Commentary for Yoma 153:4

וכתיב (יחזקאל ט, יא) והנה האיש לבוש הבדים אשר הקסת במתניו משיב דבר לאמר עשיתי כאשר צויתני א"ר יוחנן באותה שעה הוציאו לגבריאל מאחורי הפרגוד ומחיוהו שיתין פולסי דנורא אמרו ליה אי לא עבדת לא עבדת אי עבדת אמאי לא עבדת כדפקדוך ועוד דעבדת לית לך אין משיבין על הקלקלה

one to remain or one to escape, for it is written: And behold the man clothed in linen, who had the inkhorn on his side, reported, saying: 'I have done according to all that Thou hast commanded me'.<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' Ibid. IX, 11.');">⁹</span> R'Johanan<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' Var. lec. remove the whole account that follows from here.');">¹⁰</span> said: In that hour Gabriel was led out behind the curtain and received forty fiery strokes, he being told: If you had not executed the command at all, well, you simply would not have executed it.<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' He may have assumed that God's mercy would postpone or suspend punishment.');">¹¹</span> But since you did execute it, why did you not do as you were commanded?<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' You were commanded to fetch the coals yourself, you sinned in appointing someone else to do so.');">¹²</span>

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