📖 Pirkei DeRabbi Eliezer 30

הַנִּסָּיוֹן הַתְּשִׁיעִי, נוֹלַד יִשְׁמָעֵאל בַּקֶּשֶׁת וְנִתְרַבָּה בַּקֶּשֶׁת שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר ״וַיְהִי אֱלֹהִים אֶת הַנַּעַר וַיִּגְדָּל״ וְנָטַל קֶשֶׁת וְחִצִּים וְהָיָה יוֹרֶה אַחַר הַפִּנּוֹת וְרָאָה אֶת יִצְחָק יוֹשֵׁב לְבַדּוֹ וְיָרָה חֵץ לְהָרְגוֹ. וְרָאֲתָה זֶה הַדָּבָר שָׂרָה וְהִגִּידָה לְאַבְרָהָם וְאָמְרָה לוֹ: ״כָּזֶה וְכָזֶה עָשָׂה יִשְׁמָעֵאל לְיִצְחָק, אֶלָּא עֲמֹד וּכְתֹב לְיִצְחָק כָּל מַה שֶּׁנִּשְׁבַּע הַקָּדוֹשׁ בָּרוּךְ הוּא לְךָ וּלְזַרְעֲךָ, שֶׁאֵין בֶּן הָאָמָה יוֹרֵשׁ עִם בְּנִי עִם יִצְחָק״, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר ״וַתֹּאמֶר לְאַבְרָהָם גָּרֵשׁ אֶת הָאָמָה הַזֹּאת וְאֶת בְּנָהּ כִּי לֹא יִירַשׁ בֶּן הָאָמָה הַזֹּאת עִם בְּנִי עִם יִצְחָק״.

THE TRIALS OF ABRAHAM (continued)THE ninth trial (was as follows): Ishmael was born with (the prophecy of the) bow, and he grew up with the bow, as it is said, "And God was with the lad, and he grew … and he became an archer" (Gen. 21:20). He took bow and arrows and began to shoot at the birds. He saw Isaac sitting by himself, and he shot an arrow at him to slay him. Sarah saw (this), and told Abraham. She said to him: Thus and thus has Ishmael done to Isaac, but (now) arise and write (a will in favour) of Isaac, (giving him) all that the Holy One has sworn to give || to thee and to thy seed. The son of this handmaid shall not inherit with my son, with Isaac, as it is said, "And she said unto Abraham, Cast out this bondwoman and her son" (Gen. 21:10).

יְהוּדָה בֶּן תֵּימָא אוֹמֵר: אָמְרָה שָׂרָה לְאַבְרָהָם, ״כְּתֹב גֵּט גֵּרוּשִׁין לָאָמָה וְשַׁלַּח אֶת הָאָמָה הַזֹּאת מֵעָלַי וּמֵעַל יִצְחָק בְּנִי מִן הָעוֹלָם הַזֶּה וּמִן הָעוֹלָם הַבָּא״. וּמִכָּל הָרָעוֹת שֶׁבָּאוּ עַל אַבְרָהָם הֵרַע בְּעֵינָיו הַדָּבָר הַזֶּה מְאֹד, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר (בראשית כא, יא): ״וַיֵּרַע הַדָּבָר מְאֹד בְּעֵינֵי אַבְרָהָם עַל אוֹדֹת בְּנוֹ״.

Ben Tema said: Sarah said to Abraham, Write a bill of divorce, and send away this handmaid and her son from me and from Isaac my son, in this world and from the world to come. More than all the misfortunes which overtook Abraham, this matter was exceedingly evil in his eyes, as it is said, "And the thing was very grievous in Abraham's sight on account of his son" (Gen. 21:11).

רַבִּי יְהוּדָה אוֹמֵר: נִגְלָה הַקָּדוֹשׁ בָּרוּךְ הוּא עָלָיו, אָמַר לוֹ: ״אַבְרָהָם, אֵין אַתָּה יוֹדֵעַ שֶׁהָיְתָה שָׂרָה רְאוּיָה לְךָ לְאִשָּׁה מִמְּעֵי אִמָּהּ? וְהִיא חֲבֶרְתְּךָ וְאֵשֶׁת בְּרִיתֶךָ. לֹא נִקְרֵאת שָׂרָה שִׁפְחָה אֶלָּא אִשְׁתְּךָ, לֹא נִקְרֵאת הָגָר אִשְׁתְּךָ אֶלָּא שִׁפְחָתֶךָ. כָּל מַה שֶּׁדִּבְּרָה שָׂרָה בֶּאֱמֶת הִגִּידָה. אַל יֵרַע בְּעֵינֶיךָ״.

