📖 Pirkei DeRabbi Eliezer 52

Chapter 52 of Pirkei DeRabbi Eliezer

Verses: 10

Verses

Verse 1

שִׁבְעָה מוֹפְתִים נַעֲשׂוּ בָעוֹלָם שֶׁלֹּא נִרְאוּ כְמוֹתָן. הַמּוֹפֵת הָרִאשׁוֹן, מִיּוֹם שֶׁנִּבְרְאוּ שָׁמַיִם וָאָרֶץ לֹא הָיָה אָדָם נִצַּל מִן הָאֵשׁ עַד שֶׁבָּא אַבְרָהָם אָבִינוּ וְנִצַּל מִכִּבְשַׁן הָאֵשׁ, וְשָׁמְעוּ כָּל מַלְכֵי הָאָרֶץ וְתָמְהוּ שֶׁלֹּא רָאוּ כָּמוֹהוּ עַד שֶׁנִּבְרָא הָעוֹלָם. וּמִנַּיִן שֶׁנִּצַּל מִכִּבְשַׁן הָאֵשׁ? שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר: ״אֲנִי ה' אֲשֶׁר הוֹצֵאתִיךָ מֵאוּר כַּשְׂדִּים״, וְכָתוּב אַחֵר אוֹמֵר: ״אַתָּה הוּא ה' הָאֱלֹהִים אֲשֶׁר בָּחַרְתָּ בְּאַבְרָם וְהוֹצֵאתוֹ מֵאוּר כַּשְׂדִּים״.

THE SEVEN WONDERS OF OLD SEVEN wonderful things have been done in the world, the like of which have not been created. From the day when the heavens and the earth were created no man was ever saved from the fire until our father Abraham came and was delivered from the fiery furnace. All the kings of the earth heard (thereof) and they were astonished, for they had not seen anyone like him from the day when the world was created. And whence do we know that he was delivered from the fiery furnace? Because it is said, "And he said unto him, I am the Lord that brought thee out of the furnace of the Chaldees" (Gen. 15:7). Another text says, "Thou art the Lord the God, who didst choose Abram, and broughtest him forth out of the furnace of the Chaldees" (Neh. 9:7).

Verse 2

הַמּוֹפֵת הַשֵּׁנִי, מִיּוֹם שֶׁנִּבְרְאוּ שָׁמַיִם וָאָרֶץ לֹא יָלְדָה אִשָּׁה לְתִשְׁעִים שָׁנָה עַד שֶׁבָּאת שָׂרָה וְיָלְדָה לְתִשְׁעִים שָׁנָה, לְבַד חַוָּה, וְשָׁמְעוּ כָּל מַלְכֵי הָאָרֶץ וְלֹא הֶאֱמִינוּ. מֶה עָשָׂה הַקָּדוֹשׁ בָּרוּךְ הוּא? הוֹבִישׁ אֶת שְׁדֵי נְשֵׁיהֶן, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר (יחזקאל יז, כד) ״וְיָדְעוּ כָּל עֲצֵי הַשָּׂדֶה כִּי אֲנִי ה' הִשְׁפַּלְתִּי עֵץ גָּבֹהַּ הִגְבַּהְתִּי עֵץ שָׁפָל הוֹבַשְׁתִּי עֵץ לָח וְהִפְרַחְתִּי עֵץ יָבֵשׁ״.

The second wonder (was) about the wives of the sons of Noah. From the day when the heavens and the earth were created there never was a woman who at ninety years of age had a child, until Sarah came and bare (a son) when (she was) ninety years old. All the kings of the earth heard (thereof), and they did not believe. What did the Holy One, blessed be He, do to them? He dried up the breasts of their wives, as it is said, "And all the trees of the field shall know that I the Lord have brought down the high tree, have exalted the low tree, have dried up the green tree, and have made the dry tree to flourish" (Ezek. 17:24).

