The Doubled Comfort and the Fear That Forgets Its Maker

Another interpretation: "I, even I, am He who comforts you" (Isaiah 51:12). Rabbi Avun in the name of Resh Lakish: A parable to a king who grew angry with a noblewoman and drove her out of his palace. After some days he wished to bring her back. She said, "Let him double my marriage contract, and then he may bring me back." So the Holy One, blessed be He, said to Israel, "My children, at Sinai I said to you one time, I am the LORD your God (Exodus 20:2), but in Jerusalem in the time to come I will say to you twice, I, even I, am He who comforts you" (Isaiah 51:12). Rabbi Menachma in the name of Rabbi Avin: From that comfort with which you comforted Me at Mount Sinai when you said, "All that the LORD has spoken we will do and we will hear" (Exodus 24:7). "Who are you that you should be afraid?" (Isaiah 51:12), are you not the one who said to Me at the sea, "Who is like You?" (Exodus 15:11). "That you fear man who shall die" (Isaiah 51:12), or rather, "and the son of man who shall be made as grass" (Isaiah 51:12). Rabbi Berekhyah in the name of Rabbi Chelbo, Rabbi Shmuel bar Nachman in the name of Rabbi Yonatan: Israel deserved to be destroyed in the days of Haman, had they not relied on the opinion of the elder [Jacob], who said, "If our father Jacob, whom the Holy One, blessed be He, assured, saying, Behold, I am with you and will keep you wherever you go (Genesis 28:15), was afraid, how much more are we." This is why the prophet rebukes them and says, "And you have forgotten the LORD your Maker, who stretched out the heavens and laid the foundations of the earth" (Isaiah 51:13). You have forgotten what He said to you, "If the heavens above can be measured and the foundations of the earth searched out below, then also I will cast off all the seed of Israel for all that they have done, says the LORD" (Jeremiah 31:36). Have you seen heavens that were measured or earth that collapsed? From the stretching out of heaven and earth you should have learned. Instead, "You are afraid continually all the day because of the fury of the oppressor" (Isaiah 51:13). Rabbi Yitzchak said: troubles oppressed them one after another. "And where is the fury of the oppressor?" (Isaiah 51:13), that is Haman and his crew. "Who prepared to destroy" (Isaiah 51:13), "in the first month, which is the month of Nisan" (Esther 3:7). "The captive in chains shall speedily be released, that he should not die and go down to the pit" (Isaiah 51:14). Rabbi Abbahu said: this is one of six things that are a good sign for a sick person, sneezing, sweating, sleep, seminal emission, a dream, and the working of the bowels. Sneezing, from where? "His sneezings flash forth light" (Job 41:10). Sweating, from where? "In the sweat of your brow you shall eat bread" (Genesis 3:19). Emission, from where? "He shall see seed and prolong his days" (Isaiah 53:10). Sleep, from where? "I would have slept, then it would be at rest for me" (Job 3:13). A dream, from where? "You restored me and made me live" (Isaiah 38:16). The working of the bowels, from where? "The captive in chains shall speedily be released, that he should not die and go down to the pit" (Isaiah 51:14). Rabbi Chaggai said: provided that his bread is not lacking.