Rabbi Jehudah said: In that night the Holy One, blessed be He, was revealed unto him. He said to him: Abraham ! Dost thou not know that Sarah was appointed to thee for a wife from her mother's womb? She is thy companion, and the wife of thy covenant; Sarah is not called thy handmaid, but thy wife; neither is Hagar called thy wife, but thy handmaid; and all that Sarah has spoken she has uttered truthfully. Let it not be grievous in thine eyes, as it is said, "And God said unto Abraham, Let it not be grievous in thy sight" (Gen. 21:12).

הִשְׁכִּים אַבְרָהָם וְכָתַב גֵּט גֵּרוּשִׁין וְנָתַן לְהָגָר, וְשִׁלַּח אוֹתָהּ וְאֶת בְּנָהּ מֵעָלָיו וּמֵעַל יִצְחָק בְּנוֹ מֵהָעוֹלָם הַזֶּה וּמֵהָעוֹלָם הַבָּא, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר: ״וַיַּשְׁכֵּם אַבְרָהָם בַּבֹּקֶר וַיִּקַּח״ וְכוּ'. וַיְשַׁלְּחֶהָ בְּגֵט גֵּרוּשִׁין, וְלָקַח בֶּגֶד אֶחָד וְקָשַׁר בְּמָתְנֶיהָ כְּדֵי שֶׁיְּהֵא שׂוֹחֵף אַחֲרֶיהָ לֵידַע שֶׁהִיא שִׁפְחָה. וְלֹא עוֹד, אֶלָּא שֶׁעָמַד אַבְרָהָם אָבִינוּ לִרְאוֹת אֶת יִשְׁמָעֵאל בְּנוֹ וְלִרְאוֹת אֶת הַדֶּרֶךְ שֶׁהָלְכוּ בָהּ.

Abraham rose up early, and wrote a bill of divorce, and gave it to Hagar, and he sent her and her son away from himself, and from Isaac his son, from this world and from the world to come, as it is said, "And Abraham rose up early in the morning, and took bread and a bottle of water" (Gen. 21:14). He sent her away || with a bill of divorcement, and he took the veil, and he bound it around her waist, so that it should drag behind her to disclose (the fact) that she was a bondwoman. Not only this, but also because Abraham desired to see Ishmael, his son, and to see the way whereon they went.

וּבִזְכוּת אַבְרָהָם לֹא חָסְרוּ הַמַּיִם מִן הַחֵמֶת, וְכֵיוָן שֶׁהִגִּיעַ לְפֶתַח הַמִּדְבָּר הִתְחִילָה תּוֹעָה אַחֲרֵי עֲבוֹדָה זָרָה שֶׁל בֵּית אָבִיהָ וּמִיָּד חָסְרוּ הַמַּיִם מִן הַחֵמֶת. לְפִיכָךְ ״וַתַּשְׁלֵךְ אֶת הַיֶּלֶד״. וּבֶן כ״ז (יש גורסים: כ״ד) שָׁנָה הָיָה יִשְׁמָעֵאל כְּשֶׁיָּצָא מִבֵּית אָבִיו וְיִצְחָק בֶּן עֶשֶׂר שָׁנִים הָיָה.

By the merit of our father Abraham the water did not fail in the bottle, but when she reached the entrance to the wilderness, she began to go astray after the idolatry of her father's house; and forthwith the water in the bottle was spent, as it is said, "And she departed and wandered" (ibid.), Ishmael was seventeen years old (when) he went forth from the house of Abraham, and Isaac was forty years old. By the merit of our father Abraham the water did not fail in the bottle, but when she reached the entrance to the wilderness, she began to go astray after the idolatry of her father's house; the water in the bottle was spent, and the soul of Ishmael was faint with thirst.

