📖 Pirkei DeRabbi Eliezer 17

גְּמִילוּת חֲסָדִים לַאֲבֵלִים מִנַּיִן אָנוּ לְמֵדִין? מֵהַמָּקוֹם שֶׁהוּא גָּמַל חֶסֶד לְמֹשֶׁה רַבֵּינוּ עָלָיו הַשָּׁלוֹם, שֶׁקְּבָרוֹ בְּיָדוֹ. וְאִלּוּלֵי שֶׁהַדָּבָר כָּתוּב, אִי אֶפְשָׁר לְאָמְרוֹ, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר: ״וַיִּקְבֹּר אֹתוֹ בַגַּיְא בְּאֶרֶץ מוֹאָב״.

LOVING SERVICE TO MOURNERS CONCERNING the one who tenders the service of loving-kindness to mourners. Whence do we learn of the service of loving-kindness to mourners? From the Omnipresent, who alone showed loving-kindness to Moses, His servant, and buried him with His own hand. If this story had not been written (in the Torah) it would be impossible to say it, as it is said, "And he buried him in the valley in the land of Moab" (Deut. 34:6).

רַבָּן גַּמְלִיאֵל בְּנוֹ שֶׁל רַבִּי יְהוּדָה אוֹמֵר: לֹא לְמֹשֶׁה לְבַדּוֹ גָּמַל הַקָּדוֹשׁ בָּרוּךְ הוּא, אֶלָּא אַף לְאַהֲרֹן. כְּשֶׁעָלוּ לְהֹר הָהָר, הָיוּ נִדּוֹנִין כָּל שִׁבְטֵי יִשְׂרָאֵל וְאוֹמְרִין: ״מֹשֶׁה וְאֶלְעָזָר הִנִּיחוּ אַהֲרֹן בְּהֹר הָהָר וְיָרְדוּ לָהֶם״, וְלֹא הֶאֱמִינוּ כִּי גָוַע אַהֲרֹן. וְגָמְלוּ לוֹ חֶסֶד. מֶה עָשָׂה הַקָּדוֹשׁ בָּרוּךְ הוּא? נָטַל אֲרוֹנוֹ שֶׁל אַהֲרֹן וְהֶעֱבִיר מֵעַל מַחֲנֵה יִשְׂרָאֵל, וְרָאוּ כָל יִשְׂרָאֵל אֶת אֲרוֹנוֹ טָס וּפוֹרֵחַ בָּאֲוִיר, וְהֶאֱמִינוּ כִּי גָוַע אַהֲרֹן, וְגָמְלוּ לוֹ חֶסֶד הָאֲנָשִׁים וְהַנָּשִׁים וְהַטַּף.

Rabban Gamaliel, the son of R. Jehudah, said: Not to Moses alone did He show loving-kindness, but also to Aaron. For when they went up Mount Hor all the tribes of Israel were contending and saying, Moses and Eleazar have left Aaron on Mount Hor and have gone down (by themselves). They did not believe that he was dead. To show loving-kindness to him, what did the Holy One, blessed be He, do? He took Aaron's coffin and brought it above the camp of Israel, and all Israel saw Aaron's coffin flying and moving in the air. They then believed that he was dead, and they showed loving-kindness to him, as it is said: || "And all the congregation saw that Aaron was dead" (Num. 20:29). Only the men showed loving-kindness to Moses, as it is said, "And the sons of Israel wept for Moses" (Deut. 34:8). The men and the women and the children showed loving-kindness to Aaron.

לָמָּה? שֶׁהָיָה אַהֲרֹן רוֹדֵף שָׁלוֹם וְאוֹהֵב שָׁלוֹם, וְעוֹבֵר עַל מַחֲנֵה יִשְׂרָאֵל בְּכָל יוֹם, וְנוֹתֵן שָׁלוֹם בֵּין אִישׁ לְאִשְׁתּוֹ וּבֵין אָדָם לַחֲבֵרוֹ. לְפִיכָךְ גָּמְלוּ לוֹ חֶסֶד, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר: ״וַיִּבְכּוּ אֶת אַהֲרֹן שְׁלֹשִׁים יוֹם כֹּל בֵּית יִשְׂרָאֵל״.

