The Angel of Death is present among the women
At daylight the rabbis rise from studying the Torah and go to see Rabbi Shimon. He cautions them not to go outside because the Angel of Death is around, and has permission to destroy whoever he wants. Rabbi Shimon explains that the angel of death can ask for justice before God by repeating someone's offenses; when the person is sentenced, the Angel of Death kills him. When a dead man is taken to the cemetery, the Angel of Death is among the women, so the men must not look at the women. The ancient wise men decreed that a Shofar should be blown when the dead person was taken from his house, in order that the Angel of Death should have no power over the living. Then we hear that when Yisrael made the calf and many died, the angel of death was among the women inside the camp of Yisrael; Moses saw this, so he gathered the men all by themselves. The angel of death did not leave the women until the tabernacle was built. Rabbi Shimon says that if the angel of death is among seven women he seeks justice, but if he is among ten women he blames and seeks to kill. After these admonitions the rabbis study Torah all day. Then Rabbi Shimon discusses the story of the ark, asking why God did not just move Noah to a safe place where the flood waters would not come. He answers saying that since the destroyer came into the world whoever did not protect himself and was found before him in the open forfeits his life because he brings death upon himself. We hear that while the rabbis are hiding at home thirteen people in town died, and Rabbi Shimon says: blessed be the merciful, that the Angel of Death did not behold your images.
26. While they were studying the Torah, daylight broke. They stood up and went to be before Rabbi Shimon. When he saw them, Rabbi Shimon said: "Elazar my son, you and the friends, remain hidden for these three days, and do not go outside, because the Angel of Death is in town and has permission to cause damage. Since permission was given to the Destroyer, he can destroy whomever appears before him.
26. אַדְּהָכִי דְּאִתְעַסְּקוּ בְּאוֹרַיְיתָא, נָהַר יְמָמָא. קָמוּ וְאָתוּ לְקָמֵיהּ דְּר"ש, כֵּיוָן דְּחָמָא לוֹן, אר"ש, אֶלְעָזָר בְּרִי, אַנְתְּ וְחַבְרַיָּיא אַסְתִּימוּ גַּרְמַיְיכוּ אִלֵּין תְּלַת יוֹמִין, דְּלָא תִּפְקוּן לְבַר בְּגִין דְּמַלְאָךְ הַמָּוֶת אִשְׁתְּכַח בְּמָתָא, וְאִית לֵיהּ רְשׁוּ לְחַבְּלָא, וְכֵיוָן דְּאִתְיְיהִיב לֵיהּ רְשׁוּ לְחַבְּלָא, יָכִיל לְחַבְּלָא, לְכָל מַאן דְּאִתְחָזֵי קַמֵיהּ.
27. Furthermore, when he, THE ANGEL OF DEATH, wants to destroy a person, he rises to accuse that person and repeats his offenses. He demands justice before the Holy One, blessed be He, and does not leave before that person is sentenced, and permission is given. Then he kills him.
27. וְתוּ דְּבַר נָשׁ דְּאִתְחָזֵי קַמֵּיהּ, סָלִיק וְאַסְטֵי עָלֵיהּ, וְאַדְכַּר חוֹבוֹי, וּבָעֵי דִּינָא מִקַּמֵּי קוּדְשָׁא בְּרִיךְ הוּא, וְלָא אִתְעָדֵי מִתַּמָּן, עַד דְּאִתְּדָּן הַהוּא בַּר נָשׁ, וְאִתְיְיהִיב לֵיהּ רְשׁוּ וְקָטִיל לֵיהּ.
28. Rabbi Shimon said: 'by Elohim', MEANING THAT HE SWORE IN THE NAME OF ELOHIM, most people do not die before their time, except those who do not know how to protect themselves, because when a dead man is taken from his house to the cemetery, the Angel of Death is among the women. Why is he among the women? BECAUSE this is his way since he seduced Eve and through her he brought death to the whole world. This is why when he kills a man, and the men are with the dead, THE ANGEL OF DEATH comes in among the women, on the way TO THE CEMETERY.
