זֶה שֶׁאָמַר הַכָּתוּב (איוב ג, יט): קָטֹן וְגָדוֹל שָׁם הוּא וְעֶבֶד חָפְשִׁי מֵאֲדֹנָיו, אָמַר רַבִּי סִימוֹן זֶה אֶחָד מֵאַרְבָּעָה מִקְרָאוֹת שֶׁדּוֹמִין זֶה לָזֶה, קָטֹן וְגָדוֹל שָׁם הוּא, הָעוֹלָם הַזֶּה מִי שֶׁהוּא קָטָן יָכוֹל לְהֵעָשׂוֹת גָּדוֹל, וּמִי שֶׁהוּא גָּדוֹל יָכוֹל לְהֵעָשׂוֹת קָטָן, אֲבָל לֶעָתִיד לָבוֹא, מִי שֶׁהוּא קָטָן אֵינוֹ יָכוֹל לְהֵעָשׂוֹת גָּדוֹל, וּמִי שֶׁהוּא גָּדוֹל אֵינוֹ יָכוֹל לְהֵעָשׂוֹת קָטָן. וְעֶבֶד חָפְשִׁי מֵאֲדֹנָיו, זֶה הוּא שֶׁעוֹשֶׂה רְצוֹן יוֹצְרוֹ מַכְעִיס אֶת יִצְרוֹ, מֵת יָצָא לַחֵרוּת, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר: וְעֶבֶד חָפְשִׁי מֵאֲדֹנָיו. רַבִּי מְיָאשָׁא בַּר בְּרֵיהּ דְרַבִּי יְהוֹשֻׁעַ, נִשְׁתַּקַּע שְׁלשָׁה יָמִים בְּחָלְיוֹ, לְאַחַר שְׁלשָׁה יָמִים נִתְיַשְּׁבָה דַעְתּוֹ, אָמַר לוֹ אָבִיו הָן הֲוֵית, אֲמַר לֵיהּ בְּעוֹלָם מְעֹרָב הָיִיתִי. אֲמַר לֵיהּ וּמַה חֲמֵיתָה תַּמָּן, אֲמַר לֵיהּ הַרְבֵּה בְּנֵי אָדָם רָאִיתִי כָּאן בְּכָבוֹד וְשָׁם בְּבִזָּיוֹן. כַּד שְׁמַעוּ רַבִּי יוֹחָנָן וְרֵישׁ לָקִישׁ סָלְקָן לִמְבַקְרֵיהּ, אֲמַר לְהוֹן אָבוּהּ שְׁמַעְתּוּן מָה אֲמַר הָדֵין מַיְינוֹקָא, אָמְרִין לֵיהּ מָה אֲמַר, תָּנֵי לְהוֹן עוֹבָדָא. אָמַר רֵישׁ לָקִישׁ וְלֹא מִקְרָא מָלֵא הוּא (יחזקאל כא, לא): כֹּה אָמַר ה' [א] הָסִיר הַמִּצְנֶפֶת וְהָרִים הָעֲטָרָה זֹאת לֹא זֹאת הַשָּׁפָלָה הַגְּבֵּהַּ וְהַגָּבֹהַּ הַשְׁפִּיל, אָמַר רַבִּי יוֹחָנָן אִלּוּ לֹא עָלִיתִי אֶלָּא לִשְׁמֹעַ דָּבָר זֶה דַּי. רַב הוּנָא רֵישׁ גָּלוּתָא שָׁאַל לְרַבִּי חִסְדַּאי מַה דֵּין דִּכְתִיב הָסִיר הַמִּצְנֶפֶת וְהָרִים הָעֲטָרָה, אָמַר לוֹ, הָסִיר הַמִּצְנֶפֶת מֵרַבּוֹתֵינוּ, וְהָרִים הָעֲטָרָה מֵאֻמּוֹת הָעוֹלָם. אָמַר לוֹ, אַתְּ חֶסֶד וּמַה לְּךָ חָסֶד. “Where you die, I will die, and there I will be buried; so may the Lord do to me, and so may He continue, as death will separate between you and me” (Ruth 1:17).
That123Referring to the previous passage, that good deeds and righteous actions must be accomplished in this world. is what the verse said: “Small and great are there; and a servant is free from his master” (Job 3:19) – Rabbi Simon said: This is one of four verses that are similar to one another. “Small and great are there” – in this world, one who is small can become great, and one who is great can become small. But in the future,124In the World to Come. one who is small cannot become great and one who is great cannot become small. “And a servant is free of his master” – that is, he does the will of his Maker [yotzero], angers his [evil] inclination [yitzro]; when he dies, he goes free, as it is stated: “And a servant is free of his master.”
Rabbi Meyasha, grandson of Rabbi Yehoshua, was gravely ill for three days. After three days he recovered. His father said to him: ‘Where have you been?’ He said to him: ‘I was in a chaotic world.’ He said to him: ‘What did you see there?’ He said to him: ‘I saw many people who are respected here and disgraced there.’ When Rabbi Yoḥanan and Reish Lakish heard, they went to visit him. His father said to them: ‘Have you heard what this child said?’ They said to him: ‘What did he say?’ He related the matter to them. Reish Lakish said: ‘Is it not an explicit verse? “So said the Lord God: Remove the mitre, and lift the crown; this shall no longer be; exalt the abased, and abase the exalted”’ (Ezekiel 21:31). Rabbi Yoḥanan said: Had I come up only to hear this matter, it would have sufficed. Rav Huna the Exilarch asked Rabbi Ḥisdai: What is this that is written: “Remove the mitre, and lift the crown?” He said to him: “Remove the mitre” from our rabbis, and “lift the crown” from the nations of the world. He said to him: You are kindness,125This is based on his name. You, Ḥisdai, are kindness, ḥesed. and what is yours is kindness.