Why (was this)? Because he loved peace and pursued peace, and passed daily through the entire camp of Israel and promoted peace between a man and his wife, and between a man and his neighbour; therefore all Israel showed loving-kindness to him, as it is said, "And when all the congregation saw that Aaron was dead, they wept for Aaron thirty days, even all the house of Israel" (Num. 20:29).

רַבִּי יוֹסֵי אוֹמֵר: שִׁבְעַת יְמֵי הָאֵבֶל מִנַּיִן אָנוּ לְמֵדִין? מִיַּעֲקֹב אָבִינוּ, שֶׁכָּךְ עָשָׂה לוֹ יוֹסֵף בְּנוֹ, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר: ״וַיַּעַשׂ לְאָבִיו אֵבֶל שִׁבְעַת יָמִים״.

Rabbi José said: From whom do we learn of the seven days of mourning? From Jacob, our father, for thus did his son Joseph unto him, as it is said, "And he made a mourning for his father seven days" (Gen. 50:10).

גְּמִילוּת חֲסָדִים מִנַּיִן אָנוּ לְמֵדִין לַאֲבֵלִים? מֵאִיזֶבֶל, שֶׁהָיְתָה בֵּיתָהּ סָמוּךְ לַשּׁוּק, וְכָל מֵת שֶׁהָיָה עוֹבֵר בַּשּׁוּק הָיְתָה יוֹצֵאת מִתּוֹךְ בֵּיתָהּ וּמַכָּה בְּכַפֵּי יָדֶיהָ וּמְקוֹנֶנֶת בְּפִיהָ וּמְהַלֶּכֶת עֲשָׂרָה צְעָדוֹת. וְכָל חָתָן שֶׁהָיָה עוֹבֵר בַּשּׁוּק הָיְתָה יוֹצְאָה מִתּוֹךְ בֵּיתָהּ וּמְצַלְצֶלֶת בְּכַפֵּי יָדֶיהָ וּמְקַלֶּסֶת בְּפִיהָ וּמְהַלֶּכֶת עֶשֶׂר צְעָדוֹת. וְנִתְנַבֵּא עָלֶיהָ אֵלִיָּהוּ זָכוּר לַטּוֹב: ״הַכְּלָבִים יֹאכְלוּ אֶת אִיזֶבֶל בְּחֵלֶק יִזְרְעֶאל״, וְהָאֵבָרִים שֶׁהָיוּ גּוֹמְלֵי חֶסֶד לֹא שָׁלְטוּ הַכְּלָבִים בָּהֶם, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר: ״וַיֵּלְכוּ לְקָבְרָהּ וְלֹא מָצְאוּ בָהּ״ וְכוּ'.

Whence do we learn (the duty of) showing loving-kindness to mourners? From Jezebel, the daughter of Ethbaal. The palace of Jezebel, daughter of Ethbaal, was near the market-place. When any corpse was carried through the market-place, she would go forth from her palace, and she clapped with the palms of her hands and praised with her mouth, and she followed the corpse ten steps. Concerning her, Elijah, be he remembered for good, prophesied (and said): "In the portion of Jezreel shall the dogs eat the flesh of Jezebel" (2 Kings 9:36). But over the limbs which were (employed in) showing loving-kindness, the dogs had no power, as it is said, "And they went || to bury her: but they found no more of her than the skull, and the feet, and the palms of her hands" (2 Kings 9:35).