28. אר"ש, הָאֱלֹהִים רוּבָּא דְּעָלְמָא, לָא מִיתוּ, עַד לָא מָטָא זִמְנַיְיהוּ, בַּר דְּלָא יַדְעֵי לְאִסְתַּמְּרָא גַּרְמַיְיהוּ, דְּהָא בְּשַׁעֲתָא דְּמִיתָא אַפְקֵי לֵיהּ מִבֵּיתֵיהּ לְבֵי קִבְרֵי, מַלְאָךְ הַמָּוֶת אִשְׁתְּכַח בֵּינֵי נְשֵׁי, אֲמַאי בֵּינֵי נְשֵׁי. דְּהָכִי הוּא אוֹרְחוֹי, מִיּוֹמָא דְּפַתֵּי לְחַוָּה, וּבְגִינָהּ גָּרִים מוֹתָא לְכָל עָלְמָא. וְע"ד קָטִיל בַּר נָשׁ, וְגוּבְרֵי אִשְׁתְּכָחוּ עִם מִיתָא, עָאל בֵּינֵי נְשֵׁי בְּאָרְחָא.
29. And THEN he has permission to kill people. He looks at the faces of those seen before him on the way TO THE CEMETERY, from the time when they take the dead from his house to burial until they get back to their houses. That is why he causes death for some men in the world before their time. Of that speaks the verse, "but sometimes ruin comes without judgment" (Mishlei 13:23). Because he goes up and accuses and repeats the offenses of that person before the Holy One, blessed be He. That person is judged for those offenses and passes away before his time.
29. וְאִית לֵיהּ רְשׁוּ, לְמִקְטַל בְּנֵי נָשָׁא, וְאִסְתָּכַּל בְּאַנְפַּיְיהוּ בְּאָרְחָא דְּאִתְחֲזִיאוּ קַמֵּיהּ, מִשַׁעֲתָא דְּמָפְקֵי לֵיהּ מִבֵּיתֵיהּ לְבֵי קִבְרֵי, עַד דְּאָהַדְרוּ לְבֵיתַיְּיהוּ וּבְגִינֵיהוֹן גָּרִים מוֹתָא לְכַמָּה גּוּבְרִין בְּעָלְמָא, עַד לָא מָטָא זִמְנַיְיהוּ. וְע"ד כְּתִיב, וְיֵשׁ נִסְפֶּה בְּלֹא מִשְׁפָּט. בְּגִין דְּסָלִיק וְאַסְטִין, וְאַדְכַּר חוֹבוֹי דְּבַר נָשׁ קַמֵּי קוּדְשָׁא בְּרִיךְ הוּא, וְאִתְדַן עַל אִינּוּן חוֹבִין וְאִסְתַּלָּק עַד לָא מָטָא זִמְנֵיהּ.
30. HE ASKS: What his remedy is, HOW TO BEWARE OF THE ANGEL OF DEATH, AND SAYS that when the dead man is carried to the cemetery, a man should turn his face away from the women, and let them walk behind him. And if the women walk first, he should walk behind them, so as not to see them face to face. And when they come back from the cemetery, he should not walk on the same way where the women are standing, nor look at them at all, but go another way. And since most people do not know and do not care for this, most of them are judged and pass away before their time.
30. מַאי תַּקָנְתֵּיה. בְּשַׁעֲתָא דְּנַטְלֵי מֵיתָא לְבֵי קִבְרֵי, יֶהְדַּר בַּר נָשׁ אַנְפּוֹי וְיִּשְׁבּוֹק לְנָשֵׁי בָּתַר כַּתְפּוֹי. וְאִי אִינּוּן מְקַדְּמֵי, יְהַךְ לַאֲחוֹרָא, בְּגִין דְּלָא יִתְחָזֵי עִמְּהוֹן אַנְפִּין בְּאַנְפִּין. וּלְבָתַר דִּמְהֲדְרֵי מִבֵּי קִבְרֵי, לָא יֶהְדַּר בְּהַהוּא אָרְחָא דְּנָשֵׁי קַיְימָן, וְלָא יִסְתָּכַּל בְּהוּ כְּלַל, אֶלָּא יִסְטֵי בְּאָרְחָא אַחֲרָא. וּבְגִין דִּבְנֵי נָשָׁא לָא יַדְעֵי, וְלָא מִסְתַּכְּלִן דָּא, רוּבָּא דְּעָלְמָא, אִתְדָּנוּ בְּדִינָא, וְאִסְתַּלָּקוּ עַד לָא מָטָא זִמְנַיְיהוּ.
31. Rabbi Elazar said: if this be so, then it is better for a man not to escort the dead. Rabbi Shimon said no. For a man who takes care of himself in that manner is worthy of a long life, and also of the World to Come.
