R. Yehoshua ben Levi: Why is it referred to as "Beis Hasho'evah" - "the House of the Drawing"? Because from there they draw the Holy Spirit, as the Pasuk states (Yishayahu 12, 3), "You will draw water in joy from the springs of salvation".

A story: R. Levi and Yehuda bar Nachman would be given 2 Sela each Shabbos to speak to the people (and prevent everyone from leaving) before the arrival of R. Yochanan.

R. Levi went up and expounded - Yona ben Amitai was from the tribe of Asher, as the Pasuk states (Shoftim 1, 31), "Asher did not expel the dwellers of Acre and Tzidon" (Tzidon bordered on the region of Asher and was part of their lands). Another Pasuk states (Melachim 1, 17, 9), "Get up, go to Tzarfat in Tzidon" (and Yona was from Tzarfat, which shows that he came from the lands - and tribe - of Asher).

Afterwards, R. Yochanan arrived and expounded - Yona was from the tribe of Zevulun, as the Pasuk states (Yehoshua 19, 10), "The third lottery came up for the children of Zevulun according to their families". Another Pasuk states (Yehoshua 19, 13), "From there it passed to the east, to Gat Chefer and to Itah Katzin". Another Pasuk states (Melachim 2, 14, 25), "like the word of Hash-m, G-d of Israel, who spoke through the hand of His servant Yonah ben Amitai the prophet, from Gat Chefer.

On another Shabbos, it was Yehuda bar Nachman's week to speak. R. Levi told Yehuda bar Nachman, "You can take the two Sela, but allow me to address the people before R. Yochanan arrives".

R. Levi went up and said, "R. Yochanan taught well - his mother was from Asher and his father was from Zevulun - the Pasuk states (Bereishis 49, 13), "[Zevulun will dwell by the seashore. He will be at the ship's port] and his borders will reach Tzidon". (This Pasuk alludes to Yona who first went to the seashore and later to the ship's port after being thrown into the sea. The end of the Pasuk says that "Yarkaso" - referring to his mother - was from Tzidon, which is part of Asher's land.)

A further proof: The Pasuk states (Yona 1, 3), "He descended to Yafo". The Pasuk should have said that "he descended to Acre"? (Acre is the edge of the region of Asher. Yona was born in Asher (as is mother was from there) and later moved to the region of Zevulun, which is why he went to Yafo port. If he would have been solely from the tribe of Asher, he would have gone to Acre port, which was closer). (Note: This explanation follows the Pnei Moshe's understanding.)

R. Yona: Yona ben Amitai was from those who ascended to Yerushalayim for Sukos. He entered the Simchas Beis Hasho'evah and the Holy Spirit rested upon him. This teaches us that the Holy Spirit only rests on someone who has a joyful heart.

Reasoning: The Pasuk states (Melachim 2, 3 15), "And Kenagen Hamenagen -when the musician played - the Spirit of Hash-m rested upon him". R. Binyamin said - the Pasuk did not say "and when he played the instrument", rather "when it (his heart) brought him to play, the Spirit of Hash-m rested upon him".

Beraisa (R. Yehuda): Anyone who did not see the double seating of the dignitaries of Alexandria, has never seen honor in his life.

It was like a tall palace with two large rows that were sometimes seated with double the number of people that left Egypt (1.2 million). There were 70 golden thrones encrusted with valuable stones and diamonds, corresponding to the 70 Elders of the Sanhedrin. Each throne was worth 250,000 golden Dinar.

A wooden platform was positioned in the middle and the beadle stood upon it.

One of the people stood up to read from the Torah (and recited the blessing) - the appointee would wave a sheet and the people would answer Amen. (The synagogue was so large that the people further back could not here the blessing).

After every blessing that would be recited, the appointee would wave the sheet and the people would answer Amen.

Even though there were so many people, they would not sit mixed together; rather, the people of each trade would sit separately so that if a guest came, he would join the people of his trade and he would thereby receive work from them.

Who destroyed it? The evil Truguynus (the Roman General).

Beraisa (R. Shimon ben Yochai): (Why were they punished?) In three places Yisrael were warned against returning to Egypt - as the Pasuk says (Shemos 14, 13), "as you see Egypt today, you shall not see them ever again". Another Pasuk states (Devarim 17, 16), "Hash-m said to you, you shall not return on this road ever again". A third Pasuk states (Devarim 28, 68), "And Hash-m will return you to Egypt in boats" (on that very way that I warned you never to return to).

They returned three times and they fell three times -

Once was in the times of Sancherev King of Ashur, as the Pasuk states (Yishayahu 31, 1), "Woe is to those who go down to Egypt for help". The Pasuk later states (Yishayahu 31, 3), "Egypt is man and not G-d and their horses are of flesh...etc." (One should not rely on them.)

Once was in the times of Yochanan ben Korach, as the Pasuk states (Yirmiyahu 42, 16), "And the sword which you fear will reach you [there in the land of Egypt]...etc."

Once was in the times of the evil Truguynus - the day that he had a baby boy was the 9th of Av and all of the Jews fasted (implying that they were upset about his birth); the day on which is daughter died was Chanukah and they lit candles (implying that they were happy about her death).

His wife sent him a message saying, "Why are you conquering the Barbars? Come and conquer the Jews who are rebelling against you!"

He calculated that it would take ten days to sail to Egypt and he arrived in only five days (due to unexpectedly strong winds).

He came and discovered that they were studying the Pasuk in the Torah (Devarim 28, 49), "Hash-m will carry against you a nation from afar, from the [other] end of the world...etc."

He asked them, "What are you studying?" They responded with this Pasuk.

He said to them, "This man calculated that it would take ten days to arrive and it took five days". He sent legions of soldiers to surround them and kill them.

He said to the women, "Listen [and commit sins] with my soldiers or I will kill you".

They replied, "Do to us what you did to the men". The women's blood mixed with the men's blood and the blood flowed into the sea and reached Cyprus.

At that time, the pride of Yisrael was cut down and it will not return to its place until Ben David (Mashiach) comes.