גְּמִילוּת חֶסֶד לַאֲבֵלִים מִנַּיִן אָנוּ לְמֵדִין? מֵאַנְשֵׁי יָבֵשׁ גִּלְעָד. כֵּיוָן שֶׁנֶּהֱרַג שָׁאוּל וּבָ��ָיו, אָמְרוּ אַנְשֵׁי יָבֵשׁ גִּלְעָד: ״אוֹתוֹ הָאִישׁ שֶׁהִצִּילָנוּ מֵחֶרְפַּת בְּנֵי עַמּוֹן, אֵין אָנוּ חַיָּבִין לִגְמֹל לוֹ חֶסֶד?״ וְעָמְדוּ כָּל הַגִּבּוֹרִים שֶׁבָּהֶם, וְהָלְכוּ כָּל הַלַּיְלָה לְח��ֹמַת בֵּית שָׁן, וְלָקְחוּ אֶת גּוּפַת שָׁאוּל וְאֶת גּוּפַת בָּנָיו מֵחוֹמַת בֵּית שָׁן, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר: ״וַיָּקוּמוּ כָל אַנְשֵׁי חַיִל כָּל הַלַּיְלָה״.

Whence do we learn (the duty of) showing loving-kindness to mourners? From the men of Jabesh-Gilead. For when Saul and his sons were slain, the men of Jabesh Gilead said: Are we not bound to show loving-kindness to the man who delivered us from the disgrace of the sons of Ammon? All their mighty men arose and went all night to the walls of Beth-Shan, and they took the body of Saul and the bodies of his sons from the walls of Beth-Shan, as it is said, "All the valiant men arose, and took away the body of Saul" (1 Chron. 10:12).

לַאֲבֵלִים מְנַחֲמִין בְּלֶחֶם וּבְיַיִן, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר: ״תְּנוּ שֵׁכָר לְאוֹבֵד וְיַיִן לְמָרֵי נָפֶשׁ״.

The mourners are comforted with bread and wine, as it is said, "Give strong drink unto him that is ready to perish, and wine unto the bitter in soul" (Prov. 31:6).

אַנְשֵׁי יָבֵשׁ גִּלְעָד הָיוּ גּוֹמְלִין חֶסֶד עִם שָׁאוּל וּבָנָיו, אַף אֲנִי נוֹתֵן לָכֶם שְׂכַרְכֶם וְלִבְנֵיכֶם לֶעָתִיד לָבֹא. כְּשֶׁעָתִיד הַקָּדוֹשׁ בָּרוּךְ הוּא לְקַבֵּץ אֶת יִשְׂרָאֵל מֵאַרְבַּע פִּנּוֹת הָעוֹלָם, רִאשׁוֹן הוּא מְקַבֵּץ חֲצִי שֵׁבֶט מְנַשֶּׁה, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר: ״לִי גִלְעָד וְלִי מְנַשֶּׁה״. וְאַחַר כָּךְ אֶפְרַיִם, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר: ״אֶפְרַיִם מָעוֹז רֹאשִׁי״. וְאַחַר כָּךְ יְהוּדָה, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר: ״יְהוּדָה מְחֹקְקִי״.

The men of Jabesh-Gilead showed (loving-kindness) to Saul and his sons. (God said,) I will also give you and your sons your reward in the future; for when the Holy One, blessed be He, in the future will gather Israel from the four corners of the world, the first whom He will gather, will be the half-tribe of Manasseh, as it is said, "Gilead is mine, and Manasseh is mine" (Ps. 60:7). Afterwards (will He gather in) Ephraim, as it is said, "Ephraim is the defence of mine head" (ibid.). Afterwards Judah (will be gathered in), as it is said, "Judah is my sceptre" (ibid.).

״לִי גִלְעָד״, זֶה אַחְאָב מֶלֶךְ יִשְׂרָאֵל שֶׁמֵּת בְּרָמַת גִּלְעָד. ״וְלִי מְנַשֶּׁה״, כְּמַשְׁמָעוֹ. ״אֶפְרַיִם מָעוֹז רֹאשִׁי״, זֶה יָרָבְעָם. ״יְהוּדָה מְחֹקְקִי״, זֶה אֲחִיתֹפֶל. ״מוֹאָב סִיר רַחְצִי״, זֶה גֵּחֲזִי. ״עַל אֱדוֹם אַשְׁלִיךְ נַעֲלִי״, זֶה דּוֹאֵג. ״עַל פְּלֶשֶׁת הִתְרוֹעֲעִי״, אָמַר הַקָּדוֹשׁ בָּרוּךְ הוּא עָלַי לְפַלֵּשׁ לָהֶם זְכוּת וְלַעֲשׂוֹתָם רֵעִים אֵלּוּ וָאֵלּוּ.