31. א"ר אֶלְעָזָר, אִי הָכִי, טָב לֵיהּ לְבַר נָשׁ דְּלָא יוֹזִיף לְמִיתָא. א"ל לָא. דְּהָא בַּר נָשׁ דְּאִסְתָּמַר כְּהַאי גַּוְונָא, אִתְחָזֵי לְאַרְכָּא דְּיוֹמִין, וְכָל שֶׁכֵּן לְעָלְמָא דְּאָתֵי.
32. Come and see, not for nothing did the ancient wise men decree that a Shofar was to be blown when the dead was taken from his house. You might say, this is solely to honor the dead. But no. This is to protect the living, so that the Angel of Death would have no power over them to accuse them above, and they might avoid him.
32. ת"ח, לָאו לְמַגָּנָא אַתְקִינוּ קַדְמָאֵי שׁוֹפָר, לְאַמְשָׁכָא מִיתָא מִן בֵּיתָא לְבֵי קִבְרֵי. אִי תֵּימָא דְּעַל מֵיתָא וִיּקָרָא דִּילֵיהּ לְחוּד אִיהוּ. לָא. אֶלָּא, בְּגִין לְאַגָּנָא עַל חַיָּיא, דְּלָא יִשְׁלוֹט עָלַיְיהוּ מַלְאָךְ הַמָּוֶת, לְאַסְטָאָה לְעֵילָּא וְיִסְתַּמְרוּן מִנֵּיהּ.
33. He started by saying, "And if you go to war in your land against the enemy that oppresses you..." (Bemidbar 10:9). I have observed that "the enemy," refers to the Angel of Death, that "oppresses you" forever, killing people and seeking to kill everyone. What is to be done about him? "then you shall blow an alarm" (Bemidbar 10:9). On Rosh Hashanah (the Jewish New Year), which is the day of Judgment above, the Angel of Death comes down to examine people's deeds and then ascends and prosecutes them. And Yisrael, who know that the Angel of Death comes down and then goes up to be their prosecutor, blow the Shofar early and complain against him so he would have no power against them, and in order to protect themselves.
33. פָּתַח וְאָמַר, וְכִי תָבֹאוּ מִלְחָמָה בְּאַרְצְכֶם עַל הַצָּר הַצּוֹרֵר אֶתְכֶם וְגוֹ', וְדָּיִּיקְנָא עַל הַצָּר, דָּא מַלְאָךְ הַמָּוֶת. הַצּוֹרֵר אֶתְכֶם תָּדִיר, וְקָטִיל לִבְנֵי נָשָׁא, וּבָעֵי לְקָטְלָא אַחֲרָנִין. מַאי תַּקָנְתֵּיהּ. וַהֲרֵעוֹתֶם. אִם בְּרֹאשׁ הַשָּׁנָה, דְּהוּא יוֹמָא דְּדִינָא לְעֵילָּא, הַאי מַלְאָךְ הַמָּוֶת נָחִית לְתַתָּא, בְּגִין לְאַשְׁגָּחָא בְּעוֹבָדִין דִּבְנֵי נָשָׁא, וּלְסַלְּקָא לְעֵילָּא לְאַסְטָאָה לוֹן. וְיִשְׂרָאֵל דְּיַדְעֵי דְּהָא מַלְאָךְ הַמָּוֶת נָחִית לְתַתָּא וְסָלִיק לְעֵילָּא, בְּגִין לְמֶהֱוֵי קַטֵיגוֹרָא עָלַיְיהוּ. מְקַדְּמֵי בַּשּׁוֹפָר לְיַבְּבָא עָלֵיהּ, דְּלָא יָכִיל לוֹן וּלְאַגָּנָא עָלַיְיהוּ.
34. All the more so when the Angel of Death punishes and takes lives, and also when people go to the cemetery and return from it, because when women walk to the funeral, he comes down and dwells among them, as says the verse "her feet go down to death" (Mishlei 5:5). Where do they go down? NAMELY, to that place which is called death, FOR THE ANGEL OF DEATH COMES BEFORE THEM, WHILE THEY WALK TO ESCORT THE DEAD, because Eve brought death upon the whole world, may the Merciful save us.
