Balak: Chapter 34

The son of Rabbi Yosi of Peki'in

Synopsis

A dove lands in front of Rabbi Elazar and he sends it with a message to his father-in-law Rabbi Yosi to say that he should be prepared for a miracle in three days time. Before leaving, the dove says that someone else has died in Rabbi Yosi's place. Rabbi Elazar and Rabbi Aba make a detour to visit the house of Rabbi Yosi of Pekiin who has died instead of Rabbi Yosi. They find the Rabbi's small son in terrible grief; he won't allow anyone else near the body, and he keeps telling God that He should have taken him and his sister instead of their father. A voice says to Rabbi Yosi of Pekiin that he has been given another 22 years of life and that thirteen other people have died in his place; this will give him time to bring up and teach his son. Rabbi Yosi is returned to life and there is much rejoicing. He tells the others what happened when he was in the world beyond and how much his son's action of offering to give up his life in exchange for him led to God's mercy.

Doves Fear Miracle Pomegranate

357. During their travel, a dove reached Rabbi Elazar. She landed and chirped before him. Rabbi Elazar declared, Worthy dove, you are always faithful in your mission. Go and inform him, RABBI YOSI, RABBI ELAZAR'S FATHER-IN-LAW, to be prepared for the friends that are coming to you, and tell him I am with them. A miracle will occur to him in three days and he shall have no fear, because we are coming to him with gladness. He replied again and said, I am not too happy, because I am very badly disturbed about one full pomegranate that was placed below him in his stead, MEANING THAT SOMEONE ELSE DIED IN HIS PLACE; his name is also Yosi. The dove left his presence and the friends left.

357. עַד דַּהֲווֹ אָזְלֵי, הָא יוֹנָה חַד מָטָא לְגַבֵּי רִבִּי אֶלְעָזָר. שְׁרִיאַת, וְקָא מְצַפְצְפָא קַמֵּיהּ. אָמַר רִבִּי אֶלְעָזָר, יוֹנָה כְּשֵׁרָה מְהֵימְנָת הֲוֵית תָּדִיר בִּשְׁלִיחוּתֶיךְ, זִילִי וְאֵימָא לֵיהּ, הָא חַבְרַיָּיא אָתָאן לְגַבָּךְ, וַאֲנָא עִמְּהוֹן. וְנִסָא יִתְרְחִישׁ לֵיהּ לִתְלָתָא יוֹמִין, וְלָא יִנְפּוֹל עָלֵיהּ דְּחִילוּ, דְּהָא בְּחֶדְוָה אֲנָן אַזְלִין לְגַבֵּיהּ. אָתִיב זִמְנָא אַחֲרָא וְאָמַר, לָא חַדֵּינָא סַגְּיָא, וּבָאִישׁ בְּעֵינָי סַגִּי, עַל חַד רִמּוֹנָא מַלְיָא דְּאִתְיְהִיב תְּחוֹתֵיהּ, וְיוֹסֵי שְׁמֵיהּ. אַזְלַת הַהִיא יוֹנָא מִקַּמֵּיהּ, וְאִינּוּן חַבְרַיָּיא אַזְלוּ.

Chambers Doves

358. Rabbi Aba said, Rabbi Elazar, what is this great wonder that I have observed? He said to him, This dove came to me on a mission from Rabbi Yosi, my father-in-law, who is in his sick chamber. I learned from this dove that he is already saved, and a substitute was given in his stead, MEANING TO SAY ANOTHER PERSON IS GOING TO DIE INSTEAD OF HIM, and he got well.

358. אָמַר רִבִּי אַבָּא לְר' אֶלְעָזָר, מַאי הַאי, תַּוַּוהְנָא סַגִּי, מִמָּה דַּחֲמֵינָא. אָ"ל, יוֹנָה דָּא אָתָאת לְגַבָּאי בִּשְׁלִיחוּתֵיהּ דְּרִבִּי יוֹסֵי חָמֵי, דְּאִיהוּ בְּבֵי מַרְעֵיהּ, וְיָדַעְנָא מֵהַאי יוֹנָה דְּאִשְׁתְּזִיב, וְחִלּוּפָא אִתְיְיהִיב עָלֵיהּ וְאִתְסֵּי.

