In this daf, we learn about the beautiful ways Hashem shows His love for Klal Yisrael by sending rain in its proper season, specifically on nights when people are safely in their homes. The Gemara brings down the incredible hashgachah pratis seen in the days of Shimon ben Shetaḥ and during the building of the Beis HaMikdash in Herod's time, showing how the Aibershter aligned the weather perfectly so as not to disrupt the people's holy work.
We then delve into the famous and awe-inspiring story of Ḥoni HaMe’aggel. When the world was in desperate need of rain, Ḥoni drew a circle in the dust, swearing by Hashem's great Name that he would not step out until the rain fell. We see his deep, child-like relationship with the Ribbono shel Olam as he coaxes the heavens to bring down exactly the right kind of rain—not too little, and not too destructive, but rains of blessing and benevolence.
״בְּעִתָּם״ — בְּלֵילֵי רְבִיעִיּוֹת וּבְלֵילֵי שַׁבָּתוֹת.
The verse states that Hashem will give rain “in their season” — this means on Wednesday eves (Tuesday nights) and on Shabbos eves (Friday nights), when people are normally indoors.
שֶׁכֵּן מָצִינוּ בִּימֵי שִׁמְעוֹן בֶּן שָׁטַח שֶׁיָּרְדוּ לָהֶם גְּשָׁמִים בְּלֵילֵי רְבִיעִיּוֹת וּבְלֵילֵי שַׁבָּתוֹת,
For so we found in the days of Shimon ben Shatach, that rains fell for them only on Wednesday eves and on Shabbos eves,
עַד שֶׁנַּעֲשׂוּ חִטִּים כִּכְלָיוֹת, וּשְׂעוֹרִים כְּגַרְעִינֵי זֵיתִים, וַעֲדָשִׁים כְּדִינְרֵי זָהָב,
and the crops were so blessed until wheat became as large as kidneys, and barley as large as olive pits, and lentils as large as golden dinars,
וְצָרְרוּ מֵהֶם דּוּגְמָא לַדּוֹרוֹת, לְהוֹדִיעַ כַּמָּה הַחֵטְא גּוֹרֵם,
and they bound some of them as a sample for future generations, to make known how much damage sin causes by preventing such bounty,
שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר: ״עֲוֹנוֹתֵיכֶם הִטּוּ אֵלֶּה וְחַטֹּאתֵיכֶם מָנְעוּ הַטּוֹב מִכֶּם״.
as it is stated in the Navi: “Your iniquities have turned away these blessings, and your sins have withheld the good from you.”
וְכֵן מָצִינוּ בִּימֵי הוֹרְדוֹס, שֶׁהָיוּ עוֹסְקִין בְּבִנְיַן בֵּית הַמִּקְדָּשׁ, וְהָיוּ יוֹרְדִין גְּשָׁמִים בַּלַּיְלָה,
And so we found in the days of Herod, when they were occupied with the building of the Beis HaMikdash, and rains would fall only at night so as not to disrupt the construction,
לְמָחָר נָשְׁבָה הָרוּחַ וְנִתְפַּזְּרוּ הֶעָבִים וְזָרְחָה הַחַמָּה, וְיָצְאוּ הָעָם לִמְלַאכְתָּן,
and the next day the wind blew and the clouds dispersed and the sun shone, and the people went out to their work,
וְיָדְעוּ שֶׁמְּלֶאכֶת שָׁמַיִם בִּידֵיהֶם.
and they knew from this miracle that the work of Heaven was in their hands and desired by Hashem.
מַעֲשֶׂה שֶׁשָּׁלְחוּ לְחוֹנִי הַמְעַגֵּל וְכוּ׳.
We learned in the Mishnah: An incident occurred where they sent to Choni HaMe'aggel, etc.
תָּנוּ רַבָּנַן: פַּעַם אַחַת יָצָא רוֹב אֲדָר וְלֹא יָרְדוּ גְּשָׁמִים,
The Rabbis taught in a Braisa: One time, most of the month of Adar had passed and rains had not yet fallen.
