81. At all events, we find support here, BECAUSE A VERSE ALWAYS RETAINS ITS LITTERAL MEANING, concerning people's actions in this world. The story of Jonah, who went down into the ship, is analogous to the human soul, that descends into this world to dwell in a human body. Why is it called Jonah (deceived)? Because after it joins the body, it is deceived in this world, THAT IS, BY THE BODY, WHICH DEFRAUDS IT, as was said "You shall not therefore defraud (Heb. tonu) one another" (Vayikra. 25:17). And then a man walks about this world like a ship in a great ocean about to break, as written: "and the ship seemed likely to be wrecked" (Yonah 1:4).

82. And when man in this world is a sinner and thinks he has fled from his Master, because HIS MASTER does not pay attention to this world, the Holy One, blessed be He, rouses a windstorm, which is the prosecution that always stands before Him and demands to punish that man. And this WINDSTORM came to the ship, and mentioned the sins of the man it wishes to take.

83. And since man is seized by that windstorm, he lies in his sickbed, as is written "but Jonah was gone down into the recesses of the ship; and he lay down and was fast asleep" (Yonah 1:5). Though man is lying down sick, the soul does not waken to repent before its Master to redeem his sins. It is written: "so the shipmaster came to him" (Ibid. 6); who is the shipmaster? the Good Inclination that guides everyone? "And said to him, What do you mean, O sleeper? arise, call upon your Elohim..." (Ibid.). This is not the time to sleep, because you are being brought to judgment for all you have done in this world. Repent your offenses.

84. Consider these things and repent before your master. "What is your occupation?" with which you have been occupied in this world, confess it before your Master. "And where do you come from?" consider whence you came: "a putrid drop," and you shall not be arrogant before Him. "What is your country?" see that you were created from earth, and to earth you shall return. "And of what people are you?" look for ancestral merits to protect you.

85. Once he is brought up to the supernal court, the windstorm, which is the Prosecution that storms against him, demands from the King to sentence the King's prisoners, and they all approach HIM one by one. At that time the court opens. Some defend him, and others accuse him. And the Prosecution asks for punishment.

86. And if that man was not found innocent, it is written, "the men rowed hard to bring the ship back to land; but they could not" (Ibid. 13). Those who pleaded his cause try to bring him back into this world but cannot. Why is that? "for the sea grew more and more tempestuous against them," the Prosecution storms with his sins and grows stronger because of them.

87. Then three appointed messengers descend upon him; the one writes down all his merits and misdeeds. THESE ARE LIKE TWO COLUMNS, RIGHT AND LEFT; THE MERITS ARE ON THE RIGHT AND THE MISDEEDS ON THE LEFT. Another does the reckoning of the days, LIKE THE RECONCILING CENTRAL COLUMN THAT WEIGHS THEM. Yet another was with him in his mother's womb. THIS IS THE SECRET OF MALCHUT, THE SECRET OF THE VERSE "WHEN HIS CANDLE SHONE UPON MY HEAD" (IYOV 29:2), THAT REFERS TO THE MONTHS OF PREGNANCY. And we explained that the Prosecution does not subside until, as is written: "they took up Jonah" (Yonah 1:15). "They took up" THAT IS, when they take him from his home to the cemetery.

88. Then proclamation is made concerning him. If he is righteous, it is thus proclaimed: render homage to the image of the King. "He that walks in his uprightness shall enter in peace to them that rest in their graves" (Yeshayah 57:2). Whence do we know this? from the words: "and your righteousness shall go before you, the glory of Hashem shall be your rearguard" (Yeshayah 58:8). But if he be wicked, it is thus proclaimed: woe to that man, for it would be better for him not to be born. And then it is written: "and cast him into the sea; and the sea ceased from its raging," meaning that they put him in his grave, which is the place of punishment. Then the Prosecution, which was storming AND SOUGHT PUNISHMENT, is NOW soothed from its wrath, SINCE WHAT IT WANTED CAME TO PASS. And the fish that swallowed him is his grave.

89. It is written: "And Jonah was in the belly of the fish" (Yonah 2:1). The belly of the fish is the belly of Sheol. We know that from the verse "out of the belly of Sheol I cried" (Ibid. 3) for Jonah was in the belly of the fish and called it the belly of Sheol. "three days and three nights" (Ibid. 1) resembles the three days that man is in the grave before his bowels split open.

90. After three days, the filth IN HIS BOWELS is spilt on his face, and says to him: take what you put in me. You ate and drank all day and gave not to the poor; all your days were like feasts and holidays, while the poor were hungry because they did not eat with you. Take what you put in me. This is implied by the verse "and I will spread dung upon your faces" (Malachi 2:3). We already explained that.