"Gilead is mine," refers to Ahab, king of Israel, who died in Ramoth-Gilead; "and Manasseh is mine," is to be taken literally; "Ephraim is the defence of mine head," refers to Jeroboam; "Judah || is my sceptre," points to Ahithophel; "Moab is my washpot" (Ps. 60:8), means Gehazi; "upon Edom will I cast my shoe" (ibid.), refers to Doeg; "Philistia, shout thou because of me" (ibid.). The Holy One, blessed be He, said: It is for Me to search for merit on their behalf, and to make them friendly towards one another.

רַבִּי פִּינְחָס אוֹמֵר: שָׁלֹשׁ שָׁנִים שֶׁנֶּהֱרַג שָׁאוּל וּבָנָיו, בָּא רָעָב בִּימֵי דָוִד שְׁלֹשָׁה שָׁנִים שָׁנָה אַחַר שָׁנָה, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר ״וַיְהִי רָעָב בִּימֵי דָוִד שָׁלֹשׁ שָׁנִים״. וְלָמָּה שָׁנָה אַחַר שָׁנָה? בָּרִאשׁוֹנָה עָלוּ כָל יִשְׂרָאֵל לָרְגָלִים. אָמַר לָהֶם דָּוִד: צְאוּ וּרְאוּ שֶׁמָּא יֵשׁ בָּכֶם בְּנֵי אָדָם שֶׁהֵם עוֹבְדֵי עֲבוֹדָה זָרָה, שֶׁבַּעֲוֹן עֲבוֹדָה זָרָה הַגְּשָׁמִים נֶעֱצָרִים, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר ״הִשָּׁמְרוּ לָכֶם פֶּן יִפְתֶּה לְבַבְכֶם״. מַה כְּתִיב אַחֲרָיו? ״וְחָרָה אַף ה' בָּכֶם״. יָצְאוּ וּבָדְקוּ וְלֹא מָצְאוּ.

Rabbi Phineas said: Thirty years after Saul and his sons had been killed, a famine lasting three years arose in the days of David, year after year, as it is said, "And there was a famine in the days of David three years, year after year" (2 Sam. 21:1). Why was it year after year? In the first year all Israel went up to (celebrate the great) festivals. David said to them: Go and look if perchance there be among you some who worship idols, for because of the sin of idolatry rain is withheld, as it is said, "Take heed to yourselves, lest your heart be deceived, and ye turn aside, and serve other gods, and worship them" (Deut. 11:16). What is written after this? "And the anger of the Lord will be kindled against you, and he will shut up the heaven, that there be no rain" (Deut. 11:17). They went forth and investigated, but did not find (any idolatry).

בַּשָּׁנָה שְׁנִיָּה עָלוּ כָּל יִשְׂרָאֵל לָרְגָלִים. אָמַר לָהֶם דָּוִד: צְאוּ וּרְאוּ שֶׁמָּא יֵשׁ בָּכֶם בְּנֵי אָדָם מְגַלֵּה עֲרָיוֹת, שֶׁבַּעֲוֹן מְגַלֵּה עֲרָיוֹת הַגְּשָׁמִים נֶעֱצָרִים, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר: ״וַתַּחֲנִיפִי אֶרֶץ בִּזְנוּתַיִךְ״. מַה כָּתוּב אַחֲרָיו? ״וַיִּמָּנְעוּ רְבִיבִים וּמַלְקוֹשׁ לֹא הָיָה״. יָצְאוּ וּבָדְקוּ וְלֹא מָצְאוּ.

