“Speak to the children of Israel, saying: When a person will sin unwittingly regarding any of the matters that the Lord commanded not to perform, and he will perform one of them” (Leviticus 4:2). “When a person will sin unwittingly regarding any of the matters that the Lord commanded [not to perform]” – this is what the verse says: “Moreover, I saw under the sun, in the place of judgment [there is wickedness, and in the place of justice there is wickedness]” (Ecclesiastes 3:16). Rabbi Eliezer and Rabbi Yehoshua, Rabbi Eliezer says: “In the place of judgment there is wickedness” – the place where the Great Sanhedrin convenes and decides the rulings of Israel. “There is wickedness,” – there “all the princes of the king of Babylon came and sat in the Middle Gate” (Jeremiah 39:3), which is where they decide the halakha.1The word for Middle Gate [hatavekh] is similar to the term for determine [ḥotekh]. Thus, the enemies of Israel sat where the Sanhedrin used to convene. In the parable it is said: In the place where the master hung his sword, the insolent shepherd hangs his jug. The Divine Spirit cries out and says: “In the place of justice, there is wickedness.” In the place in whose regard it is written: “Justice lodged in it” (Isaiah 1:21), now they commit murders. There they killed Zekharia and Uriya.2Because Israel, in murdering Zekharya and Uriya, committed atrocities in the place that should have been set aside for justice, the members of the Great Sanhedrin were replaced in that location by conquering Babylonian officers. Rabbi Yehoshua says: “In the place of judgment there is wickedness” – in the place where the attribute of justice was implemented is the act of the calf, as it is written: “Pass to and fro from gate to gate, [let each man kill his brother…]” (Exodus 32:27). “There is wickedness,” there, “the Lord afflicted the people [because they had crafted the calf] (Exodus 32:35). The Divine Spirit cries out and says: “In the place of justice there is wickedness.” In the place where I declared them righteous and called them divine, as it is stated: “I had said: You are divine” (Psalms 82:6), there they were wicked, crafted the calf, and prostrated themselves to it. Another matter, “In the place of judgment there is wickedness” – this is speaking of the generation of the Flood. “In the place of judgment there is wickedness,” in the place where the attribute of justice was implemented against the generation of the Flood, as we learned in a mishna: “The generation of the Flood has no share in the World to Come and will not stand in judgment,”3Sanhedrin 10:3. Although some wicked people will stand in judgment at the end of days, when God will return their souls to their bodies and judge them, the members of the generation of the Flood will be completely eliminated from the world. “there is wickedness,”; there, “He obliterated all existence” (Genesis 7:23). The Divine Spirit cries out and says: “In the place of justice there is wickedness.” In the place where I declared them righteous, as it is written: “Their houses are peaceful without fear” (Job 21:9), “there is wickedness,” “They say to God: Turn away from us” (Job 21:14). Another matter, “In the place of judgment, there is wickedness” – this is speaking of the people of Sodom. In the place where the attribute of justice was implemented against the people of Sodom, as we learned in a mishna: “The people of Sodom have no share in the World to Come, but will stand in judgment,”4Sanhedrin 10:3. “there is wickedness,”; there, “He rained upon Sodom…[brimstone and fire]” (Genesis 19:24). The Divine Spirit cries out and says: “In the place of justice, there is wickedness.” In the place where I declared them righteous, and wrote regarding their land: “Earth, from which bread emerges…. Its stones are a source of sapphires, and its dust has gold” (Job 28:5–6), they say that when one of them5People in Sodom. would go to the gardener and say to him: Give me a vegetable worth an isar; when he would give it to him, he would shake it and find gold in its dust, to realize what is stated: “and its dust has gold”; “there is wickedness” there, they said: Let us arise and cause the very idea of travelers in our midst to be forgotten: “It did not support the hand of the poor and the indigent” (Ezekiel 16:49). Rabbi Yehuda bar Simon interpreted the verse regarding Shitim. “In the place of judgment, there is wickedness” – in the place where the attribute of justice was implemented in Shitim, as it is written: “The Lord said to Moses: Take all the leaders of the people, [and hang them for the Lord]” (Numbers 25:4), “there is wickedness,” there, “Those who died in the plague [were twenty-four thousand]” (Numbers 25:9). The Divine Spirit cries out and says: “In the place of justice, there is wickedness.” In the place where I transformed Bilam’s curse into a blessing, as it is written: “The Lord your God transformed for you the curse into a blessing” (Deuteronomy 23:6), “there is wickedness,” “Israel was residing in Shitim, [and the people began to engage in licentiousness]” (Numbers 25:1). Rabbi Levi and Rabbi Yitzḥak said: Two matters are in [God’s] right hand and two matters are in [His left] hand. Two matters are in [God’s] right hand: Torah and righteousness. Torah, from where is it derived? “From His right hand, a fiery law to them” (Deuteronomy 33:2). Righteousness, from where is it derived? As it is written: “Your right hand is filled with righteousness” (Psalms 48:11). Two matters are in [His left] hand: the soul and judgment. The soul, as it is written: “In whose hand is the soul of every living being” (Job 12:10). Judgment, as it is written: “My hand grasps judgment” (Deuteronomy 32:41). The soul is situated in the place of judgment, and the soul emerges from the place of judgment and sins? Rabbi Yitzḥak said: The Holy One blessed be He said to the soul [nefesh]: I wrote in your regard: “Only be strong not to eat the blood…” (Deuteronomy 12:23), and you emerge and sin? “When a person [nefesh] will sin unwittingly” (Leviticus 4:2).
Another matter, “when a person [nefesh] will sin…” – that is what the verse said: “All the toil of man is for his mouth” (Ecclesiastes 6:7). Rabbi Shmuel bar Ami said: As much as a person amasses mitzvot and good deeds, it is insufficient to counterbalance the hot air that emerges from his mouth.6It does not repay God for the very act of being able to breathe. Alternatively, it does not counterbalance the sins of improper speech that he commits (Rabbi David Luria). “But his soul is also not filled” (Ecclesiastes 6:7). Rabbi Berekhya and Rabbi Kartzifa in the name of Rabbi Yoḥanan say: Like ropes though a round hole.7Thick ropes that are pulled through a ring on a ship that is roughly the same size as the rope. This and the upcoming descriptions represent the process of removing the soul from a person at the time of death. Rabbi Ḥanina said: Like a nail that comes through the round hole. Shmuel said: Like a damp, inverted thorn that emerges from the trachea. Rabbi Shmuel bar Yitzḥak said: All the mitzvot and good deeds that a person amasses are for his mouth, but not for the mouth of his son and not for the mouth of his daughter.8They benefits him but not his children. The Rabbis say: For his mouth and not for a foul odor.9It is for a good reputation and not for a bad reputation. Because the soul knows that all the exertion that it expends, it expends for itself; therefore, it is never satiated of mitzvot and good deeds. Rabbi Levi said: This is analogous to a villager who was married to the daughter of kings; even if he feeds her all the delicacies in the world, he does not fulfill his obligation.10He does not satisfy her. Why? It is because she is exalted. Three are ingrates: The earth, the woman, and the soul. The earth, as it is stated: “The earth is not sated with water” (Proverbs 30:16). The woman, from where is it derived? “[So is the way of an adulterous woman:] She eats, and wipes her mouth, and says: I did not do wrong” (Proverbs 30:20). The soul, from where is it derived? “But his soul is also not filled” (Ecclesiastes 6:7). Three take abundantly and give abundantly: the earth,11The earth takes rainwater and produces crops. the sea,12Water flows into the sea and evaporates from it to produce rain. and the government.13The government collects taxes and sees to the needs of the public. Rabbi Yehoshua of Sikhnin said in the name of Rabbi Levi: “Soul” is written here six times14The term soul [nefesh] is written six times in the Torah in the context of sin. corresponding to the six days of Creation. The Holy One blessed be He said to the soul: ‘Everything that I created during the six days of Creation, I created only for your sake, and you emerge and sin? “When a person will sin.”’
Another matter, “when a person [nefesh] will sin” – “Also for the soul to be without knowledge is not good” (Proverbs 19:2). Ravina bar Avina said: This is analogous to a [woman’s] menstrual period that would consistently arrive as the sun was rising, and one forgot and engaged in marital relations before sunrise; without knowledge, it is not good.15The couple should have refrained from marital relations at that time on the day when the woman expected her menstrual period to arrive. If they engaged in relations and her period began in the middle of the act, they bear responsibility for their sin. Had one known and engaged in marital relations, all the more so. Moreover, “and one who hastens with his feet sins” (Proverbs 19:2). Rabbi Yitzḥak bar Shmuel bar Marta in the name of Rav: This is analogous to one who had two stores before him, one selling ritually slaughtered meat and one selling the meat of animals that were not ritually slaughtered. He forgot and purchased from the one selling meat of animals that were not ritually slaughtered. “Without knowledge” it is “not good”; had he known and purchased, all the more so. Moreover, “and one who hastens with his feet sins.”16One who hastens into a situation that could lead to sin without the necessary precautions is responsible for the sin. Rabbi Yoḥanan interpreted the verse regarding Shabbat; if one had before him two paths, one smooth and the other full of thorns and pebbles, and he forgot and went on the path that was full of thorns and pebbles,17The premise is that walking and detaching the thorn bushes is a prohibited labor on Shabbat. “without knowledge” it is “not good,” had he known and [still] gone, all the more so. Moreover, “and one who hastens with his feet sins.” Another matter, “also for the soul to be without knowledge [is not good, and one who hastens with his feet sins].” Rabbi Yoḥanan and Rabbi Shimon ben Lakish, Rabbi Yoḥanan said: Sin offerings and guilt offerings are prohibited; vow offerings and gift offerings are permitted.18Sin offerings and guilt offerings are brought to atone for unwitting sin. Rabbi Yoḥanan states that one who comes to the Temple to bring offerings for even unwitting sins is no good, because he should be careful enough to avoid sin entirely. Rabbi Shimon ben Lakish said: Even vow offerings and gift offerings are prohibited.19Rabbi Shimon ben Lakish interprets the end of the verse to mean that coming to the Temple too frequently even to bring voluntary offerings is not good. Another matter, “also [for the soul] to be without knowledge” – these are unwitting sins. “And one who hastens with his feet sins” – these are intentional transgressions. Know that when [one’s act] is unwitting it is [still] considered a sin: “When a person will sin unwittingly.”