Creation Pomegranate Ravens

359. While still journeying, behold, a raven appeared to them. It cried out and crowed loudly. Rabbi Elazar said, This is your duty, and for that reason you were created, MEANING TO BRING BAD TIDINGS. Get going on your way, I already know. Rabbi Elazar said, Let us go and do an act of kindness for that pomegranate that was full of everything; Rabbi Yosi of Peki'in was his name, who departed from this world and no one is worthy to make an effort for his sake. And he is close by.

359. עַד דַּהֲווֹ אָזְלוּ, הָא עוּרְבָא חַד קָאֵים לְקַמַּיְיהוּ, קָרָא בְּחֵילָא, וּמְצַפְצְפָא צִפְצוּפָא סַגִּי. אָמַר רִבִּי אֶלְעָזָר, לְהָכִי אַתְּ קַיְּימָא, וּלְהָכִי אַנְּתְּ מִתַקֵּן, זִיל לְאָרְחָךְ, דְּהָא יְדַעְנָא. אָמַר ר' אֶלְעָזָר, חַבְרַיָּיא נֵיזִיל וְנִגְמוֹל חֶסֶד לְרִמוֹנָא, דַּהֲוָה מַלְיָא מִכֹּלָּא, וְרִבִּי יוֹסֵי דִּפְקִיעִין שְׁמֵיהּ אִיהוּ, דְּהָא אִסְתַּלָּק מֵעָלְמָא דֵּין, וְלֵית מַאן דְּחָזֵי לְאִשְׁתַּדְּלָא בֵּיהּ, וְאִיהוּ קָרִב לְגַבָּן.

360. They detoured from the road and went there. When the townspeople saw them, they all went to welcome them, and these friends entered the house of Rabbi Yosi of Peki'in. Rabbi Yosi had a little boy who wouldn't allow anyone to get close to the bed of his father after he died. He alone was by it, crying over him with his mouth over his mouth.

360. סָטוּ מֵאָרְחָא, וְאָזְלוּ לְתַמָן. כֵּיוָן דְּחָמוּ לוֹן כָּל בְּנֵי מָאתָא, נַפְקוּ לְגַבַּיְיהוּ. וְעָאלוּ תַּמָּן בְּבֵי רִבִּי יוֹסֵי דִּפְקִיעִין, אִינּוּן חַבְרַיָּיא אִלֵּין. בְּרָא זְעֵירָא הֲוָה לֵיהּ לְרִבִּי יוֹסֵי, וְלָא שָׁבִיק לְבַר נָשׁ דְּיִמְטֵי לְעַרְסָא דַּאֲבוֹי, בָּתַר דְּמִית. אֶלָּא הֲוָא בִּלְחוֹדוֹי הֲוָה סָמִיךְ לֵיהּ, וּבָכֵי עָלֵיהּ, פּוּמֵיהּ בְּפוּמֵיהּ מִתְדַּבְּקָא.

Birds Children Nest Torah

361. The child opened with, Master of the Universe, it says in the Torah: "If a bird's nest chance to be before you...but you shall surely let the mother go..." (Devarim 22:6). The child was crying and weeping. He said, Master of the Universe, abide by that matter that is in the Torah. We were two children to my father and mother, myself and my younger sister. You should have taken us, and acted in accordance with the words of the Torah, AS IT SAYS, "BUT YOU SHALL SURELY LET THE MOTHER GO, AND TAKE THE YOUNG TO YOU" (IBID. 7). If you should say, Master of the Universe, it says "mother" and not "father," this is the same, my father and mother, as mother died and You have taken her away from the children, and now, my father also, who was our protection, You took away from the children. Where is the just sentence in the Torah? Rabbi Elazar and his friends cried before the grief and tears of the child.

361. פָּתַח הַהוּא יַנּוּקָא וְאָמַר, מָארֵיהּ דְּעָלְמָא, כְּתִיב בְּאוֹרַיְיתָא, כִּי יִקָּרֵא קַן צִפּוֹר לְפָנֶיךָ וְגוֹ,' שַׁלֵּחַ תְּשַׁלַּח אֶת הָאֵם וְגוֹ.' הֲוָה גָּעֵי הַהוּא יַנּוּקָא וּבָכֵי, אָמַר, מָארֵיהּ דְּעָלְמָא, קַיֵּים מִלָּה דָּא דְּאוֹרַיְיתָא, תְּרֵין בְּנִין הֲוֵינָא מֵאַבָּא וְאִמִּי, אֲנָא וַאֲחֹתִי זְעֵירְתָּא מִנַּאי. הֲוָה לָךְ לְמֵיסַב לָן, וּלְקַיְּימָא מִלָּה דְּאוֹרַיְיתָא. וְאִי תֵּימָא מָארֵיהּ דְּעָלְמָא, אֵם כְּתִיב, וְלָא אָב, הָא הָכָא כּוֹלָּא הוּא, אַבָּא וְאִמָּא. אִימָּא מִיתַת, וּנְסִיבַת לָהּ מֵעַל בְּנִין. הַשְׁתָּא אַבָּא דְּהֲוֵי חָפֵּי עֲלָן, אִנְסִיב מֵעַל בְּנִין, אָן דִּינָא דְּאוֹרַיְיתָא. בָּכוּ ר' אֶלְעָזָר וְחַבְרַיָּיא, לָקֳבֵל בִּכְיָה וְגָעוּ דְּהַהוּא יַנּוּקָא.