Verse 3

״וְיָדְעוּ כָּל עֲצֵי הַשָּׂדֶה״, אֵלּוּ אֻמּוֹת הָעוֹלָם. ״אֲנִי ה' הִשְׁפַּלְתִּי עֵץ גָּבֹהַּ״, זֶה נִמְרוֹד. ״הִגְבַּהְתִּי עֵץ שָׁפָל״, זֶה אַבְרָהָם אָבִינוּ. ״הוֹבַשְׁתִּי עֵץ לָח״, אֵלּוּ שְׁדֵי נְשֵׁי אֻמּוֹת הָעוֹלָם. ״וְהִפְרַחְתִּי עֵץ יָבֵשׁ״, אֵלּוּ שְׁדֵי שָׂרָה. וְהָיוּ מְבִיאִין אֶת בְּנֵיהֶם אֵצֶל שָׂרָה וּמֵנִיקָה אוֹתָם בְּשָׁלוֹם, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר: ״הֵינִיקָה בָנִים שָׂרָה״.

"All the trees of the field shall know" (ibid.); this (expression) refers to the nations of the world. "That I the Lord have brought down the high tree" (ibid.) (this refers to Nimrod). "I have exalted the low tree" (ibid.); this is Abraham our father. "I have dried up the green tree," refers to the breasts of the wives of the nations of the world. || "I have made the dry tree to flourish"; this refers to the breasts of Sarah, for they brought their children to be suckled by Sarah's breasts, for Sarah gave suck to all their children in peace, as it is said, "And she said, Who would have said unto Abraham, that Sarah should give children suck?" (Gen. 21:7).

Verse 4

הַמּוֹפֵת הַשְּׁלִישִׁי, מִיּוֹם שֶׁנִּבְרְאוּ שָׁמַיִם וָאָרֶץ לֹא הָיָה אָדָם שֶׁנִּזְרְקָה בּוֹ שֵׂיבָה, עַד שֶׁבָּא אַבְרָהָם אָבִינוּ, וְתָמְהוּ כָּל הָעוֹלָם שֶׁלֹּא רָאוּ כְּמוֹתוֹ מִיּוֹם שֶׁנִּבְרָא הָעוֹלָם. וּמִנַּיִן שֶׁנִּזְרְקָה שֵׂיבָה, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר ״וְאַבְרָהָם זָקֵן בָּא בַּיָּמִים״.

The third wonder (was): From the day when the heavens and the earth were created there never was a man upon whom grey hairs were sprinkled until Abraham came. The people were astonished because they had not seen any one like him from the day when the world was created. Whence do we know that grey hairs were sprinkled upon him? Because it is said, "And Abraham was old, well stricken in age" (Gen. 24:1).

Verse 5

רַבִּי לְוִיטָס אִישׁ יַבְנֶה אוֹמֵר: כְּכָלִיל שֶׁהוּא כָּבוֹד רֹאשׁ הַמֶּלֶךְ, כָּךְ הַשֵּׂיבָה כָּבוֹד וְהָדָר לַזְּקֵנִים, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר: ״וַהֲדַר זְקֵנִים שֵׂיבָה״.

Rabbi Levitas, a man of Jamnia, said: Like a diadem which belongs to the head of the king, so are grey hairs beauty and glory to old men, as it is said, "The glory of young men is their strength, and the beauty of old men is the hoary head" (Prov. 20:29).

Verse 6

הַמּוֹפֵת הָרְבִיעִי, מִיּוֹם שֶׁנִּבְרָא הָעוֹלָם לֹא הָיָה אָדָם חוֹלֶה, אֶלָּא בְּכָל מָקוֹם שֶׁהָיָה אָדָם, אִם בַּדֶּרֶךְ אִם בַּשּׁוּק, וְעָטַשׁ — הָיְתָה נַפְשׁוֹ יוֹצֵאת מִנְּחִירָיו וּמֵת, עַד שֶׁבָּא יַעֲקֹב אָבִינוּ וּבִקֵּשׁ רַחֲמִים עַל זֹאת וְאָמַר לִפְנֵי הַקָּדוֹשׁ בָּרוּךְ הוּא: ״רִבּוֹנוֹ שֶׁל עוֹלָם, אַל תִּקַּח אֶת נַפְשִׁי מִמֶּנִּי עַד אֲשֶׁר אֲנִי מְצַוֶּה אֶת בָּנַי וּבְנֵי בֵיתִי״. וְנֶעְתַּר לוֹ, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר: ״וַיְהִי אַחֲרֵי הַדְּבָרִים הָאֵלֶּה וַיֹּאמֶר לְיוֹסֵף הִנֵּה אָבִיךָ חוֹלֶה״. וְשָׁמְעוּ כָּל מַלְכֵי הָאָרֶץ וְתָמְהוּ, שֶׁלֹּא הָיָה כָּמוֹהוּ מִיּוֹם שֶׁנִּבְרְאוּ שָׁמַיִם וָאָרֶץ. לְפִיכָךְ חַיָּב אָדָם לוֹמַר לַחֲבֵרוֹ בִּשְׁעַת עֲטִישׁוֹתָיו: ״חַיִּים!״ שֶׁנֶּהְפַּךְ מָוֶת הָעוֹלָם לְאוֹר, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר (איוב מא, י): ״עֲטִישׁוֹתָיו תָּהֶל אוֹר״.

