The Days Of Awe

But is it not written: "Seek the LORD while He may be found" (Isaiah 55:6)! There it speaks of an individual, here of the community. For an individual, when may He be found? Rabbah bar Avuh said: These are the ten days between Rosh ha-Shanah and the Day of Atonement. "And it came to pass about ten days later that the LORD struck Nabal, and he died" (1 Samuel 25:38). These ten days, what is their significance? Rav Yehudah said in the name of Rav: They correspond to the ten morsels that Nabal gave to David's servants. Rav Nahman said in the name of Rabbah bar Avuh: These are the ten days between Rosh ha-Shanah and the Day of Atonement. "On Rosh ha-Shanah all who enter the world pass before Him like a flock of sheep." What is the meaning of "like a flock of sheep"? Here they rendered it: like young lambs. Resh Lakish said: Like the ascents of Beth Maron. Rav Yehudah said in the name of Shmuel: Like the troops of the house of David.