Naso: Chapter 9

Death and the punishment by beating in the grave

Synopsis

Rabbi Aba tells us how a person assumes he will live forever, until he gets ill and undergoes judgment, at which time all his actions stand as evidence for or against him. We hear what happens as soon as he is in the grave and we hear about all the trials he has to face. Rabbi Aba says that King David said one should bless God now while he is still alive and before it is too late.

David Death Death and the Afterlife Holy Name Jeremiah Love Soul, The Torah

110. Rabbi Aba opened the discussion saying, "Of David, Bless Hashem, my soul: and all that is within me bless his Holy Name" (Tehilim 103:1). How much a person should observe and know how to serve his Master, since every single day the proclamation goes forth and says, "How long, you simple ones, will you love being simple?" (Mishlei 1:22). "Return, faithless children, and I will heal your relapses" (Yirmeyah 3:22), but none pays attention. The Torah proclaims before them, yet nobody is attentive.

110. ר' אַבָּא פָּתַח, לְדָוִד בָּרְכִי נַפְשִׁי אֶת יְיָ' וְכָל קְרָבַי אֶת שֵׁם קָדְשׁוֹ. כַּמָּה אִית לֵיהּ לְבַר נָשׁ לְאִסְתַּכְּלָא וּלְמִנְדַּע בְּפוּלְחָנָא דְּמָארֵיהּ, דְּהָא בְּכָל יוֹמָא וְיוֹמָא כָּרוֹזָא קָארֵי וְאָמַר, עַד מָתַי פְּתָאִים תְּאֶהֲבוּ פֶתִי וְגוֹ.' שׁוּבוּ בָּנִים שׁוֹבָבִים אֶרְפָּא מְשׁוּבוֹתֵיכֶם. וְלֵית מַאן דְּיַרְכִּין אוּדְנֵיהּ, אוֹרַיְיתָא קָא מַכְרְזָא קַמַּיְיהוּ, וְלֵית מַאן דְּיַשְׁגַּח.

Angels Deeds Job

111. Come and see, a person walks about in this world and thinks that it belongs to him forever, and he will remain here for generations to come. While he walks about, he is placed in binding chains, MEANING THAT HE GETS ILL AND IS TIED TO HIS BED. While he remains in this state, he is judged together with other litigants. If he gets a good advocate, he is saved from punishment, as it is written: "If there be an angel over him, an interpreter, one among a thousand, to declare to man what is right: then he is gracious to him, and says..." (Iyov 33:23). Who is that good advocate? These are the good deeds that stand by for a man in time of need.

111. תָּא חֲזֵי, בַּר נָשׁ אָזִיל בְּהַאי עָלְמָא, וְהוּא חָשִׁיב דְּדִילֵיהּ הוּא תָּדִיר וְיִשְׁתְּאַר בְּגַוֵיהּ לְדָרֵי דָּרִין, עַד דְּאִיהוּ אָזִיל בְּעָלְמָא, יָהֲבִין לֵיהּ בְּקוּלְרָא, עַד דְּאִיהוּ יְתִיב דַּיְינִין לֵיהּ בְּקִינְפּוֹן עִם שְׁאַר בְּנֵי דִּינָא. אִי אִשְׁתְּכַח לֵיהּ סַנֵיגוֹרָא, הָא אִשְׁתְּזִיב מִן דִּינָא. הה"ד אִם יֵשׁ עָלָיו מַלְאָךְ מֵלִיץ אֶחָד מִנִּי אָלֶף לְהַגִּיד לְאָדָם יָשְׁרוֹ וַיְחֻנֶּנּוּ וַיֹּאמֶר וְגוֹ.' מַאן הוּא סַנֵיגוֹרָא. אִלֵּין עוֹבָדִין דְּכַשְׁרָן, דְּקַיְימֵי עָלֵיהּ דב"נ בְּשַׁעֲתָא דְּאִצְטְרִיךְ לֵיהּ.

Deeds Eyes Judgment Lips Mountains Thought Wind

112. If there is no good advocate for him, he is found guilty in judgment and is required to pass away from this world. During that period while he lays bound in the chains of the King, in raising his eyes, he sees how two come to him. They write all that he did in this world and every word that emerged from his lips. He gives accounts about everything and it is recorded before him. This is what it says, "For, lo, he that forms the mountains, and creates the wind, and declares to man what is his thought..." (Amos 4:13). And he admits all these things.

