In accordance with the general rule, together with the thorn—the cherub is also punished.
When punishing or harming regarding one matter (the thorn), something innocent or valuable (the cherub) is also harmed together with it. Sometimes the punishment or the damage is not precise, and the righteous are harmed along with the wicked. There is damage to the righteous alongside the harm done to the wicked (damage is caused to the deserving together with the undeserving).
("Rava said to Rabba bar Mari, 'What is this saying that people say: Is it in accordance with the general rule? He answered him: As it is written: Why do you all contend with me? You have all transgressed against me, says the Lord.'" — Baba Kamma 61a. And also: "'Until when will you refuse? The common man is speaking; is it in accordance with the general rule, while the wicked are denigrating the righteous?'" — Rashi, Exodus 16:2.)
Translation
Expression (Hebrew)
בְּהַדֵּי הוּצָא לָקֵי כְּרָבָא, יַחַד עִם הַקּוֹץ – לוֹקֶה גַּם הַכְּרוּב
Definition (Hebrew)
כְּשֶׁמַּעֲנִישִׁים אוֹ פּוֹגְעִים בְּדָבָר אֶחָד (הַקּוֹץ), נִפְגַּע יַחַד אִתּוֹ גַּם דָּבָר חַף מִפֶּשַׁע אוֹ יָקָר (הַכְּרוּב). לְעִתִּים הָעֹנֶשׁ אוֹ הַנֶּזֶק אֵינוֹ מְדֻיָּק, וְהַצַּדִּיק נִפְגַּע עִם הָרֶשַׁע, וְיֶשְׁנָהּ פְּגִיעָה בְּצַדִּיקִים אַגַּב פְּגִיעָה בָּרְשָׁעִים (נֶזֶק נִגְרַם לְרָאוּי יַחַד עִם הַבִּלְתִּי־רָאוּי)
("אֲמַר לֵהּ רָבָא לְרַבָּה בַּר מָרִי, מָנָא הָא מִלְּתָא דְּאָמְרֵי אִינָשֵׁי: בַּהֲדֵי הוּצָא לָקֵי כְּרָבָא? א"ל, דִּכְתִיב: לָמָּה תָרִיבוּ אֵלָי כֻּלְּכֶם פְּשַׁעְתֶּם בִּי נְאֻם ה'"- בָּבָא קַמָּא צָב ע"א, וְכֵן: " עַד אָנָה מֵאַנְתֶּם - מְשַׁל הֶדְיוֹט הוּא, בַּהֲדֵי הוּצָא לָקֵי כְּרָבָא,ב עַל יְדֵי הָרְשָׁעִים מִתְגַּנִּין הַכְּשֵׁרִין"- רָשִׁ"י שְׁמוֹת טז כֹּחַ).