״וַתֵּלֶךְ וַתֵּתַע״ וְכוּ'. אֵין וַתֵּתַע אֶלָּא עֲבוֹדָה זָרָה דִּכְתִיב בָּהּ (יִרְמְיָה י טו) ״הֶבֶל הֵמָּה מַעֲשֵׂה תַּעְתֻּעִים״. וְעָיְפָה נַפְשׁוֹ שֶׁל יִשְׁמָעֵאל בַּצָּמָא וְהָלַךְ וְהִשְׁלִיךְ אֶת עַצְמוֹ תַּחַת חֲרוּלֵי הַמִּדְבָּר לִהְיוֹת חַרְשָׁן עָלָיו וְאָמַר: ״אֱלֹהֵי אַבְרָהָם אָבִי, יֵשׁ לְפָנֶיךָ תּוֹצָאוֹת מָוֶת, קַח אֶת נַפְשִׁי מִמֶּנִּי וְאַל אָמוּת בַּצָּמָא״. וַיֵּעָתֶר לוֹ, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר: ״כִּי שָׁמַע אֱלֹהִים אֶת קוֹל הַנַּעַר בַּאֲשֶׁר הוּא שָׁם״. וְשָׁם נִפְתְּחוּ לָהֶם הַבְּאֵר שֶׁנִּבְרֵאת בֵּין הַשְּׁמָשׁוֹת וְהָלְכוּ וְשָׁתוּ וּמִלְּאוּ אֶת הַחֵמֶת מַיִם, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר: ״וַיִּפְקַח אֱלֹהִים אֶת עֵינֶיהָ״. וְשָׁם הִנִּיחוּ הַבְּאֵר וּמִשָּׁם נָשְׂאוּ אֶת רַגְלֵיהֶם וְהָלְכוּ אֶל הַמִּדְבָּר כֻּלּוֹ עַד שֶׁהִגִּיעוּ לְמִדְבַּר פָּארָן וּמָצְאוּ שָׁם מוֹצָאֵי מַיִם וְיָשְׁבוּ שָׁם, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר: ״וַיֵּשֶׁב בְּמִדְבַּר פָּארָן״. שָׁלַח יִשְׁמָעֵאל וְלָקַח לוֹ אִשָּׁה מִבְּנוֹת מוֹאָב וְעַיְשָׁה שְׁמָהּ. לְאַחַר שָׁלֹשׁ שָׁנִים הָלַךְ אַבְרָהָם לִרְאוֹת אֶת יִשְׁמָעֵאל בְּנוֹ, וְנִשְׁבַּע לְשָׂרָה שֶׁלֹּא יֵרֵד מֵעַל הַגָּמָל בַּמָּקוֹם שֶׁיִּשְׁמָעֵאל שָׁרוּי תַּמָּן, וְהִגִּיעַ לְשָׁם בַּחֲצִי הַיּוֹם וּמָצָא שָׁם אֶת אִשְׁתּוֹ שֶׁל יִשְׁמָעֵאל. אָמַר לָהּ: ״הֵיכָן הוּא יִשְׁמָעֵאל?״ אָמְרָה לוֹ: ״הָלַךְ הוּא וְאִמּוֹ לְהָבִיא פֵּרוֹת וּתְמָרִים מִן הַמִּדְבָּר״. אָמַר לָהּ: ״תְּנִי לִי מְעַט לֶחֶם וּמַיִם כִּי עָיְפָה נַפְשִׁי מִדֶּרֶךְ הַמִּדְבָּר״. אָמְרָה לוֹ: ״אֵין לִי לֶחֶם וְלֹא מַיִם״. אָמַר לָהּ: ״כְּשֶׁיָּבֹא יִשְׁמָעֵאל הַגִּידִי לוֹ אֶת הַדְּבָרִים הַלָּלוּ וְאִמְרִי לוֹ: זָקֵן אֶחָד מֵאֶרֶץ כְּנַעַן בָּא לִרְאוֹתְךָ וְאָמַר: חַלֵּף מִפְתַּן בֵּיתְךָ, שֶׁאֵינָהּ טוֹבָה לְךָ״. וּכְשֶׁבָּא יִשְׁמָעֵאל מִן הַמִּדְבָּר הִגִּידָה לוֹ אֶת הַדְּבָרִים הַלָּלוּ, וּבֵן חָכָם כַּחֲצִי חָכָם, וְהֵבִין יִשְׁמָעֵאל וְשָׁלְחָה אִמּוֹ וְלָקְחָה לוֹ אִשָּׁה מִבֵּית אָבִיהָ, וּפָטִימָה שְׁמָהּ.

