Five Who Resembled the Heavenly Pattern and Were Struck in It

Our Rabbis taught: five were something of a likeness of the pattern above, and all of them were stricken in that very thing. Samson in his strength, Saul in his neck, Absalom in his hair, Zedekiah in his eyes, Asa in his feet. Samson in his strength, as it is written, "and his strength went from him" (Judges 16:19). Saul in his neck, as it is written, "And Saul took the sword, and fell upon it" (1 Samuel 31:4). Absalom in his hair, as it is written, "and his head caught hold" (2 Samuel 18:9). Zedekiah in his eyes, "and they put out the eyes of Zedekiah" (2 Kings 25:7). Asa in his feet, as it is written, "yet in the time of his old age he was diseased in his feet" (1 Kings 15:23), that is podagra [gout]. Mar Zutra the son of Rabbi Nahman said to Rabbi Nahman: what is podagra like? He said to him: like a needle in living flesh. How did he know? If you say he himself suffered from it, or if you say he heard it from his teacher, or if you say it is "the secret of the LORD is with them that fear Him" (Psalms 25:14). Rabbi Abba expounded: why was Asa punished? Because he imposed forced labor upon Torah scholars, as it is written, "Then King Asa made a proclamation unto all Judah; none was exempt" (1 Kings 15:22). What is "none was exempt"? Rabbi Ami said in the name of Rav: even a bridegroom from his chamber and a bride from her canopy.