34. וְכָל שֶׁכֵּן בְּשַׁעֲתָא דְּעָבִיד דִּינָא וְקָטִיל בְּנֵי נָשָׁא, וְאִשְׁתְּכַח לְתַתָּא. וְכָל שֶׁכֵּן בְּשַׁעֲתָא דְּאַזְלֵי לְבֵי קִבְרֵי, וְאָהַדְרוּ מִבֵּי קִבְרֵי, דְּהָא בְּשַׁעֲתָא דְּנָשֵׁי נַטְלֵי רַגְלַיְיהוּ עִם מִיתָא, אִיהוּ נָחִית וְאִשְׁתְּכַח קָמַיְיהוּ, דִּכְתִּיב רַגְלֶיהָ יוֹרְדוֹת מָוֶת, יוֹרְדוֹת לְמַאן. לְהַהוּא אֲתָר דְּאִקְרֵי מָוֶת. וְע"ד חַוָּה גַּרְמַת מוֹתָא לְכָל עָלְמָא, רַחֲמָנָא לִשֵׁזְבִינָן.
35. Come and see, it is written: "Likewise the way of an adulterous woman" (Mishlei 30:20), which we already interpreted . But "Likewise the way of an adulterous woman" alludes to the Angel of Death. This is him and that is his name. "She eats and wipes her mouth" (Ibid.), for he burns the world with his flames and kills people before their time. "and says I have done nothing wrong" (Ibid.), for he asked for justice and they were found guilty, and died according to true law.
35. ת"ח, כְּתִיב כֵּן דֶּרֶךְ אִשָּׁה מְנָאָפֶת וְגוֹ'. וְהָא אוֹקִימְנָא. אֲבָל כֵּן דֶּרֶךְ אִשָּׁה מְנָאָפֶת, דָּא הוּא מַלְאָךְ הַמָּוֶת, וְהָכִי הוּא, וְהָכִי אִקְרֵי. אָכְלָה וּמָחֲתָה פִיהָ, אוֹקִידַת עָלְמָא בְּשַׁלְהוֹבוֹי, וְקַטְלַת בְּנֵי נָשָׁא עַד לָא מָטָא זִמְנַיְיהוּ, וְאָמְרָה לֹא פָעַלְתִּי אָוֶן, דְּהָא דִּינָא בָּעָא עָלַיְיהוּ, וְאִשְׁתְּכָחוּ בְּחוֹבִין, וּבְדִינָא קְשׁוֹט מִיתוּ.
36. When Yisrael made the calf and many died, the Angel of Death was among the women inside the camp of Yisrael. When Moses saw the Angel of Death among the women, and the camp of Yisrael between them, he immediately gathered all the men by themselves. This is the meaning of the verse "And Moses gathered all the Congregation of the children of Yisrael together" (Shemot 35;10. These were the men alone, who were gathered and separated.
36. בְּשַׁעֲתָא דְּעָבְדוּ יִשְׂרָאֵל יַת עֶגְלָא, וּמִיתוּ כָּל אִינּוּן אוּכְלוֹסִין, הֲוָה מַלְאָךְ הַמָּוֶת אִשְׁתְּכַח בֵּינֵי נְשֵׁי, בְּגוֹ מַשִׁרְיָּיתָא דְּיִשְׂרָאֵל. כֵּיוָן דְּאִסְתָּכַּל מֹשֶׁה, דְּהָא מַלְאָךְ הַמָּוֶת אִשְׁתְּכַח בֵּינֵי נְשֵׁי, וּמַשִׁרְיָּיתָא דְּיִשְׂרָאֵל בֵּינַיְיהוּ, מִיַּד כָּנִישׁ לְכָל גּוּבְרִין לְחוֹדַיְיהוּ, הה"ד וַיַּקְהֵל מֹשֶׁה אֶת כָּל עֲדַת בְּנֵי יִשְׂרָאֵל. אִלֵּין גּוּבְרִין, דְּכָנִישׁ לוֹן וְאַפְרִישׁ לוֹן לְחוֹדַיְיהוּ.
37. And the Angel of Death did not leave the women until the tabernacle was built, as was written: "and Moses erected the tabernacle" (Shemot 40:18). And even when the women brought offerings to the tabernacle, the Angel of Death did not move away from them, until Moses saw that, and advised the men not to have contact with them and not to look at them face to face, but to walk behind them. This is the meaning of the verse "And they came (Heb. vayavo'u), both men and women" (Shemot 35:22). It does not say 'and they brought (Heb. vayavi'u)' but - "and they came." THIS TEACHES US THAT THE MEN did not walk with THE WOMEN together but behind them. All this is because the Angel of Death did not leave them until the tabernacle was built.
