Another matter, “if you lend money to My people,” that is what is written: “Rejected silver they called them [as the Lord has rejected them]” (Jeremiah 6:30). When Israel was exiled from Jerusalem, the enemies took them out in chains and the nations of the world were saying: ‘The Holy One blessed be He does not want this nation,’ as it is stated: “Rejected silver they called them.” Just as silver is refined and crafted into a vessel, and again refined and crafted into a vessel, and likewise several times, but the last time the person crumbles it in his hand and it is no longer used in crafting, so too, they would say of Israel that they have no possibility of recovery because the Holy One blessed be He has rejected them, as it is stated: “Rejected silver they called them.”
When Jeremiah heard this, he came to the Holy One blessed be He, and said to Him: ‘Master of the universe, is it true that You have rejected your children?’ That is what is written: “Have You rejected Judah, has Your soul despised Zion? Why have You smitten us and we have no cure?” (Jeremiah 14:19). This is analogous to one who would beat his wife.
Her friend said to him: ‘Until when will you continue to beat her? If you wish to divorce her, beat her until she dies. If you do not wish to divorce her, why are you beating her?’ [The husband] said to him: ‘Even if my entire palace is destroyed, I will not divorce my wife.’ So too, Jeremiah said to the Holy One blessed be He: ‘If you wish to send us away, smite us until we die, as it is stated: “For, You have rejected us, You have been exceedingly angry with us” (Lamentations 5:22).
If not, why have you smitten us and there is no cure?’ The Holy One blessed be He said to him: ‘Even if I were to destroy My world, I will not send Israel away,’ as it is stated: “So said the Lord: If the heavens above can be measured [and the foundations of the earth below probed, I too will spurn all the descendants of Israel]” (Jeremiah 31:36).26Just as the heavens and the foundations of the earth cannot be measured, so God will not spurn all the descendants of Israel.
Rather, the Holy One blessed be He said: ‘Nevertheless, I have stipulated a condition with them. If they sin, the Temple will be taken as collateral for them, as it is stated: “I will place My abode [mishkani] among you”’ (Leviticus 26:11); do not read it as My abode [mishkani], but rather, as My collateral [mashkoni]. Likewise Bilam said: “How goodly are your tents, Jacob, your dwellings [mishkenotekha], Israel” (Numbers 24:5) – two instances of collateral.27This is based on the fact that the word dwellings [mishkenotekha] is in plural.
The allusion is to the two Temples, which were destroyed as a form of collection of debt due to Israel’s sins. They are called “your tents,” when they are built, and your dwellings [mishkenotekha] when they are destroyed. ‘It is not because I have a debt to the idolaters that I give them My Sanctuary as collateral, but rather your iniquities cause Me to give them My Temple as collateral. Were it not so, what debt do I have to them?’
As it is stated: “So said the Lord: Where is the your mother's writ of divorce with which I sent her away, or to whom among My creditors did I sell you? Behold, for your iniquities you were sold, and for your transgressions your mother was sent away” (Isaiah 50:1). ‘And so I stipulated with Moses in their regard, as it is stated: “If you lend money to My people, to the poor who is with you, you shall not be as a creditor to him.”
But if you violate these mitzvot, I will take two instances of collateral, as it is stated: “If you take your neighbor’s garment as collateral [ḥavol taḥbol].”’28The double term ḥavol taḥbol implies two instances of the taking of collateral, representing the destruction of the two Temples. Moses said to Him: ‘Will they forever be taken as collateral?’ He said to him: ‘No, only until “the setting of the sun”’ – until Messiah comes, as it is stated: “But the sun will shine for you, those who fear My name, a sun of righteousness and healing” (Malachi 3:20).