שָׁלְחוּ לְחוֹנִי הַמְעַגֵּל: הִתְפַּלֵּל וְיֵרְדוּ גְּשָׁמִים!
They sent to Choni HaMe'aggel: Pray, so that rains will fall!
הִתְפַּלֵּל, וְלֹא יָרְדוּ גְּשָׁמִים.
He prayed, but rains did not fall.
עָג עוּגָה וְעָמַד בְּתוֹכָהּ, כְּדֶרֶךְ שֶׁעָשָׂה חֲבַקּוּק הַנָּבִיא, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר: ״עַל מִשְׁמַרְתִּי אֶעֱמֹדָה וְאֶתְיַצְּבָה עַל מָצוֹר וְגוֹ׳״.
He drew a circle and stood inside it, in the manner that Chavakuk the Prophet did, as it is stated: “I will stand upon my watch, and set myself upon the tower, etc.”
אָמַר לְפָנָיו: רִבּוֹנוֹ שֶׁל עוֹלָם! בָּנֶיךָ שָׂמוּ פְּנֵיהֶם עָלַי, שֶׁאֲנִי כְּבֶן בַּיִת לְפָנֶיךָ.
He said before Him: Master of the Universe! Your children have turned their faces to me, because I am like a member of the household before You.
נִשְׁבָּע אֲנִי בְּשִׁמְךָ הַגָּדוֹל שֶׁאֵינִי זָז מִכָּאן עַד שֶׁתְּרַחֵם עַל בָּנֶיךָ.
I swear by Your great Name that I am not moving from here until You have mercy on Your children.
הִתְחִילוּ גְּשָׁמִים מְנַטְּפִין.
Rains began to drizzle in tiny drops.
אָמְרוּ לוֹ תַּלְמִידָיו: רַבִּי! רְאִינוּךְ וְלֹא נָמוּת, כִּמְדוּמִּין אָנוּ שֶׁאֵאין גְּשָׁמִים יוֹרְדִין אֶלָּא לְהַתִּיר שְׁבוּעָתְךָ.
His disciples said to him: Rebbe! We have seen you and we shall not die; we imagine that rains are not falling except to release you from your oath, but this is not enough to save us.
אָמַר: לֹא כָּךְ שָׁאַלְתִּי, אֶלָּא גִּשְׁמֵי בּוֹרוֹת שִׁיחִין וּמְעָרוֹת.
Choni said to Hashem: Not for this did I ask, but rather for rains that will fill cisterns, ditches, and caves.
יָרְדוּ בְּזַעַף, עַד שֶׁכׇּל טִפָּה וְטִפָּה כִּמְלֹא פִּי חָבִית. וְשִׁיעֲרוּ חֲכָמִים שֶׁאֵאין טִפָּה פְּחוּתָה מִלּוֹג.
The rains then fell with fury, until each and every drop was like the opening of a barrel. And the Sages estimated that no drop was less than a log in volume.
אָמְרוּ לוֹ תַּלְמִידָיו: רַבִּי, רְאִינוּךְ וְלֹא נָמוּת, כִּמְדוּמִּין אָנוּ שֶׁאֵאין גְּשָׁמִים יוֹרְדִין אֶלָּא לְאַבֵּד הָעוֹלָם.
His disciples said to him: Rebbe, we have seen you and we shall not die; we imagine that rains are not falling except to destroy the world.
אָמַר לְפָנָיו: לֹא כָּךְ שָׁאַלְתִּי, אֶלָּא גִּשְׁמֵי רָצוֹן בְּרָכָה וּנְדָבָה.
He said before Him: Not for this did I ask, but rather for rains of favor, blessing, and generosity.
יָרְדוּ כְּתִיקְנָן, עַד שֶׁעָלוּ כׇּל הָעָם לְהַר הַבַּיִת, מִפְּנֵי הַגְּשָׁמִים.
