Chachamim (to R. Eliezer): If so, he should always mention it!

Question: R. Eliezer teaches oppositely [to what he said elsewhere], and R. Yehoshua teaches oppositely!

They argued - R. Eliezer says, if Yisrael do not repent [by themselves], they will never be redeemed - "b'Shuvah va'Nachas Tiva'she'un'';

R. Yehoshua: If Yisrael will persist and not repent, will they never be redeemed?! Rather, Ha'Kadosh Baruch Hu will raise a harsh king against them like Haman, and immediately they will repent, and they will be redeemed;

What is the source? "V'Es Tzarah Hi l'Yakov u'Mimenah Yiva'she'a.'' (Above (1a), R. Yehoshua said that a slave can demand payment from his master only when he did all his needs, and his master is pleased with him. R. Eliezer did not require that his master is pleased with him. Here, R. Eliezer says that Ge'ulah will come only through Teshuvah, and R. Yehoshua says that it is even without Teshuvah! We explained according to MICHAL HA'MAYIM.)

R. Yehoshua: It says "Chinam Nimkartem v'Lo b'Chesef Tiga'elu''! (Kesef refers to shame over one's sins, i.e. Teshuvah.)

Question: How does R. Eliezer explain this?

Answer: [They will not be redeemed through Kesef, i.e. merits of the Tzadikim. Rather, everyone will do] Teshuvah, like it says "Tzeror ha'Kesef Lakach b'Yado...''

Question (R. Yehoshua): It says "Ani Hash-m b'Itah Achishenah'' (He will hasten the redemption, even without Teshuvah)!

Question: How does R. Eliezer explain this?

Answer #1: [It will be due to] Teshuvah, like it says "v'Atah Yisrael Mah Hash-m Sho'el me'Imach Ki Im Leyir'ah...''

Answer #2 (R. Acha citing R. Yehoshua ben Levi): If you merit, I will hasten it. If not, it will be in its time [due to Teshuvah].

Once R. Yehoshua told him 'va'Yarem Yemino u'Smolo El ha'Shamayim va'Yishava b'Chei ha'Olam Ki l'Mo'ed Mo'adim v'Chetzi uch'Chalos Napetz Yad Am Kodesh Tichlenah Chol Eleh'', R. Eliezer was quiet (he admitted to him).

Yisrael were redeemed from Mitzrayim amidst five matters - amidst the Ketz (deadline), amidst affliction, amidst crying (in prayer), amidst merit of the Avos, and amidst Teshuvah.

Amidst the Ketz - "va'Yhi ba'Yamim ha'Rabim ha'Hem.'' Amidst affliction - "va'Ye'anchu Bnei Yisrael Min ha'Avodah'';

Amidst crying - "va'Yishma Elokim Es Na'akasam.'' Amidst merit of the Avos - "va'Yizkor Elokim Es Briso; va'Yar Elokim Es Bnei Yisrael.'' Amidst Teshuvah - "va'Yeda Elokim.''

And similarly [about the final redemption], it says "ba'Tzar Lecha'' - amidst affliction; u'Mtza'ucha Kol ha'Devarim ha'Eleh b'Acharis ha'Yamim'' - amidst the Ketz; "v'Shavta'' - amidst Teshuvah; "Ki Kel Rachum Hash-m Elokecha'' - amidst mercy; "Lo Yarpecha v'Lo Yashchisecha v'Lo Yishkach Bris Avosecha'' - amidst merit of the Avos.

And so it says [in Tehilim] "va'Yar b'Tzar Lahem mi'Toch Tzarah.'' "B'Sham'o Es Rinasam'' - amidst crying. va'Yizkor Elokim Es Briso'' - amidst merit of the Avos. "Va'Yinachem k'Rov Chasadav'' - amidst Teshuvah. "va'Yiten Osam l'Rachmamim'' - amidst mercy.