"And she departed and wandered" (ibid.). The meaning of "and she wandered" is merely idolatry, because it is written, concerning (this root), "They are vanity, a work of delusion" (Jer. 10:15). He went and cast himself beneath the thorns of the wilderness, so that the moisture might be upon him, and he said: O God of my father Abraham ! Thine are the issues of death; take away from me my soul, for I would not die of thirst. And He was entreated of him, as it is said, "For God hath heard the || voice of the lad where he is" (Gen. 21:17). The well which was created at twilight was opened for them there, and they went and drank and filled the bottle with water, as it is said, "And God opened her eyes, and she saw a well of water" (Gen. 21:19). And there they left the well, and thence they started on their way, and went through all the wilderness until they came to the wilderness of Paran, and they found there streams of water, and they dwelt there, as it is said, "And he dwelt in the wilderness of Paran" (Gen. 21:21). Ishmael sent for a wife from among the daughters of Moab, and 'Ayeshah was her name. After three years Abraham went to see Ishmael his son, having sworn to Sarah that he would not descend from the camel in the place where Ishmael dwelt. He arrived there at midday and found there the wife of Ishmael. He said to her: Where is Ishmael? She said to him: He has gone with his mother to fetch the fruit of the palms from the wilderness. He said to her: Give me a little bread and a little water, for my soul is faint after the journey in the desert. She said to him: I have neither bread nor water. He said to her: When Ishmael comes (home) tell him this || story, and say to him: A certain old man came from the land of Canaan to see thee, and he said, Exchange the threshold of thy house, for it is not good for thee. When Ishmael came (home) his wife told him the story. A son of a wise man is like half a wise man. Ishmael understood. His mother sent and took for him a wife from her father's house, and her name was Fatimah.

וְעוֹד אַחַר שָׁלֹשׁ שָׁנִים הָלַךְ אַבְרָהָם לִרְאוֹת אֶת יִשְׁמָעֵאל בְּנוֹ, וְנִשְׁבַּע לְשָׂרָה כְּפַעַם רִאשׁוֹנָה שֶׁאֵינוֹ יוֹרֵד מִן הַגָּמָל בַּמָּקוֹם שֶׁיִּשְׁמָעֵאל שָׁרוּי שָׁם. וְהִגִּיעַ לְשָׁם בַּחֲצִי הַיּוֹם וּמָצָא שָׁם אִשְׁתּוֹ שֶׁל יִשְׁמָעֵאל, וְאָמַר לָהּ: ״הֵיכָן הוּא יִשְׁמָעֵאל?״ אָמְרָה לוֹ: ״הוּא וְאִמּוֹ הָלְכוּ לִרְעוֹת אֶת הַגְּמַלִּים בַּמִּדְבָּר״. אָמַר לָהּ: ״תְּנִי לִי מְעַט לֶחֶם וּמַיִם כִּי עֲיֵפָה נַפְשִׁי מִדֶּרֶךְ הַמִּדְבָּר״. וְהוֹצִיאָה לֶחֶם וּמַיִם וְנָתְנָה לוֹ. עָמַד אַבְרָהָם וְהָיָה מִתְפַּלֵּל לִפְנֵי הַקָּדוֹשׁ בָּרוּךְ הוּא עַל בְּנוֹ, וְנִתְמַלֵּא בֵּיתוֹ שֶׁל יִשְׁמָעֵאל מִכָּל טוּב מִמִּין הַבְּרָכוֹת. וּכְשֶׁבָּא יִשְׁמָעֵאל הִגִּידָה לוֹ אֶת הַדָּבָר, וְיָדַע יִשְׁמָעֵאל שֶׁעַד עַכְשָׁו רַחֲמֵי אָבִיו עָלָיו כְּרַחֵם אָב עַל בָּנִים. לְאַחַר מִיתָתָהּ שֶׁל שָׂרָה חָזַר אַבְרָהָם וְלָקַח אֶת גְּרוּשָׁתוֹ, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר: ״וַיֹּסֶף אַבְרָהָם וַיִּקַּח אִשָּׁה״. וּמִדְּקָאָמַר ״וַיֹּסֶף״ מַשְׁמַע שֶׁפַּעַם רִאשׁוֹנָה הָיְתָה אִשְׁתּוֹ, וְעוֹד לֹא הוֹסִיף לָבֹא עָלֶיהָ. ״וּשְׁמָהּ קְטוּרָה״, שֶׁהָיְתָה מְקֻטֶּרֶת מִכָּל מִינֵי בְּשָׂמִים.