The rains then fell normally, until all the people went up to the Temple Mount because of the rising rains.
אָמְרוּ לוֹ: רַבִּי, כְּשֵׁם שֶׁהִתְפַּלַּלְתָּ שֶׁיֵּרְדוּ, כָּךְ הִתְפַּלֵּל וְיֵלְכוּ לָהֶם.
They said to him: Rebbe, just as you prayed that they should fall, so pray that they should go away.
אָמַר לָהֶם: כָּךְ מְקוּבְּלַנִי שֶׁאֵאין מִתְפַּלְּלִין עַל רוֹב הַטּוֹבָה.
He said to them: Thus I have received as a tradition, that we do not pray over an abundance of good to stop.
אַף עַל פִּי כֵן, הָבִיאוּ לִי פַּר הוֹדָאָה.
Even so, bring me a bull of thanksgiving.
הֵבִיאוּ לוֹ פַּר הוֹדָאָה, סָמַךְ שְׁתֵּי יָדָיו עָלָיו, וְאָמַר לְפָנָיו:
They brought him a bull of thanksgiving, he leaned his two hands upon it, and said before Him:
רִבּוֹנוֹ שֶׁל עוֹלָם! עַמְּךָ יִשְׂרָאֵל שֶׁהוֹצֵאתָ מִמִּצְרַיִם אֵינָן יְכוֹלִין לֹא בְּרוֹב טוֹבָה וְלֹא בְּרוֹב פּוּרְעָנוּת.
Master of the Universe! Your nation Israel whom You brought out of Egypt cannot endure either an abundance of good or an abundance of punishment.
כָּעַסְתָּ עֲלֵיהֶם — אֵינָן יְכוֹלִין לַעֲמוֹד, הִשְׁפַּעְתָּ עֲלֵיהֶם טוֹבָה — אֵינָן יְכוֹלִין לַעֲמוֹד,
When You became angry with them, they could not stand; when You bestowed abundance of good upon them, they could not stand.
יְהִי רָצוֹן מִלְּפָנֶיךָ שֶׁיִּפָּסְקוּ הַגְּשָׁמִים, וִיהֵא רֶיוַח בָּעוֹלָם.
May it be Your will that the rains cease, and there be relief in the world.
מִיָּד נָשְׁבָה הָרוּחַ, וְנִתְפַּזְּרוּ הֶעָבִים, וְזָרְחָה הַחַמָּה, וְיָצְאוּ הָעָם לַשָּׂדֶה וְהֵבִיאוּ לָהֶם כְּמֵהִין וּפִטְרִיּוֹת.
Immediately the wind blew, and the clouds dispersed, and the sun shone, and the people went out to the field and brought for themselves truffles and mushrooms.
שָׁלַח לוֹ שִׁמְעוֹן בֶּן שָׁטַח: אִלְמָלֵא חוֹנִי אַתָּה, גּוֹזְרַנִי עָלֶיךָ נִידּוּי.
Shimon ben Shatach sent to him: Were you not Choni, I would decree banishment upon you.
שֶׁאִילּוּ שָׁנִים כִּשְׁנֵי אֵלִיָּהוּ שֶׁמַּפְתְּחוֹת גְּשָׁמִים בְּיָדוֹ שֶׁל אֵלִיָּהוּ, לֹא נִמְצָא שֵׁם שָׁמַיִם מִתְחַלֵּל עַל יָדְךָ,
For if these years were like the years of Eliyahu, when the keys of rain were in the hand of Eliyahu and he swore there would be no rain, would not the Name of Heaven have been desecrated by your hand if you swore not to move until it rained?