112. וְאִי לָא יִשְׁתְּכַּח עָלֵיהּ סַנֵיגוֹרָא, הָא אִתְחַיָּיב מִן דִּינָא לְאִסְתַּלְּקָא מִן עָלְמָא. בְּהַהִיא שַׁעֲתָא כַּד אִיהוּ שָׁכִיב בְּקוּלְרָא דְּמַלְכָּא, עַד דְּזָקִיף עֵינוֹי, חָמָא דְּאַתְיָין לְגַבֵּיהּ תְּרֵין, דְּכַתְבִין קַמֵּיהּ כָּל מַה דְּעָבִיד בְּהַאי עָלְמָא. וְכָל מַה דְּאַפִּיק מִן פּוּמָא, וְיָהִיב דִּינָא עַל כֹּלָּא וְכַתְבִין קַמֵּיהּ. הה"ד כִּי הִנֵּה יוֹצֵר הָרִים וּבוֹרֵא רוּחַ וּמַגִּיד לְאָדָם מַה שִׂיחוֹ וְגוֹ.' וְהוּא אוֹדֵי עָלַיְיהוּ.

Creation Deeds Precepts Torah

113. What is the reason THAT HE ADMITS ALL HIS DEEDS? It is because the action he did ascends and stands by to give testimony. ALL DEEDS stand by UP ABOVE to give testimony about him. They all descend to be recorded before him and do not move away, until the time he is tried for them in that world. Come and see, all these things that were done by this man in this world, are all ready to testify about him, and they are not removed from him. When he is taken to his grave, they all gather and go in front of him. Three proclamations are proclaimed, one in front, one on his right and one on his left. They say that this is so-and-so who rebelled against his Master, rebelled above, rebelled below, rebelled against the Torah, revolted against the precepts. See his actions and watch his speeches! He would have been better off not to have been created.

113. מַאי טַעֲמָא, בְּגִין דְּהַהוּא עוֹבָדָא דְּאִיהוּ עָבִיד, סַלְּקָא וְקַיְּימָא עָלֵיהּ לְאַסְהֲדָא בֵּיהּ, וְקַיְימִין לְאַסְהֲדָא עָלֵיהּ, וְכֻלְּהוּ נַחְתִּין וְאִתְרְשִׁימוּ קַמֵּיהּ, וְקַיְימֵי קַמֵּיהּ, וְלָא מִתְעַבְּרָן מִנֵּיהּ, עַד שַׁעֲתָא דְּאִתְדָּן בְּהוּ בְּהַהוּא עָלְמָא. ת"ח, כָּל אִינּוּן מִלִּין דְּעָבֵיד ב"נ בְּהַאי עָלְמָא, כֻּלְּהוּ זְמִינִין וְקַיְימֵי לְאַסְהֲדָא בֵּיהּ, וְלָא אִתְאֲבִידוּ מִינֵּיהּ. וּבְשַׁעֲתָא דְּמַפְּקֵי לֵיהּ לְקִבְרָא, כֻּלְּהוּ מִתְעַתְּדָן וְאָזְלֵי קַמֵּיהּ. וּתְלַת כָּרוֹזֵי מַכְרְזֵי. חַד קַמֵּיהּ, וְחַד מִימִינֵיהּ, וְחַד מִשְּׂמָאלֵיהּ. וְאָמְרֵי דָּא פְּלַנְיָיא דְּמָרִיד בְּמָארֵיהּ. מָרִיד לְעֵילָּא, מָרִיד לְתַתָּא, מָרִיד בְּאוֹרַיְיתָא, מָרִיד בְּפִיקוּדוֹי. חָמוּ עוֹבָדוֹי, חָמוּ מִלּוֹי, טַב לֵיהּ דְּלָא אִבְרֵי.

Angels Body Deeds Dumah (Angel) Fire Hands Judgment

114. Until they arrive at the cemetery, and all the dead rage in their places and say, Woe, woe that this one is buried among us. His actions and speech precede him into the grave and remain over that body. His spirit goes and wanders and mourns over the body. As soon as a person is covered in his grave, THE ANGEL Dumah hastens to come out with three courts under his jurisdiction appointed for the punishment in the grave. Three wands of fire are in their hands, and the spirit is on trial together with the body. Woe to that punishment and woe to his deeds.