כְּתִיב (קהלת ט, ד): כִּי מִי אֲשֶׁר יְחֻבַּר וגו', תַּמָן תְּנֵינַן הָרוֹאֶה עֲבוֹדַת כּוֹכָבִים מַה הוּא אוֹמֵר, בָּרוּךְ נוֹתֵן אֶרֶךְ אַפַּיִם לְעוֹבְרֵי רְצוֹנוֹ. מָקוֹם שֶׁנֶּעֶקְרָה עֲבוֹדַת כּוֹכָבִים מִמֶּנּוּ, בָּרוּךְ שֶׁעָקַר עֲבוֹדַת כּוֹכָבִים מֵאַרְצֵנוּ. וְכֵן יְהִי רָצוֹן מִלְּפָנֶיךָ ה' אֱלֹהֵינוּ שֶׁתַּעֲקֹר אוֹתָהּ מִכָּל הַמְּקוֹמוֹת וְתָשׁוּב לֵב עוֹבְדֶיהָ לְעָבְדְּךָ בְּלֵב שָׁלֵם, וְלֹא נִמְצָא מִתְפַּלֵּל עַל הָרְשָׁעִים. אָמַר רַבִּי יוֹחָנָן יְבֻחַר כְּתִיב, אֲפִלּוּ כָּל אוֹתָן שֶׁפָּשְׁטוּ יְדֵיהֶם בַּזְּבוּל יֵשׁ בִּטָּחוֹן, לְהַחֲיוֹת אוֹתָם אִי אֶפְשָׁר שֶׁכְּבָר פָּשְׁטוּ יְדֵיהֶם בַּזְּבוּל, לְכַלּוֹתָם אִי אֶפְשָׁר שֶׁכְּבָר עָשׂוּ תְּשׁוּבָה, עֲלֵיהֶם הוּא אוֹמֵר (ירמיה נא, לט): וְיָשְׁנוּ שְׁנַת עוֹלָם וְלֹא יָקִיצוּ. תַּנְיָא קְטַנֵי גוֹיִם וְחֵילוֹתָיו שֶׁל נְבוּכַדְנֶצַּר לֹא חַיִּים וְלֹא נִדּוֹנִים, וַעֲלֵיהֶם הוּא אוֹמֵר: וְיָשְׁנוּ שְׁנַת עוֹלָם וְלֹא יָקִיצוּ. (קהלת ט, ד): כִּי לְכֶלֶב חַי הוּא טוֹב מִן הָאַרְיֵה הַמֵּת, בָּעוֹלָם הַזֶּה מִי שֶׁהוּא כֶּלֶב, לְהֵעָשׂוֹת אֲרִי הוּא יָכוֹל. וּמִי שֶׁהוּא אֲרִי, יָכוֹל לְהֵעָשׂוֹת כֶּלֶב. אֲבָל לֶעָתִיד לָבוֹא, מִי שֶׁהוּא אֲרִי אֵינוֹ יָכוֹל לְהֵעָשׂוֹת כֶּלֶב, וְכָל מִי שֶׁהוּא כֶּלֶב אֵינוֹ יָכוֹל לְהֵעָשׂוֹת אֲרִי. אַדְרִיָּאנוֹס שְׁחִיק טַמְיָא שָׁאַל לְרַבִּי יְהוֹשֻׁעַ בֶּן חֲנַנְיָה, אֲמַר לֵיהּ אֲנָא טָב מִמּשֶׁה רַבָּךְ, אֲמַר לֵיהּ, לָמָּה, דַּאֲנָא חַי וְהוּא מֵת, וּכְתִיב: כִּי לְכֶלֶב חַי טוֹב מִן הָאַרְיֵה הַמֵּת. אֲמַר לֵיהּ יָכוֹל אַתְּ לִגְזֹר דְּלָא יַדְלֵק בַּר נָשׁ נוּר תְּלָתָא יוֹמִין, אֲמַר לֵיהּ, אִין. לְעִידָּן עַמְיָא סָלְקוּן תַּרְוֵיהוֹן עַל אִיגַר פָּלָטִין חֲמֵי תְּנָנָא סָלֵיק מִן רְחִיק, אֲמַר לֵיהּ מַה כֵּן, אֲמַר לֵיהּ אִיפַרְכִּיָא בִּישׁ, עָאל אַסְיָא וּבַקַּר יָתֵיהּ, וַאֲמַר לֵיהּ עַד דְּשָׁתֵי חֲמִימֵי לָא מִיתַּסֵּי. אֲמַר לֵיהּ תִּפַּח רוּחֵיהּ, עַד דְאַתְּ קַיָּם בָּטְלָה גְּזֵרָתְךָ, וּמשֶׁה רַבֵּנוּ מִשָּׁעָה שֶׁגָּזַר עָלֵינוּ (שמות לה, ג): לֹא תְבַעֲרוּ אֵשׁ בְּכֹל משְׁבֹתֵיכֶם בְּיוֹם הַשַּׁבָּת, לָא מַדְלֵיק יְהוּדָאי נוּר בְּשַׁבְּתָא מִיּוֹמוֹהִי, וַעֲדַיִן לֹא נִתְבַּטְּלָה גְּזֵרָתוֹ עַד הַשְׁתָּא, אֲמַרְתְּ אַתְּ כֵּן דַּאֲנָא טָב מִינֵיהּ. (תהלים לט, ה): הוֹדִיעֵנִי ה' קִצִּי וּמִדַּת יָמַי מַה הִיא, אָמַר דָּוִד לִפְנֵי הַקָּדוֹשׁ בָּרוּךְ הוּא, רִבּוֹן הָעוֹלָם אוֹדַע לִי אֵימָתַי אֲנָא מָיֵית, אֲמַר לֵיהּ רָזָא הִיא דְּלָא מִתְגַּלֵּי לְבַר נָשׁ וְלֵית אֶפְשָׁר דְּיִתְגַּלֵּי לָךְ. וּמִדַּת יָמַי מַה הִיא, אֲמַר לֵיהּ שַׁבְעִין שְׁנִין. וְאֵדְעָה מֶה חָדֵל אָנִי, אוֹדַע לִי בְּהָדֵין יוֹמָא אֲנָא מָיֵית, אָמַר לוֹ בְּשַׁבָּת. אֲמַר לֵיהּ פַּחֵית לִי חַד יוֹמָא, אָמַר לוֹ לֹא. אָמַר לוֹ לָמָּה, אָמַר לוֹ חֲבִיבָה עָלַי תְּפִלָּה אַחַת שֶׁאַתָּה עוֹמֵד וּמִתְפַּלֵּל לְפָנַי מֵאֶלֶף עוֹלוֹת