"And it shall come to pass in all the land, declares the Lord, that two-thirds shall be cut off and perish, and one-third shall be left alive" (Zechariah 13:8). Rabbi Berachiah said: this is not a prophecy about disaster. This is a prophecy about refining. The two-thirds that are cut off are the dross. The one-third that remains is the silver, purified by what it has passed through.
The midrash turns this toward the end of days, the great eschatological reckoning that the Psalms and the Writings anticipate throughout Aggadat Bereshit. A third of humanity will survive to see the world repaired. A third of Israel specifically will endure. The rabbis were not offering these numbers as predictions so much as as a structure for hope: the most extreme tribulation is not total destruction. Something, someone, comes through.
What comes through? The text specifies: those who called on the name of God. "They will call on My name, and I will answer them; I will say, 'They are My people,' and they will say, 'The Lord is my God'" (Zechariah 13:9). The covenant language at the end of history echoes the covenant language at the beginning, I am yours, you are mine. The refining fire of the end of days burns off everything except the relationship. And the relationship, it turns out, is indestructible.
Chapter 26: Prophets [1] And Abimelech ruled over Israel for three years (Judges 9:22). "Your friend and your father's friend do not forsake" (Proverbs 27:10). "Your friend and your father's friend" refers to Hanun son of Nahash, king of Ammon. David said, "I will show kindness to Hanun son of Nahash" (2 Samuel 10:2). What did Hanun do? "Hanun took David's servants and shaved off half of their beards" (2 Samuel 10:4). Hanun said, "My god has failed me, but my people have not" (2 Samuel 10:6). The Holy One, blessed be He, said to them, "You shall not seek their peace or their prosperity for all time" (Deuteronomy 23:7), yet David said, "I will show kindness to Hanun son of Nahash." Immediately, they cut off David's messengers' garments (2 Samuel 10:4), and that was "your friend and your father's friend." "And do not go to your brother's house on the day of your calamity" (Proverbs 27:10). This refers to Jehoram, king of Judah, as he rose and killed all his brothers, as it says, "And Jehoram arose over the kingdom of his father and strengthened himself and killed all his brothers with the sword, and also some of the officers of Israel" (2 Chronicles 21:4). "A near neighbor is better than a distant brother" (Proverbs 27:10). This refers to Abimelech son of Gideon, who killed his brothers. (Legends of the Jews 4:2:54) The Holy One, blessed be He, said to him, "The wickedness of the world would have been better off without you, Abimelech, son of your father's maidservant," because his father's kinship was with Abraham, and he was more honored than he. "And he said, 'Behold my land'" (Genesis 20:15). Furthermore, he said to Sarah, "Behold, I have given your brother a thousand pieces of silver" (ibid. 16). This refers to Doron. What did he do for Sarah? He made her a carriage and adorned her with royal garments, as it says, "Behold, it is for you a covering of the eyes" (Genesis 20:16). Why did he not still want to claim her? Rather, he hears that she is a queen and is afraid to say, "Who can sue a queen?" Therefore, he says, "Behold, it is for you a covering of the eyes." The Holy One, blessed be He, said to the son of Gideon, "See how your father's kinsman, Abraham, honored him, yet you stood and killed your brother." As it says, "And he killed his brothers, the sons of Jerubbaal, seventy men, on one stone" (Judges 9:5). Therefore, I will shorten your days, as it is said, "And Abimelech ruled over Israel for three years" (Judges 9:22). Why? The fear of the Lord will add days and years to your life, but the years of the wicked will be cut short (Proverbs 10:27). [2] Another interpretation: "and Abimelech acted justly." As it says, 'He who digs a pit will fall into it, and whoever rolls a stone, it will come back on him.' (Proverbs 26:27) Anyone who kills his brother with a staff, Jehoram stood up and killed the sons of his father's belly, as it says, 'Moreover, you have killed your brothers, your father's household, who were better than you.' (2 Chronicles 21:13) And because he killed the sons of his father's belly, therefore his bowels came out with his sickness, as it says, 'And they went on for days, and at the end of two years, his bowels came out because of his sickness.' (2 Chronicles 21:19) Why does it say, 'He who digs a pit will fall into it, and whoever rolls a stone, it will come back on him'? Cain killed his brother with a stone, as it says, 'And Cain rose up against Abel his brother and killed him.' (Genesis 4:8) And how did he kill him? He took a stone and struck him on all his organs with blows until he died. How do we know this? Because Lamech said to his wives, 'I have killed a man for wounding me.' (Genesis 4:23) And even Cain was killed with a stone, as it says, 'And Cain went out.' (Genesis 4:16) A stone fell on him and killed him. Why does it say, 'And whoever rolls a stone, it will come back on him'? Abimelech also killed his brothers with a stone, as it says, 'And he killed them on one stone.' (Judges 9:5) And he was also killed with a stone, as it says, 'And a certain woman threw an upper millstone upon Abimelech's head, and crushed his skull.' (Judges 9:53) Woe to him who rolls a stone, for it will come back on him." [3] Another interpretation: "and Abimelech acted justly." This is in reference to the verse, "Before shattering, a man's heart is haughty" (Proverbs 18:12). This refers to Avimelech, whose heart became haughty, as it says, "And worthless and reckless men gathered to him, and they followed him" (Judges 9:4). "But humility comes before honor" (Proverbs 15:33). This is referring to Gideon his father, whom the Israelites said to him, "Rule over us, you as well as your sons and your grandsons, for you have saved us from the hand of Midian" (Judges 8:22). And what did he say to them? "I will not rule over you, nor will my son rule over you. The Lord will rule over you" (Judges 8:23). The Holy One, blessed be He, said to him, "By your life, since you have said this, I will make a king come forth from you," as it says, "And Avimelech did right over Israel" (Judges 9:22). And how do we know that he was a king? As it says, "And they went and made Avimelech king" (Judges 9:6). You said three things, as it says, "I will not rule over you, nor will my son rule over you. The Lord will rule over you" (Judges 8:23). Behold, I will give your sons kingship for three years, as it says, "And Avimelech ruled over Israel for three years" (Judges 9:22). Therefore, "humility comes before honor" (Proverbs 15:33). And if Avimelech had been worthy, he would have lived a long life, as it says, "One who hates gain will prolong his days" (Proverbs 28:16). But he did not do so, and instead took gain from Israel, from the house of Baal Berith, as it says, "And they gave him seventy pieces of silver from the house of Baal Berith" (Judges 9:4). Therefore, he did not live a long life. But in the future, when the Holy One, blessed be He, uproots the evil inclination from Israel, they will live long lives, as it says, "Like the days of a tree shall be the days of my people" (Isaiah 65:22).
