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Abba Saul says: Strife between courts of justice brings about the destruction of the world.

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[The midrashic literature is divided into two main classes: halakic and haggadic. The former deals with legal matters, while the latter, which comprises the greater part of midrashic collections, is exegetic and homiletic. Some of the books are arranged in accordance with the order of the biblical passages upon which they are based, while others are groups of homilies delivered on the important Sabbaths and festivals. The language of this branch of literature is mostly Hebrew, and is very fluent and sometimes poetic, but Aramaic passages occur now and then, especially in the older collections. These works were compiled and redacted at various times, from the tannaitic period down to the twelfth century, and are mostly of Palestinian origin.]

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Jeremiah said: While going up to Jerusalem, I lifted up mine eyes, and saw a woman sitting on the top of a mountain, clad in black garments, her hair dishevelled; she was crying and asking who would comfort her, and I was crying and asking who would comfort me. I drew nigh unto her, and said: ‘If thou art a woman, speak to me; if thou art a ghost, depart from me.’ She replied: ‘Dost thou not know me? I am she who had seven children; their father went away to a city across the sea. A messenger came and said unto me: “Thy husband died in the city across the sea.” While I went about weeping for him, another messenger came, and said unto me: “The house fell upon thy seven children, and killed them.” Now I know not for whom I should weep and for whom I should dishevel my hair.’ I said: ‘Thou art not better than my mother Zion, and yet she has become pasture for the beasts of the field.’ She answered and said unto me: ‘I am thy mother Zion, I am the mother of the seven, for thus it is written: “She that hath borne seven languisheth.”’^[37] Jeremiah then said unto her: ‘Thy misfortune is like the misfortune of Job: Job’s sons and daughters were taken away from him, and likewise thy sons and daughters were taken away from thee; I^[38] took away from Job his silver and gold, and from thee, too, did I take away thy silver and gold; I cast Job on the dunghill, and likewise thee did I make into a dunghill. And just as I returned and comforted Job, so shall I return and comfort thee; I doubled Job’s sons and daughters, and thy sons and daughters shall I also double; I doubled Job’s silver and gold, and unto thee I shall do likewise; I shook Job from the dunghill, and likewise concerning thee it is written: “Shake thyself from the dust; arise, and sit down, O Jerusalem.”^[39] A mortal of flesh and blood built thee, a mortal of flesh and blood laid thee waste; but in the future I shall build thee, for thus it is written: “The Lord doth build up Jerusalem, He gathereth together the dispersed of Israel.”’^[40]