שֶׁעָתִיד שְׁלֹמֹה בִּנְךָ לְהַעֲלוֹת לְפָנַי, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר (מלכים א ג, ד): אֶלֶף עֹלוֹת יַעֲלֶה שְׁלֹמֹה עַל הַמִּזְבֵּחַ הַהוּא. אֲמַר לֵיהּ אוֹסֵיף לִי חַד יוֹמָא, אֲמַר לֵיהּ לָא. אֲמַר לֵיהּ לָמָּה, אָמַר לֵיהּ אַרְכִי שֶׁל בִּנְךָ דּוֹחֶקֶת, דְּאָמַר רַבִּי שִׁמְעוֹן בַּר אַבָּא בְּשֵׁם רַבִּי יוֹחָנָן, אַרְכִיּוֹת אַרְכִיּוֹת הֵן וְאֵין אֶחָד מֵהֶן נִכְנָס לְתוֹךְ אַרְכִי שֶׁל חֲבֵרוֹ אֲפִלּוּ כִּמְלֹא נִימָא. וּמֵת בַּעֲצֶרֶת שֶׁחָל לִהְיוֹת בְּשַׁבָּת, וְסָלְקָה סַנְהֶדְּרִין מֶחְמְיָיא אַפִּין לִשְׁלֹמֹה, אֲמַר לְהוֹן מַעֲבַר יָתֵיהּ מֵאֲתַר לַאֲתַר, אָמְרִין לֵיהּ וְלָאו מַתְנִיתָּא הִיא סָכִין וּמְדִיחִין וּבִלְבָד שֶׁלֹא יָזִיז אֵבָר. אָמַר כְּלָבִים שֶׁל בֵּית אַבָּא רְעֵבִין, אָמְרִין לֵיהּ וְלָא מַתְנִיתָּא הִיא מְחַתְּכִין אֶת הַדְּלוּעִים לִפְנֵי הַבְּהֵמָה וְאֶת הַנְּבֵלָה לִפְנֵי הַכְּלָבִים. מֶה עָשָׂה נָטַל פִּיפְקִין וּפָרַשׂ עָלָיו כְּדֵי שֶׁלֹא תֵּרֵד הַשֶּׁמֶשׁ, וְיֵשׁ אוֹמְרִים לַנְּשָׁרִים קְרָא וּפָרְשׂוּ עָלָיו אֲגַפֵּיהוֹן כְּדֵי שֶׁלֹא תֵּרֵד עָלָיו הַשֶּׁמֶשׁ. It is written: “For he who is joined [yeḥubar] [to all of the living has hope, for a live dog is better than a dead lion]” (Ecclesiastes 9:4) – there126There, meaning the Land of Israel. This tradition was brought from the Land of Israel to Babylonia. See Tosefta Berakhot 6:2. we learn: One who sees an idol, what blessing does he recite? Blessed…who shows patience to violators of His will. A place from which idol worship has been uprooted? Blessed…who uprooted idol worship from our land; and may it likewise be Your will O Lord our God that You uproot it from all places and restore the hearts of their worshippers to worship You wholeheartedly. Is he not praying on behalf of the wicked? Rabbi Yoḥanan said: “[For he who is] chosen [yevuḥar]” is written.127The Masoretic spelling [ketiv] is yevuḥar, while the Masoretic reading [keri] is yeḥubar. Rabbi Yoḥanan claims that this spelling serves to teach that even the wicked have choice [beḥira], and they can forsake evil and repent. Even those who raised their hand against the Temple have hope. To revive them [in the afterlife] is impossible, as they already raised their hand against the Temple. To eliminate them is impossible, as they have already repented. In their regard it is stated; “They will sleep an eternal sleep, and they will not awaken” (Jeremiah 51:39) – it is taught: Gentile minors and the troops of Nebuchadnezzar128Because they were following orders and had little choice, or because they repented. are not revived [at the end of days], but are not condemned. In their regard it is stated: “They will sleep an eternal sleep and they will not awaken.”