114. עַד דְּמָטֵי לְגַבֵּי קִבְרָא, כֻּלְּהוּ מֵתִין אִתְרַגְזוּן מִדּוּכְתַּיְיהוּ עָלֵיהּ, וְאַמְרֵי וַוי וַוי דְּדָא אִתְקְבַר בְּגַוָּון. עוֹבָדוֹי וּמִלּוֹי אַקְדְמָן וְעָאלִין לְקִבְרָא, וְקַיְימֵי עָלֵיהּ דְּהַהוּא גּוּפָא, וְרוּחֵיהּ אָזְלָא וְשָׁאט, וּמִתְאַבְּלָא עַל גּוּפָא. כֵּיוָן דב"נ אִתְטְמַר בְּבֵי קִבְרֵי, דּוּמָ"ה קָדִים וְנָפִיק תְּחוֹת יְדֵיהּ, תְּלָתָא בֵּי דִּינָא, דִּי מְמָנָן עַל דִּינָא דְּקִבְרָא, וּתְלַת שַׁרְבִיטֵי דְּאֶשָּׁא בִּידַיְיהוּ, וְדַיְינִין רוּחָא וְגוּפָא כַּחֲדָא. וַוי עַל הַהוּא דִּינָא, וַוי עַל עוֹבָדוֹי.

Angels Death Death and the Afterlife Hands Sword

115. During the time he is held in the chains of the King, MEANING WHILE HE IS SICK AND BOUND TO HIS BED, his trial takes place and was completed WITH A GUILTY VERDICT, because no good advocate is available for him. The King's minister, THE ANGEL OF DEATH, descends and stands at his feet, with a sharp sword in his hand.

115. בְּשַׁעֲתָא דְּאִיהוּ תָּפִיס בְּקוּלְרָא דְּמַלְכָּא, וְאִתְּדָּן דִּינֵיהּ, וְאִשְׁתְּלִים, דְּלָא אִשְׁתְּכַח עָלֵיהּ סַנֵיגוֹרְיָא. וְסַנְטִירָא דְּמַלְכָּא נָחִית, וְקָאֵים קָמֵיהּ, לְרַגְלוֹי, וְחַד סַיְיפָא שִׁנָּנָא בִּידֵיהּ.

Angels Eyes Fire Walls

116. The person lifts his eyes and sees FIRST the walls of the house radiant with fire. At the same time, he sees him, full with eyes, dressed in burning fire STANDING in front of the man. AND THOUGH OTHERS WHO STAND THERE DO NOT SEE HIS PRESENCE, it is certainly so. The proof is that some people see an angel in the marketplace and stand before him, but the rest do not perceive him.

116. זָקִיף ב"נ עֵינוֹי, וְחָמֵי כֹּתְלֵי בֵּיתָא דְּמִתְלַהֲטָן בְּאֶשָּׁא מִנֵּיהּ אַדְּהָכִי חָמֵי לֵיהּ קַמֵּיהּ כּוּלֵיהּ מָלֵי עַיְינִין, לְבוּשֵׁיה אֶשָּׁא דְּלָהִיט קַמֵּיהּ דְּבַר נָשׁ. הָכִי הוּא וַדַּאי, דְּהָא כַּמָה בְּנֵי נָשָׁא חָמוּ מַלְאָכָא בְּשׁוּקָא, וְקַיְימֵי קַמֵּיהּ, וּשְׁאַר בְּנֵי נָשָׁא לָא חָמָאן לֵיהּ.

Angel of Death Angels Body Earth Garments Wind

117. If you ask: Doesn't it say, "Who makes the winds his messengers (angels)..." (Tehilim 104:4)? How is it possible to see them on earth? HE RESPONDS: We already explained this. When the angel descends to earth, he is dressed in a physical body and he is seen to whoever needs to perceive him in that garment he donned. If he didn't PUT ON THAT GARMENT, the people could not bear it that he should be visible. All the more so with this one, THE ANGEL OF DEATH, whom all people need.

117. וְאִי תֵּימָא, הָא כְּתִיב עוֹשֶׂה מַלְאָכָיו רוּחוֹת וְגוֹ.' הֵיךְ יָכִיל לְאִתְחֲזָאָה בְּאַרְעָא. אֶלָּא מִלָּה דָּא, הָא אוּקְמוּהָ, דְּכֵיוָן דְּנָחִית מַלְאָכָא לְאַרְעָא, אִתְלְבַּשׁ בְּגוּפָא, וְאִתְחַזֵּי לְמַאן דְּאִתְחֲזֵי, בְּהַהוּא לְבוּשָׁא דְּאִתְלְבַּשׁ בֵּיהּ. וְאִי לָאו, לָא יָכִיל לְמִסְבַּל לֵיהּ עָלְמָא וּלְאִתְחֲזָאָה. כ"ש וְכָל שֶׁכֵּן הַאי דְּכָל בְּנֵי עָלְמָא צְרִיכִין לֵיהּ.

