423. While they were walking, they reached a mountain. Rabbi Yosi said, This mountain is formidable, let us not remain here but walk on. Rabbi Yehuda said, If you were solitary, I would advise it, for we have learned that he who walks alone on the road endangers his life, but this does not apply to three. Also, each of us is worthy OF PROTECTION, that the Shechinah will not depart from him.
424. Rabbi Yosi said, We have learned that a man should not rely on a miracle. We know this from Samuel, as it is written, "How can I go? If Saul hears it, he will kill me" (I Shmuel 16:2), and Samuel was more worthy OF A MIRACLE than us. He said to him: Even so THAT HE WAS WORTHIER OF A MIRACLE THAN US, he was alone, and the danger was obvious, FOR IT WAS CERTAIN THAT SAUL WOULD HEAR OF IT AND KILL HIM. But we are three, and there is no danger in sight, MEANING, IT IS NOT CERTAIN. If it be evil spirits, DEMONS, we have learned that they do not appear before or hurt a threesome; if it is a robber, there are none here, since the mountain is far from inhabited places, and there are no people here, but there is fear of wild beasts here.
425. He opened the discussion saying, "The angel who redeemed (lit. 'redeems') me ..." (Beresheet 48:16). HE ASKS, It says "redeems," while it should have been 'who redeemed.' Why the present tense? HE REPLIES, This is because he abides always with people, and never abandons a righteous man. Come and see, the angel who redeems me is the Shechinah, who continually accompanies man, never turns from him as long as he observes the precepts of the Torah. A man should therefore be careful not to go out alone on the road. HE ASKS, What is 'alone?' HE ANSWERS, A man should be careful to keep the precepts of the Torah, so that the Shechinah shall not depart from him, and he will have to go alone, unaccompanied by the Shechinah.
426. Come and see, When a man sets out on his way, he should pray before his Master in order to draw the Shechinah upon him, and then go out on his way, joined by the Shechinah, who would redeem him on the way and save him in time of need.
427. It is written that Jacob said, "If Elohim will be with me," referring to the union with the Shechinah "and will keep me in this way" (Beresheet 28:20) to deliver him from any HARM. Jacob was solitary at the time, and the Shechinah walked before him. So much more for friends with the words of the Torah among them.
428. Rabbi Yosi said, What shall we do? If we stay here, the day declines and if we climb, it is a great and formidable mountain and I fear the wild beasts. Rabbi Yehuda said, I am amazed at you THAT YOU ARE SO AFRAID. Rabbi Yosi said to him: We have learned that a man should not rely on a miracle, since the Holy One, blessed be He, does not perform miracles at all times. He said to him: This is true for a lone man, but we are three. With words of the Torah between us, and the Shechinah with us, I have no fear.
429. While they were walking they saw a rock with a cave in it. Rabbi Yehuda said, Let us climb to that rock, for I see a cave in it. They went there and saw the cave. Rabbi Yosi said, I am afraid, lest this cave is a lair of beasts, which might harm us.
430. Rabbi Yehuda said to Rabbi Chizkiyah, I see that Rabbi Yosi is afraid. You might say that this is since he is a sinner, for whoever fears is a sinner, as it is written, "The sinners in Zion are afraid" (Yeshayah 33:14). Yet is no sinner BUT A RIGHTEOUS MAN, and it is written, "But the righteous are bold as a lion" (Mishlei 28:1). Rabbi Yosi said, It is because danger is obvious AND WHEREVER DAMAGE IS OBVIOUS ONE SHOULD BE AFRAID.