Commentary for Taanit 45:4
מעשה ששלחו לחוני המעגל וכו': ת"ר פעם אחת יצא רוב אדר ולא ירדו גשמים שלחו לחוני המעגל התפלל וירדו גשמים התפלל ולא ירדו גשמים עג עוגה ועמד בתוכה כדרך שעשה חבקוק הנביא שנאמר (חבקוק ב, א) על משמרתי אעמדה ואתיצבה על מצור וגו'
The people sent a message to Honi the Circle Drawer, Pray that rain may fall. He prayed and no rain fell. He thereupon drew a circle and stood within it in the same way as the prophet Habakuk had done, as it is said, I will stand upon my watch, and set me upon the tower etc.<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' Hab. II, 1.');"><sup>3</sup></span>
Rashi on Taanit
Ugah: A circular line; like a cake, which is round.
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Rashi on Taanit
In the manner that Habakkuk did: As is explained in the Targum on Habakkuk on, "I will stand upon my watch" - he made a type of prison and sat [there].
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Chidushei Agadot on Taanit
In the manner that Habakkuk did, etc.: As everyone who prays stands in one place! But since it is written about him with a double expression - "I will stand and set myself, etc." - it implies that he made a circle in the place that he prayed, so that he not move from there until he was answered. And an ugah is a circular line, like Rashi explained. And he was called Choni HaMe’aggel based on this; meaning that he encircled himself with a circular line.
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