R. Yossi b. R. Yehudah says: Beloved are afflictions by the L-rd, for the name of the L-rd reposes upon the afflicted one, as it is written "the L-rd your G-d afflicts you."
R. Nathan b. R. Yosef says: Just as a covenant is made with the land a covenant is made with afflictions, as it is written "the L-rd your G-d afflicts you" followed by (Ibid. 7) "for the L-rd your G-d brings you to a good land."
R. Shimon b. Yochai says: Beloved are afflictions, three gifts having been given to Israel by the Holy One Blessed be He, which were coveted by the idolators, and which were given, through afflictions, only to Israel: Torah, Eretz Yisrael, and the world to come.