There are ten items that serve the soul: The esophagus for food, the trachea for the voice, the liver for anger, the lung for drinking,20It was understood that the lungs help absorb liquids in the body, which are then expelled when one exhales. the intestine to grind, the spleen for laughter, the stomach for sleep, the gall bladder for jealousy, the kidneys think, the heart completes,21It completes the thoughts. and the soul is above them all. The Holy One blessed be He said: ‘I placed you above them all, and you go out and rob, extort, and sin?’
“Speak to the children of Israel, saying: When a person [nefesh] will sin…” Rabbi Yishmael taught: This is analogous to a king who had an orchard and there were fine first fruits in it. The king deployed guards there, one disabled and one blind. He said to them: ‘Carefully guard these fine first fruits.’ Sometime later, the disabled one said to the blind one. ‘I see fine first fruits in the orchard.’ The blind one said to him: ‘Bring and we shall eat.’ The disabled one said to him: ‘Am I able to walk?’ The blind one said: ‘Am I able to see?’ The disabled one rode upon the blind one, they ate the first fruits, and each went and sat in his place. Sometime later, the king entered the orchard. He said to them: ‘Where are the fine first fruits?’ The blind one sais to him: ‘My lord the king, am I able to see?’ The disabled one said to him: ‘My lord the king, am I able to walk?’ The king, who was clever, what did he do to them? He had the disabled one ride on the blind one and they began walking. He said to them: ‘This is what you did and you ate the first fruits.’ So too, in the future the Holy One blessed be He will say to the soul [nefesh]: ‘Why did you sin before Me?’ It will say before Him: ‘Master of the universe, I did not sin; it was the body that sinned. Since I departed from it I am like a pure bird flying in the air. In what way have I sinned before You?’ He will say to the body: ‘Why did you sin before Me?’ It will say before Him: ‘Master of the universe, it is not I who sinned; the soul sinned. Since it departed from me, I am cast like a stone cast onto the ground. Could I have sinned before You?’ What will the Holy One blessed be He do to them? He will bring the soul and inject it into the body and judge the two of them together, as it is stated: “He summons the heavens above, [and the earth, to judge His people]” (Psalms 50:4). “He summons the heavens above” to bring the soul, “and the earth” to bring the body. “To judge His people [amo].”22The word amo can also be read imo, which means with it. Thus, God reunites soul and body in order to judge them together. Rabbi Ḥiyya taught: This is analogous to a priest who had two wives, one the daughter of a priest and one the daughter of an Israelite. He gave them teruma dough and they rendered it impure. He said to them: ‘Who rendered the dough impure?’ This one says: ‘That one impurified it’ and that one says: ‘This one impurified it.’ What did the priest do? He excused the daughter of the Israelite and began taking to task the daughter of the priest. She said to him: ‘My lord, the priest, why did you excuse the daughter of the Israelite and take me to task? Did you not give it to both of us together?’ He said to her: ‘She is the daughter of the Israelite and is not accustomed from her father’s house, but you are the daughter of a priest and are accustomed from your father’s house. That is why I am excusing the daughter of the Israelite and taking you to task.’ So too, in the future, the body and the soul will stand trial. What will the Holy One blessed be He do? He will excuse the body and judge the soul. It will say before Him: ‘Master of the universe, we both sinned together. Why are You excusing the body and judging me?’ He will say to it: ‘The body is from the lower world, from a place where they sin, but you are from the upper world, a place there they do not sin before Me. That is why I am excusing the body and judging you.’
Ḥizkiya taught: “Israel are scattered sheep” (Jeremiah 50:17). Israel is likened to sheep. Just as, if a sheep is struck on its head or one of its limbs all its limbs feel it, so it is with Israel; one of them sins and all of them feel it. “Shall one man sin, [and You will rage against the entire congregation?]” (Numbers 16:22). Rabbi Shimon bar Yoḥai taught: This is analogous to people who were sitting in a ship. One of them took a drill and began drilling a hole. His counterparts said to him: ‘What are you sitting and doing?’ He said to them: ‘Why do you care? Am I not drilling under myself?’ They said to him: ‘Because the water will rise and flood the ship we are on!’ So too, Job said: “If indeed I erred, with me my error rests” (Job 19:4). His counterparts said to him: “For he adds transgression to his sin, he extends [yispok] among us” (Job 34:37); you extend your iniquities among us. Rabbi Elasa said: A certain gentile asked Rabbi Yehoshua ben Korḥa: ‘It is written in your Torah: “Incline after the majority” (Exodus 23:2). We are more numerous than you are. Why do you not become like us regarding idol worship?’ He said to him: ‘Do you have children?’ He said to him: ‘You have reminded me of my troubles.’ He said to him: ‘Why?’ He said to him: ‘I have many children. When they sit at my table, this one prays to the god of so and so and that one prays to the god of so and so, and they do not leave until each of them has cracked the skull of the other.’ He said to him: ‘Do you bring them to uniformity?’ He said to him: ‘No.’ He said to him: Before you get us to become [like you], go and bring your children to uniformity.’ He hurriedly went on his way. When he left, his disciples said to him: ‘Rabbi, you rebuffed this one with a broken reed.23It was not a particularly strong response to his question. What do you respond to us?’ He said to them: ‘Regarding Esau, six people are mentioned in the verse, and [the term] written about them is “souls” in plural, as it is written: “Esau took his wives, his sons, his daughters, and all the souls [nafshot] of his household” (Genesis 36:6). Regarding Jacob, seventy people [are mentioned in the verses], and [the term] written about them is “soul” in the singular, as it is written: “All the souls [hanefesh] who emerged from Jacob's loins were seventy souls [nefesh] and Joseph was in Egypt” (Exodus 1:5). It is, rather, that Esau worshipped multiple gods, and therefore multiple souls are written in his regard. But Jacob worshipped one god, so one nefesh is written in his regard: “All the souls [hanefesh]…were.”
Rabbi Yoḥanan and Rabbi Yehoshua ben Levi, Rabbi Yoḥanan said: David said: “Bless the Lord, my soul” five times, corresponding to the five books of the Torah. Rabbi Yehoshua ben Levi said: Corresponding to the five worlds that a person sees. “Bless the Lord, my soul, and all that is within me bless His holy name” (Psalms 103:1); when one is located in his mother’s womb. “Bless the Lord, my soul, and do not forget all His acts of kindness” (Psalms 103:2); when he leaves his mother’s womb he says to [his soul]: Do not forget all the acts of kindness that He performed for you. “[Bless the Lord, all of His works, in all places of His dominion.] Bless the Lord, my soul” (Psalms 103:22); when a person reaches his stature24As an adult. and emerges to engage in commerce. “Bless the Lord, my soul. Lord my God, You are greatly exalted” (Psalms 104:1); at the moment when a person passes from the world. And one in the future, “May sinners be eradicated from the earth, and may the wicked be no more. Bless the Lord, my soul. Halleluya” (Psalms 104:35). Rabbi Shmuel bar Naḥman said in the name of Rabbi Yoḥanan: David recited one hundred and twenty psalms25This is apparently an error, as this verse appears at the conclusion of Psalm 104. The Gemara in Berakhot 9b states: “David recited one hundred and three chapters, but did not recite Halleluya until he saw the downfall of the wicked.” and did not conclude them with Halleluya until he saw the downfall of the wicked, as it is stated: “May sinners be eradicated from the earth…[Halleluya].”
What did David see that led him to laud the Holy One blessed be He with his soul? It is that he said: The soul fills the body and the Holy One blessed be He fills His world, as it is stated: “Do I not fill the heavens and the earth…?” (Jeremiah 23:24). Let the soul that fills the body come and praise the Holy One blessed be He who fills the entire world. The soul bears the body, and the Holy One blessed be He bears His world, as it is stated: “I made, and I will carry, I will bear” (Isaiah 46:4). Let the soul that bears the body come and laud the Holy One blessed be He, who bears His world. The soul outlasts the body, and the Holy One blessed be He outlasts His world. Let the soul that outlasts the body come and laud the Holy One blessed be He, who outlasts His world, as it is stated: “Even they will perish, but You will endure. All of them will wear out like a garment” (Psalms 102:27). The soul is solitary in the body and the Holy One blessed be He is solitary in His world. Let the soul that is solitary in the body come and laud the Holy One blessed be He, who is solitary in His world, as it is stated: “Hear Israel, the Lord is our God, the Lord is one” (Deuteronomy 6:4). The soul does not eat in the body, and the Holy One blessed be He, there is no eating before Him. Let the soul that does not eat in the body come and laud the Holy One blessed be He, before whom there is no eating, as it is stated: “Do I eat the flesh of bulls?” (Psalms 50:13). The soul sees but is not seen, and the Holy One blessed be He sees and is not seen. Let the soul that sees and is not seen come and laud the Holy One blessed be He who sees but is not seen, as it is stated: “The eyes of the Lord, roving throughout the earth” (Zechariah 4:10). The soul is pure in the body and the Holy One blessed be He is pure in His world. Let the soul that is pure in the body come and laud the Holy One blessed be He who is pure in His world, as is stated: “You that has eyes too pure to see evil” (Habakkuk 1:13). The soul does not sleep in the body and the Holy One blessed be He, there is no sleep for Him. Let the soul that does not sleep in the body come and laud the Holy One blessed be He, for whom there is no sleep, as it is stated: “Behold [the Guardian of Israel] neither slumbers nor sleeps” (Psalms 121:4).