אֲבָה מָה אֶעֱשֶׂה לְךָ, שֶׁאַתָּה מִתְחַטֵּא לִפְנֵי הַמָּקוֹם וְעוֹשֶׂה לְךָ רְצוֹנְךָ,
But what can I do to you, since you act like a favorite child before the Omnipresent and He does your will,
כְּבֵן שֶׁמִּתְחַטֵּא עַל אָבִיו וְעוֹשֶׂה לוֹ רְצוֹנוֹ,
like a son who acts like a favorite child with his father and he does his will,
וְאוֹמֵר לוֹ: אַבָּא, הוֹלִיכַנִי לְרׇחְצֵנִי בְּחַמִּין. שׇׁטְפֵנִי בְּצוֹנֵן. תֵּן לִי אֱגוֹזִים, שְׁקֵדִים, אֲפַרְסְקִים וְרִמּוֹנִים — וְנוֹתֵן לוֹ.
and says to him: Father, take me to wash me in hot water, rinse me in cold water, give me nuts, almonds, peaches, and pomegranates — and he gives them to him.
וְעָלֶיךָ הַכָּתוּב אוֹמֵר: ״יִשְׂמַח אָבִיךָ וְאִמֶּךָ וְתָגֵל יוֹלַדְתֶּךָ״.
And of you the verse says: “Your father and your mother shall rejoice, and she who bore you shall be glad.”
תָּנוּ רַבָּנַן: מָה שָׁלְחוּ בְּנֵי לִשְׁכַּת הַגָּזִית לְחוֹנִי הַמְעַגֵּל — ״וְתִגְזַר אֹמֶר וְיָקׇם לָךְ וְעַל דְּרָכֶיךָ נָגַהּ אוֹר״.
The Rabbis taught: What did the members of the Chamber of Hewn Stone send to Choni HaMe'aggel? They sent the verse: “You shall decree a matter and it shall be established for you, and light shall shine upon your ways.”
״וְתִגְזַר אֹמֶר״ — אַתָּה גָּזַרְתָּ מִלְּמַטָּה, וְהַקָּדוֹשׁ בָּרוּךְ הוּא מְקַיֵּים מַאֲמָרְךָ מִלְמַעְלָה.
They expounded: “You shall decree a matter” — you decreed below, and the Holy One, Blessed be He, fulfills your word from above.
״וְעַל דְּרָכֶיךָ נָגַהּ אוֹר״ — דּוֹר שֶׁהָיָה אָפֵל הֵאַרְתָּ בִּתְפִלָּתֶךָ.
“And light shall shine upon your ways” — a generation that was in darkness, you illuminated with your prayer.
״כִּי הִשְׁפִּילוּ וַתֹּאמֶר גֵּוָה״ — דּוֹר שֶׁהָיָה שָׁפֵל הִגְבַּהְתּוֹ בִּתְפִלָּתֶךָ.
“When they were cast down, you said: There is lifting up” — a generation that was cast down, you elevated with your prayer.
״וְשַׁח עֵינַיִם יוֹשִׁעַ״ — דּוֹר שֶׁשַּׁח בַּעֲוֹנוֹ הוֹשַׁעְתּוֹ בִּתְפִלָּתֶךָ.
“And He saves the humble person” — a generation that was brought low by its sin, you saved with your prayer.
״יְמַלֵּט אִי נָקִי״ — דּוֹר שֶׁלֹּא הָיָה נָקִי מִלַּטְתּוֹ בִּתְפִלָּתֶךָ.
“He will deliver the one who is not innocent” — a generation that was not innocent, you delivered with your prayer.
״וְנִמְלַט בְּבֹר כַּפֶּיךָ״ — מִלַּטְתּוֹ בְּמַעֲשֵׂה יָדֶיךָ הַבְּרוּרִין.
“And he will be delivered through the cleanness of your hands” — you delivered them through the clean work of your hands.
אָמַר רַבִּי יוֹחָנָן: כׇּל יָמָיו שֶׁל אוֹתוֹ צַדִּיק, הָיָה מִצְטַעֵר עַל מִקְרָא זֶה: ״שִׁיר הַמַּעֲלוֹת בְּשׁוּב ה׳ אֶת שִׁיבַת צִיּוֹן הָיִינוּ כְּחֹלְמִים״,
Rabbi Yochanan said: All the days of the life of that righteous man, Choni, he was distressed over this verse: “A Song of Ascents: When Hashem returns the returnees of Zion, we were like dreamers.”
