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disgraced, therefore in the above case the daughter should
not have given herself over to be defiled.4

One can also add that Hakadosh baruch Hu will undoubtedly give
the woman the strength to bear her sorrow. Thus we learn in the
Medrash (Bereishis Rabbah, 25:3): “Ten years of hunger came to the
world: one in the time of Adam Harishon… and one in the days of
David [Hamelech], as it says, ‘There was a famine in the days of Da-
vid for three years.’ (Shmuel II, 21) Rav Huna and Rav Yirmiyahu, in
the name of Rav Shmuel bar Rav Yitzchak [said], ‘The worst effects
of that famine should not have been during David’s time but during
Shaul’s time [as it says,‘on account of Shaul and the house of blood’]
however, since Shaul was like a sycamore sapling [i.e. non-fruit bear-
ing and weak], Hakadosh baruch Hu arranged to bring it during
the days of David Hamelech.’” [The Tiferes Tzion explains that the
reason that Hakadosh baruch Hu did not bring the famine in the
days of Shaul was because they were poor and Yisrael would not have
been able to tolerate the decree of famine and Hakadosh baruch Hu
doesn’t inflict any blow upon Yisrael unless He has prepared its cure
in advance.]

The medrash then asks,“The saying goes,‘It was Shila who sinned
yet Yochna takes the punishment?!’ This is astonishing!” The medrash
answers,“Rabbi Chiya Rabba said,‘This is comparable to a glazier who
had a box of fine, important glass utensils. When he wants to hang up
his box he brings a peg and bangs it in and suspends his weight from
it and [only] then hangs up his box. Therefore, it [i.e. these troubles]
did not happen in the times of people who were stooped [i.e. weak]
but in the time of people who were strong, who were able to with-
stand them.’” [In other words, just as a glazier doesn’t suspend his
box from a peg until he’s tested it to see whether it’s strong enough to
support it, Hakadosh baruch Hu didn’t bring the famine before He
had bestowed wealth upon David Hamelech’s generation. The Tiferes
Tziyon explains that had there been no complaint against David for

4. See our discussion of this idea earlier, siman 283.

432 1 Medical-Halachic Responsa of Rav Zilberstein