In the second year all Israel went up (to celebrate) the festivals. David said to them: Go forth and see if there be among you people who lead immoral lives, because owing to the sin of immorality the heavens are closed, as it is said, "And thou hast polluted the land with thy whoredoms" (Jer. 3:2). What is written after this in this context? "Therefore the showers have been withholden, and there hath been no latter rain" (Jer. 3:3). They investigated, but they did not find (any immoral people).

בַּשָּׁנָה הַשְּׁלִישִׁית עָלוּ כָל יִשְׂרָאֵל לָרְגָלִים, אָמַר לָהֶם דָּוִד: צְאוּ וּרְאוּ אִם יֵשׁ בָּכֶם בְּנֵי אָדָם שׁוֹפְכֵי דָמִים, שֶׁבַּעֲוֹן שׁוֹפְכֵי דָמִים הַגְּשָׁמִים נֶעֱצָרִים, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר ״וְלֹא תַחֲנִיפוּ אֶת הָאָרֶץ״. יָצְאוּ וּבָדְקוּ וְלֹא מָצְאוּ. אָמַר לָהֶם דָּוִד: מִכָּאן וָאֵילָךְ אֵין הַדָּבָר תָּלוּי אֶלָּא בִּי. מִיָּד עָמַד וְהִתְפַּלֵּל לִפְנֵי הַקָּדוֹשׁ בָּרוּךְ הוּא. ״עַל שָׁאוּל? אֵינוֹ שָׁאוּל שֶׁנִּמְשַׁח בְּשֶׁמֶן הַמִּשְׁחָה? אֵינוֹ שָׁאוּל שֶׁבְּיָמָיו לֹא נַעֲשָׂה עֲבוֹדָה זָרָה בְּיִשְׂרָאֵל? אֵינוֹ שָׁאוּל שֶׁחֶלְקוֹ שְׁמוּאֵל הַנָּבִיא? וְאַתֶּם בָּאָרֶץ וְהֵם בְּחוּצָה לָאָרֶץ״.

In the third || year all Israel went up (to celebrate) the festivals. David said to them: Go forth and see if there be among you people who shed blood, because on account of the sin of those who murder the rain is withheld, as it is said, "So ye shall not pollute the land wherein ye are; for blood, it polluteth the land" (Num. 35:33). They went forth and investigated, but they did not find (any murderer). David said to them: Henceforth the matter only depends upon me. David arose and prayed before the Holy One, blessed be He. And He answered him: It is for Saul; was not Saul one who was anointed with the oil of consecration? and was it not Saul in whose days there was no idolatry in Israel? and was it not Saul who secured his portion with Samuel the prophet? Yet ye are in the land (of Israel) and he is (buried) outside the land (of Israel).