אָמַר: מִי אִיכָּא דְּנָיֵים שִׁבְעִין שְׁנִין בְּחֶלְמָא?
He said: Is there anyone who can sleep seventy years in a dream? How could the seventy years of the Babylonian exile be compared to a dream?
יוֹמָא חַד הֲוָה אָזֵל בְּאוֹרְחָא, חַזְיֵיהּ לְהָהוּא גַּבְרָא דַּהֲוָה נָטַע חָרוּבָא,
One day he was walking on the road, and he saw a certain man who was planting a carob tree.
אֲמַר לֵיהּ: הַאי, עַד כַּמָּה שְׁנִין טָעֵין?
Choni said to him: This tree, until how many years does it bear fruit?
אֲמַר לֵיהּ: עַד שִׁבְעִין שְׁנִין.
The man said to him: Until seventy years.
אֲמַר לֵיה...: פְּשִׁיטָא לָךְ דְּחָיֵית שִׁבְעִין שְׁנִין?
Choni said to him: Is it obvious to you that you will live seventy years to benefit from it?
אֲמַר לֵיהּ: אֲנָא חָרוּבָא בְּעָלְמָא אַשְׁכְּחֵיהּ. כִּי הֵיכִי דִּשְׁתַלוּ לִי אֲבָהָתִי — שְׁתַלִי נָמֵי לִבְרָאִי.
The man said to him: I found a carob-filled world. Just as my ancestors planted for me, I also plant for my children.
יָתֵיב, קָא כָּרֵיךְ רִיפְתָּא, אֲתַאי לֵיהּ שִׁינְתָּא, נִים.
Choni sat down, wrapped bread to eat, sleep came upon him, and he slept.
אַהְדַּרָא לֵיהּ מְשּׁוּנִּיתָא, אִיכַּסִּי מֵעֵינָא, וְנִים שִׁבְעִין שְׁנִין.
A rocky formation surrounded him, he was hidden from sight, and he slept for seventy years.
כִּי קָם, חַזְיֵיהּ לְהָהוּא גַּבְרָא דְּהוּא קָא מְלַקֵּט מִינַּיְיהוּ,
When he woke up, he saw a certain man who was gathering carobs from it.
אָמַר לֵיהּ: אַתְּ הוּא דִּשְׁתַלְתֵּיהּ?
Choni said to him: Are you the one who planted it?
אֲמַר לֵיהּ: בַּר בְּרֵיהּ אֲנָא.
The man said to him: I am his grandson.
אֲמַר לֵיהּ: שְׁמַע מִינַּהּ דִּנְיַימִי שִׁבְעִין שְׁנִין.
Choni said to himself: Learn from this that I have slept for seventy years.
חֲזָא לַחֲמָרְ[תֵּ]יהּ דְּאִתְיְילִידָא לַיהּ רַמְכֵי רַמְכֵי.
He saw his she-donkey, that herds of offspring had been born to her over the years.
אֲזַל לְבֵיתֵיהּ אֲמַר לְהוּ: בְּרֵיהּ דְּחוֹנִי הַמְעַגֵּל מִי קַיָּים?
He went to his house and said to them: Is the son of Choni HaMe'aggel still alive?
אֲמַרוּ לֵיה...: בְּרֵיהּ לֵיתֵאּ, בַּר בְּרֵיהּ אִיתֵאּ.
They said to him: His son is no longer alive, but his grandson is alive.
אֲמַר לְהוּ: אֲנָא חוֹנִי הַמְעַגֵּל. לָא הֵימְנוּהוּ.
He said to them: I am Choni HaMe'aggel! But they did not believe him.