נֶפֶשׁ כִּי תֶחֱטָא בִּשְׁגָגָה מִכֹּל מִצְוֹת ה', זֶה שֶׁאָמַר הַכָּתוּב (קהלת ג, טז): וְעוֹד רָאִיתִי תַּחַת הַשָּׁמֶשׁ מְקוֹם הַמִּשְׁפָּט וגו', רַבִּי אֱלִיעֶזֶר וְרַבִּי יְהוֹשֻׁעַ, רַבִּי אֱלִיעֶזֶר אוֹמֵר: מְקוֹם הַמִּשְׁפָּט שָׁמָּה הָרֶשַׁע, מָקוֹם שֶׁסַּנְהֶדְּרֵי גְדוֹלָה יוֹשֶׁבֶת וְחוֹתֶכֶת דִּינֵיהֶם שֶׁל יִשְׂרָאֵל, שָׁמָּה הָרֶשַׁע, שָׁמָּה (ירמיה לט, ג): וַיָּבֹאוּ כֹּל שָׂרֵי מֶלֶךְ בָּבֶל וַיֵּשְׁבוּ בְּשַׁעַר הַתָּוֶךְ, שֶׁשָּׁם חוֹתְכִין אֶת הַהֲלָכָה, בְּמַתְלָא אֲמַר הָן דִּי תָלְיָא מָרֵי זַיְינֵיהּ, כּוֹלְבָא רַעֲיָא תְּלָא קוּלְתֵיהּ. וְרוּחַ הַקֹּדֶשׁ צוֹוַחַת וְאוֹמֶרֶת: מְקוֹם הַצֶּדֶק שָׁמָּה הָרָשַׁע, בַּמָּקוֹם שֶׁכָּתוּב בָּהּ (ישעיה א, כא): צֶדֶק יָלִין בָּהּ, עַתָּה עֲבִידִין קָטוֹלִין, שָׁם הָרְגוּ אֶת זְכַרְיָה וְאֶת אוּרִיָה. רַבִּי יְהוֹשֻׁעַ אוֹמֵר: מְקוֹם הַמִּשְׁפָּט שָׁמָּה הָרֶשַׁע, מָקוֹם שֶׁנַּעֲשָׂה מִדַּת הַדִּין בְּמַעֲשֵׂה הָעֵגֶל, דִּכְתִיב (שמות לב, כז): עִבְרוּ וָשׁוּבוּ מִשַּׁעַר לָשַׁעַר, שָׁמָּה הָרֶשַׁע, שָׁם (שמות לב, לה): וַיִּגֹּף ה' אֶת הָעָם, וְרוּחַ הַקֹּדֶשׁ צוֹוַחַת וְאוֹמֶרֶת: מְקוֹם הַצֶּדֶק שָׁמָּה הָרָשַׁע, מָקוֹם שֶׁהִצְדַּקְתִּים וּקְרָאתִים אֱלָהוּת, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר (תהלים פב, ו): אֲנִי אָמַרְתִּי אֱלֹהִים אַתֶּם, שָׁמָּה הָרֶשַׁע, שָׁמָּה הִרְשִׁיעוּ וְעָשׂוּ אֶת הָעֵגֶל וְהִשְׁתַּחֲווּ לוֹ. דָּבָר אַחֵר, מְקוֹם הַמִּשְׁפָּט שָׁמָּה הָרֶשַׁע, מְדַבֵּר בְּדוֹר הַמַּבּוּל, מְקוֹם הַמִּשְׁפָּט שָׁמָּה הָרֶשַׁע, מָקוֹם שֶׁנַּעֲשֵׂית בָּהֶם מִדַּת הַדִּין בְּדוֹר הַמַּבּוּל, כְּדִתְנַן (גמרא סנהדרין קז, ב): דּוֹר הַמַּבּוּל אֵין לָהֶם חֵלֶק לָעוֹלָם הַבָּא וְאֵינָן עוֹמְדִין בַּדִּין, שָׁמָּה הָרֶשַׁע, שָׁם (בראשית ז, כג): וַיִּמַּח אֶת כָּל הַיְקוּם, וְרוּחַ הַקֹּדֶשׁ צוֹוַחַת וְאוֹמֶרֶת: מְקוֹם הַצֶּדֶק שָׁמָּה הָרָשַׁע, מָקוֹם שֶׁהִצְדַּקְתִּים, דִּכְתִיב (איוב כא, ט): בָּתֵּיהֶם שָׁלוֹם מִפָּחַד. שָׁמָּה הָרָשַׁע (איוב כא, יד): וַיֹּאמְרוּ לָאֵל סוּר מִמֶּנּוּ. דָּבָר אַחֵר, מְקוֹם הַמִּשְׁפָּט שָׁמָּה הָרֶשַׁע, מְדַבֵּר בִּסְדוֹמִיִּים, מָקוֹם שֶׁנַּעֲשָׂה מִדַּת הַדִּין בִּסְדוֹמִיִּים, כְּדִתְנַן אַנְשֵׁי סְדוֹם אֵין לָהֶם חֵלֶק לָעוֹלָם הַבָּא אֲבָל עוֹמְדִים בְּדִין, שָׁמָּה הָרֶשַׁע, שָׁם (בראשית יט, כד): וַה' הִמְטִיר עַל סְדוֹם, וְרוּחַ הַקֹּדֶשׁ צוֹוַחַת וְאוֹמֶרֶת: מְקוֹם הַצֶּדֶק שָׁמָּה הָרָשַׁע, מָקוֹם שֶׁהִצְדַקְתִּים וְכָתַבְתִּי בְּאַרְצָם (איוב כח, ה ו): אֶרֶץ מִמֶּנָּה יֵצֵא לָחֶם, מְקוֹם סַפִּיר אֲבָנֶיהָ וְעַפְרֹת זָהָב לוֹ, אָמְרוּ כְּשֶׁהָיָה אֶחָד מֵהֶן הוֹלֵךְ אֵצֶל הַגַּנָּן וְאָמַר לוֹ תֵּן לִי בְּאִיסָר יָרָק, כְּשֶׁהוּא נוֹתֵן מְשַׁכְשְׁכוֹ וּמוֹצֵא בְּעַפְרוֹ זָהָב, לְקַיֵּם מַה שֶּׁנֶּאֱמַר: וְעַפְרֹת זָהָב לוֹ. שָׁמָּה הָרָשַׁע, שָׁם אָמְרוּ נַעֲמֹד וּנְשַׁכַּח תּוֹרַת הָרֶגֶל מִבֵּינוֹתֵינוּ, (יחזקאל טז, מט): וְיַד עָנִי וְאֶבְיוֹן לֹא הֶחֱזִיקָה, רַבִּי יְהוּדָה בַּר סִימוֹן פָּתַר קְרָיָא בַּשִּׁטִּים, מְקוֹם הַמִּשְׁפָּט שָׁמָּה הָרֶשַׁע, מָקוֹם שֶׁנַּעֲשָׂה מִדַּת הַדִּין בַּשִּׁטִּים, דִּכְתִיב (במדבר כה, ד): קַח אֶת כָּל רָאשֵׁי הָעָם, שָׁמָּה הָרֶשַׁע, שָׁם (במדבר כה, ט): וַיִּהְיוּ הַמֵּתִים בַּמַּגֵּפָה, וְרוּחַ הַקֹּדֶשׁ צוֹוַחַת וְאוֹמֶרֶת: מְקוֹם הַצֶּדֶק שָׁמָּה הָרָשַׁע, מָקוֹם שֶׁהָפַכְתִּי קִלְּלַת בִּלְעָם לִבְרָכָה, דִּכְתִיב (דברים כג, ו): וַיַּהֲפֹךְ ה' אֱלֹהֶיךָ לְךָ אֶת הַקְּלָלָה לִבְרָכָה, שָׁמָּה הָרָשַׁע (במדבר כה, א): וַיֵּשֶׁב יִשְׂרָאֵל בַּשִּׁטִּים. רַבִּי לֵוִי וְרַבִּי יִצְחָק אָמְרוּ שְׁנֵי דְּבָרִים בַּיְּמִין וּשְׁנֵי דְבָרִים בַּיָּד, שְׁנֵי דְבָרִים בַּיְּמִין, תּוֹרָה וּצְדָקָה, תּוֹרָה מִנַּיִן (דברים לג, ב): מִימִינוֹ אֵשׁ דָּת לָמוֹ. צְדָקָה מִנַּיִן, דִּכְתִיב (תהלים מח, יא): צֶדֶק מָלְאָה יְמִינֶךָ. שְׁנֵי דְבָרִים בַּיָּד, נֶפֶשׁ וּמִשְׁפָּט, נֶפֶשׁ, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר (איוב יב, י): אֲשֶׁר בְּיָדוֹ נֶפֶשׁ כָּל חָי. מִשְׁפָּט, דִּכְתִיב (דברים לב, מא): וְתֹאחֵז בְּמִשְׁפָּט יָדִי, הַנֶּפֶשׁ נְתוּנָה בִּמְקוֹם מִשְׁפָּט, וְנֶפֶשׁ יוֹצְאָה מִמְּקוֹם מִשְׁפָּט וְחוֹטֵאת, אָמַר רַבִּי יִצְחָק אָמַר לָהּ הַקָּדוֹשׁ בָּרוּךְ הוּא לַנֶּפֶשׁ אֲנִי כָּתַבְתִּי עָלַיִךְ (דברים יב, כג): רַק חֲזַק לְבִלְתִּי אֲכֹל הַדָּם וגו', וְאַתְּ יוֹצֵאת וְחוֹטֵאת, נֶפֶשׁ כִּי תֶחֱטָא בִּשְׁגָּגָה.
“Speak to the children of Israel, saying: When a person will sin unwittingly regarding any of the matters that the Lord commanded not to perform, and he will perform one of them” (Leviticus 4:2).