The fourth wonder (was): From the day when the heavens and the earth were created no man was ill, (who) sneezed and lived, but in every place where he happened to be, whether on the way or in the market, and (when he) sneezed, his soul went out through his nostrils; until our father Jacob came and prayed for mercy concerning this, and he said before the Holy One, blessed be He: Sovereign of all the worlds! Do not take my soul from me until I have charged my sons and my household; and He was entreated of him, as it is said, "And it came to pass after these things, that one said to Joseph, Behold, thy father is sick" (Gen. 48:1). || All the kings of the earth heard (thereof), and they wondered because there had been no one like him from the days when the heavens and earth had been created. Therefore a man is in duty bound to say to his fellow: Life! when the latter sneezes, for the death of the world was changed into light, as it is said, "His neesings flash forth light" (Job 41:18).

Verse 7

הַמּוֹפֵת הַחֲמִישִׁי, מִיּוֹם שֶׁנִּבְרְאוּ שָׁמַיִם וָאָרֶץ לֹא נֶהֶפְכוּ מֵי הַיָּם לְיַבָּשָׁה עַד שֶׁיָּצְאוּ יִשְׂרָאֵל מִמִּצְרַיִם וְעָבְרוּ בְתוֹךְ הַיָּם בַּיַּבָּשָׁה, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר: ״וּבְנֵי יִשְׂרָאֵל הָלְכוּ בַיַּבָּשָׁה בְּתוֹךְ הַיָּם״. וְרָגְזוּ כָּל מַלְכֵי הָאָרֶץ שֶׁלֹּא הָיָה כָּמוֹהוּ מִיּוֹם שֶׁנִּבְרָא הָעוֹלָם, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר: ״שָׁמְעוּ עַמִּים יִרְגָּזוּן״.

The fifth wonder (was): From the day when the heavens and the earth were created, the waters of the sea had not been changed into dry land until Israel went forth from Egypt and passed over on dry land in the midst of the sea, as it is said, "But the children of Israel walked on dry land in the midst of the sea" (Ex. 15:19). All the kings of the earth heard (thereof) and trembled, because there had been nothing like it from the day when the world had been created, as it is said, "The people heard, they trembled" (Ex. 15:14).

Verse 8

הַמּוֹפֵת הַשִּׁשִּׁי, מִיּוֹם שֶׁנִּבְרְאוּ שָׁמַיִם וָאָרֶץ הַשֶּׁמֶשׁ וְהַיָּרֵחַ וְהַכּוֹכָבִים וְכָל הַמַּזָּלוֹת הָיוּ עוֹלִין לְהָאִיר עַל הָאָרֶץ וְאֵינָן מְעַרְעֲרִין זֶה עִם זֶה, עַד שֶׁבָּא יְהוֹשֻׁעַ וְעָשָׂה מִלְחַמְתָּן שֶׁל יִשְׂרָ��ֵל, וְהִגִּיעַ עֶרֶב שַׁבָּת וְרָאָה בְּצָרָתָן שֶׁל יִשְׂרָאֵל שֶׁלֹּא יְחַלְּלוּ אֶת הַשַּׁבָּת, וְעוֹד שֶׁרָאוּ חַרְטוּמֵי גּוֹיִם כּוֹבְשִׁים בַּמַּזָּלוֹת לָבֹא עַל יִשְׂרָאֵל. מֶה עָשָׂה יְהוֹשֻׁעַ? פָּשַׁט יָדוֹ לְאוֹר הַשֶּ��מֶשׁ וּלְאוֹר הַיָּרֵחַ וְהִזְכִּיר עֲלֵיהֶם אֶת הַשֵּׁם וְעָמַד כָּל אֶחָד בִּמְקוֹמוֹ שִׁשָּׁה וּשְׁלֹשִׁים שָׁעוֹת עַד מוֹצָאֵי שַׁבָּת, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר ״וַיִּדֹּם הַשֶּׁמֶשׁ וְיָרֵחַ עָמָד עַד יִקֹּם גּוֹי אוֹיְבָיו וַיַּעֲמֹד הַשֶּׁמֶשׁ בַּחֲצִי הַשָּׁמַיִם וְלֹא אָץ לָבוֹא כְּיוֹם תָּמִים״. וְרָאוּ כָּל מַלְכֵי הָאָרֶץ וְתָמְהוּ שֶׁלֹּא הָיָה כָּמֹהוּ מִיּוֹם שֶׁנִּבְרָא הָעוֹלָם, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר: ״וְלֹא הָיָה כַּיּוֹם הַהוּא לְפָנָיו וְאַחֲרָיו לֹא יִהְיֶה כֵּן לִשְׁמֹעַ ה' בְּקוֹל אִישׁ כִּי ה' נִלְחָם לְיִשְׂרָאֵל״.