Again after three years Abraham went to see his son Ishmael, having sworn to Sarah as on the first occasion that he would not descend from the camel in the place where Ishmael dwelt. He came there at midday, and found there Ishmael's wife. He said to her: Where is Ishmael? She replied to him: He has gone with his mother to feed the camels in the desert. He said to her: Give me a little bread and water, for my soul is faint after the journey of the desert. She fetched it and gave it to him. Abraham arose and prayed before the Holy One, blessed be He, for his son, and (thereupon) Ishmael's house was filled with all good things of the various blessings. When Ishmael came (home) his wife told him what had happened, and Ishmael knew that his father's love was still extended to him, as it is said, || "Like as a father pitieth his sons" (Ps. 103:13). After the death of Sarah, Abraham again took (Hagar) his divorced (wife), as it is said, "And Abraham again took a wife, and her name was Keturah" (Gen. 25:1). Why does it say "And he again"? Because on the first occasion she was his wife, and he again betook himself to her. Her name was Keturah, because she was perfumed with all kinds of scents.

דָּבָר אַחֵר, ״קְטוּרָה״ — שֶׁהָיוּ נָאִים מַעֲשֶׂיהָ כַּקְּטֹרֶת. יָלְדָה לוֹ שִׁשָּׁה בָּנִים וְכֻלָּם נִקְרְאוּ עַל שְׁמוֹ שֶׁל יִשְׁמָעֵאל, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר ״וַתֵּלֶד לוֹ אֶת זִמְרָן וְאֶת יָקְשָׁן״.

Another explanation of Keturah (is): because her actions were beautiful like incense, and she bare him six sons, and they were all called according to the name of Ishmael, as it is said, "And she bare him Zimran (Gen. 25:2).

וּכְאִשָּׁה שֶׁהִיא מִתְגָּרֶשֶׁת מִן בַּעְלָהּ, כָּךְ עָמַד אַבְרָהָם וְשִׁלְּחָן מֵעַל יִצְחָק בְּנוֹ מִן הָעוֹלָם הַזֶּה וּמִן הָעוֹלָם הַבָּא, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר: ״וְלִבְנֵי הַפִּילַגְשִׁים אֲשֶׁר לְאַבְרָהָם״ וְכוּ' וַיְשַׁלְּחֵם בְּגֵט גֵּרוּשִׁין.

Like a woman sent away from her husband, so likewise Abraham arose and sent them away from Isaac his son, from this world and from the world to come, as it is said, "But unto the sons of the concubines, which Abraham had, Abraham gave gifts, and he sent them away from Isaac his son" (Gen. 25:6), by a deed of divorcement.

