My Anger Shall Burn and the Five Forms of Punishment

"And My anger shall burn" (Exodus 22:23): it is stated here "and anger shall burn," and it is stated elsewhere "the burning of anger." Just as the burning of anger stated here means the sword, so the burning of anger stated elsewhere means the sword; and just as the burning of anger stated elsewhere means the withholding of rain and exile, so the burning of anger stated here means the withholding of rain and exile. Another interpretation: it is stated here "anger" and it is stated elsewhere "anger." Just as the anger stated elsewhere means pestilence and wild beasts, so the anger stated here means pestilence and wild beasts. We find that we have learned that wherever "the burning of anger" is stated, there are five kinds of calamity: pestilence, the sword, wild beasts, the withholding of rain, and exile. "And I will kill you with the sword" (Exodus 22:23): does the Omnipresent kill them with the sword? Rather, He brings upon them one who kills them with the sword. "And your wives shall be widows and your children fatherless." From what is stated, "and your wives shall be widows," do I not already know that their children are fatherless? Rather: their wives will sit as widows, guarding [their status] like captives, unable to remarry [since the husbands' deaths are unconfirmed]; and their children will sit guarding like captives, unable to come into their inheritance. Another interpretation: if you pervert justice, in the end their wives will be afflicted in other courts and their children will be afflicted in other courts. Abba Yudan, a man of Sidon, says in the name of Rabban Gamliel: from where do we learn that a person should not say, "I am not worthy to pray for the Temple and for the Land of Israel"? Scripture teaches, "I will surely hear his cry." And which measure is greater, the measure of good or the measure of calamity? You must say: the measure of good. Now if regarding the lesser measure of calamity an individual prays and the Omnipresent hears his prayer, then regarding the greater measure of good it is only right that an individual should pray and the Omnipresent hears his prayer.