] .

His mind became weakened [Honi’s mind became weakened] ,

[Honi became distressed] ,

he sought mercy—

and he died [He sought mercy that he should die—and he died].

[he prayed for mercy that he should die—and he died].

Rava said: This is what people say [This is what is commonly said by people]:

[this is the saying that is common among people]:

“Either companionship or death” [If a person’s companions do not treat him with honor, it is preferable for him to die] .

[if a person’s companions do not treat him with honor, it is better for him to die] .

Abba Hilkiah was the grandson of Honi the Circle-Maker [He was the son of his son, that is, the grandson, of Honi the Circle-Maker].

[he was Honi HaMe’aggel’s grandson].

And when the world required rain [And when the world required rain],

[when the world needed rain],

the Sages would send to him [the Sages would send to him, asking him to pray concerning this],

[the Sages would send scholars to ask him to pray about it],

and he would seek mercy, and rain would come [and he would seek mercy, and rain would come].

[he would pray for mercy, and rain would come].

Once the world required rain [Once the world required rain].

[one time the world needed rain].

The Sages sent a pair of Sages to him, to seek mercy

that rain should come [The Sages sent two Torah scholars to him, so that he would ask for mercy and pray that rain should come].

[the Sages sent him two Torah scholars so that they would ask him to pray for rain].

They went to his house—

but they did not find him [They went to Abba Hilkiah’s house, but they did not find him there].

[they went to Abba Ḥilkiyya’s house, but did not find him there].

They went into the field, and found him hoeing in the field [They went into the field and found him there while he was still hoeing the ground].

[they went into the field and found him there, hoeing the ground].