"Hashem has sworn by His right hand"

Synopsis

We learn that whenever a man sins before God there is a grade above that corresponds to this particular sin, and it examines and judges the man. If he repents the sin is erased, but if he does not repent the sin is recorded in that grade. If he keeps on sinning he adds grade upon grade until he reaches five grades. Then judgment is made complete and rests on the man, and the left is included within the right.

Grades Judges Judgment Repentance Sin Strength

409. Rabbi Yosi opened the discussion saying, "Hashem has sworn by His right hand, and by the arm of His strength" (Yeshayah 62:8). This verse has already been explained, yet come and see: as long as man sins before the Holy One, blessed be He, there is a certain grade above which corresponds to this sin that judges man and examines him. If he wholly repents before his Master, the sin passes away and no Judgment has power over him or reaches him. If he does not repent, the sin is recorded in that grade. If he keeps sinning, another grade comes against him, which agrees with THE JUDGMENT OF the first grade. He then needs greater penance. If he keeps sinning, he adds grade on grade until he reaches five grades.

409. ר' יוֹסֵי פָּתַח וְאָמַר, נִשְׁבַּע יְיָ' בִּימִינוֹ וּבִזְרוֹעַ עֻזּוֹ, הַאי קְרָא אוּקְמוּהָ. אֲבָל ת"ח, כָּל זִמְנָא דְּב"נ חָטֵי קַמֵּי דְּקוּדְשָׁא בְּרִיךְ הוּא, אִית דַּרְגָּא דְּאִשְׁתְּמוֹדְעָא לְעֵילָּא לָקֳבְלֵי הַאי חַטָּאָה, לְדַיְּינָא לֵיהּ לב"נ, וְאִסְתָּכַּל עָלֵיהּ, אִי תָּב בִּתְיוּבְתָּא שְׁלֵימָתָא קָמֵי מָארֵיהּ, אִתְעֲבָר חוֹבֵיהּ, וְדִינָא לָא שַׁלְטָא עֲלוֹי, וְלָא מָאטֵי עֲלוֹי. אִי לָא תָּב, אִתְרְשִׁים הַהוּא חַטָּאָה לְגַבֵּי הַהוּא דַּרְגָּא. אוֹסִיף לְמֶחֱטֵי, הָא דַּרְגָּא אָחֳרָא אִזְדְּמַן לְקָבְלֵיהּ, וְאִסְתְּכַם בְּדַרְגָּא קַדְמָאָה, כְּדֵין בַּעְיָא תְּשׁוּבָה יַתִּיר. וְאִי אוֹסִיף לְמֶחֱטֵי, אוֹסִיף דַּרְגָּא עַל דַּרְגָּא, עַד דְּאַשְׁלִים לַחֲמִשָׁה דַּרְגִּין.

Judgment Repentance

410. כֵּיוָן דְּאִתְתְּקַן יְמִינָא לָקֳבְלֵיהּ, וְאִסְתְּכַּם עָלֵיהּ. הָא שְׂמָאלָא זְמִינָא, לְאַסְכְּמָא בִּימִינָא, וּלְאִתְכַּלְּלָא בֵּיהּ. כֵּיוָן דִּשְׂמָאלָא אִסְתְּכַּם בִּימִינָא, כְּדֵין לָא תַּלְיָא בִּתְשׁוּבָה, וְהָא אוּקְמוּהָ, וּכְדֵין כֹּלָּא אִסְתְכָּמוּ עָלֵיהּ בְּדִינָא, וְדִינָא שַׁרְיָא עָלֵיהּ.

Food Judgment Strength

411. When Judgment is made complete and rests on man, it is concluded and the fingers are placed five against five, right within the left, as an indication that everybody agreed on that Judgment. Then his hands are straightened; NAMELY, THE FINGERS ARE INTERLACED, which shows that it was done without the man's intention and without his meaning to do so. It is therefore written, "Your right hand, Hashem, is glorious in power: Your right hand Hashem, has dashed the enemy in pieces" (Shemot 15:6), WHICH MEANS that left was included within the right and Judgment is complete. Then everything is resolved. Therefore, when the Holy One, blessed be He, wishes that everything be set, it is written, "Hashem has sworn by His right hand, and by the arm of His strength. Surely I will no more give your corn to be food for your enemies..." (Yeshayah 62:8).

411. וְכַד דִּינָא אִשְׁתְּלִים וְשַׁרְיָא עָלֵיהּ דְּב"נ, כְּדֵין אִסְתָּיָים וְאִתְתְּקָנוּ אֶצְבְּעָן, חָמֵשׁ בְּגוֹ חָמֵשׁ, יְמִינָא בִּשְׂמָאלָא, לְאַחֲזָאָה דְּהָא כֹּלָּא אִסְתְּכָמוּ עָלֵיהּ בְּהַהוּא דִּינָא, וְיָדוֹי מִתְיַשְּׁרָן, לְאַחֲזָאָה מִלָּה בְּלָא כַּוָונָה דְּב"נ, וְלָא יִתְכְּוַּון בֵּיהּ. וְעַ"ד כְּתִיב, יְמִינְךָ יְיָ' נֶאְדָּרִי בַּכֹּחַ יְמִינְךָ יְיָ' תִּרְעַץ אוֹיֵב. לְאִתְכַּלְּלָא שְׂמָאלָא בִּימִינָא, וְאַשְׁלִים דִּינָא, וּכְדֵין הוּא קַיָּימָא דְּכֹלָּא. וְעַ"ד, כַּד בָּעָא קוּדְשָׁא בְּרִיךְ הוּא לְקַיְּימָא כֹּלָּא, כְּתִיב נִשְׁבַּע יְיָ' בִּימִינוֹ וּבִזְרוֹעַ עֻזּוֹ וְגוֹ.'