“For a live dog is better than a dead lion” (Ecclesiastes 9:4) – in this world, one who is a dog can become [strong as] a lion, and one who is a lion can become a dog. However, in the future, one who is a lion cannot become a dog, and anyone who is a dog cannot become a lion. Hadrian, may his bones be crushed, asked Rabbi Yehoshua ben Ḥananya: He said to him: ‘I am better than Moses, your master.’ He said to him: ‘Why?’ ‘Because I am alive and he is dead, and it is written: “For a live dog is better than a dead lion.”’ He said to him: ‘Are you able to issue a decree that no man shall light a fire for three days?’ He said to him: ‘Yes.’ In the evening, both of them climbed to the wall of the palace and saw smoke rising at a distance. He said to him: ‘What is that?’ He said to him: ‘The governor is ill, and a doctor went in and visited him. He said to him: You will not be cured until you drink hot water.’ He said to him: ‘May his spirit be blasted.129He said this to Hadrian, using the third person out of deference to the emperor. While you are still alive, your edict is void. Moses our master, from the moment that he decreed upon us: “You shall not kindle fire in all your habitations on the day of Shabbat” (Exodus 35:3), no Jew has ever kindled fire on Shabbat, and his edict has not been voided even now. And you say: I am better than he is?’
“Lord, make my end known to me, and the measure of my days, what it is; [I would know how impermanent I am]” (Psalms 39:5) – David said before the Holy One blessed be He: ‘Master of the universe, make known to me when I will die.’ He said to him: ‘It is a secret that is not revealed to a person, and it is not possible for it to be revealed to you.’ “And the measure of my days, what it is” – He [God] said to him: ‘Seventy years.’ “I would know how impermanent I am” (Psalms 39:5) – make known to me on which day I will die. He said to him: ‘On Shabbat.’ He [David] said to Him: ‘Subtract one day for me.’ He said to him: ‘No.’ He said to Him: ‘Why?’ He said to him: ‘One prayer that you are destined to pray before Me is more precious to Me than a thousand burnt offerings that Solomon your son is destined to sacrifice before Me, as it is stated: “One thousand burnt offerings Solomon offered upon that altar”’ (I Kings 3:4). He said to Him: ‘Add one day for me.’ He said to him: ‘No.’ He said to Him: ‘Why?’ He said to him: ‘The dominion of your son is pressing, as Rabbi Shimon bar Abba said in the name of Rabbi Yoḥanan: There are many dominions, and one of them does not enter into the dominion of another even a hair’s breadth.’ He died on Shavuot that coincided with Shabbat. The Sanhedrin entered to pay their respects to Solomon. He said to them: ‘Can I move him [the body] from place to place?’ They said to him: ‘Is it not a mishna: One may rub with oil and wash [a corpse], provided that he does not move a limb?’130Mishna Shabbat 23:5.
He [Solomon] said: ‘The dogs of father’s house are hungry.’131He feared they would desecrate the corpse. They said to him: ‘Is it not a mishna: One may cut pumpkins before an animal and an animal carcass before dogs?’132Mishna Shabbat 24:4. What did he do? He took a curtain and spread it over him [David’s body], so the sun would not beat down on him. Some say that he summoned the eagles and they spread their wings over him, so the sun would not beat down on him.
אָמַר (קהלת א, טו): מְעֻוָּת לֹא יוּכַל לִתְקֹן וְחֶסְרוֹן לֹא יוּכַל לְהִמָּנוֹת, בָּעוֹלָם הַזֶּה מִי שֶׁהוּא מְעֻוָּת יָכוֹל לִתְקֹן, וּמִי שֶׁהוּא מְתֻקָּן יָכוֹל לְעַוֵּת, אֲבָל לֶעָתִיד לָבוֹא מִי שֶׁהוּא מְעֻוָּת אֵין יָכוֹל לִתְקֹן, וּמִי שֶׁהוּא מְתֻקָּן אֵין יָכוֹל לְעַוֵּת. וְחֶסְרוֹן לֹא יוּכַל לְהִמָּנוֹת, יֵשׁ מֵהָרְשָׁעִים שֶׁמִּזְדַּוְּגִין זֶה עִם זֶה בָּעוֹלָם, אֶחָד מֵהֶן עָשָׂה תְּשׁוּבָה לִפְנֵי מוֹתוֹ וְאֶחָד לֹא עָשָׂה תְּשׁוּבָה, נִמְצָא זֶה עוֹמֵד בַּחֲבוּרַת הַצַּדִּיקִים, וְזֶה עוֹמֵד בַּחֲבוּרַת הָרְשָׁעִים, וְהוּא רוֹאֶה אוֹתוֹ וְאוֹמֵר אוֹי לִי שֶׁמָּא מַשֹּׂוֹא פָנִים יֵשׁ בַּדָּבָר, אֲנִי וְזֶה גָנַבְנוּ, אֲנִי וְזֶה הָרַגְנוּ כְּאֶחָת, זֶה עוֹמֵד בַּחֲבוּרַת צַדִּיקִים וַאֲנִי