Children Earth Fire Heaven Lips Miracle Pillar Pillar of Fire

362. Rabbi Elazar opened the discussion with the verse: "The heaven for height, and the earth for depth" (Mishlei 25:3). While Rabbi Elazar was saying this verse, a pillar of fire separated them FROM THE DEPARTED, but the child was still attached to the lips of his father and did not separate. Rabbi Elazar said, THIS IS WHY THE PILLAR OF FIRE SEPARATED; either the Holy One, blessed be He, wishes to perform a miracle AND REVIVE HIM, or He desires that no one else deal with him. However, I cannot bear to see the child's tears or to hear what he is saying.

362. פָּתַח ר' אֶלְעָזָר וְאָמַר, שָׁמַיִם לְרוּם וָאָרֶץ לָעוֹמֶק וְגוֹ.' עַד דַּהֲוָה אָמַר ר' אֶלְעָזָר קְרָא דָּא, הֲוָה עַמּוּדָא דְּאֶשָּׁא פָּסִיק בֵּינַיְיהוּ, וְהַהוּא יַנּוּקָא הֲוָה דָּבִיק בְּפוּמֵיהּ דַּאֲבוֹי, וְלָא הֲווֹ מִתְפָּרְשָׁאן. א"ר אֶלְעָזָר, אוֹ בָּעֵי קוּדְשָׁא בְּרִיךְ הוּא לְמִרְחָשׁ נִיסָא, אוֹ בָּעֵי דְּלָא יִשְׁתְּדַל בַּר נָשׁ אַחֲרָא עָלֵיהּ, אֲבָל עַל מִלִּין דְּהַהוּא יַנּוּקָא וְדִמְעוֹי, לָא יָכִילְנָא לְמִסְבַּל.

Angel of Death Angels Goats Thirteen Throne Year

363. While still sitting, they heard another voice that said, Blessed are you, Rabbi Yosi, that the speeches of the young goat kid and his tears rose to the throne of the Holy King and pronounced the sentence. And the Holy One, blessed be He, handed thirteen people for your sake to the Angel of Death, TO REDEEM YOU. Behold, they have added 22 years to your life, so you will have time to teach the young kid, perfect and beloved before the Holy One, blessed be He.

363. עַד דַּהֲווֹ יַתְבִין, שָׁמְעוּ חַד קָלָא, דַּהֲוָה אָמַר, זַכָּאָה אַנְּתְּ רִבִּי יוֹסֵי, דְּמִלִּין דְּהַאי גַּדְיָא זְעֵירָא, וְדִמְעוֹי, סְלִיקוּ לְגַבֵּי כֻּרְסְיָיא דְּמַלְכָּא קַדִּישָׁא, וְדָנוּ דִּינָא, וּתְלֵיסָר בְּנֵי נָשָׁא אַזְמִין קוּדְשָׁא בְּרִיךְ הוּא לְמַלְאַךְ הַמָּוֶת בְּגִינָךְ, וְהָא עֶשְׂרִין וּתְרֵין שְׁנִין אוֹסִיפוּ לָךְ, עַד דְּתוֹלִיף אוֹרַיְיתָא, לְהַאי גַּדְיָא שְׁלֵימָא, חֲבִיבָא קַמֵּי קוּדְשָׁא בְּרִיךְ הוּא.