The sixth wonder (was): From the day when the heavens and earth were created, the sun, the moon, and the stars and the constellations were ascending to give light upon the earth, and they did not come into contact with one another until Joshua came and fought the battles of Israel. It was the eve of the Sabbath, and he saw the plight of Israel lest they might desecrate the Sabbath, and further, he saw the magicians of Egypt compelling the constellations to come against Israel. What did he do? He stretched forth his hand to the light of the sun and to the light of the moon, and he invoked upon them the || (Divine) Name, and each one stood for thirty-six hours in its place until the termination of the Sabbath day, as it is said, "And the sun stood still, and the moon stayed" (Josh. 10:13). All the kings of the earth heard thereof and they wondered, because there had been none like him from the day when the world had been created, as it is said, "And there was no day like that before it or after it, that the Lord hearkened unto the voice of a man" (Josh. 10:14).

Verse 9

הַמּוֹפֵת הַשְּׁבִיעִי, מִיּוֹם שֶׁנִּבְרְאוּ שָׁמַיִם וָאָרֶץ לֹא הָיָה אָדָם חוֹלֶה וְיִחְיֶה וְיַעֲמֹד מֵחָלְיוֹ, עַד שֶׁבָּא חִזְקִיָּהוּ מֶלֶךְ יְהוּדָה בַּחֲלוֹתוֹ וַיְחִי מֵחָלְיוֹ. הִתְחִיל מִתְפַּלֵּל לִפְנֵי הַקָּדוֹשׁ בָּרוּךְ הוּא וְאָמַר: ״אָנָּא ה' זְכָר נָא אֵת אֲשֶׁר הִתְהַלַּכְתִּי לְפָנֶיךָ בֶּאֱמֶת וּבְצִדְקָה וּבְלֵבָב שָׁלֵם וְהַטּוֹב בְּעֵינֶיךָ עָשִׂיתִי״. וְנֶעְתַּר לוֹ, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר: ״הִנְנִי מוֹסִיף עַל יָמֶיךָ חֲמֵשׁ עֶשְׂרֵה שָׁנָה״. אָמַר לִפְנֵי הַקָּדוֹשׁ בָּרוּךְ הוּא: ״רִבּוֹן כָּל הָעוֹלָמִים, תֵּן לִי אוֹת כִּי אֶעֱלֶה בֵּית ה'״. אָמַר לוֹ: ״אָחָז אָבִיךָ כּוֹבֵשׁ בַּמַּזָּלוֹת הָיָה וְהָיָה מִשְׁתַּחֲוֶה לַשֶּׁמֶשׁ וְהַשֶּׁמֶשׁ הָיָה בּוֹרֵחַ מִלְּפָנָיו וְיָרַד בְּמַעֲלָיו עֶשֶׂר מַעֲלוֹת, אִם רוֹצֶה אַתָּה יֵרֵד עֶשֶׂר מַעֲלוֹת אוֹ יַעֲלֶה עֶשֶׂר מַעֲלוֹת״. אָמַר לְפָנָיו: ״רִבּוֹן כָּל הָעוֹלָמִים לֹא אוֹתָן הַמַּעֲלוֹת שֶׁיָּרַד יַחֲזֹר וְיַעֲמֹד בִּמְקוֹמוֹ״, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר: ״כִּי לֹא יָשׁוּב הַצֵּל אֲחוֹרַנִּית בַּמַּעֲלוֹת אֲשֶׁר יָרְדָה״. וְנֶעְתַּר לוֹ הַקָּדוֹשׁ בָּרוּךְ הוּא, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר: ״הִנְנִי מֵשִׁיב אֶת צֵל הַמַּעֲלוֹת אֲשֶׁר יָרְדָה״. וְרָאוּ כָּל מַלְכֵי אֶרֶץ וְתָמְהוּ שֶׁלֹּא הָיָה כָּמוֹהוּ מִיּוֹם שֶׁנִּבְרָא הָעוֹלָם, וְשָׁלְחוּ לִרְאוֹת אֶת הַמּוֹפֵת, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר: ״וְכֵן בִּמְלִיצֵי שָׂרֵי מֶלֶךְ בָּבֶל הַמְּשֻׁלָּחִים עָלָיו לִדְרֹשׁ אֶת הַמּוֹפֵת אֲשֶׁר הָיָה בָאָרֶץ״.

