Rabbi Schimeon said: “How different is this occasion from that of the former conclave! For into a certain conclave[793] came He, the most Holy and Blessed God, and His Chariot.
“Now verily He, the Holy One, is here—may He be blessed—and He hath approached with those Just who are in the Garden of Eden,[794] which did not occur in the former conclave.
“And God, the Most Holy One—may He be blessed—more promoteth the glory of the Just than His own glory.
“As it is written concerning Jeroboam, who sacrificed unto and served other gods, and yet God, the Most Holy One—may He be blessed!—waited for him.
“But because he stretched forth his hand against Iddo the prophet, his hand became withered.
“For it is written, 1 Kings xiii. 4, ‘And his hand became withered, etc.’ Here it is not written that it was because he served other gods, but because he extended his hand against Iddo the prophet, etc.
“Now, therefore, God the Most Holy One—may He be blessed!—promoteth their glory (i.e., that of the Just), and they all come with Him.”
He said, “Verily, Rav Hamenuna the elder is here, and around him are seventy Just represented in his circle, of whom certain shine with the splendor of the Ancient and Most Holy One, the Concealed with all Concealments.
“He, I say, cometh, in order that with joy he may hear those words which I shall speak.”[795]
And when he had sat down he said: “Assuredly here a seat hath been set aside for Rabbi Benchas Ben Yair.”