מִיָּד עָמַד דָּוִד וְנִכְנַס לְכָל זִקְנֵי יִשְׂרָאֵל וּגְדוֹלֵיהֶן, וְעָבְרוּ אֶת הַיַּרְדֵּן וּבָאוּ לְיָבֵשׁ גִּלְעָד, וּמָצְאוּ אֶת עַצְמוֹת שָׁאוּל וִיהוֹנָתָן בְּנוֹ שֶׁלֹּא מָשְׁלָה בָּהֶם רִמָּה, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר: ״שׁוֹמֵר כָּל עַצְמוֹתָיו אַחַת מֵהֵנָּה לֹא נִשְׁבָּרָה״. וְנָטְלוּ אֶת עַצְמוֹת שָׁאוּל וִיהוֹנָתָן בְּנוֹ וְנָתְנוּ אוֹתָם בְּתוֹךְ אֲרוֹן הַמֵּת וְעָבְרוּ אֶת הַיַּרְדֵּן, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר: ״וַיִּקְבְּרוּ אֶת עַצְמוֹת שָׁאוּל וִיהוֹנָתָן בְּנוֹ וַיַּעַשׂ כָּל אֲשֶׁר צִוָּה הַמֶּלֶךְ״. מַה צִוָּה הַמֶּלֶךְ? צִוָּה לִהְיוֹת מַעֲבִירִין אֲרוֹנוֹ שֶׁל שָׁאוּל בְּכָל גְּבוּל שִׁבְטוֹ. וְהָיָה הַשֵּׁבֶט שֶׁהָיָה נִכְנָס בּוֹ אֲרוֹנוֹ שֶׁל שָׁאוּל, הָיוּ יוֹצְאִים הֵם וּנְשֵׁיהֶם וּבְנֵיהֶם וּבְנוֹתֵיהֶן וְגוֹמְלִים חֶסֶד עִם שָׁאוּל וְעִם בְּנוֹ, כְּדֵי שֶׁיֵּצְאוּ כָל יִשְׂרָאֵל יְדֵי חוֹבָתָן בִּגְמִילוּת חֶסֶד. וְכֵן עָשָׂה עַד שֶׁבָּא לְאֶרֶץ אֲחֻזָּתוֹ לִגְבוּל יִשְׂרָאֵל בְּאֶרֶץ בִּנְיָמִין בִּירוּשָׁלַיִם, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר: ״וַיִּקְבְּרוּ אֶת עַצְמוֹת שָׁאוּל וִיהוֹנָתָן בְּנוֹ בְּאֶרֶץ בִּנְיָמִין בִּסְבִיב יְרוּשָׁלִַם״. וְכֵיוָן שֶׁרָאָה הַקָּדוֹשׁ בָּרוּךְ הוּא שֶׁגָּמְלוּ חֶסֶד כָּל יִשְׂרָאֵל, מִיָּד נִתְמַלֵּא רַחֲמִים וְנָתַן מָטָר עַל הָאָרֶץ, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר: ״וַיֵּעָתֵר אֱלֹהִים לָאָרֶץ אַחֲרֵי כֵן״.

David forthwith arose and gathered together all the elders of Israel and the nobles, and they crossed the Jordan. They came to Jabesh-Gilead and they found the bones of Saul and Jonathan his son. No worm had been able to touch them, as it is said, "He keepeth all his bones, not one of them is broken" (Ps. 34:21). They took the bones of Saul and Jonathan his son, and placed them in a coffin, and they crossed the Jordan, as it is said, "And they buried the bones of Saul and Jonathan his son… and they performed all that the king commanded" (2 Sam. 21:14). The king commanded that they should bring the coffin of Saul in all the borders of each tribe. And it came to pass that the tribe || wherein they brought the coffin of Saul, the people (there) with their wives and their sons and their daughters came forth and displayed loving-kindness to Saul and to his sons, so that all Israel should discharge their obligation of showing loving-kindness. And thus (did they do) until it came to the border of his possession to the border of Jerusalem, in the land of Benjamin in Jerusalem, as it is said, "And they buried the bones of Saul and Jonathan his son in the country of Benjamin" (ibid.), in the vicinity of Jerusalem. When the Holy One, blessed be He, saw that all Israel had displayed loving-kindness (to him), He was forthwith full of compassion, and He sent rain upon the land, as it is said, "And after that God was intreated for the land" (ibid.).