The seventh wonder (was): From the day when the heavens and earth had been created there had never been a sick man who had recovered from his sickness, until Hezekiah, king of Judah, came and fell sick and (yet) he recovered, as it is said, "The writing of Hezekiah, king of Judah, when he had been sick, and was recovered of his sickness" (Isa. 38:9). He began to pray before the Holy One, blessed be He, saying: Sovereign of all worlds! "Now, O Lord, remember, I beseech thee, how I walked before thee in truth and with a perfect heart, and have done that which is good in thy sight" (2 Kings 20:3); and He was entreated of him, as it is said, "Behold, I will add unto thy days fifteen years" (Isa. 38); and He was entreated of him, as it is said, "Behold, I will add unto thy days fifteen years" (Isa. 38 5). Hezekiah said before the Holy One, blessed be He: Sovereign of all worlds ! Give me a sign, as it is said, "And Hezekiah said unto Isaiah, What shall be the sign that the Lord will heal me, and that I shall go up unto the house of the Lord?" (2 Kings 20:8). He answered him: Ahaz thy father compelled the constellations, and he bowed down to the sun, and the sun fled before him and went down in the west ten steps. If thou desirest, it shall go down ten steps, or it shall ascend ten steps. Hezekiah spake before the Holy One, blessed be He: Sovereign of all worlds ! Nay, || but those ten steps which it has (already) gone down let it retrace and stand, as it is said, "Nay, but let the shadow return backward ten steps" (2 Kings 20:10). And He was entreated of him, as it is said, "Behold, I will cause the shadow on the steps, which is gone down on the dial of Ahaz with the sun, to return backward ten steps" (Isa. 38:8). All the kings of the earth saw, and they were astonished, for there had been nothing like it from the day when the world was created, and they sent to behold the wonder, as it is said, "Howbeit in (the business of) the ambassadors of the princes of Babylon who sent unto him to inquire of the wonder that was done in the land" (2 Chron. 32:31).