Children Eyes Gates Heaven Lips Miracle Pillar Pillar of Fire Resurrection

364. Rabbi Elazar and the friends rose, and did not allow anyone to stay in the house. They immediately saw the pillar of fire was gone. Rabbi Yosi opened his eyes and the child was still glued with his lips to his lips. Rabbi Elazar said, Blessed is our lot that we witnessed the resurrection of the dead eye to eye. They approached him and the child fell asleep, as if he was expiring from this world. They said, Blessed is your lot, Rabbi Yosi, and blessed is the Merciful One, who performed a miracle for your sake due to the crying and weeping of your son, and his words. Life was added to you for his words, that he was pressing with beautiful speeches to the gates of heaven in his pleading and tears.

364. קָמוּ ר' אֶלְעָזָר וְחַבְרַיָּיא, וְלָא שָׁבְקוּ לְבַר נָשׁ לְמֵיקָם בְּבֵיתָא, מִיַּד חָמוּ הַהוּא עַמּוּדָא דְּאֶשָּׁא דְּסָלִיק, וְר' יוֹסֵי פָּתַח עֵינוֹי. וְהַהוּא יַנּוּקָא דָּבִיק פּוּמֵיהּ בְּפוּמֵיהּ. א"ר אֶלְעָזָר, זַכָּאָה חוּלָקָנָא דַּחֲמֵינָא תְּחִיַּית הַמֵּתִים, עֵינָא בְּעֵינָא. קְרִיבוּ לְגַבֵּיהּ, וַהֲוָה הַהוּא יַנּוּקָא נָאִים, כְּמָה דְּגָוַע מֵהַאי עָלְמָא, אָמְרוּ זַכָּאָה חוּלָקָךְ רִבִּי יוֹסֵי, וּבָרִיךְ רַחֲמָנָא דְּאַרְחִישׁ לָךְ נִיסָא, עַל גַּעְיָא וּבִכְיָיא דִּבְנָךְ, וּבְמִלּוֹי, דְּהָכִי דָּחִיק בְּמִלִּין שְׁפִּירִין לִתְרַע שְׁמַיָא, בְּמִלּוֹי וּבְדִמְעוֹי אוֹסִיפוּ לָךְ חַיִּין.

Children Torah

365. They took the child and kissed him and cried with him due to great joy. They removed him to another house and woke him up FROM HIS SLEEP. They did not inform him immediately OF HIS FATHER'S REVIVAL, but later on. They rejoiced there for three days and uncovered, with Rabbi Yosi, many new insights in the Torah.

365. נְטָלוּהוּ לְהַהוּא יַנּוּקָא, וּנְשַׁקוּהוּ וּבָכוּ עִמֵּיהּ מֵחֶדְוָה סַגִּיא. וְאַפְקוּהוּ לְבֵיתָא אַחֲרָא, וְאַתְּעֲרוּ עָלֵיהּ, וְלָא אוֹדְעוּ לֵיהּ מִיָּד, אֶלָּא לְבָתַר הָכִי. חֲדוּ תַּמָּן תְּלָתָא יוֹמִין, וְחַדִישׁוּ בַּהֲדֵי הַהוּא רִבִּי יוֹסֵי, כַּמָה חִדּוּשִׁין בְּאוֹרַיְיתָא.

Compassion Heaven Sin Soul, The Twelve Year Yeshivah

366. Rabbi Yosi said to them, Friends, I was not given authority to reveal what I observed in that world, until twelve years later. However, the 365 tears that my son spilled came into account before the Holy King. And I tell you friends, at the time MY SON opened up with that verse MENTIONED ABOVE and cried out with these words, 300,000 benches that were in the Yeshivah of heaven were shaken. All THE SOULS stood before the Holy King and asked for compassion towards me, and guaranteed for me THAT I WOULD NOT SIN DURING THAT TIME. The Holy One, blessed be He, was filled with compassion for me.

366. אָמַר לוֹן ר' יוֹסֵי, חַבְרַיָּיא, לָא אִתְיְהִיבַת לִי רְשׁוּ לְגַלָּאָה מֵהַהוּא דַּחֲמֵינָא בְּהַהוּא עָלְמָא, אֶלָּא לְבָתַר תְּרֵיסָר שְׁנִין. אֲבָל תְּלַת מְאָה וְשִׁתִּין וַחֲמֵשׁ דִּמְעִין, דְּאוֹשִׁיד בְּרִי, עָאלוּ בְּחוּשְׁבָּנָא קַמֵּי מַלְכָּא קַדִּישָׁא, וְאוֹמֵינָא לְכוּ חַבְרַיָּיא, דִּבְשַׁעֲתָא דְּפָתַח בְּהַהוּא פְּסוּקָא, וְגָעָא בְּאִינּוּן מִלִּין, אִזְדַּעֲזָעוּ תְּלַת מְאָה אַלְפֵי סַפְסָלֵי דַּהֲווֹ בִּמְתִיבְתָּא דִּרְקִיעָא, וְכֻלְּהוּ קַיְימֵי קַמֵּיהּ דְּמַלְכָּא קַדִּישָׁא, וּבָעוּ רַחֲמֵי עָלַי, וְעָרְבוּ לִי. וְקוּדְשָׁא בְּרִיךְ הוּא אִתְמְלֵי רַחֲמִין עָלַי.

