Despite the difficulties and suffering that were Israel’s lot after the destruction of the Temple and the exile of the people, Rabbi Akiva was able to find a source of comfort and hope within the destruction itself.

Rabban Gamliel, Rabbi Elazar ben Azarya, Rabbi Yehoshua, and Rabbi Akiva were walking along the road in the Roman Empire, and they heard the sound of the multitudes of the city of Rome from the main hill of the city at a distance of one hundred and twenty mil [about 120 km]. The other Sages began weeping, but Rabbi Akiva was laughing. They said to him: For what reason are you laughing? Rabbi Akiva said to them: And you, for what reason are you weeping? They said to him: These gentiles, who prostrate themselves to false gods and burn incense to idols, dwell securely and tranquilly, but for us, the House of the footstool of our God, the Temple, is burned in fire; shall we not weep? Rabbi Akiva said to them: That is why I am laughing: If for those who violate His will it is so, for those who perform His will [the Jewish people], all the more so will they be rewarded.

On another occasion, those Sages were ascending to Jerusalem. When they arrived at Mount Scopus, from where they could see the site of the destroyed Temple, they rent their garments in mourning. When they arrived at the Temple Mount, they saw a fox emerging from the site of the Holy of Holies. They began weeping, and Rabbi Akiva was laughing. They said to him: For what reason are you laughing? Rabbi Akiva said to them: For what reason are you weeping? They said to him: [This is] the place about which it is written: “And the stranger who approaches shall be put to death” (Numbers 1:51), and now “foxes walk on it” (Lamentations 5:18); shall we not weep?

Rabbi Akiva said to them: This is why I am laughing, as it is written: “I had trustworthy witnesses testify for me: Uriya the priest and Zecharyahu son of Yeverekhyahu” (Isaiah 8:2). Now what is the connection between Uriya and Zechariah? After all, Uriya prophesied during the First Temple period, and Zechariah prophesied during the Second Temple period. Rather, the verse established that the fulfillment of the prophecy of Zechariah is dependent on the fulfillment of the prophecy of Uriya. In the prophecy of Uriya it is written: “Therefore, due to you, Zion will be plowed as a field…and the Temple Mount into forested heights” (Micah 3:12), and in the prophecy of Zechariah it is written: “Old men and old women will again sit in the squares of Jerusalem” (Zechariah 8:4). Until the prophecy of Uriya was fulfilled, I feared that the prophecy of Zechariah would not be fulfilled. Now that the prophecy of Uriya has been fulfilled, it is evident that the prophecy of Zechariah will likewise be fulfilled. The Sages said to him in this formulation: Akiva, you have comforted us; Akiva, you have comforted us. (Makkot 24a–b)