Body Heart Repentance Sword

118. There are three drops on his sword, as the friends have already explained. When he sees him, his entire body and spirit tremble and his heart does not rest, being the king of the entire body. Then his spirit travels throughout his organs and takes leave from them like a man who takes leave from his friend to go elsewhere. He then declares: Woe, what have I done, but it is of no use to him unless he preempts it with the healing powers of repentance before that moment arrives.

118. תְּלַת טִפִּין בְּחַרְבֵּיהּ וְכוּ,' וְהָא אוּקְמוּהָ חַבְרַיָא. כֵּיוָן דְּחָמֵי לֵיהּ, אִזְדַּעְזָע כָּל גּוּפֵיהּ וְרוּחֵיהּ, וְלִבֵּיהּ לָא שָׁכִיךְ, בְּגִין דְּאִיהוּ מַלְכָּא דְּכָל גּוּפָא. וְרוּחָא דִּילֵיהּ אַזְלָא בְּכָל שַׁיְיפֵי גּוּפָא, וְאִשְׁתְּאִיל מִנַּיְיהוּ, כְּבַר נָשׁ דְּאִשְׁתְּאִיל מֵחַבְרֵיהּ, לְמֵהַךְ לַאֲתָר אַחֲרָא. כְּדֵין הוּא אוֹמֵר וַוי עַל מַה דְּעֲבַד, וְלָא מְהַנְיָיא לֵיהּ, אֶלָּא אִי אַקְדִּים אַסְוָותָא דִּתְשׁוּבָה, עַד לָא מָטָא הַהִיא שַׁעֲתָא.

Body Eyes Fear Judgment Soul, The

119. The person shudders with fear and wishes to hide but cannot. When he realizes that he is powerless, he opens his eyes and he has to look at him with his eyes open. He then gives his life and soul. That is the moment of the greatest judgment that a person is judged in this world. The spirit then passes through all the limbs of the body and takes leave of them. It then wanders through all the organs and shakes all over, and all the organs tremble.

119. דָּחִיל הַהוּא ב"נ, וּבָעֵי לְאִתְטַמְּרָא וְלָא יָכִיל. כֵּיוָן דְּחָמֵי דְּלָא יָכִיל, הוּא פָּתַח עֵינוֹי, וְאִית לֵיהּ לְאִסְתַּכְּלָא בֵּיהּ, וְאִסְתָּכַּל בֵּיהּ בְּעַיְינִין פְּקִיחִין. וּכְדֵין הוּא מָסִיר גַּרְמֵיהּ וְנַפְשֵׁיהּ. וְהַהוּא שַׁעֲתָא, הוּא עִידָּן דְּדִינָא רַבָּא, דב"נ אִתְּדָּן בֵּיהּ בְּהַאי עָלְמָא. וּכְדֵין רוּחָא אָזְלָא בְּכָל שַׁיְיפֵי גּוּפָא, וְאִשְׁתְּאִיל מִינַיְיהוּ, וְשָׁאט בְּכָל שַׁיְיפִין, וְאִזְדַּעְזְעָא לְכָל סִטְרִין וְכָל שַׁיְיפֵי גּוּפָא כֻּלְּהוּ מִזְדַּעְזְעָן.

120. When the spirit arrives at each limb to take leave, sweat develops on that limb. The spirit is removed, and immediately that limb dies, and so on with all THE LIMBS.

120. כַּד מָטָא רוּחָא לְכָל שַׁיְיפָא וְשַׁיְיפָא, וְאִשְׁתְּאִיל מִנֵּיהּ. נָפַל זִיעָא עַל הַהוּא שַׁיְיפָא, וְרוּחָא אִסְתָּלִיק מִנֵּיהּ. וּמִיַּד מִית הַהוּא שַׁיְיפָא. וְכֵן בְּכֻלְּהוּ.

Body Shechinah Wicked Wickedness

121. As soon as the spirit is ready to depart, because it has already taken leave of all THE LIMBS OF the body, the Shechinah rests on it. Immediately, THE SPIRIT flies from the body. Praised is the lot of the person who is attached to her, THE SHECHINAH. Woe to those wicked who are far from her and are not attached to her.