“When a person will sin unwittingly regarding any of the matters that the Lord commanded [not to perform]” – this is what the verse says: “Moreover, I saw under the sun, in the place of judgment [there is wickedness, and in the place of justice there is wickedness]” (Ecclesiastes 3:16). Rabbi Eliezer and Rabbi Yehoshua, Rabbi Eliezer says: “In the place of judgment there is wickedness” – the place where the Great Sanhedrin convenes and decides the rulings of Israel. “There is wickedness,” – there “all the princes of the king of Babylon came and sat in the Middle Gate” (Jeremiah 39:3), which is where they decide the halakha.1The word for Middle Gate [hatavekh] is similar to the term for determine [ḥotekh]. Thus, the enemies of Israel sat where the Sanhedrin used to convene. In the parable it is said: In the place where the master hung his sword, the insolent shepherd hangs his jug. The Divine Spirit cries out and says: “In the place of justice, there is wickedness.” In the place in whose regard it is written: “Justice lodged in it” (Isaiah 1:21), now they commit murders. There they killed Zekharia and Uriya.2Because Israel, in murdering Zekharya and Uriya, committed atrocities in the place that should have been set aside for justice, the members of the Great Sanhedrin were replaced in that location by conquering Babylonian officers.
Rabbi Yehoshua says: “In the place of judgment there is wickedness” – in the place where the attribute of justice was implemented is the act of the calf, as it is written: “Pass to and fro from gate to gate, [let each man kill his brother…]” (Exodus 32:27). “There is wickedness,” there, “the Lord afflicted the people [because they had crafted the calf] (Exodus 32:35). The Divine Spirit cries out and says: “In the place of justice there is wickedness.” In the place where I declared them righteous and called them divine, as it is stated: “I had said: You are divine” (Psalms 82:6), there they were wicked, crafted the calf, and prostrated themselves to it.
Another matter, “In the place of judgment there is wickedness” – this is speaking of the generation of the Flood. “In the place of judgment there is wickedness,” in the place where the attribute of justice was implemented against the generation of the Flood, as we learned in a mishna: “The generation of the Flood has no share in the World to Come and will not stand in judgment,”3Sanhedrin 10:3. Although some wicked people will stand in judgment at the end of days, when God will return their souls to their bodies and judge them, the members of the generation of the Flood will be completely eliminated from the world. “there is wickedness,”; there, “He obliterated all existence” (Genesis 7:23). The Divine Spirit cries out and says: “In the place of justice there is wickedness.” In the place where I declared them righteous, as it is written: “Their houses are peaceful without fear” (Job 21:9), “there is wickedness,” “They say to God: Turn away from us” (Job 21:14).
Another matter, “In the place of judgment, there is wickedness” – this is speaking of the people of Sodom. In the place where the attribute of justice was implemented against the people of Sodom, as we learned in a mishna: “The people of Sodom have no share in the World to Come, but will stand in judgment,”4Sanhedrin 10:3. “there is wickedness,”; there, “He rained upon Sodom…[brimstone and fire]” (Genesis 19:24). The Divine Spirit cries out and says: “In the place of justice, there is wickedness.” In the place where I declared them righteous, and wrote regarding their land: “Earth, from which bread emerges…. Its stones are a source of sapphires, and its dust has gold” (Job 28:5–6), they say that when one of them5People in Sodom. would go to the gardener and say to him: Give me a vegetable worth an isar; when he would give it to him, he would shake it and find gold in its dust, to realize what is stated: “and its dust has gold”; “there is wickedness” there, they said: Let us arise and cause the very idea of travelers in our midst to be forgotten: “It did not support the hand of the poor and the indigent” (Ezekiel 16:49).
Rabbi Yehuda bar Simon interpreted the verse regarding Shitim. “In the place of judgment, there is wickedness” – in the place where the attribute of justice was implemented in Shitim, as it is written: “The Lord said to Moses: Take all the leaders of the people, [and hang them for the Lord]” (Numbers 25:4), “there is wickedness,” there, “Those who died in the plague [were twenty-four thousand]” (Numbers 25:9). The Divine Spirit cries out and says: “In the place of justice, there is wickedness.” In the place where I transformed Bilam’s curse into a blessing, as it is written: “The Lord your God transformed for you the curse into a blessing” (Deuteronomy 23:6), “there is wickedness,” “Israel was residing in Shitim, [and the people began to engage in licentiousness]” (Numbers 25:1).
Rabbi Levi and Rabbi Yitzḥak said: Two matters are in [God’s] right hand and two matters are in [His left] hand. Two matters are in [God’s] right hand: Torah and righteousness. Torah, from where is it derived? “From His right hand, a fiery law to them” (Deuteronomy 33:2). Righteousness, from where is it derived? As it is written: “Your right hand is filled with righteousness” (Psalms 48:11). Two matters are in [His left] hand: the soul and judgment. The soul, as it is written: “In whose hand is the soul of every living being” (Job 12:10). Judgment, as it is written: “My hand grasps judgment” (Deuteronomy 32:41). The soul is situated in the place of judgment, and the soul emerges from the place of judgment and sins? Rabbi Yitzḥak said: The Holy One blessed be He said to the soul [nefesh]: I wrote in your regard: “Only be strong not to eat the blood…” (Deuteronomy 12:23), and you emerge and sin? “When a person [nefesh] will sin unwittingly” (Leviticus 4:2).
דָּבָר אַחֵר, נֶפֶשׁ כִּי תֶחֱטָא וגו', זֶה שֶׁאָמַר הַכָּתוּב (קהלת ו, ז): כָּל עֲמַל אָדָם לְפִיהוּ. אָמַר רַבִּי שְׁמוּאֵל בַּר אַמֵּי מַה שֶּׁסִּגֵּל אָדָם מִצְווֹת וּמַעֲשִׂים טוֹבִים, אֵינוֹ מַסְפִּיק לַהֶבֶל הַיּוֹצֵא מִפִּיו. (קהלת ו, ז): וְגַם הַנֶּפֶשׁ לֹא תִמָּלֵא, רַבִּי בֶּרֶכְיָה וְרַבִּי קַרְצִיפָא בְּשֵׁם רַבִּי יוֹחָנָן אָמְרִין כְּפִיטוֹרִין הַיּוֹצְאִין מִן הַוֵּשֶׁט, וְרַבִּי חֲנִינָא אָמַר כְּצִפּוֹרִין הַיּוֹצֵא מִן הַוֵּשֶׁט, שְׁמוּאֵל אָמַר כְּסִילָן רָטֹב וְהָפוּךְ הַיּוֹצֵא מִן הַוֵּשֶׁט. אָמַר רַבִּי שְׁמוּאֵל בַּר יִצְחָק כָּל מַה שֶּׁסִּגֵּל אָדָם מִצְווֹת וּמַעֲשִׂים טוֹבִים, לְפִיו, וְלֹא לְפִי בְּנוֹ וְלֹא לְפִי בִּתוֹ. וְרַבָּנָן אָמְרֵי לְפִיהוּ וְלֹא לְרֵיחַ רָע, לְפִי שֶׁהַנֶּפֶשׁ הַזּוֹ יוֹדַעַת כָּל שֶׁיְגֵעָה לְעַצְמָהּ יְגֵעָה, לְפִיכָךְ אֵינָהּ שְׂבֵעָה לְמִצְווֹת וּמַעֲשִׂים טוֹבִים. אָמַר רַבִּי לֵוִי מָשָׁל לְעִירוֹנִי שֶׁהָיָה נָשׂוּי בַּת מְלָכִים, אַף עַל פִּי שֶׁמַּאֲכִילָהּ כָּל מַעֲדַנֵּי עוֹלָם אֵינוֹ יוֹצֵא יְדֵי חוֹבָתוֹ, לָמָּה לְפִי שֶׁהִיא בַּת מְלָכִים, כָּךְ כָּל מַה שֶּׁיִּפְעַל אָדָם עִם נַפְשׁוֹ אֵינוֹ יוֹצֵא יְדֵי חוֹבָתוֹ, לָמָּה שֶׁהִיא מִלְּמַעְלָה. שְׁלשָׁה כְּפוּיֵי טוֹבָה הֵן: הָאָרֶץ, וְהָאִשָּׁה, וְהַנֶּפֶשׁ. הָאָרֶץ, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר (משלי ל, טז): אֶרֶץ לֹא שָׂבְעָה מַיִם. הָאִשָּׁה מִנַּיִן (משלי ל, כ): אָכְלָה וּמָחֲתָה פִיהָ וְאָמְרָה לֹא פָעַלְתִּי אָוֶן. הַנֶּפֶשׁ מִנַּיִן (קהלת ו, ז): גַּם הַנֶּפֶשׁ לֹא תִמָּלֵא. שְׁלשָׁה נוֹטְלִין בְּשׁוֹפַע וְנוֹתְנִין בְּשׁוֹפַע: הָאָרֶץ, וְהַיָּם, וְהַמַּלְכוּת. אָמַר רַבִּי יְהוֹשֻׁעַ דְּסִכְנִין בְּשֵׁם רַבִּי לֵוִי, שִׁשָּׁה פְּעָמִים כְּתִיב כָּאן נֶפֶשׁ, כְּנֶגֶד שֵׁשֶׁת יְמֵי בְרֵאשִׁית, אָמַר לָהּ הַקָּדוֹשׁ בָּרוּךְ הוּא לַנֶּפֶשׁ, כָּל מַה שֶּׁבָּרָאתִי בְּשֵׁשֶׁת יְמֵי בְרֵאשִׁית לֹא בָרָאתִי אֶלָּא בִּזְכוּתֵךְ וְאַתְּ יוֹצֵאת וְחוֹטֵאת, נֶפֶשׁ כִּי תֶחֱטָא.
Another matter, “when a person [nefesh] will sin…” – that is what the verse said: “All the toil of man is for his mouth” (Ecclesiastes 6:7). Rabbi Shmuel bar Ami said: As much as a person amasses mitzvot and good deeds, it is insufficient to counterbalance the hot air that emerges from his mouth.6It does not repay God for the very act of being able to breathe. Alternatively, it does not counterbalance the sins of improper speech that he commits (Rabbi David Luria).
