Siman 146

(18.) And when he came to Shpolye they dressed themselves again in their [proper] garments. And the elder of that place was there — who afterwards became a great opponent of his. And at that time the aforementioned elder had not yet opposed him at all — on the contrary, there was great affection between them, and the aforementioned elder received him with very great honor and very great love and fondness. And he made a great celebration and banquet for him, and they sat at the table together the entire night. And all the other important men who were with the elder — they all were reclined at the table in honor of Rabbainu o.b.m. And there was great rejoicing. And whoever came to his house — the aforementioned elder would call him as a witness and say to him: "Testify for me that it is not at all my custom to eat a night meal, and now because of the immense love for this dear and precious guest, who is very dear and precious to me, and I have great delight and pleasure from his coming to me — because of this I am eating with him." And he said: "I did not know what to do because of the joy." And also in the morning they spoke together in great affection and fondness. For throughout their days there was great affection between them — until the time when Rabbainu o.b.m. left Medvedivkeh for Zlatipoleye, which was approximately one and a half years after Rabbainu o.b.m. returned from the Land of Israel to his home. Then the slanderers and tale-bearers went and spoke many slanders before him — until he became a great enemy, and there was clothed in him whoever was clothed in him — until he caused what he caused through his controversy. And the famous Gaon of Shpitivkeh z"l cursed those slanderers with very sharp curses, and said in these words that their tongues should stretch down to their navels etc. And when Rabbainu z"l heard the controversy — that he was opposing him and saying invented falsehoods about him that had never entered his mind — Rabbainu z"l said: "I am very pained that they handed this over to him." And afterwards he said that this is the explanation of what David said [Psalms 118]: <span style="color:#b8a060; font-style:italic;" title="הַשְׁמָטָה — אֶרְאֶה בְשׂוֹנְאַי"><And afterwards he said: this is the explanation of "And I shall see my enemies" [v'ani er'eh v'son'ai]. For at first glance it is puzzling — did not King David, upon him be peace, know that Saul was his enemy? And how could he want to see his punishment? For did not Hashem Yisburach say to him [Mo'ed Katan 16b]: "Were you Saul and he David, I would have destroyed many Davids before him etc."? But this is what David said: "Master of the World — give me eyes so that I can see my enemy — how he stands now, at what level he stands now — and through this I will know clearly my own level."></span>