Is the correct number three, as stated in the Gemara in Sanhedrin, or four, as stated in the Midrash? The Chofetz Chaim suggests that neither is entirely accurate.
Achaz was a wicked king, yet his son, Chizkiyahu, still felt gratitude for him, as a son typically does for his father. After Achaz’s passing, Chizkiyahu ordered that his father’s body be dragged disgracefully with ropes. This shocking act was intended as a measure of atonement for Achaz. Observing Chizkiyahu’s devotion, Hashem further facilitated this atonement by performing a remarkable miracle: the day of Achaz’s death was shortened to just two hours. This left no time for mourning or eulogizing the wicked king, and the absence of respect after death served as an additional source of atonement. However, this miracle created a cosmic imbalance, as the world was now missing ten hours that would eventually need to be restored.
Years later, King Chizkiyahu fell gravely ill. The prophet Yeshayahu came to him with a dire message: “Thus says Hashem: Set your house in order, for you shall die; you shall not recover.”
Shocked, Chizkiyahu inquired why such a harsh decree had been issued against him. Yeshayahu replied, “Because you intentionally did not marry and have children.”
Chizkiyahu defended his decision, explaining, “Through divine inspiration, I foresaw that my offspring would be wicked.”
Yeshayahu countered, “That is not for you to determine. Your responsibility is to follow the halacha – to seek a wife and fulfill the mitzvah of having children.”
Realizing his mistake, Chizkiyahu proposed, “Then give me your daughter in marriage – perhaps our combined merits will yield righteous offspring.”
Yeshayahu, however, remained firm. “The decree has already been issued,” he stated.
But Chizkiyahu was undeterred. “I have a tradition from my ancestors,” he declared, “even if a sharp sword rests upon a person’s neck, it is never too late to pray.”
With unwavering faith, Chizkiyahu turned to Hashem, engaging in deep and heartfelt prayer, seeking forgiveness. Hashem then instructed Yeshayahu to return to Chizkiyahu with a new message: “I have heard your prayer, I have seen your tears. I will add fifteen years to your life.”
As a sign that his tefillah had been accepted, Yeshayahu proclaimed that the shadow on the sundial would miraculously move backward ten hours – thus restoring the ten hours that had been removed on the day of Achaz’s death.
Meanwhile, in Babylonia, King Merodach-Baladan, son of Baladan, noticed that the day was extraordinarily long. Bewildered, he sought an explanation and was told that Hashem had performed this miracle for the ailing King Chizkiyahu, who had just experienced a miraculous recovery.
Amazed, Merodach-Baladan exclaimed, “Such a great man is alive, and I have not yet sent him my greetings?” He immediately composed a letter, writing: “Greetings to King Chizkiyahu, greetings to the city of Jerusalem, and greetings to the Great G-d.”
At the time, Nevuchadnezzar served as the official royal scribe, but he was not present when the letter was drafted. Upon hearing its contents, he reacted with surprise. “You refer to Him as the Great G-d, yet you place His name last? The honor of Hashem should come first!”
Realizing the grave mistake, Nevuchadnezzar hastened to catch the messenger and have the letter rewritten with proper reverence. He took four hurried steps in his pursuit, but before he could take another, the angel Gavriel intervened, halting his advance.
Nevuchadnezzar was granted an immense reward for these four steps. Rebbe Yochanan comments that had he been allowed to take even one more step, his reward would have been so great that he would have possessed enough merit to completely destroy the Jewish people.
The Mishna Berura cites this incident as one of the sources for the custom of davening for the rebuilding of the Beis HaMikdash after taking three steps backward following Shemoneh Esrei. Just as Nevuchadnezzar’s three steps granted him the power to destroy the Beis HaMikdash, we take three steps to honor Hashem and then pray for its restoration. The problem is that the Gemara says that Nevuchadnezzar took four steps, not three.
However, the Midrash indeed presents an alternative text: it states that Nevuchadnezzar took only three steps, and because of them, he was rewarded with three royal successions – his own reign, followed by those of his descendants, Evil-Merodach and Belshazzar. If he had indeed taken a fourth step, what fourth kingship did he merit? Moreover, which text is correct? Did Nebuchadnezzar take three or four steps?
The Chofetz Chaim resolves this contradiction brilliantly: Nevuchadnezzar did not actually take three or four steps – he took precisely three and a half steps. The angel Gavriel stopped him mid-step. For that half-step, he was rewarded that his descendant Vashti became queen. Had he completed a whole fourth step, Vashti’s rule would not have been cut short, and she would have remained queen. As a result, Haman’s evil plot might have succeeded. However, since he only took a half-step, Vashti’s reign was cut short, and Esther ultimately became queen, leading to the salvation of the Jewish people. Rebbe Yochanon was referring to this when he said that if the angel had not stopped Nebuchadnezzar, the results would have been disastrous.
Thus, in a beautifully orchestrated twist of divine providence, an incomplete step altered the course of history. The reward for even a half-step taken to honor Hashem was significant, but the limitation of that step ensured the survival and redemption of Am Yisrael. One small step for Nevuchadnezzar, one giant leap for Jewish destiny.
Maggid shiur and Rebbe at Yeshiva Ateres Shimon in Far Rockaway. He leads the Daf Yomi chaburah at Eitz Chayim of Dogwood Park in West Hempstead, and writes “Delving into the Daf” each week for The Jewish Home.
