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How Does a King Mourn?

It is reported in the name of R. Yoshua ben Levi: The Holy One summoned the ministering angels and asked them, "When a king of flesh and blood loses a dear one and he wishes to mourn, what is customary for him to do?" They replied, "He hangs sackcloth over his door." God said, "I will do likewise." Hence it is written, "I clothe the heavens with blackness, and I make sackcloth their covering" (Isaiah. 50:3).

"What else does a king of flesh and blood do when mourning?" They replied, "He extinguishes the lanterns." God said, "I will do likewise." Hence it is written, "The sun and the moon are become black, and the stars withdraw their shining" (Joel 4:15).

"What else does a king of flesh and blood do?" They replied, "He walks barefoot." God said, "I will do likewise." Hence it is stated, "The Lord, in the whirlwind and in the storm is His way, and the clouds are the dust beneath His [bare] feet" (Nahum 1:3).

"What else does a king of flesh and blood do?" They replied, "He rends his purple robe." God said to them, "I will do likewise." Hence it is written, "After the Lord did what He purposed, He rent His purple robe (bitza imraso)" (Lamentations 2:17).

"What else does a king of flesh and blood do?" They replied, "He sits in silence." God said, "I will do likewise." Hence it is stated, "He sits alone and keeps silence, because he was taken away" (Lamentations 3:28).

Lamentations Rabbah 1:1, #1