בַּחֲבוּרַת רְשָׁעִים. וְהֵן מְשִׁיבִין וְאוֹמְרִין לוֹ, שׁוֹטֶה שֶׁבָּעוֹלָם, מְנֻוָּל הָיִיתָ וּמֻשְׁלָךְ לְאַחַר מִיתָתְךָ שְׁלשֶׁת יָמִים, וְלֹא בַּחֲבָלִים גְרָרוּךָ לַקֶּבֶר (ישעיה יד, יא): תַּחְתֶּיךָ יֻצַּע רִמָּה וּמְכַסֶּיךָ תּוֹלֵעָה, כְּשֶׁהֵבִין זֶה חֲבֵרְךָ שָׁב מֵאוֹתוֹ הַדֶּרֶךְ, וְאַתָּה הָיִיתָ סְפֵקָה לַעֲשׂוֹת תְּשׁוּבָה וְלֹא עָשִׂיתָ. אוֹמֵר לָהֶם הֲנִיחוּנִי שֶׁאֵלֵךְ לַעֲשׂוֹת תְּשׁוּבָה, וְהֵן מְשִׁיבִין לוֹ וְאוֹמְרִין, שׁוֹטֶה שֶׁבָּעוֹלָם, אֵין אַתָּה יוֹדֵעַ שֶׁעוֹלָם זֶה דּוֹמֶה לְשַׁבָּת וְעוֹלָם שֶׁבָּאתָ מִמֶּנּוּ דּוֹמֶה לְעֶרֶב שַׁבָּת, אִם אֵין אָדָם מְתַקֵּן בְּעֶרֶב שַׁבָּת מַה יֹּאכַל בְּשַׁבָּת. וְעוֹד עוֹלָם זֶה דּוֹמֶה לַיָּם וְעוֹלָם שֶׁבָּאתָ מִמֶּנוּ דּוֹמֶה לַיַּבָּשָׁה, אִם אֵין אָדָם מְתַקֵּן בַּיַּבָּשָׁה מַה יֹּאכַל בַּיָּם. וְעוֹד הָעוֹלָם הַזֶּה דּוֹמֶה לַמִּדְבָּר וְעוֹלָם שֶׁבָּאתָ מִמֶּנּוּ דּוֹמֶה לַיִּשׁוּב, אִם אֵין אָדָם מְתַקֵּן בַּיִּשׁוּב מַה יֹּאכַל בַּמִּדְבָּר. מַהוּ עוֹשֶׂה חוֹבֵק אֶת יָדָיו וְאוֹכֵל אֶת בְּשָׂרוֹ, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר (קהלת ד, ה): הַכְּסִיל חֹבֵק אֶת יָדָיו וְאֹכֵל אֶת בְּשָׂרוֹ. וְהוּא אוֹמֵר הַנִּיחוּנִי שֶׁאֶרְאֶה אֶת חֲבֵרִי בִּכְבוֹדוֹ, וּמְשִׁיבִין וְאוֹמְרִים לוֹ, שׁוֹטֶה שֶׁבָּעוֹלָם, מְצֻוִּין מִפִּי הַגְּבוּרָה אָנוּ שֶׁלֹא יַעַמְדוּ רְשָׁעִים בְּצַד צַדִּיקִים, וְלֹא צַדִּיקִים בְּצַד רְשָׁעִים, וְלֹא טְמֵאִים בְּצַד טְהוֹרִים, וְלֹא טְהוֹרִים בְּצַד טְמֵאִים, וְעַל מָה אָנוּ מְצֻוִּין עַל הַשַּׁעַר הַזֶּה, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר (תהלים קיח, כ): זֶה הַשַּׁעַר לַה' צַדִּיקִים יָבֹאוּ בוֹ. He said: “The crooked cannot be mended, and deficiency cannot be counted” (Ecclesiastes 1:15) – in this world, one who is crooked can be mended, and one who is mended can become crooked. But in the future, one who is crooked cannot be mended, and one who is mended cannot become crooked. “And deficiency cannot be counted” – there are wicked ones who associate with one another in the world; one of them repented before his death, and one did not repent. It turns out that this one stands in the company of the righteous, and that one stands in the company of the wicked. He [the one who did not repent] sees him [the other one] and says: ‘Woe is me, perhaps there is favoritism in this matter? [Both] I and that one have stolen, both I and that one have killed; yet that one is standing in the company of the righteous, and this one [referring to himself] is standing in the company of the wicked.’ They [the angels] respond and say to him: ‘Fool of the world, you were despicable, and you were cast aside after your death for three days; did they not drag you to the grave with ropes? “Beneath you maggots are spread and worms are your cover” (Isaiah 14:11). When your friend understood this, he repented from that path. You, too, had the opportunity to repent, but did not do so.’ He says to them: ‘Allow me to go and repent,’ and they respond to him and say: ‘Fool of the world, do you not know that this world is like Shabbat, and the world from which you came is like the day before Shabbat. If a person does not prepare on the day before Shabbat, what will he eat on Shabbat? Moreover, this world is like the sea, and the world from which you came is like dry land. If a person does not prepare on dry land, what will he eat at sea? Moreover, this world is like the wilderness, and the world from which you came is like civilization. If a person does not prepare in civilization, what will he eat in the wilderness?’ What does he do? He folds his hands and eats his flesh, as it is stated: “The fool folds his hands and eats his flesh” (Ecclesiastes 4:5). He says: ‘Allow me to see my friend in his glory [in heaven].’ They say to him: ‘Fool of the world, we are commanded from the mouth of the Almighty, that the wicked will not stand alongside the righteous, and not the righteous alongside the wicked, not the impure alongside the pure, and not the pure alongside the impure. About what are we commanded? It is about this gate, as it is stated: “This is the gate of the Lord; the righteous shall enter into it”’ (Psalms 118:20).
