“It was as the sun was setting, and a slumber fell upon Abram, and, behold, dread, a great darkness, fell upon him” (Genesis 15:12). “It was as the sun was setting, [and a slumber fell]” – Rabbi Yehoshua of Sikhnin said in the name of Rabbi Levi: The beginning of downfall is sleep,70This is alluded to by the words “slumber fell.” as when one sleeps one does not toil in Torah study, when one sleeps one does not do any work.
Rav said: There are three kinds of slumber – the slumber of sleep, the slumber of prophecy, and the slumber of a trance. The slumber of sleep – “The Lord God cast a slumber upon the man, and he slept” (Genesis 2:21). The slumber of prophecy – “It was as the sun was setting, and a slumber fell upon Abram” (Genesis 15:12). The slumber of a trance – “No one saw, and no one knew, and no one awoke, as they were all asleep because a deep slumber from the Lord had fallen upon them” (I Samuel 26:12).
The Rabbis said: There is also the slumber of foolishness, as it is written: “For the Lord poured upon you a spirit of deep slumber…” (Isaiah 29:10). Rabbi Ḥanina bar Yitzḥak said: There are three microcosms: sleep is a microcosm of death; a dream is a microcosm of prophecy; Shabbat is a microcosm of the World to Come. Rabbi Avin adds another two: The orb of the sun is a microcosm of the supernal light; Torah is a microcosm of supernal wisdom.
“And, behold, dread, a great darkness, fell upon him.” “Dread [eima]” – this alludes to Babylon, as it is written: “Then Nebuchadnezzar was filled with fury [ḥema]” (Daniel 3:19). “Darkness” – this alludes to Media, which darkened the eyes of Israel with fasts and privation.71As a reaction to their evil decrees (see Esther 4:16). “Great” – this alludes to Greece.
Rabbi Simon and the Rabbis, Rabbi Simon said: [The Greeks have] one hundred and twenty dukes, one hundred and twenty governors, and one hundred and twenty generals.72And that is why they are called “great.” The Rabbis said: Sixty of each, as it is written: “Serpent, fiery serpent, and scorpion” (Deuteronomy 8:15). “Serpent” – this alludes to Babylon; “fiery serpent” – this alludes to Media; “scorpion” – this alludes to Greece; just as the scorpion gives birth to sixty young at a time, so the kingdom of Greece appointed sixty of each [kind of official].
“Fell upon him” – this alludes to Edom, as it is stated [regarding them]: “From the sound of their fall the earth quaked” (Jeremiah 49:21). Some transpose it: “Fell upon him” – this alludes to Babylon, in whose regard it is written: “Fallen, fallen is Babylon” (Isaiah 21:9). “Great [gedola]” – this alludes to Media, as it is written: “After these matters, King Aḥashverosh promoted [gidal]” (Esther 3:1).
“Darkness” – this alludes to Greece, which darkened the eyes of Israel with its edicts, as they would say to Israel: ‘Inscribe on the horn of an ox that you have no share in the God of Israel.’ “Dread” – this alludes to Edom, as it is written: “Behold, a fourth beast, fearsome, dreadful, and very strong” (Daniel 7:7).