אֲזַל לְבֵית הַמִּדְרָשׁ, שַׁמְעִינְהוּ לְרַבָּנַן דְּקָאָמְרִי: נְהִירָן שְׁמַעְתָּתִין כְּבִשְׁנֵי חוֹנִי הַמְעַגֵּל,
He went to the Beis HaMedrash, and heard the Rabbis saying: Our halachic traditions are as clear to us as in the years of Choni HaMe'aggel,
דְּכִי הָוֵי עָיֵיל לְבֵית מִדְרְשָׁא — כֹּל קוּשְׁיָא דַּהֲווֹ לְהוּ לְרַבָּנַן הֲוָה מְפָרֵק לְהוּ.
for when he would enter the Beis HaMedrash, any difficulty that the Rabbis had, he would resolve for them.
אָמַר לְהוּ: אֲנָא נִיהוּ, וְלָא הֵימְנוּהוּ, וְלָא עָבְדִי לֵיהּ יְקָרָא כִּדְמִבְּעֵי לֵיהּ.
He said to them: I am he! But they did not believe him, and they did not show him the honor that was due to him.
חֲלַשׁ דַּעְתֵּיהּ, בְּעָא רַחֲמֵי, וּמִית.
He became depressed, prayed for mercy that he should die, and he died.
אָמַר רָבָא: הַיְינוּ דְּאָמְרִי אִינָשֵׁי: אוֹ חַבְרוּתָא אוֹ מִיתוּתָא.
Rava said: This is what people say: Either companionship or death.
אַבָּא חִלְקִיָּה בַּר בְּרֵיהּ דְּחוֹנִי הַמְעַגֵּל הֲוָה,
The Gemara relates: Abba Chilkiyah was the grandson of Choni HaMe'aggel,
וְכִי מִצְטְרִיךְ עָלְמָא לְמִיטְרָא הֲווֹ מְשַׁדְּרִי רַבָּנַן לְגַבֵּיהּ וּבָעֵי רַחֲמֵי, וְאָתֵי מִיטְרָא.
and when the world needed rain, the Rabbis would send to him and he would pray for mercy, and rain would come.
זִימְנָא חֲדָא אִיצְטְרִיךְ עָלְמָא לְמִיטְרָא, שַׁדּוּר רַבָּנַן זוּגָא דְּרַבָּנַן לְגַבֵּיהּ לְמִבְעֵי רַחֲמֵי דְּנֵיתֵי מִיטְרָא.
One time the world needed rain, and the Rabbis sent a pair of Rabbis to him to ask him to pray for mercy so that rain would come.
אֲזוּל לְבֵיתֵיהּ וְלָא אַשְׁכְּחוּהּו, אֲזוּל בְּדַבְרָא וְאַשְׁכְּחוּהּ דַּהֲוָה קָא רָפֵיק,
They went to his house and did not find him; they went to the field and found him where he was hoeing the ground.
יְהַבוּ לֵיהּ שְׁלָמָא וְלָא אַסְבַּר לְהוּ אַפֵּיהּ.
They greeted him, but he did not show them a welcoming face and did not even return their greeting.
בְּפַנְיָא, כִּי הֲוָה מְנַקֵּט צִיבֵי, דְּרָא צִיבֵי וּמָרָא בְּחַד כַּתְפָּא, וּגְלִימָא בְּחַד כַּתְפָּא.
In the evening, when he was gathering wood, he carried the wood and the hoe on one shoulder, and his cloak on the other shoulder.
כוּלַּהּ אוֹרְחָא לָא סָיֵם מְסָאנֵי, כִּי מָטֵי לְמַיָּא סָיֵם מְסָאנֵיהּ.
The entire way he did not wear shoes, but when he reached water he put on his shoes.
כִּי מְטָא לְהִיזְמֵי וְהִיגֵי דַּלִּינְהוּ לְמָנֵיהּ.
When he reached thorns and shrubs, he lifted his garments.