רַבִּי נְתַנְאֵל אוֹמֵר: שְׁלֹשׁ מֵאוֹת שָׁנָה עַד שֶׁלֹּא נוֹלַד יֹאשִׁיָּהוּ שְׁמוֹ, וּבֶן שְׁמֹנֶה שָׁנִים מָלַךְ. וְכִי נַעַר שֶׁל שְׁמֹנֶה שָׁנִים מַה דַּעְתּוֹ? וַהֲלֹא מָאַס אֶת הָאֱלִילִים וְשִׁבַּר אֶת הַמַּצֵּבוֹת וְגִדַּע אֶת הַפְּסִילִים וְכָרַת אֶת הָאֲשֵׁרִים, וְהָיָה זְכוּתוֹ מַבְהֶקֶת לִפְנֵי כִּסֵּא הַכָּבוֹד. וּבִשְׁבִיל הָרָעָה שֶׁהָיוּ יִשְׂרָאֵל עוֹשִׂין בַּסֵּתֶר נֶאֱסַף הַצַּדִּיק, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר: ״כִּי מִפְּנֵי הָרָעָה נֶאֱסַף הַצַּדִּיק״. וְנֶאֶסְפוּ כָּל יְהוּדָה וְיִרְמְיָהוּ הַנָּבִיא לִגְמֹל חֶסֶד לְיֹאשִׁיָּהוּ, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר: ״וַיְקוֹנֵן יִרְמְיָהוּ עַל יֹאשִׁיָּהוּ״. רַבִּי לֵוִי אוֹמֵר: הַשָּׁרִים – אֵלּוּ הַלְּוִיִּם שֶׁהָיוּ עוֹמְדִין עַל הַדּוּכָן בְּשִׁיר, וְהַשָּׁרוֹת – אֵלּוּ נְשׁוֹתֵיהֶן. רַבִּי שִׁמְעוֹן אוֹמֵר: לֹא עַל הַלְּוִיִּם וְלֹא עַל נְשׁוֹתֵיהֶן בִּלְבַד הֵן אָמְרוּ, אֶלָּא גַּם עַל הַנָּשִׁים הַחֲכָמוֹת, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר: ״כֹּה אָמַר ה' הִתְבּוֹנְנוּ וְקִרְאוּ לַמְקוֹנְנוֹת וּתְמַהֵרְנָה וְתִשֶּׂאנָה עָלֵינוּ נֶהִי״. מִכָּאן הִתְקִינוּ חֲכָמִים שֶׁיִּהְיוּ עוֹשִׂין כֵּן לְכָל זִקְנֵי יִשְׂרָאֵל וְלִגְדוֹלֵיהֶן, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר: ״וַיִּתְּנֵם לְחֹק לְיִשְׂרָאֵל״.

Rabbi Nathaniel said: Three hundred years before the birth of Josiah, was his name mentioned, as it is said, "Behold, a child shall be born unto the house of David, Josiah by name" (1 Kings 13:2); "And he was eight years old when he began to reign" (2 Kings 22:1). What is the disposition of a lad of eight years of age? He despised the idols and broke in pieces the pillars, and smashed the images and cut down the groves. His merit was great before the Throne of Glory. Because of the evil which Israel did in secret the righteous one was gathered (to his fathers), as it is said, "For the righteous is taken away because of the evil" (Isa. 57:1). || All Judah gathered together also with Jeremiah the prophet to show loving-kindness to Josiah, as it is said, "And Jeremiah lamented for Josiah, and all the singing men and the singing women spake of Josiah" (2 Chron. 35:25). Rabbi Meir said: "The singing men" refer to the Levites, who stood upon the platform singing; "and the singing women" refer to their wives. Rabbi Simeon said: These terms do not refer merely to the Levites and their wives; but to the skilled women, as it is said, "Thus saith the Lord of hosts, Consider ye, and call for the mourning women, that they may come; and send for the cunning women, that they may come: and let them make haste, and take up a wailing for us" (Jer. 9:17, 18). Hence the wise men instituted (the rule) that this should be done to all the wise men of Israel and to their great men, as it is said, "And they made them an ordinance in Israel" (2 Chron. 35:25).