עַל שֵׁם בְּנוֹ שֶׁל יִשְׁמָעֵאל, קֵדָר, נִקְרְאוּ בְּנֵי קֵדָר, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר: ״לְקֵדָר וּלְמַמְלְכוֹת חָצוֹר״ וְכוּ'. עַל שֵׁם בְּנוֹ שֶׁל יִשְׁמָעֵאל, קֵדְמָה, נִקְרְאוּ בְּנֵי קֶדֶם, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר: ״אֶל בְּנֵי קֶדֶם״. עַל שֵׁם שֶׁיָּשְׁבוּ בַּאֲחֻזּוֹת קַיִן נִקְרְאוּ בָנָיו בְּנֵי קַיִן, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר: ״וְחֶבֶר הַקֵּינִי נִפְרָד״, וַהֲלֹא כָּל בְּנֵי קַיִן נִכְרְתוּ בְּמֵי הַמַּבּוּל, אֶלָּא עַל שֵׁם שֶׁיָּשְׁבוּ בַּאֲחֻזּוֹת קַיִן שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר: ״כִּי אִם יִהְיֶה לְבָעֵר קָיִן״, כִּי אִם יִהְיֶה לְבָעֵר אֵשׁ מִזַּרְעוֹ שֶׁל יִשְׁמָעֵאל הֵם יִשְׁבְּתוּ מַלְכוּת אַשּׁוּר.

Corresponding to the name of Ishmael's son Kedar, the sons of Kedar were so called, as it is said, "Of Kedar, and of the kingdoms of Hazor" (Jer. 49:28). Corresponding to the name of Ishmael's son "Kedemah" (Gen. 25:15), the "sons of Ḳedem" were so called. Because they dwelt in the territory belonging to Cain, his children were called "sons of Cain," as it is said, "Now Heber the Kenite had separated himself from Cain" (Judg. 4:11). Were not all the sons of Cain cut off by the waters of the Flood? But because they dwelt in the territory of the children of Cain, his children were called "sons of Cain," as it is said, "Nevertheless || Cain shall be wasted, as long as Asshur shall dwell in thy place" (Num. 24:22). "Nevertheless Cain shall be wasted away" by fire, through the seed of Ishmael, the latter shall cause the kingdom of Assyria to cease.

אָמַר בִּלְעָם: מִשִּׁבְעִים לְשׁוֹנוֹת שֶׁבָּרָא הַקָּדוֹשׁ בָּרוּךְ הוּא בְּעוֹלָמוֹ, לֹא שָׂם שְׁמוֹ לְאֶחָד מֵהֶם אֶלָּא לְיִשְׂרָאֵל. הוֹאִיל וְהִשְׁוָה הַקָּדוֹשׁ בָּרוּךְ הוּא שְׁמוֹ שֶׁל יִשְׁמָעֵאל לִשְׁמוֹ שֶׁל יִשְׂרָאֵל, אוֹי מִי יִחְיֶה בְּיָמָיו, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר: ״אוֹי מִי יִחְיֶה מִשֻּׂמוֹ אֵל״.

Balaam said: Of the seventy nations that the Holy One, blessed be He, created in His world, He did not put His name on any one of them except on Israel; and since the Holy One, blessed be He, made the name of Ishmael similar to the name of Israel, woe to him who shall live in his days, as it is said, "Alas, who shall live when God establisheth him?" (Num. 24:23).

רַבִּי יִשְׁמָעֵאל אוֹמֵר: חֲמִשָּׁה עָשָׂר דְּבָרִים עֲתִידִין בְּנֵי יִשְׁמָעֵאל לַעֲשׂוֹת בָּאָרֶץ בְּאַחֲרִית הַיָּמִים, וְאֵלּוּ הֵן: יָמֹדּוּ הָאָרֶץ בַּחֲבָלִים, וְיַעֲשׂוּ בֵּית הַקְּבָרוֹת לְמַרְבֵּץ צֹאן אַשְׁפָּתוֹת, וּמָדְדוּ בָהֶן וּמֵהֶן עַל רָאשֵׁי הֶהָרִים, וְיִרְבֶּה הַשֶּׁקֶר וְיִגָּנֵז הָאֱמֶת, וְיִרְחַק חֹק מִיִּשְׂרָאֵל, וְתִרְבֶּה עֲוֹנוֹת בְּיִשְׂרָאֵל, שָׁנִי תּוֹלַעַת כַּצֶּמֶר, וְיִקְמֹל הַנְּיָר וְהַקּוּלְמוּס, וְיִפְסֹל סֶלַע מַלְכוּת, וְיִבְנוּ הֶהָרִים הֶעָרִים הַחֲרֵבוֹת, וִיפַנּוּ הַדְּרָכִים, וְיִטְּעוּ גַּנּוֹת וּפַרְדֵּסִים, וְיִגְדְּרוּ פְּרוּצוֹת חוֹמוֹת בֵּית הַמִּקְדָּשׁ, וְיִבְנוּ בִּנְיָן בַּהֵיכָל, וּשְׁנֵי אַחִים יַעַמְדוּ עֲלֵיהֶם נְשִׂיאִים בְּסוֹפָן, וּבִימֵיהֶן יַעֲמֹד צֶמַח בֶּן דָּוִד, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר (דניאל ב, מד): ״וּבְיוֹמֵיהוֹן דִּי מַלְכַיָּא אִנּוּן יְקִים אֱלָהּ שְׁמַיָּא מַלְכוּ דִּי לְעָלְמִין לָא תִתְחַבַּל״.