“But his soul is also not filled” (Ecclesiastes 6:7). Rabbi Berekhya and Rabbi Kartzifa in the name of Rabbi Yoḥanan say: Like ropes though a round hole.7Thick ropes that are pulled through a ring on a ship that is roughly the same size as the rope. This and the upcoming descriptions represent the process of removing the soul from a person at the time of death. Rabbi Ḥanina said: Like a nail that comes through the round hole. Shmuel said: Like a damp, inverted thorn that emerges from the trachea.
Rabbi Shmuel bar Yitzḥak said: All the mitzvot and good deeds that a person amasses are for his mouth, but not for the mouth of his son and not for the mouth of his daughter.8They benefits him but not his children. The Rabbis say: For his mouth and not for a foul odor.9It is for a good reputation and not for a bad reputation. Because the soul knows that all the exertion that it expends, it expends for itself; therefore, it is never satiated of mitzvot and good deeds. Rabbi Levi said: This is analogous to a villager who was married to the daughter of kings; even if he feeds her all the delicacies in the world, he does not fulfill his obligation.10He does not satisfy her. Why? It is because she is exalted.
Three are ingrates: The earth, the woman, and the soul. The earth, as it is stated: “The earth is not sated with water” (Proverbs 30:16). The woman, from where is it derived? “[So is the way of an adulterous woman:] She eats, and wipes her mouth, and says: I did not do wrong” (Proverbs 30:20). The soul, from where is it derived? “But his soul is also not filled” (Ecclesiastes 6:7). Three take abundantly and give abundantly: the earth,11The earth takes rainwater and produces crops. the sea,12Water flows into the sea and evaporates from it to produce rain. and the government.13The government collects taxes and sees to the needs of the public.
Rabbi Yehoshua of Sikhnin said in the name of Rabbi Levi: “Soul” is written here six times14The term soul [nefesh] is written six times in the Torah in the context of sin. corresponding to the six days of Creation. The Holy One blessed be He said to the soul: ‘Everything that I created during the six days of Creation, I created only for your sake, and you emerge and sin? “When a person will sin.”’
דָּבָר אַחֵר, נֶפֶשׁ כִּי תֶחֱטָא (משלי יט, ב): גַּם בְּלֹא דַעַת נֶפֶשׁ לֹא טוֹב, אָמַר רַבִינָא בַּר אֲבִינָא מָשָׁל לְאוֹרֵחַ שֶׁהָיָה רָגִיל לָבוֹא עִם הָנֵץ הַחַמָּה, וְשָׁכַח וְשִׁמֵּשׁ מִטָּתוֹ קֹדֶם הָנֵץ הַחַמָּה בְּלֹא יָדַע בְּלֹא טוֹב, וְאִלּוּ יָדַע וְשִׁמֵּשׁ עַל אַחַת כַּמָּה וְכַמָּה, וְלֹא עוֹד אֶלָּא (משלי יט, ב): וְאָץ בְּרַגְלַיִם חוֹטֵא, רַבִּי יִצְחָק בַּר שְׁמוּאֵל בַּר מַרְתָא בְּשֵׁם רַב, מָשָׁל לְאֶחָד שֶׁהָיוּ לְפָנָיו שְׁתֵּי חֲנֻיּוֹת אַחַת מוֹכֶרֶת בְּשַׂר שְׁחוּטָה וְאַחַת מוֹכֶרֶת בְּשַׂר נְבֵלָה, וְשָׁכַח וְלָקַח מִזּוֹ שֶׁמּוֹכֶרֶת בְּשַׂר נְבֵלָה בְּלֹא יָדַע בְּלֹא טוֹב, אִלּוּ יָדַע וְלָקַח עַל אַחַת כַּמָּה וְכַמָּה, וְלֹא עוֹד אֶלָּא וְאָץ בְּרַגְלַיִם חוֹטֵא. רַבִּי יוֹחָנָן פָּתַר קְרָא לְעִנְיַן שַׁבָּת, הָיוּ לְפָנָיו שְׁנֵי שְׁבִילִין אֶחָד שָׁפוּי וְאֶחָד מָלֵא קוֹצִין וּצְרוֹרוֹת, וְשָׁכַח וְהָלַךְ בָּזֶה שֶׁהָיָה מָלֵא קוֹצִים וּצְרוֹרוֹת, בְּלֹא יָדַע בְּלֹא טוֹב, עַל אַחַת כַּמָּה וְכַמָּה אִם יָדַע וְהָלַךְ, וְאָץ בְּרַגְלַיִם חוֹטֵא. דָּבָר אַחֵר, גַּם בְּלֹא דַעַת נֶפֶשׁ, רַבִּי יוֹחָנָן וְרַבִּי שִׁמְעוֹן בֶּן לָקִישׁ, רַבִּי יוֹחָנָן אָמַר בַּחֲטָאוֹת וּבַאֲשָׁמוֹת אֲסוּרוֹת, בִּנְדָרִים וּבִנְדָבוֹת מֻתָּר. רַבִּי שִׁמְעוֹן בֶּן לָקִישׁ אָמַר אַף בִּנְדָרִים וּנְדָבוֹת אָסוּר. דָּבָר אַחֵר, גַּם בְּלֹא דַעַת, אֵלּוּ שְׁגָגוֹת. וְאָץ בְּרַגְלַיִם חוֹטֵא, אֵלּוּ הַזְּדוֹנוֹת, תֵּדַע לְךָ שֶׁהִיא שְׁגָגָה וְהוּא עוֹשֶׂה אוֹתָהּ חַטָּאת, נֶפֶשׁ כִּי תֶחֱטָא בִּשְׁגָגָה.
Another matter, “when a person [nefesh] will sin” – “Also for the soul to be without knowledge is not good” (Proverbs 19:2). Ravina bar Avina said: This is analogous to a [woman’s] menstrual period that would consistently arrive as the sun was rising, and one forgot and engaged in marital relations before sunrise; without knowledge, it is not good.15The couple should have refrained from marital relations at that time on the day when the woman expected her menstrual period to arrive. If they engaged in relations and her period began in the middle of the act, they bear responsibility for their sin. Had one known and engaged in marital relations, all the more so. Moreover, “and one who hastens with his feet sins” (Proverbs 19:2).
Rabbi Yitzḥak bar Shmuel bar Marta in the name of Rav: This is analogous to one who had two stores before him, one selling ritually slaughtered meat and one selling the meat of animals that were not ritually slaughtered. He forgot and purchased from the one selling meat of animals that were not ritually slaughtered. “Without knowledge” it is “not good”; had he known and purchased, all the more so. Moreover, “and one who hastens with his feet sins.”16One who hastens into a situation that could lead to sin without the necessary precautions is responsible for the sin.
Rabbi Yoḥanan interpreted the verse regarding Shabbat; if one had before him two paths, one smooth and the other full of thorns and pebbles, and he forgot and went on the path that was full of thorns and pebbles,17The premise is that walking and detaching the thorn bushes is a prohibited labor on Shabbat. “without knowledge” it is “not good,” had he known and [still] gone, all the more so. Moreover, “and one who hastens with his feet sins.”
Another matter, “also for the soul to be without knowledge [is not good, and one who hastens with his feet sins].” Rabbi Yoḥanan and Rabbi Shimon ben Lakish, Rabbi Yoḥanan said: Sin offerings and guilt offerings are prohibited; vow offerings and gift offerings are permitted.18Sin offerings and guilt offerings are brought to atone for unwitting sin. Rabbi Yoḥanan states that one who comes to the Temple to bring offerings for even unwitting sins is no good, because he should be careful enough to avoid sin entirely. Rabbi Shimon ben Lakish said: Even vow offerings and gift offerings are prohibited.19Rabbi Shimon ben Lakish interprets the end of the verse to mean that coming to the Temple too frequently even to bring voluntary offerings is not good.
Another matter, “also [for the soul] to be without knowledge” – these are unwitting sins. “And one who hastens with his feet sins” – these are intentional transgressions. Know that when [one’s act] is unwitting it is [still] considered a sin: “When a person will sin unwittingly.”
עֲשָׂרָה דְבָרִים מְשַׁמְּשִׁין אֶת הַנֶּפֶשׁ, הַוֵּשֶׁט לַמָּזוֹן, וְהַקָּנֶה לַקּוֹל, וְהַכָּבֵד לַחֵמָה, וְהָרֵאָה לַשְּׁתִיָּה, הַמַּסָּס לִטְחֹן, וְהַטְּחוֹל לַשְּׂחֹק, וְהַקֵּבָה לַשֵּׁנָה, וְהַמָּרָה לַקִּנְאָה, וְהַכְּלָיוֹת מְחַשְׁבוֹת, וְהַלֵּב גּוֹמֵר, וְהַנֶּפֶשׁ לְמַעְלָה מִכֻּלָּם. אָמַר הַקָּדוֹשׁ בָּרוּךְ הוּא אֲנִי עֲשִׂיתִיךְ לְמַעְלָה מִכֻּלָּן וְאַתְּ יוֹצֵאת וְגוֹזֶלֶת וְחוֹמֶסֶת וְחוֹטֵאת.
There are ten items that serve the soul: The esophagus for food, the trachea for the voice, the liver for anger, the lung for drinking,20It was understood that the lungs help absorb liquids in the body, which are then expelled when one exhales. the intestine to grind, the spleen for laughter, the stomach for sleep, the gall bladder for jealousy, the kidneys think, the heart completes,21It completes the thoughts. and the soul is above them all. The Holy One blessed be He said: ‘I placed you above them all, and you go out and rob, extort, and sin?’
