A Clash between Judah the Prince and Resh Lakish

Resh Lakish said: The patriarch who sins, we lash him in a court of three [judges]. [ . . . ] R. Judah the Prince heard and grew angry. He sent a soldier to catch Resh Lakish. They tried to catch him, but he fled to the tower, and some say it was Kefar Ḥitiah.

The next day, R. Yoḥanan went up to the house of meeting, and R. Judah the Prince [also] went up to the house of meeting. He said to him, “Why does the master not tell us a word of Torah?” He began to clap with one hand. He said to him, “Can one clap with only one hand?” Rather he said to him, “No, neither can ben Lakish [i.e., Resh Lakish].” He said to him, “But where is the one who is shut up?” He said to him, “In the tower.” He said to him, “Tomorrow, you and I will go out before him.”

R. Yoḥanan sent [a message] to Resh Lakish saying, “Prepare a discourse on the law because the patriarch is coming before you.” [The patriarch] came out before him and said, “Your example is like your Creator. When the Merciful One came to redeem Israel, [God] sent neither a messenger nor an angel, but rather God came Himself, as it is written: For I will pass through the land of Egypt (Exodus 12:12, NRSV). He and all the members of his retinue.” He said to him, “Why did you see fit to say this?” He said to them, “What do you think? That if I was afraid of you, I would cease the teachings of God?”

Translated by Matthew Goldstone.