פירוש על תענית 45:5

We have seen you, but we shall not die: "We have seen you, but we shall not die," is as a statement: Take efforts that we shall not die from hunger due to the stoppage of the rain.

Like a member of the household: This is according to what is written in the chapter [entitled] Ain Omdin (Berakhot 34b:28) - that the wife of Rabbi Yochanan ben Zakkai said to him, "And is Chanina greater than you, that you need to request from him that he pray for your son?" And he said to her, "No, but he is like a servant who is accustomed to the house of the king, whereas I am like a minister in front of the king" - as it is explained there. And so too here, this is what he means: It is not because of my greatness that they directed their faces towards me (for help), but rather since I am like a member of the household, accustomed to being before You.

Only to dissolve your oath, etc.: And even though he said in his oath, "until you have mercy upon Your children, etc." - it is possible that the students only heard the expression of the oath from him, "that I will not move from here"; but they did not hear the end of his words, such that he said, "until you have mercy, etc." So they thought that he only prayed that the rain fall; and that was fulfilled!