דַּבֵּר אֶל בְּנֵי יִשְׂרָאֵל לֵאמֹר נֶפֶשׁ כִּי תֶחֱטָא וגו', תָּנֵי רַבִּי יִשְׁמָעֵאל מָשָׁל לְמֶלֶךְ שֶׁהָיָה לוֹ פַּרְדֵּס וְהָיָה בוֹ בִּכּוּרוֹת נָאוֹת, וְהוֹשִׁיב בּוֹ הַמֶּלֶךְ שׁוֹמְרִים, אֶחָד חִגֵּר וְאֶחָד סוּמָא, וְאָמַר לָהֶן הִזָּהֲרוּ עַל בִּכּוּרוֹת הַנָּאוֹת הָאֵלּוּ, לְיָמִים אָמַר חִגֵּר לַסּוּמָא בִּכּוּרוֹת נָאוֹת אֲנִי רוֹאֶה בַּפַּרְדֵּס, אָמַר לוֹ סוּמָא הָבֵא וְנֹאכַל, אָמַר לוֹ חִגֵּר וְכִי יְכוֹלְנִי לְהַלֵּךְ, אָמַר סוּמָא וְכִי רוֹאֶה אֲנִי, רָכַב חִגֵּר עַל גַּבֵּי סוּמָא וְאָכְלוּ אֶת הַבִּכּוּרוֹת וְהָלְכוּ וְיָשְׁבוּ לָהֶם אִישׁ בִּמְקוֹמוֹ. לְיָמִים נִכְנַס הַמֶּלֶךְ בְּאוֹתוֹ פַּרְדֵּס אָמַר לָהֶן הֵיכָן הֵם הַבִּכּוּרוֹת הַנָּאוֹת, אָמַר לוֹ סוּמָא אֲדוֹנִי הַמֶּלֶךְ וְכִי רוֹאֶה אֲנִי, אָמַר לוֹ חִגֵּר אֲדוֹנִי הַמֶּלֶךְ וְכִי יָכוֹל אֲנִי לַהֲלוֹךְ, אוֹתוֹ הַמֶּלֶךְ שֶׁהָיָה פִּקֵּחַ מֶה עָשָׂה לָהֶן, הִרְכִּיב חִגֵּר עַל גַּבֵּי סוּמָא וְהִתְחִילוּ מְהַלְּכִין, אָמַר לָהֶן כָּךְ עֲשִׂיתֶם וַאֲכַלְתֶּם אֶת הַבִּכּוּרוֹת. כָּךְ לֶעָתִיד לָבוֹא הַקָּדוֹשׁ בָּרוּךְ הוּא אוֹמֵר לַנֶּפֶשׁ מִפְּנֵי מַה חָטָאת לְפָנַי, אָמְרָה לְפָנָיו רִבּוֹן הָעוֹלָמִים אֲנִי לֹא חָטָאתִי הַגּוּף הוּא שֶׁחָטָא, מִשָּׁעָה שֶׁיָּצָאתִי מִמֶּנּוּ כְּצִפּוֹר טְהוֹרָה פּוֹרַחַת בָּאֲוִיר אֲנִי, מֶה חָטָאתִי לְפָנֶיךָ. אוֹמֵר לַגּוּף מִפְּנֵי מָה חָטָאתָ לְפָנַי, אָמַר לְפָנָיו רִבּוֹן הָעוֹלָמִים אֲנִי לֹא חָטָאתִי נְשָׁמָה הִיא שֶׁחָטְאָה, מִשָּׁעָה שֶׁיָּצְתָה מִמֶּנִּי כְּאֶבֶן שֶׁהֻשְׁלַךְ עַל גַּבֵּי קַרְקַע אֲנִי נִשְׁלַךְ, שֶׁמָּא חָטָאתִי לְפָנֶיךָ. מָה הַקָּדוֹשׁ בָּרוּךְ הוּא עוֹשֶׂה לָהֶן מֵבִיא נְשָׁמָה וְזוֹרְקָהּ בַּגּוּף וְדָן שְׁנֵיהֶם כְּאֶחָד, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר (תהלים נ, ד): יִקְרָא אֶל הַשָּׁמַיִם מֵעָל וגו', יִקְרָא אֶל הַשָּׁמַיִם מֵעָל לְהָבִיא אֶת הַנְּשָׁמָה, וְאֶל הָאָרֶץ לְהָבִיא אֶת הַגּוּף, לָדִין עַמּוֹ. תָּנֵי רַבִּי חִיָּא מָשָׁל לְכֹהֵן שֶׁהָיָה לוֹ שְׁתֵּי נָשִׁים אַחַת בַּת כֹּהֵן וְאַחַת בַּת יִשְׂרָאֵל, וּמָסַר לָהֶן עִסָּה שֶׁל תְּרוּמָה וְטִמְאוּהָ, אָמַר לָהֶן מִי טִמֵּא אֶת הָעִסָּה, זוֹ אוֹמֶרֶת זוֹ טִמְאַתּוּ וְזוֹ אוֹמֶרֶת זוֹ טִמְאַתּוּ, מֶה עָשָׂה הַכֹּהֵן הִנִּיחַ לְבַת יִשְׂרָאֵל וְהִתְחִיל מִדַּיֵּין עִם הַכֹּהֶנֶת, אָמְרָה לוֹ אֲדֹנִי כֹּהֵן מִפְּנֵי מָה אַתָּה מַנִּיחַ אֶת בַּת יִשְׂרָאֵל וּמִדַּיֵין עִמִּי, וַהֲלוֹא לִשְׁנֵינוּ מְסַרְתָּהּ כְּאֶחָת. אָמַר לָהּ זוֹ בַּת יִשְׂרָאֵל וְאֵינָהּ לְמוּדָה מִבֵּית אָבִיהָ, אֲבָל אַתְּ בַּת כֹּהֶנֶת וְאַתְּ לְמוּדָה מִבֵּית אָבִיךְ, לְפִיכָךְ אֲנִי מַנִּיחַ אֶת בַּת יִשְׂרָאֵל וּמִדַּיֵּין עִמָּךְ. כָּךְ לֶעָתִיד לָבוֹא הַנֶּפֶשׁ וְהַגּוּף עוֹמְדִין בַּדִּין, מָה הַקָּדוֹשׁ בָּרוּךְ הוּא עוֹשֶׂה מַנִּיחַ הַגּוּף וּמִדַּיֵּין עִם הַנְּשָׁמָה, וְהִיא אוֹמֶרֶת לְפָנָיו רִבּוֹן הָעוֹלָמִים שְׁנֵינוּ כְּאַחַת חָטָאנוּ, מִפְּנֵי מָה אַתָּה מַנִּיחַ אֶת הַגּוּף וּמִדַּיֵּין עִמִּי, אָמַר לָהּ הַגּוּף מִן הַתַּחְתּוֹנִים הוּא מִמָּקוֹם שֶׁהֵן חוֹטְאִין, אֲבָל אַתְּ מִן הָעֶלְיוֹנִים מִמָּקוֹם שֶׁאֵין חוֹטְאִין לְפָנַי, לְפִיכָךְ אֲנִי מַנִּיחַ אֶת הַגּוּף וּמִדַּיֵּין עִמָּךְ.
“Speak to the children of Israel, saying: When a person [nefesh] will sin…” Rabbi Yishmael taught: This is analogous to a king who had an orchard and there were fine first fruits in it. The king deployed guards there, one disabled and one blind. He said to them: ‘Carefully guard these fine first fruits.’ Sometime later, the disabled one said to the blind one. ‘I see fine first fruits in the orchard.’ The blind one said to him: ‘Bring and we shall eat.’ The disabled one said to him: ‘Am I able to walk?’ The blind one said: ‘Am I able to see?’ The disabled one rode upon the blind one, they ate the first fruits, and each went and sat in his place. Sometime later, the king entered the orchard. He said to them: ‘Where are the fine first fruits?’ The blind one sais to him: ‘My lord the king, am I able to see?’ The disabled one said to him: ‘My lord the king, am I able to walk?’ The king, who was clever, what did he do to them? He had the disabled one ride on the blind one and they began walking. He said to them: ‘This is what you did and you ate the first fruits.’ So too, in the future the Holy One blessed be He will say to the soul [nefesh]: ‘Why did you sin before Me?’ It will say before Him: ‘Master of the universe, I did not sin; it was the body that sinned. Since I departed from it I am like a pure bird flying in the air. In what way have I sinned before You?’ He will say to the body: ‘Why did you sin before Me?’ It will say before Him: ‘Master of the universe, it is not I who sinned; the soul sinned. Since it departed from me, I am cast like a stone cast onto the ground. Could I have sinned before You?’ What will the Holy One blessed be He do to them? He will bring the soul and inject it into the body and judge the two of them together, as it is stated: “He summons the heavens above, [and the earth, to judge His people]” (Psalms 50:4). “He summons the heavens above” to bring the soul, “and the earth” to bring the body. “To judge His people [amo].”22The word amo can also be read imo, which means with it. Thus, God reunites soul and body in order to judge them together.
Rabbi Ḥiyya taught: This is analogous to a priest who had two wives, one the daughter of a priest and one the daughter of an Israelite. He gave them teruma dough and they rendered it impure. He said to them: ‘Who rendered the dough impure?’ This one says: ‘That one impurified it’ and that one says: ‘This one impurified it.’ What did the priest do? He excused the daughter of the Israelite and began taking to task the daughter of the priest. She said to him: ‘My lord, the priest, why did you excuse the daughter of the Israelite and take me to task? Did you not give it to both of us together?’ He said to her: ‘She is the daughter of the Israelite and is not accustomed from her father’s house, but you are the daughter of a priest and are accustomed from your father’s house. That is why I am excusing the daughter of the Israelite and taking you to task.’ So too, in the future, the body and the soul will stand trial. What will the Holy One blessed be He do? He will excuse the body and judge the soul. It will say before Him: ‘Master of the universe, we both sinned together. Why are You excusing the body and judging me?’ He will say to it: ‘The body is from the lower world, from a place where they sin, but you are from the upper world, a place there they do not sin before Me. That is why I am excusing the body and judging you.’