דִּילָמָא רַבִּי חִיָּא רַבָּה וְרַבִּי שִׁמְעוֹן בֶּן חֲלַפְתָּא הֲווֹ יָתְבִין לָעֲיִין בְּאוֹרָיְיתָא בַּהֲדֵין בֵּית מִדְרָשָׁא רַבָּא דִּטְבֶרְיָא בַּעֲרוּבַת פִּסְחָא, וְאִית דְּאָמְרֵי בַּעֲרוּבַת צוֹמָא רַבָּא, וּשְׁמַעֵי קָלְהוֹן דִּבְרִיָּיאתָא בָּיְיבִין, אֲמַר לֵיהּ אִילֵּין בְּרִיָּיתָא מָה עִסְקוֹן, אֲמַר דְּאִית לֵיהּ זָבַן וּדְלֵית לֵיהּ אָזֵיל לְגַבֵּי מָרֵי עֲבִדְתֵּיהּ וְהוּא יָהֵיב לֵיהּ. אֲמַר לֵיהּ אִם כֵּן הוּא אַף אֲנָא אִיזֵיל גַּבֵּי מָרֵי עֲבִדְתִּי וְהוּא יָהֵב לִי, נְפַק וְצַלֵּי בַּהֲדָא אִילוּסִיס דִּטְבֶרְיָא, וַחֲזָא חַד יְדָא מוֹשְׁטָא לֵיהּ חֲדָא מַרְגָּלִיתָא, אֲזַל טָעִין גַּבֵּי רַבֵּנוּ, אֲמַר לֵיהּ הָדָא מְנָא אִית לָךְ, הָדָא מִילָא דְאִיסְטוֹפִיטָא הִיא, אֶלָּא הֵא לָךְ תְּלָתָא דִינָרִין, וַאֲזֵל וַעֲבֵד לִיקָרָא דְיוֹמָא, וּבָתַר יוֹמָא טָבָא אֲנַן שָׁטְחִין קָלֵיהּ וּמַה דְּהוּא עָבֵיד טִימִיתַהּ תִּיסַב. נְסַב תְּלָתָא דִינָרִין וַאֲזֵיל זְבַן זְבוּנִין וְעָל לְבֵיתֵיהּ, אָמְרָה לֵיהּ דְּבִיתְהוּ שִׁמְעוֹן שָׁרֵית גָּנֵיב, כָּל פָּעֳלָךְ לֵית הִיא אֶלָּא מְאָה מָנֶה וְאִילֵין זְבִינָתָה מָה אִינוּן, מִיָּד תַּנֵּי לָהּ עוֹבָדָא. אָמְרָה לֵיהּ מַאי אַתְּ בָּעֵי תְּהֵי גְּנוּנָךְ חָסֵר מִן דְּחַבְרָךְ חֲדָא מַרְגָּלִיתָא לְעַלְמָא דְּאָתֵי. אֲמַר לָהּ וּמַה נַּעֲבֵד, אָמְרָה לֵיהּ זִיל תַּחֲזוֹר זְבִינָתָא לְמָרֵיהוֹן וְדִינָרַיָּא לְמָרֵיהוֹן וּמַרְגָּלִיתָא לְמָרָא. כַּד שָׁמַע רַבֵּינוּ מִצְטָעֵר, שְׁלַח וְאַיְתֵיתַהּ, אֲמַר לָהּ כָּל הָדֵין צַעְרָא צְעַרְתְּ לְהָדֵין צַדִיקָא. אָמְרָה לֵיהּ מָה אַתְּ בָּעֵי דִּיהֵא גְּנוּנֵיהּ חָסֵר מִדִּידְכוֹן חֲדָא מַרְגָּלִיתָא לְעַלְמָא דְּאָתֵי. אֲמַר לָהּ וְאִין הֲוָה חָסֵר לֵית בָּן מְמַלְּיָיה יָתֵיהּ. אָמְרָה לֵיהּ רַבִּי בַּהֲדֵין עַלְמָא זְכֵינַן מֶחֱמֵי אַפָּךְ, וְלֹא אָמַר רֵישׁ לָקִישׁ כָּל צַדִּיק וְצַדִּיק יֵשׁ לוֹ מָדוֹר בִּפְנֵי עַצְמוֹ, וְהוֹדָה לָהּ. וְלֹא עוֹד אֶלָּא שֶׁדַּרְכָּן שֶׁל עֶלְיוֹנִים לִתֵּן וְאֵין דַּרְכָּן לִטֹּל, הַנֵּס הָאַחֲרוֹן קָשֶׁה מִן הָרִאשׁוֹן, מִנְסֵיב לֵיהּ הֲוָת יְדָא אַרְעֲיָא [למטה], וּמִי מוֹשְׁטָא לֵיהּ הֲוָה יְדָא עִילָּאָה, כְּאִינִישׁ דְּמוֹזֵיף לְחַבְרֵיהּ. An illustration: Rabbi Ḥiyya the Great and Rabbi Shimon ben Ḥalafta were sitting to study the Torah in the great study hall of Tiberias on the day before Passover, and some say that it was the day before the great fast [Yom Kippur]. They heard the sound of people crying.133Because they were too poor to buy food for the holiday. He [Rabbi Shimon ben Ḥalafta] said to him [Rabbi Ḥiyya]: ‘Those people, what will they do?’ He said: ‘One who has, will buy, and one who does not have will go to his employer and he will give them.’ He said to him: ‘If so, I too will go to my employer, and He will give me.’ He went out and prayed in the cave by Tiberias and he saw a hand outstretched to him with a pearl. He went and brought it to Rabbeinu [Rabbi Yehuda HaNasi]. He said to him: ‘From where did you get this? It is priceless. [Do not sell it;] rather, here are three dinars for you,134He lent him the three dinars so that Rabbi Shimon ben Ḥalafta would not need to sell the pearl in order to make preparations for the holiday. go and make preparations in honor of the day, and after the holiday we will publicize it, and whoever offers the highest price will take it.’ He took the three dinars and went and bought his purchases and entered his house. His wife said to him: ‘Shimon, have you begun to steal? All your property is worth only a hundred maneh,135Ten thousand dinars. She is presumably utilizing hyperbole. and [so] what are these purchases? He immediately related the incident to her. She said to him: ‘What do you want? That your canopy be one pearl smaller than that of your colleagues in the World to Come?’ He said to her: ‘What should we do?’ She said to him: ‘Go, return the purchases to their owner, the dinars to their owner, and the pearl to its owner.’