Verse 10

וְרָאָה אֶת הַמַּלְאָכִים וְנִתְגָּאָה לִבּוֹ וְהֶרְאָה לָהֶם אֶת אוֹצְרוֹת שֶׁל מַלְכֵי יְהוּדָה וְאֶת אוֹצְרוֹת שֶׁל בֵּית קָדְשֵׁי הַקֳּדָשִׁים, וְעוֹד שֶׁפָּתַח אֶת אֲרוֹן הַבְּרִית וְהֶרְאָה לָהֶם אֶת הַלּוּחוֹת וְאָמַר לָהֶם: ״בָּזֶה אָנוּ עוֹשִׂים מִלְחָמָה וְנוֹצְחִין״, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר: ״וַיִּשְׂמַח עֲלֵיהֶם חִזְקִיָּהוּ וַיַּרְאֵם אֶת כָּל בֵּית נְכֹתֹה אֶת הַכֶּסֶף וְאֶת הַזָּהָב וְאֶת הַבְּשָׂמִים וְאֵת שֶׁמֶן הַטּוֹב וְלֹא הָיָה דָבָר אֲשֶׁר לֹא הֶרְאָם חִזְקִיָּהוּ בְּבֵיתוֹ וּבְכָל מֶמְשַׁלְתּוֹ״. וְכָעַס הַקָּדוֹשׁ בָּרוּךְ הוּא עָלָיו וְאָמַר לוֹ: ״לֹא דַּיֶּךָ שֶׁהֶרְאֵיתָ לָהֶם אֶת כָּל אוֹצְרוֹת מַלְכֵי יְהוּדָה וְאֶת כָּל אוֹצְרוֹת בֵּית קָדְשֵׁי הַקֳּדָשִׁים אֶלָּא שֶׁפָּתַחְתָּ לָהֶם אֶת הָאָרוֹן וְהֶרְאֵיתָ לָהֶם אֶת הַלּוּחוֹת מַעֲשֵׂה יָדַי, חַיֶּיךָ הֵם יַעֲלוּ וְיִקְחוּ אֶת כָּל אוֹצְרוֹת מַלְכֵי יְהוּדָה וְאֶת כָּל אוֹצְרוֹת בֵּית קָדְשֵׁי הַקֳּדָשִׁים״, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר: ״הִנֵּה יָמִים בָּאִים נְאֻם ה' וְנִשָּׂא אֵת כָּל אֲשֶׁר בְּבֵיתֶךָ וַאֲשֶׁר אָצְרוּ אֲבֹתֶיךָ עַד הַיּוֹם הַזֶּה בָּבֶלָה יוּבָאוּ לֹא יִוָּתֵר דָּבָר״. וְתַחַת הַלּוּחוֹת יִהְיוּ בָנֶיךָ סָרִיסִים בְּהֵיכַל מֶלֶךְ בָּבֶל, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר: ״וּמִבָּנֶיךָ אֲשֶׁר יֵצְאוּ מִמְּךָ אֲשֶׁר תּוֹלִיד יִקָּחוּ וְהָיוּ סָרִיסִים בְּהֵיכַל מֶלֶךְ בָּבֶל״. אֵלּוּ הֵם חֲנַנְיָה מִישָׁאֵל וַעֲזַרְיָה שֶׁנַּעֲשׂוּ סָרִיסִים בְּהֵיכַל מֶלֶךְ בָּבֶל וְלֹא הוֹלִידוּ בָנִים, וַעֲלֵיהֶם הַכָּתוּב אוֹמֵר: ״כֹּה אָמַר ה' לַסָּרִיסִים אֲשֶׁר יִשְׁמְרוּ אֶת שַׁבְּתוֹתַי וּבָחֲרוּ בַּאֲשֶׁר חָפָצְתִּי״.

And Hezekiah saw the messengers, and his heart was puffed with pride, and he showed them all the treasures of the kings of Judah, and all the treasures of the Holy of Holies in the Temple, and further, he opened the Ark of the Covenant, and he showed them the tables of the Law, and he said to them: With this do we wage war and conquer, as it is said, "And Hezekiah was glad of them, and shewed them the house of his precious things" (Isa. 39:2). The Holy One, blessed be He, was angry with him, and He said to him: Was it not enough for thee to have shown them all the treasures of the kings of Judah and all the treasures of the Holy of Holies? Moreover, thou hast opened for them the Ark, and hast shown them the tables, the work of My hand. By thy life! They shall come up and take away all the treasures of the kings of Judah, and all the treasures of the Holy of || Holies, as it is said, "Behold, the days come, that all that is in thine house, and that which thy fathers have laid up in store until this day, shall be carried to Babylon" (Isa. 39:6). Instead of the tables of the Law, they shall take of thy sons to be eunuchs in the palace of the king of Babylon, as it is said, "And of thy sons that shall issue from thee, which thou shalt beget, shall they take away; and they shall be eunuchs in the palace of the king of Babylon" (Isa. 39:7). These were Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah, who were made eunuchs in the palace of the king of Babylon, and they did not beget children. Concerning them the Scripture says, "For thus saith the Lord to the eunuchs that keep my sabbaths,… Unto them will I give in mine house and within my walls a memorial and a name better than of sons and of daughters; I will give them an everlasting name, that shall not be cut off" (Isa. 56:4, 5).