כִּי מְטָא לְמָתָא, נָפְקָה דְּבֵיתְהוּ לְאַפֵּיהּ כִּי מִיקַּשְּׁטָא.
When he reached the town, his wife came out to meet him while she was adorned in fine clothing.
כִּי מְטָא לְבֵיתֵיהּ, עַלַּת דְּבֵיתְהוּ בְּרֵישָׁא, וַהֲדַר עָיֵיל אִיהוּ, וַהֲדַר עָיְילִי רַבָּנַן.
When he reached his house, his wife entered first, and then he entered, and then the Rabbis entered.
יְתֵיב וּכְרֵיךְ רִיפְתָּא וְלָא אֲמַר לְהוּ לְרַבָּנַן תּוּ כְּרוּכוּ.
He sat and wrapped bread to eat, and did not say to the Rabbis: 'Come and eat with us.'
פְּלַג רִיפְתָּא לְיָנוֹקֵי, לְקַשִּׁישָׁא — חֲדָא, וּלְזוּטְרָא — תְּרֵי.
He divided the bread among the children: to the older one, one portion, and to the younger one, two.
אֲמַר לַהּ לִדְבֵיתְהוּ: יָדַעְנָא דְּרַבָּנַן מִשּׁוּם מִיטְרָא קָא אָתוּ,
He said to his wife: I know that the Rabbis have come on account of rain.
נִיסַּק לְאִיגָּרָא וְנִיבְעֵי רַחֲמֵי, אֶפְשָׁר דְּמִרַצֵּי הַקָּדוֹשׁ בָּרוּךְ הוּא וְיֵיתֵי מִיטְרָא וְלָא נַחְזֵיק טֵיבוּתָא לְנַפְשִׁין.
Let us go up to the roof and pray for mercy; perhaps the Holy One, Blessed be He, will be appeased and rain will come, and we will not take credit for ourselves.
סַקוּ לְאִיגָּרָא, קָם אִיהוּ בַּחֲדָא זָוִיתָא, וְאִיהִי בַּחֲדָא זָוִיתָא,
They went up to the roof; he stood in one corner, and she stood in another corner.
קְדוּם סְלוּק עֲנָנֵי מֵהָךְ זָוִיתָא דִּדְבֵיתְהוּ.
The clouds rose first from that corner of his wife.
כִּי נָחֵית אֲמַר לְהוּ: אַמַּאי אֲתוֹ רַבָּנַן?
When he came down, he said to them: Why did the Rabbis come?
אֲמרוּ לֵיהּ: שַׁדַּרוּ לַן רַבָּנַן לְגַבֵּי דְּמָר לְמִיבְעֵי רַחֲמֵי אַמִּיטְרָא.
They said to him: The Rabbis sent us to Master to pray for mercy for rain.
אֲמַר לְהוּ: בָּרוּךְ הַמָּקוֹם שֶׁלֹּא הִצְרִיךְ אֶתְכֶם לְאַבָּא חִלְקִיָּה.
He said to them: Blessed is the Omnipresent Who did not make you dependent on Abba Chilkiyah, since it has already rained.
אֲמַרוּ לֵיהּ: יָדְעִינַן דְּמִיטְרָא מֵחֲמַת מָר הוּא דַּאֲתָא,
They said to him: We know that the rain came because of Master,
אֶלָּא לֵימָא לַן מָר הָנֵי מִילֵּי דִּתְמִיהָא לַן:
but let Master tell us about these matters that puzzle us:
מַאי טַעְמָא כִּי יָהֵיבְנָא לְמָר שְׁלָמָא לָא אַסְבַּר לַן מָר אַפֵּיהּ?
What is the reason that when we greeted Master, Master did not show us a welcoming face?
אֲמַר לְהוּ: שְׂכִיר יוֹם הֲוַאי, וְאָמֵינָא: לָא אֶיפַּגַּר.
He said to them: I was a day laborer, and I said to myself: I must not idle from my employer's work.