רָאָה שְׁלֹמֹה שֶׁמִּדַּת גְּמִילוּת חֲסָדִים גְּדוֹלָה לִפְנֵי הַקָּדוֹשׁ בָּרוּךְ הוּא, וּכְשֶׁבָּנָה בֵּית הַמִּקְדָּשׁ בָּנָה שְׁנֵי שְׁעָרִים: אֶחָד לַחֲתָנִים וְאֶחָד לַאֲבֵלִים וְלִמְנֻדִּים. וְהָיוּ יִשְׂרָאֵל הוֹלְכִים בְּשַׁבָּתוֹת וְיוֹשְׁבִין בֵּין שְׁנֵי שְׁעָרִים הַלָּלוּ. וְהַנִּכְנָס בְּשַׁעַר חֲתָנִים הָיוּ יוֹדְעִין שֶׁהוּא חָתָן, וְהָיוּ אוֹמְרִים לוֹ: ״הַשּׁוֹכֵן בַּבַּיִת הַזֶּה יְשַׂמַּחֲךָ בְּבָנִים וּבְבָנוֹת״. וְהַנִּכְנָס בְּשַׁעַר הָאֲבֵלִים וְהָיָה שְׂפָמוֹ מְכֻסֶּה, הָיוּ יוֹדְעִין שֶׁהוּא אָבֵל וְהָיוּ אוֹמְרִין לוֹ: ״הַשּׁוֹכֵן בַּבַּיִת זֶה יְנַחֶמְךָ״. וְהַנִּכְנָס בְּשַׁעַר הָאֲבֵלִים וְלֹא הָיָה שְׂפָמוֹ מְכֻסֶּה, הָיוּ יוֹדְעִין שֶׁהוּא מְנֻדֶּה וְהָיוּ אוֹמְרִין לוֹ: ״הַשּׁוֹכֵן בַּבַּיִת הַזֶּה יִתֵּן בְּלִבְּךָ לִשְׁמֹעַ דִּבְרֵי חֲבֵירֶיךָ, וְיִתֵּן בְּלֵב חֲבֵרֶיךָ לִסְלֹחַ לְךָ וִיקָרְבוּךָ אֶצְלָם״, כְּדֵי שֶׁיֵּצְאוּ כָּל יִשְׂרָאֵל יְדֵי חוֹבָתָן בִּגְמִילוּת חֲסָדִים.

Solomon saw that the observance of loving-kindness was great before the Holy One, blessed be He. When he built the Temple he erected two gates, one for the bridegrooms, and the other for the mourners and the excommunicated. On Sabbaths the Israelites went and sat between those two gates; and they knew that anyone who entered through the gate of the bridegrooms was a bridegroom, and they said to him, May He who dwells in this house cause thee to rejoice with sons and daughters. If one entered through the gate of the mourners with his upper lip covered, then they knew that he was a mourner, and they would say to him. May He who dwells || in this house comfort thee. If one entered through the gate of the mourners without having his upper lip covered, then they knew that he was excommunicated, and they would say to him, May He who dwells in this house put into thy heart (the desire) to listen to the words of thy associates, and may He put into the hearts of thy associates that they may draw thee near (to themselves), so that all Israel may discharge their duty by rendering the service of loving-kindness.

וּמִיּוֹם שֶׁנֶּחֱרַב בֵּית הַמִּקְדָּשׁ הִתְקִינוּ חֲכָמִים זִכְרוֹנָם לִבְרָכָה שֶׁיִּהְיוּ חֲתָנִים וַאֲבֵלִים הוֹלְכִין לְבֵית הַכְּנֶסֶת וּלְבָתֵּי מִדְרָשׁוֹת, וְאַנְשֵׁי הַמָּקוֹם רוֹאִים אֶת הֶחָתָן וּשְׂמֵחִים עִמּוֹ וְרוֹאִין אֶת הָאָבֵל וְיוֹשְׁבִין לָאָרֶץ, כְּדֵי שֶׁיֵּצְאוּ כָּל יִשְׂרָאֵל יְדֵי חוֹבָתָן בִּגְמִילוּת חֲסָדִים. וַעֲלֵיהֶם הוּא אוֹמֵר: ״בָּרוּךְ אַתָּה ה׳ נוֹתֵן שָׂכָר טוֹב לְגוֹמְלֵי חֲסָדִים״.

When the Temple was destroyed, the sages instituted (the rule) that the bridegrooms and mourners should go to the synagogues and to the houses of study. The men of the place see the bridegroom and rejoice with him; and they see the mourner and sit with him upon the earth, so that all the Israelites may discharge their duty in the service of loving-kindness. With reference to them he says: Blessed art Thou, who giveth a good reward to those who show loving-kindness.