For the source text click/tap here: Makkot 24
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Rabban Gamliel, Rabbi Elozar ben Azaryah, Rabbi Yehoshua, and Rabbi Akiva were going on the road. They heard the voice of a large number of Romans emanating from a large building that was one hundred twenty mil away. They started crying, while Rabbi Akiva started laughing. They asked him: Why are you laughing?
He asked them: Why are you crying? They replied: These are evil people who are bowing down to sculptures and offering sacrifices to idolatry, and they are sitting securely and quietly in their land. In contrast, the footstool (i.e. house) of Hashem our God was burned in fire, and we should not cry?!
Rabbi Akiva responded: This is exactly why I am laughing. If He does good things for those who go against His will, certainly He will do great things for those who fulfill his will! Another time when these four sages were together, they walked to Yerushalayim. When they got to Mount Scopus, they tore their clothes. When they reached the Temple Mount, they saw a fox coming out of the area of the Holy of Holies, and they started crying while Rabbi Akiva started laughing.
In the last page of massechet Makkot we are left exploring the paradoxical humor as well as consolation of these last aggadot.