Children Mercy Merit Soul, The Strength Torah

367. The words OF MY SON were pleasing to Him, and the way in which he surrendered his own life for me. A guardian was present there, A PROTECTOR AND DEFENSE COUNSELOR, who said, Master of the Universe, does it not say, "Out of the mouth of babes and sucklings have You founded strength because of Your enemies, that You might still the enemy and the avenger" (Tehilim 8:3)? May it please You that through the merit of the Torah, and the merit of that child who was ready to give his soul for his father's sake, You would have mercy on him and he would be saved.

367. וְשַׁפִּיר קַמֵּיהּ, אִינּוּן מִלִּין, וְהֵיךְ מָסַר נַפְשֵׁיהּ עָלַי. וְחַד אַפֹּטְרוֹפֹּסָא הֲוָה קַמֵּיהּ, וְקָאָמַר, מָארֵי דְּעָלְמָא, הָא כְּתִיב מִפִּי עוֹלְלִים וְיוֹנְקִים יִסַּדְתָּ עוֹז לְמַעַן צוֹרְרֶיךָ לְהַשְׁבִּית אוֹיֵב וּמִתְנַקֵּם. יְהֵא רַעֲוָא קַמָּךְ, זְכוּ דְּאוֹרַיְיתָא, וּזְכוּ דְּהַהוּא רַבְיָא, דְּקָא מָסַר נַפְשֵׁיהּ עַל אֲבוּהָּ דְּתֵחוּס עָלֵיהּ, וְיִשְׁתֵּזִיב.

Angel of Death Angels Death Death and the Afterlife Eyes Hands Miracle Redemption and Salvation Thirteen Year

368. And thirteen people were summoned in my stead, who were granted TO THAT ANGEL OF DEATH as pledge, MEANING AS RANSOM IN HIS STEAD, TO REMOVE ME from this harsh sentence. Then, the Holy One, blessed be He, called on the Angel of Death and instructed him concerning me to return after 22 years, because THE THIRTEEN PEOPLE PLACED IN MY STEAD were not considered REAL surety INSTEAD OF ME TO EXCUSE ME FROM DEATH FOREVER. They were merely placed in his hands as a pledge, MEANING TO SAY THAT EITHER WAY, THESE THIRTEEN WOULD HAVE DIED EVENTUALLY, AND THEY WERE IN THE HANDS OF THE ANGEL OF DEATH, EXCEPT THAT THEY DIED BEFORE. THEREFORE THEY COULD NOT BE A DEPOSIT AND PLEDGE FOREVER, TO GIVE HIM LEAVE OF DEATH; THEY HAVE ONLY EXTENDED HIS TIME FOR A PERIOD OF 22 YEARS. Now, friends, because the Holy One, blessed be He, saw that you were truly righteous, the miracle occurred before your eyes.

368. וּתְלֵיסָר בְּנֵי נָשָׁא אַזְמִין לֵיהּ תְּחוֹתַי, וְעִרְבוֹנָא יָהַב לֵיהּ, מִדִּינָא תַּקִּיפָא דָּא. כְּדֵין קָרָא קוּדְשָׁא בְּרִיךְ הוּא לְמַלְאַךְ הַמָּוֶת, וּפָקִיד לֵיהּ עָלַי, דְּלֵיתֻב לְבָתַר עֶשְׂרִין וּתְרֵין שְׁנִין, דְּהָא לָאו עִרְבוֹנָא קַמֵּיהּ, אֶלָּא לִיתוּב לִידוֹי, מַשְׁכֹּנִין דַּהֲווֹ בִּידוֹי, הַשְׁתָּא חַבְרַיָּיא, בְּגִין דְּחָמָא קוּדְשָׁא בְּרִיךְ הוּא דְּאַתּוּן זַכָּאֵי קְשׁוֹט, אִתְרְחִישׁ נִיסָא לְעֵינַיְיכוּ.

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