David Pleads for the Souls of the Martyrs of Persecution

[14] "Of David. To You, O LORD, do I lift up my soul" (Psalms 25:1). It is written "essa" [I lift up / let it bow]. David said before the Holy One, blessed be He: Master of the worlds, let my soul be cast down over those who are destined to give their lives for the sanctification of the Name. And who are these? This is the generation of the persecution. The Holy One said to him: David, and have they lost out? Is their portion not in life? "Their portion is in life, and with Your treasured store You fill their belly" (Psalms 17:14). David said before the Holy One, blessed be He: Master of the worlds, do I have my portion with them? He said to him: It is not written here "and with their treasured store You fill their belly," but rather "and with Your treasured store You fill their belly" — Yours and theirs. David said before the Holy One, blessed be He: Master of the worlds, these and those come by virtue of Torah and good deeds, but as for me, "in righteousness I shall behold Your face" (ibid. 17:15). Rabbi Hiyya bar Ba said: If a man says to you, Give your life for the sanctification of the Name, say, I will give it, provided that they cut off my head at once — but not like the generation of the persecution, who would place balls of fire under their armpits and splinters of reed under their fingernails.