וּמַאי טַעְמָא דְּרָא מָר צִיבֵי אַחַד כַּתְפֵּיהּ וּגְלִימָא אַחַד כַּתְפֵּיהּ?
And what is the reason that Master carried the wood on one shoulder and the cloak on the other shoulder instead of putting the cloak under the wood?
אֲמַר לְהוּ: טַלִּית שְׁאוּלָה הָיְתָה. לְהָכִי שְׁאַלִי, וּלְהָכִי לָא שְׁאַלִי.
He said to them: It was a borrowed cloak. For this purpose of wearing it I borrowed it, but for this purpose of carrying wood on it I did not borrow it.
מַאי טַעְמָא כּוּלַּהּ אוֹרְחָא לָא סָיֵם מָר מְסָאנֵיהּ וְכִי מָטֵי לְמַיָּא סָיֵם מְסָאנֵיהּ?
What is the reason that the entire way Master did not wear his shoes, but when he reached water he put on his shoes?
אֲמַר לְהוּ: כּוּלַּהּ אוֹרְחָא חָזֵינָא, בְּמַיָּא לָא קָא חָזֵינָא.
He said to them: The entire way on dry land I can see what I am stepping on, but in the water I cannot see what is at the bottom.
מַאי טַעְמָא כִּי מְטָא מָר לְהִיזְמֵי וְהִיגֵי דַּלִּינְהוּ לְמָנֵיהּ?
What is the reason that when Master reached thorns and shrubs, he lifted his garments?
אֲמַר לְהוּ: זֶה מַעֲלֶה אֲרוּכָה, וְזֶה אֵינוֹ מַעֲלֶה אֲרוּכָה.
He said to them: This skin of the body heals if scratched, but this garment does not heal if torn.
מַאי טַעְמָא כִּי מְטָא מָר לְמָתָא נָפְקָה דְּבֵיתְהוּ דְּמָר כִּי מִיקַּשְּׁטָא?
What is the reason that when Master reached the town, Master's wife came out adorned?
אֲמַר לְהוּ: כְּדֵי שֶׁלֹּא אֶתֵּן עֵינַי בְּאִשָּׁה אַחֶרֶת.
He said to them: So that I should not cast my eyes upon another woman.
The daf begins by explaining that ideal rains fall on Tuesday and Friday nights, illustrating this with the miraculous crops of Shimon ben Shetaḥ's era and the overnight rains during the rebuilding of the Beis HaMikdash. The Gemara then details the dramatic episode of Ḥoni HaMe’aggel, who drew a circle and refused to leave it until Hashem answered his prayers, adjusting the rainfall from mere droplets, to a torrential downpour, and finally to rains of blessing. Although Shimon ben Shetaḥ noted that Ḥoni's bold approach deserved ostracism under different circumstances, he acknowledged that Ḥoni was like a beloved son who nags his father and gets his way, a status of favor that was celebrated by the Great Sanhedrin.
The Gemara shows us the beautiful, intimate relationship of Honi HaMe'aggel, who stood before the Ribbono shel Olam like a beloved child asking his father for help. Yet, we also see the incredible power of our sins to hold back the beautiful, oversized bounty that Hashem wants to shower upon us, just as the generation of Shimon ben Shetah had to preserve giant grains of wheat to remind future generations of what we lose when we stray.
This teaches us a profound lesson about our daily avodah. Hashem is our loving Father, and He wants to give us the greatest, most abundant blessings. But so often, we block that flow of shefa through our own small compromises, our daily missteps, and our lack of focus. We don't need to wait for a drought to realize what we are missing; we can open the gates of blessing right now by clearing away the spiritual blockages.
Today, take three minutes before you daven Mincha or Maariv to think of one small spiritual compromise you make during the day—perhaps a lack of focus in a specific bracha or a moment of speaking lashon hara—and consciously let it go, opening the channel for Hashem's blessing to flow into your life.