Rabbi Ishmael said: In the future the children of Ishmael will do fifteen things in the land (of Israel) in the latter days, and they are: They will measure the land with ropes; they will change a cemetery into a resting-place for sheep (and) a dunghill; they will measure with them and from them upon the tops of the mountains; falsehood will multiply and truth will be hidden; the statutes will be removed far from Israel; sins will be multiplied in Israel; worm-crimson will be in the wool, and he will cover with insects paper and pen; he will hew down the rock of the kingdom, and they will rebuild the desolated cities and sweep the ways; and they will plant gardens and parks, and fence in the broken walls of the Temple; and they will build a building in the Holy Place; and two brothers will arise over them, princes at the end; and in their days the Branch, the Son of David, will arise, as it is said, || "And in the days of those kings shall the God of heaven set up a kingdom, which shall never be destroyed" (Dan. 2:44).

וְעוֹד הָיָה רַבִּי יִשְׁמָעֵאל אוֹמֵר: שָׁלֹשׁ מִלְחָמוֹת שֶׁל מְהוּמָה עֲתִידִין בְּנֵי יִשְׁמָעֵאל לַעֲשׂוֹת בָּאָרֶץ בְּאַחֲרִית הַיָּמִים, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר: ״כִּי מִפְּנֵי חֲרָבוֹת נָדָדוּ״. וְאֵין חֲרָבוֹת אֶלָּא מִלְחָמוֹת. אַחַת בַּיַּעַר בַּעֲרָב, ״מִפְּנֵי חֶרֶב נְטוּשָׁה״; וְאַחַת בַּיָּם, ״מִפְּנֵי קֶשֶׁת דְּרוּכָה״; וְאַחַת בַּכְּרַךְ גָּדוֹל שֶׁהוּא כָּבֵד מִשְּׁנֵיהֶם, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר: ״כִּי מִפְּנֵי כֹּבֶד מִלְחָמָה״. וּמִשָּׁם בֶּן דָּוִד יִצְמַח וְיִרְאֶה בְּאָבְדָן שֶׁל אֵלּוּ וָאֵלּוּ, וּמִשָּׁם יָבֹא לְאֶרֶץ יִשְׂרָאֵל, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר: ״מִי זֶה בָּא מֵאֱדוֹם, חֲמוּץ בְּגָדִים מִבָּצְרָה, זֶה הָדוּר בִּלְבוּשׁוֹ, צֹעֶה בְּרֹב כֹּחוֹ, אֲנִי מְדַבֵּר בִּצְדָקָה רַב לְהוֹשִׁיעַ״.

Rabbi Ishmael also said: Three wars of trouble will the sons of Ishmael in the future wage on the earth in the latter days, as it is said, "For they fled away from the swords" (Isa. 21:15). "Swords" signify only wars, one in the forest of Arabia, as it is said, "From the drawn sword" (ibid.); another on the sea, as it is said, "From the bent bow" (ibid.); and one in the great city which is in Rome, which will be more grievous than the other two, as it is said, "And from the grievousness of the war" (ibid.). From there the Son of David shall flourish and see the destruction of these and these, and thence will He come to the land of Israel, as it is said, "Who is this that cometh from Edom, with crimsoned garments from Bozrah? this that is glorious in his apparel, marching in the greatness of his strength? I that speak in righteousness, mighty to save" (Isa. 63:1).