תָּנֵי חִזְקִיָּה (ירמיה נ, יז): שֶׂה פְזוּרָה יִשְׂרָאֵל, נִמְשְׁלוּ יִשְׂרָאֵל לְשֶׂה, מַה שֶּׂה הַזֶּה לוֹקֶה עַל רֹאשׁוֹ אוֹ בְּאֶחָד מֵאֵבָרָיו וְכָל אֵבָרָיו מַרְגִּישִׁין, כָּךְ הֵן יִשְׂרָאֵל, אֶחָד מֵהֶן חוֹטֵא וְכֻלָּן מַרְגִּישִׁין, (במדבר טז, כב): הָאִישׁ אֶחָד יֶחֱטָא, תָּנֵי רַבִּי שִׁמְעוֹן בֶּן יוֹחָאי, מָשָׁל לִבְנֵי אָדָם שֶׁהָיוּ יוֹשְׁבִין בִּסְפִינָה נָטַל אֶחָד מֵהֶן מַקְדֵּחַ וְהִתְחִיל קוֹדֵחַ תַּחְתָּיו, אָמְרוּ לוֹ חֲבֵרָיו מַה אַתָּה יוֹשֵׁב וְעוֹשֶׂה, אָמַר לָהֶם מָה אִכְפַּת לָכֶם לֹא תַחְתִּי אֲנִי קוֹדֵחַ, אָמְרוּ לוֹ שֶׁהַמַּיִם עוֹלִין וּמְצִיפִין עָלֵינוּ אֶת הַסְּפִינָה. כָּךְ אָמַר אִיּוֹב (איוב יט, ד): וְאַף אָמְנָם שָׁגִיתִי אִתִּי תָּלִין מְשׁוּגָתִי, אָמְרוּ לוֹ חֲבֵרָיו (איוב לד, לז): כִּי יֹסִיף עַל חַטָּאתוֹ פֶשַׁע בֵּינֵינוּ יִשְׂפּוֹק, אַתָּה מַסְפִּיק בֵּינֵינוּ אֶת עֲוֹנוֹתֶיךָ. אָמַר רַבִּי אֶלְעָשֵׂא גּוֹי אֶחָד שָׁאַל אֶת רַבִּי יְהוֹשֻׁעַ בֶּן קָרְחָה, כְּתִיב בְּתוֹרַתְכֶם (שמות כג, ב): אַחֲרֵי רַבִּים לְהַטֹּת, אָנוּ מְרֻבִּים מִכֶּם מִפְּנֵי מָה אֵין אַתֶּם מַשְׁוִין עִמָּנוּ בַּעֲבוֹדָה זָרָה. אָמַר לוֹ, יֵשׁ לְךָ בָּנִים, אָמַר לוֹ הִזְכַּרְתַּנִּי צָרָתִי, אָמַר לוֹ לָמָּה, אָמַר לוֹ הַרְבֵּה בָּנִים יֵשׁ לִי, בְּשָׁעָה שֶׁהֵן יוֹשְׁבִין עַל שֻׁלְחָנִי זֶה מְבָרֵךְ לֵאלוֹהֵי פְּלוֹנִי וְזֶה מְבָרֵךְ לֵאלוֹהֵי פְּלוֹנִי, וְאֵינָם עוֹמְדִים מִשָּׁם עַד שֶׁמְפַצְּעִין אֶת מֹחָן אֵלּוּ אֶת אֵלּוּ. אָמַר לוֹ וּמַשְׁוֶה אַתָּה עִמָּהֶן, אָמַר לוֹ, לֹא. אָמַר לוֹ, עַד שֶׁאַתָּה מַשְׁוֶה אוֹתָנוּ, לֵךְ הַשְׁוֵה אֶת בָּנֶיךָ, נִדְחַף וְהָלַךְ לוֹ. כֵּיוָן שֶׁיָּצָא אָמְרוּ לוֹ תַּלְמִידָיו, רַבִּי, לָזֶה דָּחִיתָ בְּקָנֶה רָצוּץ, לָנוּ מָה אַתָּה מֵשִׁיב, אָמַר לָהֶם בְּעֵשָׂו כְּתִיב בֵּיה שֵׁשׁ נְפָשׁוֹת וּכְתִיב בּוֹ נְפָשׁוֹת הַרְבֵּה, דִּכְתִיב (בראשית לו, ו): וַיִּקַח עֵשָׂו אֶת נָשָׁיו וְאֶת בָּנָיו וְאֶת בְּנֹתָיו וְאֶת כָּל נַפְשׁוֹת בֵּיתוֹ, וּבְיַעֲקֹב שִׁבְעִים נָפֶשׁ וּכְתִיב בֵּיהּ נֶפֶשׁ אֶחָת, דִּכְתִיב (שמות א, ה): וַיְהִי כָּל נֶפֶשׁ יֹצְאֵי יֶרֶךְ יַעֲקֹב שִׁבְעִים נָפֶשׁ, אֶלָּא עֵשָׂו שֶׁהוּא עוֹבֵד לֶאֱלֹהוֹת הַרְבֵּה כְּתִיב בֵּיהּ נְפָשׁוֹת הַרְבֵּה, אֲבָל יַעֲקֹב שֶׁהוּא עוֹבֵד לֶאֱלוֹהַּ אֶחָד כְּתִיב בּוֹ נֶפֶשׁ אַחַת, וַיְהִי כָּל נֶפֶשׁ וגו'.
Ḥizkiya taught: “Israel are scattered sheep” (Jeremiah 50:17). Israel is likened to sheep. Just as, if a sheep is struck on its head or one of its limbs all its limbs feel it, so it is with Israel; one of them sins and all of them feel it. “Shall one man sin, [and You will rage against the entire congregation?]” (Numbers 16:22). Rabbi Shimon bar Yoḥai taught: This is analogous to people who were sitting in a ship. One of them took a drill and began drilling a hole. His counterparts said to him: ‘What are you sitting and doing?’ He said to them: ‘Why do you care? Am I not drilling under myself?’ They said to him: ‘Because the water will rise and flood the ship we are on!’ So too, Job said: “If indeed I erred, with me my error rests” (Job 19:4). His counterparts said to him: “For he adds transgression to his sin, he extends [yispok] among us” (Job 34:37); you extend your iniquities among us.
Rabbi Elasa said: A certain gentile asked Rabbi Yehoshua ben Korḥa: ‘It is written in your Torah: “Incline after the majority” (Exodus 23:2). We are more numerous than you are. Why do you not become like us regarding idol worship?’ He said to him: ‘Do you have children?’ He said to him: ‘You have reminded me of my troubles.’ He said to him: ‘Why?’ He said to him: ‘I have many children. When they sit at my table, this one prays to the god of so and so and that one prays to the god of so and so, and they do not leave until each of them has cracked the skull of the other.’ He said to him: ‘Do you bring them to uniformity?’ He said to him: ‘No.’ He said to him: Before you get us to become [like you], go and bring your children to uniformity.’ He hurriedly went on his way.
When he left, his disciples said to him: ‘Rabbi, you rebuffed this one with a broken reed.23It was not a particularly strong response to his question. What do you respond to us?’ He said to them: ‘Regarding Esau, six people are mentioned in the verse, and [the term] written about them is “souls” in plural, as it is written: “Esau took his wives, his sons, his daughters, and all the souls [nafshot] of his household” (Genesis 36:6). Regarding Jacob, seventy people [are mentioned in the verses], and [the term] written about them is “soul” in the singular, as it is written: “All the souls [hanefesh] who emerged from Jacob's loins were seventy souls [nefesh] and Joseph was in Egypt” (Exodus 1:5). It is, rather, that Esau worshipped multiple gods, and therefore multiple souls are written in his regard. But Jacob worshipped one god, so one nefesh is written in his regard: “All the souls [hanefesh]…were.”
רַבִּי יוֹחָנָן וְרַבִּי יְהוֹשֻׁעַ בֶּן לֵוִי, רַבִּי יוֹחָנָן אָמַר חֲמִשָּׁה פְּעָמִים אָמַר דָּוִד בָּרְכִי נַפְשִׁי אֶת ה', כְּנֶגֶד חֲמִשָּׁה סִפְרֵי תוֹרָה. רַבִּי יְהוֹשֻׁעַ בֶּן לֵוִי אָמַר כְּנֶגֶד חֲמִשָּׁה עוֹלָמוֹת שֶׁאָדָם רוֹאֶה, (תהלים קג, א): בָּרְכִי נַפְשִׁי אֶת ה' וְכָל קְרָבַי אֶת שֵׁם קָדְשׁוֹ, בְּשָׁעָה שֶׁהוּא נָתוּן בִּמְעֵי אִמּוֹ, (תהלים קג, א): בָּרְכִי נַפְשִׁי אֶת ה' וְאַל תִּשְׁכְּחִי כָּל גְּמוּלָיו, בְּשָׁעָה שֶׁהוּא יוֹצֵא מִמְּעֵי אִמּוֹ אָמַר לָהּ לָא תִנְשְׁיִי גְמוּלַיִּי טַבְיָה דְּגָמְלִית עִמָּךְ. (תהלים קג, כב): בָּרְכוּ ה' כָּל מַעֲשָׂיו בְּכָל מְקֹמוֹת מֶמְשַׁלְתּוֹ. (תהלים קג, כב): בָּרְכִי נַפְשִׁי אֶת ה', בְּשָׁעָה שֶׁעוֹמֵד עַל קוֹמֵי שֶׁלּוֹ וְיוֹצֵא לִפְרַגְמַטְיָא. (תהלים קד, א): בָּרְכִי נַפְשִׁי אֶת ה' ה' אֱלֹהַי גָדַלְתָּ מְאֹד, בִּשְׁעַת פְּטִירָתוֹ שֶׁל אָדָם מִן הָעוֹלָם, וְאַחַת לֶעָתִיד לָבוֹא (תהלים קד, לה): יִתַּמּוּ חַטָּאִים מִן הָאָרֶץ וגו' בָּרְכִי נַפְשִׁי אֶת ה' הַלְלוּיָהּ. רַבִּי שְׁמוּאֵל בַּר נַחְמָן בְּשֵׁם רַבִּי יוֹחָנָן אָמַר מֵאָה וְעֶשְׂרִים מִזְמוֹרִים אָמַר דָּוִד וְלֹא חָתַם בָּהֶם הַלְלוּיָהּ, עַד שֶׁרָאָה בְּמַפַּלְתָּן שֶׁל רְשָׁעִים, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר: יִתַּמּוּ חַטָּאִים מִן הָאָרֶץ וגו'.
