Rabbi Ḥiyya bar Abba in the name of Rabbi Levi began: “People are nothingness; men are but deceit; they rise together on a scale, lighter than nothingness” (Psalms 62:10). According to the way of the world, what do people say? So-and-so man shall marry so-and-so woman – [but] “people are nothingness.”15People may think that it would be good for a man to marry a particular woman, but that is not why a marriage will take place or succeed.
So-and-so woman will be married to so-and-so man – but “men are but deceit.” “They rise together on a scale, lighter than nothingness.” Rabbi Ḥiyya said: While they are still nothingness in their mother’s womb, they are together.16There is a divine decree that determines from before birth who will marry whom. Rav Naḥman said: All the acts of vanity and deceit that the descendants of Abraham our patriarch perform in this world, he is worthy to atone for all of them.
That is what is written: “The greatest man among giants” (Joshua 14:15). “They rise together on a scale,” on the scale he atones for them, in the month whose constellation is Libra.17This is the seventh astrological sign in the zodiac, and is represented by a scale. Which is that? It is the month of Tishrei.
You will atone [tishrei] and forgive all the sins of Your people. When? In the seventh month. Alternatively, “in the seventh [hashevi’i] month,” as it is plentiful [mesuba] in all respects; the wine presses and olive presses are [active] in it, there are blessings in it.18It is the time of year when the crops are gathered. Yom Kippur is in it, sukka is in it, lulav and arava are in it.