37. וּמַלְאַךְ הַמָּוֶת לָא הֲוָה מִתְפְּרַשׁ מִגּוֹ נָשִׁין, עַד דְּאִתּוֹקָם מַשְׁכְּנָא, דִּכְתִּיב וַיָּקֶם מֹשֶׁה אֶת הַמִּשְׁכָּן. וַאֲפִילּוּ בְּשַׁעֲתָא דְּנָשִׁין הָווֹ מַיְיתִין נְדָבָה לְמַשְׁכְּנָא, לָא הֲוָה מִתְעֲדֵי מִבֵּינַיְיהוּ, עַד דְּחָמָא מֹשֶׁה, וְיָהַב לְגוּבְרִין עֵיטָא, דְּלָא יֵיתוּן בְּחִבּוּרָא חֲדָא עִמְּהוֹן, וְלָא יִתְחֲזוּן אַנְפִּין בְּאַנְפִּין, אֶלָּא לְבָתַר כִּתְפַּיְיהוּ. הה"ד וַיָבֹאוּ הָאֲנָשִׁים עַל הַנָּשִׁים וַיָּבִיאוּ לָא כְּתִיב, אֶלָּא וַיָּבֹאוּ בְּאָרְחָא חֲדָא לָא הָווֹ אַזְלִין, אֶלָּא לְבָתַר כַּתְפַּיְיהוּ. בְּגִין דְּמַלְאָךְ הַמָּוֶת לָא אִתְפְּרַשׁ מִבֵּינַיְיהוּ עַד דְּאִתּוֹקָם מַשְׁכְּנָא.
38. Come and see: THE ANGEL OF DEATH is not among the women when they are less than seven together or less than ten together. HE EXPLAINS: in public he is among seven women and seeks to punish. And if there are ten women he prosecutes in order to kill. And since he is among them openly, it is written: "And they came, both men and women." VIZ. BEHIND THEIR BACKS AS MENTIONED ABOVE. And all the friends were watchful that day and studied Torah.
38. ת"ח, לָא אִשְׁתְּכַח בֵּינֵי נְשֵׁי, פָּחוּת מִשֶּׁבַע נָשִׁים, וְלָא פָּחוּת מֵעֶשֶׂר. וּבְאָרְחָא בְּאִתְגַּלְּיָא, בְּשֶׁבַע אִשְׁתְּכַח, וּבָעֵי דִּינָא. בְּעֶשֶׂר, אַסְטֵי לְקָטְלָא. וּבְגִין דְּאִשְׁתְּכַח בֵּינַיְיהוּ בְּאָרְחָא בְּאִתְגַּלְּיָא, כְּתִיב וַיָּבֹאוּ הָאֲנָשִׁים עַל הַנָּשִׁים. וְאִסְתְּמָרוּ כָּל הַהוּא יוֹמָא כֻּלְּהוּ חַבְרַיָּיא, וְאִשְׁתָּדָּלוּ בְּאוֹרַיְיתָא.
39. Rabbi Shimon opened the discussion and said, "And Hashem said to Noah, come you and all your house into the ark" (Beresheet 7:1). We already explained this verse. But come and see, could not the Holy One, blessed be He, keep Noah in one place in the world, so that when there would be flood, it would not reach that particular place? This is as was said concerning Gidon "let it be now only dry upon the fleece" (Shoftim 6:40). Or could He not keep him in the land of Yisrael, of which it is written: "nor rained upon in the day of indignation" (Yechezkel 22:24) meaning that the flood did not come upon it?
39. פָּתַח ר"ש וְאָמַר, וַיֹּאמֶר יְיָ' אֶל נֹחַ בֹּא אַתָּה וְכָל בֵּיתְךָ אֶל הַתֵּבָה. הַאי קְרָא אוֹקִימְנָא, אֲבָל ת"ח, וְכִי לָא יָכִיל קוּדְשָׁא בְּרִיךְ הוּא לְנַטְרָא לֵיהּ לְנֹחַ, בְּאֲתָר חַד בְּעָלְמָא. דִּיְהֵא מַבּוּל בְּכָל עָלְמָא, וְלָא יְהֵא בְּהַהוּא אֲתָר, כְּמָה דִּכְתִּיב בְּגִּדְעוֹן, וַיְהִי חוֹרֶב אֶל הַגִזָּה לְבַדָּהּ. אוֹ לְנַטְרָא לֵיהּ בְּאַרְעָא דְּיִשְׂרָאֵל, דִּכְתִּיב בָּהּ, לָא גֻּשְׁמָהּ בְּיוֹם זָעַם, דְּלָא נַחְתּוּ עָלָהּ מִי טוֹפָנָא.