Rabbi Yoḥanan and Rabbi Yehoshua ben Levi, Rabbi Yoḥanan said: David said: “Bless the Lord, my soul” five times, corresponding to the five books of the Torah. Rabbi Yehoshua ben Levi said: Corresponding to the five worlds that a person sees. “Bless the Lord, my soul, and all that is within me bless His holy name” (Psalms 103:1); when one is located in his mother’s womb. “Bless the Lord, my soul, and do not forget all His acts of kindness” (Psalms 103:2); when he leaves his mother’s womb he says to [his soul]: Do not forget all the acts of kindness that He performed for you. “[Bless the Lord, all of His works, in all places of His dominion.] Bless the Lord, my soul” (Psalms 103:22); when a person reaches his stature24As an adult. and emerges to engage in commerce. “Bless the Lord, my soul. Lord my God, You are greatly exalted” (Psalms 104:1); at the moment when a person passes from the world. And one in the future, “May sinners be eradicated from the earth, and may the wicked be no more. Bless the Lord, my soul. Halleluya” (Psalms 104:35).
Rabbi Shmuel bar Naḥman said in the name of Rabbi Yoḥanan: David recited one hundred and twenty psalms25This is apparently an error, as this verse appears at the conclusion of Psalm 104. The Gemara in Berakhot 9b states: “David recited one hundred and three chapters, but did not recite Halleluya until he saw the downfall of the wicked.” and did not conclude them with Halleluya until he saw the downfall of the wicked, as it is stated: “May sinners be eradicated from the earth…[Halleluya].”
וְכִי מָה רָאָה דָּוִד לִהְיוֹת מְקַלֵּס בְּנַפְשׁוֹ לְהַקָּדוֹשׁ בָּרוּךְ הוּא, אֶלָּא אָמַר הַנֶּפֶשׁ הַזּוֹ מְמַלָּא אֶת הַגּוּף וְהַקָּדוֹשׁ בָּרוּךְ הוּא מְמַלֵּא אֶת עוֹלָמוֹ, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר (ירמיה כג, כד): הֲלוֹא אֶת הַשָּׁמַיִם וְאֶת הָאָרֶץ וגו', תָּבוֹא הַנֶּפֶשׁ שֶׁהִיא מְמַלְּאָה אֶת הַגּוּף וּתְשַׁבֵּחַ לְהַקָּדוֹשׁ בָּרוּךְ הוּא שֶׁהוּא מְמַלֵּא אֶת כָּל הָעוֹלָם. הַנֶּפֶשׁ הַזֹּאת סוֹבֶלֶת אֶת הַגּוּף וְהַקָּדוֹשׁ בָּרוּךְ הוּא סוֹבֵל אֶת עוֹלָמוֹ, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר (ישעיה מו, ד): אֲנִי עָשִׂיתִי וַאֲנִי אֶשָּׂא וַאֲנִי אֶסְבֹּל, תָּבוֹא הַנֶּפֶשׁ שֶׁסּוֹבֶלֶת אֶת הַגּוּף וּתְקַלֵּס לְהַקָּדוֹשׁ בָּרוּךְ הוּא שֶׁהוּא סוֹבֵל אֶת עוֹלָמוֹ. הַנֶּפֶשׁ מְבַלָּה אֶת הַגּוּף וְהַקָּדוֹשׁ בָּרוּךְ הוּא מְבַלֶּה אֶת עוֹלָמוֹ, תָּבוֹא הַנֶּפֶשׁ שֶׁהִיא מְבַלָּה אֶת הַגּוּף וּתְקַלֵּס לְהַקָּדוֹשׁ בָּרוּךְ הוּא שֶׁהוּא מְבַלֶּה אֶת עוֹלָמוֹ, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר (תהלים קב, כז): הֵמָּה יֹאבֵדוּ וְאַתָּה תַעֲמֹד וְכֻלָּם כַּבֶּגֶד יִבְלוּ. הַנֶּפֶשׁ הַזֹּאת יְחִידָה בַּגּוּף וְהַקָּדוֹשׁ בָּרוּךְ הוּא יָחִיד בְּעוֹלָמוֹ, תָּבוֹא הַנֶּפֶשׁ שֶׁהִיא יְחִידָה בַּגּוּף וּתְקַלֵּס לְהַקָּדוֹשׁ בָּרוּךְ הוּא שֶׁהוּא יָחִיד בְּעוֹלָמוֹ, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר (דברים ו, ד): שְׁמַע יִשְׂרָאֵל ה' אֱלֹהֵינוּ ה' אֶחָד. הַנֶּפֶשׁ הַזֹּאת אֵינֶנָּה אוֹכֶלֶת בַּגּוּף וְהַקָּדוֹשׁ בָּרוּךְ הוּא אֵין לְפָנָיו אֲכִילָה, תָּבוֹא הַנֶּפֶשׁ שֶׁאֵינָהּ אוֹכֶלֶת בַּגּוּף וּתְקַלֵּס לְהַקָּדוֹשׁ בָּרוּךְ הוּא שֶׁאֵין לְפָנָיו אֲכִילָה, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר (תהלים נ, יג): הַאוֹכַל בְּשַׂר אַבִּירִים וגו'. הַנֶּפֶשׁ הַזּוֹ רוֹאָה וְאֵינָהּ נִרְאָה וְהַקָּדוֹשׁ בָּרוּךְ הוּא רוֹאֶה וְאֵינוֹ נִרְאֶה, תָּבוֹא הַנֶּפֶשׁ שֶׁהִיא רוֹאָה וְאֵינָהּ נִרְאָה וּתְקַלֵּס לְהַקָּדוֹשׁ בָּרוּךְ הוּא שֶׁהוּא רוֹאֶה וְאֵינוֹ נִרְאֶה, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר (זכריה ד, י): עֵינֵי ה' הֵמָּה מְשׁוֹטְטִים בְּכָל הָאָרֶץ. הַנֶּפֶשׁ הַזּוֹ טְהוֹרָה בַּגּוּף וְהַקָּדוֹשׁ בָּרוּךְ הוּא טָהוֹר בְּעוֹלָמוֹ, תָּבוֹא הַנֶּפֶשׁ שֶׁהִיא טְהוֹרָה בַּגּוּף וּתְקַלֵּס לְהַקָּדוֹשׁ בָּרוּךְ הוּא שֶׁהוּא טָהוֹר בְּעוֹלָמוֹ, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר (חבקוק א, יג): טְהוֹר עֵינַיִם מֵרְאוֹת רָע. הַנֶּפֶשׁ הַזֹּאת אֵינָהּ יְשֵׁנָה בַּגּוּף וְהַקָּדוֹשׁ בָּרוּךְ הוּא אֵין לְפָנָיו שֵׁנָה, תָּבוֹא הַנֶּפֶשׁ שֶׁאֵינָהּ יְשֵׁנָה בַּגּוּף וּתְקַלֵּס לְהַקָּדוֹשׁ בָּרוּךְ הוּא שֶׁאֵין לְפָנָיו שֵׁנָה, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר (תהלים קכא, ד): הִנֵּה לֹא יָנוּם וְלֹא יִישָׁן.
What did David see that led him to laud the Holy One blessed be He with his soul? It is that he said: The soul fills the body and the Holy One blessed be He fills His world, as it is stated: “Do I not fill the heavens and the earth…?” (Jeremiah 23:24). Let the soul that fills the body come and praise the Holy One blessed be He who fills the entire world. The soul bears the body, and the Holy One blessed be He bears His world, as it is stated: “I made, and I will carry, I will bear” (Isaiah 46:4). Let the soul that bears the body come and laud the Holy One blessed be He, who bears His world. The soul outlasts the body, and the Holy One blessed be He outlasts His world. Let the soul that outlasts the body come and laud the Holy One blessed be He, who outlasts His world, as it is stated: “Even they will perish, but You will endure. All of them will wear out like a garment” (Psalms 102:27). The soul is solitary in the body and the Holy One blessed be He is solitary in His world. Let the soul that is solitary in the body come and laud the Holy One blessed be He, who is solitary in His world, as it is stated: “Hear Israel, the Lord is our God, the Lord is one” (Deuteronomy 6:4). The soul does not eat in the body, and the Holy One blessed be He, there is no eating before Him. Let the soul that does not eat in the body come and laud the Holy One blessed be He, before whom there is no eating, as it is stated: “Do I eat the flesh of bulls?” (Psalms 50:13). The soul sees but is not seen, and the Holy One blessed be He sees and is not seen. Let the soul that sees and is not seen come and laud the Holy One blessed be He who sees but is not seen, as it is stated: “The eyes of the Lord, roving throughout the earth” (Zechariah 4:10). The soul is pure in the body and the Holy One blessed be He is pure in His world. Let the soul that is pure in the body come and laud the Holy One blessed be He who is pure in His world, as is stated: “You that has eyes too pure to see evil” (Habakkuk 1:13). The soul does not sleep in the body and the Holy One blessed be He, there is no sleep for Him. Let the soul that does not sleep in the body come and laud the Holy One blessed be He, for whom there is no sleep, as it is stated: “Behold [the Guardian of Israel] neither slumbers nor sleeps” (Psalms 121:4).