The Arrogant Are Judged by Fire and Israel Comforted by It

It was taught in the name of Rabbi Nechemyah: for close to a hundred and sixteen years the fire held to it [the altar]; its wood was not burned and its copper did not melt. And if you should say that ice formed on it, it was taught in the name of Rabbi Hoshaya: there was a film on it about the thickness of a dinar [a coin]. So too the incense altar. Reish Lakish said: it is written, "You shall make an altar for the burning of incense" (Exodus 30:1) — the altar itself was incensed with incense. Rabbi Levi said: it is a rule of praises that whoever exalts himself is judged only by fire, as it is said, "It is the burnt offering on its hearth." The generation of the flood, because they exalted themselves and said, "What is the Almighty that we should serve Him?" (Job 21:15), were judged only by fire, as it is written, "In the time they grow hot they vanish, in its heat they are extinguished from their place" (Job 6:17) — with boiling water. Rabbi Yochanan said: every single drop that the Holy One, blessed be He, brought down upon them, He brought to a boil. The Sodomites, because they exalted themselves and said, "Let us stand and make the foot forgotten from among us," were judged only by fire, as it is written, "And the LORD rained upon Sodom and upon Gomorrah brimstone and fire" (Genesis 19:24). Pharaoh, because he exalted himself and said, "Who is the LORD that I should obey His voice?" was judged only by fire, as it is written, "And there was hail, and fire flashing up," and so forth (Exodus 9:24). Sisera, because he exalted himself and oppressed Israel with violence, with revilings and blasphemies, was judged only by fire, as it is written, "From heaven they fought," and so forth (Judges 5:20). Sennacherib, because he exalted himself and said, "Who among all the gods of the lands," was judged only by fire, as it is written, "And under his glory there shall be kindled a burning," and so forth (Isaiah 10:16). Nebuchadnezzar, because he exalted himself and said, "And who is the god that shall deliver you out of my hands?" was judged only by fire, as it is written, "Those men who took up Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego, the flame of the fire killed them" (Daniel 3:22). And the fourth kingdom, because it exalted itself and said, "Whom have I in heaven" (Psalms 73:25), they are judged only by fire, as it is written, "I beheld until the beast was slain and its body destroyed and given to the burning flame" (Daniel 7:11). But Israel, because they are despised and lowly in this world, are comforted only by fire, as it is written, "And I will be to her, says the LORD, a wall of fire round about" (Zechariah 2:9).