40. AND ANSWERS: since the Destroyer came in the world, whoever did not hide himself, and was present before him in openly, forfeits his life, because he brings death on himself. How do we know that? from Lot, as states the verse "Escape for your life, look not behind you" (Beresheet. 19:17). What is the sense of "look not behind you?" It is because the Destroyer walked behind his back and if Lot had turned his head and looked him face to face, the angel might have done him harm.
40. אֶלָּא, כֵּיוָן דִּמְחַבְּלָא נָחַת לְעָלְמָא, מַאן דְּלָא סָגִיר גַּרְמֵיהּ, וְאִשְׁתְּכַח קָמֵיהּ בְּאִתְגַּלְיָיא, אִתְחַיָּיב בְּנַפְשֵׁיהּ, דְּאִיהוּ קָטִיל גַּרְמֵיהּ. מְנָא לָן. מִלוֹט, דִּכְתִּיב הִמָּלֵט עַל נַפְשֶׁךָ אַל תַּבִּיט אַחֲרֶיךָ. מַאי טַעֲמָא אַל תַּבִּיט אַחֲרֶיךָ. בְּגִין דִּמְחַבְּלָא אָזִיל בָּתַר כַּתְפּוֹי, וְאִי אָהֲדָר רֵישֵׁיהּ, וְאִסְתָּכַּל בֵּיהּ אַנְפִּין בְּאַנְפִּין, יָכִיל לְנַזְקָא לֵיהּ.
41. And therefore it is written OF NOAH: "and Hashem shut him in" (Beresheet 7:16), so he would not be seen by the destroyer and the Angel of Death would have no power over him . And while the friends were hiding AT HOME, thirteen men in town died. Rabbi Shimon said: blessed be the Merciful, that the Angel of Death did not behold your images.
41. וְע"ד כְּתִיב, וַיִסְגוֹר יְיָ' בַּעֲדוֹ. דְּלָא יִתְחָזֵי קַמֵּי מְחַבְּלָא, וְלֹֹא יִשְׁלוֹט עָלֵיהּ מַלְאָךְ הַמָּוֶת. וְעַד דַּהֲווּ טְמִירִין, מִיתוּ תְּלֵיסָר גּוּבְרִין בְּמָתָא. אָמַר רִבִּי שִׁמְעוֹן, בְּרִיךְ רַחֲמָנָא, דְּלָא אִסְתָּכַּל בְּדִיּוּקְנַיְיכוּ מַלְאָךְ הַמָּוֶת.
42. "And Moses gathered." He repeats the building of the tabernacle a second time, as before IN THE PORTION OF TRUMAH. Rabbi Chiya said: everything is as we learned that the building of the tabernacle was done solely by Yisrael and not by the mixed multitude. For the mixed multitude drew AGAIN the Angel of Death and he descended into the world. Since Moses saw that, he threw the riff-raff out and gathered Yisrael only. It is written in the verse: "And Moses gathered," aND NOT LIKE IN TRUMAH, WHERE IT WAS SAID, "OF EVERY MAN WHOSE HEART PROMPTS HIM..." (SHEMOT 25:2), FOR THE MIXED MULTITUDE WAS PART OF THE CONGREGATION. AND THEREFORE THERE WAS NEED TO SAY THE BUILDING OF THE TABERNACLE A SECOND TIME.
42. וַיַּקְהֵל מֹשֶׁה וְגוֹ'. אָהֲדָר לוֹן כְּמִלְּקַדְּמִין, עוֹבָדָא דְּמַשְׁכְּנָא. אָמַר רִבִּי חִיָּיא, כֹּלָּא כְּמָה דְּאִתְּמַר. וְעוֹבָדָא דְּמַשְׁכְּנָא לָא אִתְעָבֵיד אֶלָּא מִיִשְׂרָאֵל בִּלְחוֹדַיְיהוּ, וְלָא מֵאִינּוּן עֵרֶב רַב, בְּגִין דְּאִינּוּן עֵרֶב רַב אַמְשִׁיכוּ לֵיהּ לְמַלְאַךְ הַמָּוֶת לְנַחְתָּא לְעָלְמָא. כֵּיוָן דְּאִסְתָּכַּל מֹשֶׁה בֵּיהּ, אַשְׁדֵּי לְאִינּוּן עֵרֶב רַב, לְבַר, וְכָנִישׁ לוֹן לְיִשְׂרָאֵל בִּלְחוֹדַיְיהוּ, הֲדָא הוּא דִּכְתִּיב וַיַּקְהֵל מֹשֶׁה וְגוֹ'.