121. כֵּיוָן דְּמָטֵי רוּחָא לְמֵיפַּק, דְּהָא אִשְׁתְּאִיל מִכָּל גּוּפָא, כְּדֵין שְׁכִינְתָּא קַיְּימָא עָלֵיהּ. וּמִיַּד פַּרְחָא מִן גּוּפָא. זַכָּאָה חוּלָקֵיהּ דְּמַאן דְּאִתְדְּבַק בָּהּ, וַוי לְאִינּוּן חַיָּיבַיָּא דִּרְחִיקִין מִנָּהּ, וְלָא מִתְדַּבְּקִין בָּהּ.

Body Deeds Fear Flesh Gehenom (Hell) Hell (Gehenom) Judgment Repentance

122. How many trials does a person have to pass when he departs from this world! One is the supreme judgment that we have already explained when the spirit leaves the body. One is the trial at the moment when his actions and speeches proceed in front of him and declare proclamations about him. There is another, the trial when he is placed in his grave; one in the grave, and one the trial of the worms THAT EAT HIS FLESH. Another is the trial of Gehenom and one is the trial of spirit that wanders through the world and finds no rest until his deeds are perfected. Seven definite periods pass over him. Therefore, a man should fear his Master, examine his actions every day and repent to his Master for them while he is still alive in this world.

122. וְכַמָּה בֵּי דִּינָא אַעְבַּר בַּר נָשׁ כַּד נָפִק מֵהַאי עָלְמָא. חַד הַהוּא דִּינָא עִלָּאָה דְּקָאָמַרָן, כַּד נָפִיק רוּחָא מִן גּוּפָא. וְחַד דִּינָא, כַּד עוֹבָדוֹי וּמִלּוֹי אָזְלִין קַמֵּיהּ, וְכָרוֹזֵי מַכְרְזֵי עֲלוֹי. וְחַד דִּינָא, כַּד עָיֵיל לְקִבְרָא וְחַד דִּינָא דְּקִבְרָא. וְחַד דִּינָא דְּתוֹלַעֲתָּא. וְחַד דִּינָא דְּגֵיהִנָּם. וְחַד דִּינָא דְּרוּחָא דְּאַזְלָא וְשָׁאט בְּעָלְמָא, וְלָא אַשְׁכַּח אֲתָר, עַד דְּיִשְׁתְּלִימוּ עוֹבָדוֹי. וַדַּאי שִׁבְעָה עִדָנִין יַחְלְפוּן עֲלוֹי. בְּגִין כַּךְ בָּעֵי בַּר נָשׁ, כַּד אִיהוּ אִשְׁתְּכַח בְּהַאי עָלְמָא, לְדַחֲלָא מִן מָארֵיהּ, וּלְאִסְתַּכְּלָא בְּכָל יוֹמָא וְיוֹמָא בְּעוֹבָדוֹי, וְיֵיתוּב מִנַּיְיהוּ קַמֵּי מָרֵיהּ.

Body David Holy Name Soul, The

123. When King David examined the trials of a person whom he departs from this world, he first said "Bless Hashem, my soul" (Tehilim 103:1) before it departs the world, now while it is still in the body, "and all that is within me bless his Holy Name" - you, the limbs that are attached to the spirit, now while THE SPIRIT is still with you, hasten to bless the Holy Name, before the time arrives when you will no longer be able to bless him and thank him for you.

123. כַּד אִסְתְּכַּל דָּוִד מַלְכָּא בְּאִינּוּן דִּינִין דְּבַר נָשׁ, כַּד אִסְתַּלָּק מֵהַאי עָלְמָא, אַקְדִּים וְאָמַר, בָּרֲכִי נַפְשִׁי אֶת יְיָ,' עַד דְּלָא תִּפּוּק מֵעָלְמָא, הַשְׁתָּא דְּאַנְתְּ אִשְׁתְּכַחַת עִם גּוּפָא. וְכָל קְרָבַי אֶת שֵׁם קָדְשׁוֹ, אַתּוּן שַׁיְיפֵי דְּמִשְׁתַּתְּפֵי בְּרוּחָא, הַשְׁתָּא דְּאִשְׁתְּכָחַת עִמְּכוֹן, אַקְדִּימוּ לְבָרְכָא שְׁמָא קַדִּישָׁא, עַד לָא יִמְטֵי זִמְנָא, דְּלָא תֵּיכְלּוּן לְבָרְכָא לֵיהּ, וּלְאוֹדָאָה עָלַיְיכוּ.

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