When he heard, Rabbeinu was upset. He sent for her and she came to him. He said: ‘You caused all this distress to this righteous one.’ She said to him: ‘What do you want? That his canopy will be one pearl smaller than yours in the World to Come?’ He said to her: ‘And if it will be smaller, are we not able to make it up [i.e., make up whatever is missing from his merit]?’ She said to him: ‘Rabbi, in this world we have been privileged to see your face;136But not in the World to Come. did Reish Lakish not say: Each righteous person will have a compartment for himself?’ And he [Rabbeinu] conceded to her.137He prayed for God to take the pearl back, and a hand emerged and took it. Moreover, it is the way of Heaven to give, but it is not its way to take. The latter miracle was more difficult than the former. When it [the pearl] was taken, the hand was lower, and when it gave it to him, the hand was higher, like a person who lends money to another.
וַתֵּרֶא כִּי מִתְאַמֶּצֶת הִיא לָלֶכֶת אִתָּה (רות א, יח), אָמַר רַבִּי יְהוּדָה בְּרַבִּי סִימוֹן בּוֹא וּרְאֵה כַּמָּה חֲבִיבִים הַגֵּרִים לִפְנֵי הַמָּקוֹם, כֵּיוָן שֶׁנָּתְנָה דַעְתָּהּ לְהִתְגַּיֵּר הִשְׁוָהּ הַכָּתוּב לְנָעֳמִי. “She saw that she was determined to go with her” – Rabbi Yehuda ben Rabbi Simon said: Come and see how precious converts are before the Omnipresent. Once she [Ruth] decided to convert, Scripture equated her with Naomi.138In the following verse it says: “The two of them went until they came to Bethlehem” (Ruth 1:19).
וַתֵּלַכְנָה שְׁתֵּיהֶן (רות א, יח), אָמַר רַבִּי שְׁמוּאֵל בְּרַבִּי סִימוֹן, אוֹתוֹ הַיּוֹם קְצִיר הָעֹמֶר הָיָה, דִּתְנֵינַן תַּמָּן כָּל הָעֲיָרוֹת הַסְּמוּכוֹת לְשָׁם הָיוּ מִתְכַּנְּסוֹת, כְּדֵי שֶׁיְהֵא נִקְצָר בְּעֵסֶק גָּדוֹל. וְיֵשׁ אוֹמְרִים אִבְצָן הָיָה מַשִֹּׂיא אֶת בְּנוֹתָיו אוֹתוֹ הַיּוֹם. רַבִּי תַּנְחוּמָא בְּשֵׁם רַבִּי עֲזַרְיָה וְרַבִּי מְנַחֲמָא בְּשֵׁם רַבִּי יְהוֹשֻׁעַ בַּר אָבִין כְּתִיב (תהלים פט, ט): ה' צְבָאוֹת מִי כָמוֹךָ חֲסִין יָהּ, שֶׁמּוֹצִיא דְבָרִים בְּעוֹנָתָן, אִשְׁתּוֹ שֶׁל בֹּעַז מֵתָה בְּאוֹתוֹ הַיּוֹם, וְנִתְכַּנְּסוּ כָּל יִשְׂרָאֵל לִגְמִילוּת חֲסָדִים, וְזִיל כָּל עַמָּא לִגְמִילוּת חִסְדָּא, נִכְנְסָה רוּת עִם נָעֳמִי, וְהָיְתָה זוֹ יוֹצֵאת, וְזוֹ נִכְנְסָה. וַתֵּהוֹם כָּל הָעִיר עֲלֵיהֶן וַתֹּאמַרְנָה הֲזֹאת נָעֳמִי, זוֹ הִיא שֶׁמַּעֲשֶׂיהָ נָאִים וּנְעִימִים, לְשֶׁעָבַר הָיְתָה מְהַלֶּכֶת בְּאִיסְקַפְּטִיאוֹת שֶׁלָּהּ, וְעַכְשָׁיו הִיא מְהַלֶּכֶת יְחֵפָה, וְאַתְּ אֲמַרְתְּ הֲזֹאת נָעֳמִי, לְשֶׁעָבַר הָיְתָה מְכֻסָּה בְּבִגְדֵי מֵילָתִין, וְעַכְשָׁיו הִיא מְכֻסָּה בִּסְמַרְטוּטִין, וְאַתְּ אֲמַרְתְּ הֲזֹאת נָעֳמִי, לְשֶׁעָבַר הָיוּ פָּנֶיהָ מַאֲדִימוֹת מִכֹּחַ מַאֲכָל וּמִשְׁתֶּה, וְעַכְשָׁיו פָּנֶיהָ מוֹרִיקוֹת מִן רְעָבוֹן, וְאַתְּ אֲמַרְתְּ הֲזֹאת נָעֳמִי, וְאוֹמֶרֶת לָהֶן, אַל תִּקְרֶאנָה לִי נָעֳמִי קְרֶאןָ לִי מָרָא, בַּר קַפָּרָא אָמַר לְפָרָה הֶדְיוֹטִית שֶׁהֶעֱמִידוּהָ בְּעָלֶיהָ בַּשּׁוּק, אָמַר, רַדְיָנִית הִיא, וּמַשְׁוָה תְּלָמִים תְּלָמִים הִיא. אָמְרִין אִין רַדְיָנִית אִילֵין מַכּוֹתֶיהָ דְּאִית בָּהּ מָה אִינוּן. כָּךְ אָמְרָה נָעֳמִי, לָמָּה, וַה' עָנָה בִי וְשַׁדַּי הֵרַע לִי. “The two of them went until they came to Bethlehem. Upon their arrival in Bethlehem the entire city was in a tumult about them, and the women said: Is that Naomi?” (Ruth 1:19).
