Three Voices Side by Side and the Reply of the Holy Spirit

"Why is his chariot so long in coming?" (Judges 5:28). Three statements stand side by side, where the one who said this did not say that. "Why is his chariot so long in coming?" said Sisera's mother. "Are they not finding and dividing the spoil?" said his wife and the wives of his princes. And the Holy Spirit says, "So may all Your enemies perish, O LORD" (Judges 5:31). Likewise: the elders say, "Our hands did not shed this blood" (Deuteronomy 21:7); the priests say, "Forgive Your people Israel" (Deuteronomy 21:8); and the Holy Spirit says, "And the blood shall be forgiven them" (Deuteronomy 21:8). Likewise: "Recognize, please, whose seal this is" said Tamar (Genesis 38:25); "She is more righteous than I" said Judah (Genesis 38:26); "And he knew her again no more" said the Holy Spirit (Genesis 38:26). Likewise: "We came to the land where you sent us" said Joshua (Numbers 13:27); "We should go up at once" said Caleb (Numbers 13:30); "But the people are strong" said the spies (Numbers 13:31). Likewise: "Who shall deliver us from the hand of these mighty gods?" said the worthy ones among them; the wicked among them said, "These are the gods that struck the Egyptians" — he had ten plagues and they are spent. The Holy One, blessed be He, said to them: I have no further plague; now I bring upon you a plague that has never been, namely mice that would drag out their entrails. And the mighty ones among them said, "Take courage and be men" (1 Samuel 4:8-9). Likewise: "Micah the Morashtite" prophesied, and "the LORD relented of the evil" (Jeremiah 26:18-19) — thus far spoke the worthy ones among them; the wicked among them said, "There was also a man who prophesied in the name of the LORD" (Jeremiah 26:20), saying: just as Uriah was slain, so Jeremiah deserves to be slain; "but the hand of Ahikam son of Shaphan was with Jeremiah, that he should not be given into the hand of the people" (Jeremiah 26:24). Likewise: "Under the apple tree I awakened you" (Song of Songs 8:5) — thus far spoke the Holy Spirit; and Israel says, "Set me as a seal upon your heart" (Song of Songs 8:6); and the nations of the world say, "For love is strong as death" (Song of Songs 8:6). Likewise: "Our soul is dried up; there is nothing at all but this manna before our eyes" (Numbers 11:6) said Israel; and the Omnipresent appeases them: "And the manna was like coriander seed" (Numbers 11:7). Likewise: "When you were faint and weary" (Deuteronomy 25:18) — this is Israel; "and he did not fear God" (Deuteronomy 25:18) — this is Amalek. And likewise it says, "As the LORD lives, lie down until the morning" (Ruth 3:13): "As the LORD lives" he swore to the evil impulse, and to the woman he said, "lie down until the morning."