45. Rav Yehuda stated that Rav asks, Why is it written, "I charge you, O daughters of Jerusalem, if you find my beloved, that you tell him that I am sick with love" (Shir Hashirim 5:8)? Rabbi Pinchas said that Rabbi (referred to as Rav before) Yehuda responded, "I charge you, O daughters of Jerusalem" is what the soul says to the souls who are worthy of entering Jerusalem above. They are called daughters of Jerusalem for having the merit to enter. Therefore, the soul says to them, "I charge you, O daughters of Jerusalem, if you find my beloved," which is a reference to the Holy One, blessed be He. Rav said that this is the splendor of the upper mirror. Tell him that I am sick with love" to rejoice in His splendor and to sit often in His shadow. Rav Huna said, "I am sick with love" because of the passion, the longing I feel for everything in the world, therefore I am sick.
46. Rabbi Yehuda said that this is the love the soul has for the body. When the body dies, as when "Sarah's life was..." it is written, "And Abraham stood up from before his dead" (Beresheet 23:3). Rav Yehuda said that according to the Rav, it is written in the previous verse, "And Sarah died in Kiryat Arba, that is Hebron, in the land of Canaan" (Ibid. 2).
47. Rabbi Yitzchak referred to Rabbi Yochanan as stating that the Holy One, blessed be He, created Adam and then inserted in him four things that are divided in the body. Rabbi Yehuda said, "That are connected to the body," while Rabbi Yitzchak said, "That are divided in the body. Each is separated to its element when man leaves this world." Rabbi Yehuda said, They are connected to the body during its life, namely as it is written, "And Sarah died," which refers to the body. "In Kiryat Arba (lit. 'city of the four')," these are the four elements. The words, "that is Hebron" mean that they were connected in the body during a person's lifetime (Hebron is derived from the word chibur, connected). "In the land of Canaan" means in this world, the world in which man dwells for a short period of time.
48. "And Abraham came to mourn for Sarah, and to weep for her" (Beresheet 23:2.). We are taught that the soul of man visits the body for seven days and mourns for it. This is the meaning of, "Only when his flesh is upon him does he feel pain, and while his soul is within him does he mourn" (Iyov 14:22). Similarly, "Abraham came to mourn for Sarah, and to weep for her." "Abraham came" refers to the soul, while "to mourn for Sarah" refers to the body.
49. Rabbi Yitzchak said that the body rests in peace and lies in its grave when the soul has merit and rises to its high place. This is referred to in the verse, "He that walks in his uprightness shall enter in peace to them that rest in their graves" (Yeshayah 57:2). Who is it that "walks in his uprightness?" Rabbi Yitzchak says that it is the soul that goes upright to Eden that lies concealed in wait for it. What does this mean? Rabbi Yehuda says, This is why NECHOCHOH (his uprightness) is written with the letter Hei. If it has no merit and deserves punishment, it walks about desolately and visits the body and the grave daily.
50. Rabbi Yosi said that the hard bone, NAMELY THE FEMUR THAT WAS HIT AND DISLOCATED, moves here and there with its stench, coming and visiting its place for twelve months. So does the soul that is worthy of punishment. It goes out in the world, visiting its place in the world and the graveyard for twelve months.
51. Rabbi Yehuda said, Come and behold the verse, "And Abraham stood up from before his dead." Rabbi Aba raised A DIFFICULT POINT. We learned that when the soul is in supernal complement, NAMELY IN BINAH, the letter Hei joins it, and it is called Abraham in supernal wholeness. Now you hint that he is not that righteous, as it is written, "And Abraham stood up." You cause the one who sits in the great throne to come down to sit in the small and lower THRONE.
52. But I reach a decision WHEN I EXPLAIN THE VERSE, "And Abraham stood up from before his dead." Like Rabbi Bo, Rabbi Zrika said that the soul first protects the holy body from which it came when it is worthy of ascending to Eden. Then it ascends to its elevated place. This is the meaning of, "And Abraham stood up from before his dead," namely the body.
53. The phrase, "And spoke to the sons of Chet" (Yeshayah 57:2) refers to the rest of the bodies of the righteous, who are frightened and beaten in the world for the fear of their Possessor. They are afraid and in terror (Heb. chat) for being dwellers of the dust. HE ASKS, Why does THE SOUL need THE BODIES OF THE RIGHTEOUS? Rabbi Yehuda responded, Because they are all written down in the reckoning, THAT IS, THEY ARE PUT INTO THE ACCOUNTS AND ARE MADE TO COME OUT ACCORDING TO THE RECKONING AT THE RESURRECTION OF THE DEAD. THUS, THE SOUL SPOKE WITH THEM so that the body would be numbered in their lists. THIS IS THE MEANING OF, "AND SPOKE TO THE SONS OF CHET."
54. What did THE SOUL CALLED ABRAHAM say to them? It said in a conciliatory and respectful manner, "I am a stranger and a sojourner with you" (Beresheet 23:3), MEANING this body will be counted with you in one quorum by this union. Rabbi said, Look at what is written, "And the children of Chet answered Abraham..." (Yeshayah 57:4). They also answered him in a respectful and conciliatory manner. This is the meaning of, "Hear us, my Lord, you are a mighty prince among us."