“The two of them went” – Rabbi Shmuel son of Rabbi Simon said: That day was the harvesting of the omer,139Meaning, it was the second day of Passover, on which the new barley would be harvested in order to bring the omer offering. as it is taught there:140In the Land of Israel. See Mishna Menaḥot 10:3. All the adjacent towns would assemble there, so that it would be harvested with great fanfare. Some say: Ivtzan was marrying off his daughters that day. Rabbi Tanḥuma in the name of Rabbi Azarya, and Rabbi Menaḥama in the name of Rabbi Yehoshua bar Avin: It is written: “Lord, [God] of hosts, who is mighty like You, Lord” (Psalms 89:9) – who brings things about in their appropriate time. Boaz’s wife died on that day, and all of Israel assembled to show kindness [to participate in the funeral]. As all the populace was going to show kindness, Ruth entered with Naomi; this one [Boaz’s first wife] departed, and that one entered.
“The entire city was in a tumult about them and the women said: Is that Naomi” – is that she whose actions are fine and pleasant [ne’imim]? In the past, she would go about in her litters, and now she is walking barefoot, and [that is why] you say: “Is that Naomi?” In the past she was clothed in silken garments, and now she is clothed in rags, and you say: “Is that Naomi?” In the past, her face was red from food and drink, and now her face is pale from hunger, and you say: “Is that Naomi?”
She said to them: Do not call me Naomi, call me Mara; as the Almighty has greatly embittered [hemar] me (Ruth 1:20).
And she says to them: “Do not call me Naomi [pleasantness]; call me Mara [bitterness]” – Bar Kappara said: [It is analogous] to an inferior cow whose owner stood it in the marketplace and said: It is for plowing and it plows straight furrows. They said: If it is for plowing, what are all these wounds on it?141If the cow plowed well it would not have been necessary to whip it. So said Naomi: “[I went full, and the Lord brought me back empty;] why [call me Naomi,] and the Lord has afflicted me, and the Almighty has hurt me” (Ruth 1:21)?
אֲנִי מְלֵאָה הָלַכְתִּי וְרֵיקָם הֱשִׁיבַנִי ה' (רות א, כא), מְלֵאָה הָלַכְתִּי בְּבָנִים וּמְלֵאָה בְּבָנוֹת. דָּבָר אַחֵר, אֲנִי מְלֵאָה הָלַכְתִּי, שֶׁהָיִיתִי מְעֻבֶּרֶת. לָמָּה תִקְרֶאנָה לִי נָעֳמִי וַה' עָנָה בִי, עָנָה בִי מִדַּת הַדִּין, הֵיאַךְ מָה דְאַתְּ אָמַר (שמות כב, כב): אִם עַנֵּה תְעַנֶּה אֹתוֹ. דָּבָר אַחֵר, וַה' עָנָה בִי, הֵעִיד עָלַי, כְּמָה דְאַתְּ אָמַר (דברים יט, יח): שֶׁקֶר עָנָה בְאָחִיו. דָּבָר אַחֵר, וַה' עָנָה בִי, כָּל עִנְיָנֶיהָ לָא הֲוָה אֶלָּא בִי, לְפִי שֶׁבָּעוֹלָם הַזֶּה וַה' עָנָה בִי, אֲבָל לֶעָתִיד לָבוֹא מַה כְּתִיב (ירמיה לב, מא): וְשַׂשְׂתִּי עֲלֵיהֶם לְהֵטִיב אוֹתָם. “I went full, and the Lord has brought me back empty. Why call me Naomi, when the Lord has afflicted [ana] me, and the Almighty has harmed me” (Ruth 1:21).
“I went full, and the Lord brought me back empty” – I went full with sons, and full with daughters. Alternatively: “I went full,” as I was pregnant. “Why call me Naomi, and the Lord has afflicted [ana] me” – the attribute of justice afflicted me;142The word ana is in an unusual form. If read ina, it means afflicted. If read ana, it could mean to speak against or to testify against. The midrash suggests a variety of readings. that is what you say: “If you afflict him [aneh te’aneh] [then when he cries out to Me, I will hear his cry]” (Exodus 22:22). Alternatively: “The Lord has afflicted [ana] me” – He testified against me, as you say: “He testified [ana] falsely against his brother” (Deuteronomy 19:18). Alternatively: “The Lord afflicted [ana] me” – all of His concern [inyan] was with me, as in this world, the Lord afflicted [ana] me. But regarding the future, what is written? “I will rejoice over them to do them good” (Jeremiah 32:41).