Commentary for Shabbat 207:13

א"ל א"ל ב"ם ג"ן ד"ס להיכן אוליכן לגן הדס ה"ע ו"ף אמר גיהנם לפני הקב"ה רבונו של עולם עיף אנכי ז"ץ ח"ק הללו זרעו של יצחק ט"ר י"ש כ"ת טר יש לי כיתות כיתות של עובדי כוכבים שאני נותן לך:

[To show] that if he repents, he can enter and be brought in [to God's favour] through this [opening]. This supports Resh Lakish, for Resh Lakish said: What is meant by, <i>Surely he scorneth the scorners, But he giveth grace unto the lowly</i>?<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' Prov. III, 34. ');">²⁵</span> If one comes to defile himself, he is given an opening;<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' I.e., he is permitted, but not actively helped. ');">²⁶</span> if one comes to cleanse himself, he is helped. SHin [stands for] <i>SHeker</i> [falsehood]; <i>Taw</i> [for] <i>emeTH</i> [truth]: why are the letters of<i> SheKeR</i> close together, whilst those of 'eMeTH are far apart?<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' The three letters of Sheker, [H] occur together; whereas the three of emeth, [H] are far apart, [H] being the first, [H] the middle, and [H] the last letters of the alphabet. ');">²⁷</span> Falsehood is frequent, truth is rare.<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' I.e., Instances of truth are found only at distant intervals. ');">²⁸</span> And why does falsehood [stand] on one foot, whilst truth has a brick-like foundation?<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' I.e., each of the letters of [H] is insecurely poised on one leg ([H] was anciently written [H]) with a narrow pointed bottom) whereas those of [H] are firmly set, each resting on two ends, the [H] too resting on a horizontal bar. ');">²⁹</span> Truth can stand, falsehood cannot stand. <i>AT BaSh</i>:<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' Here follows an interpretation of the letters coupled, the first with the last, the second with the last but one, and so on. ');">³⁰</span> he that rejects Me [<i>othi Ti'ew</i>], shall I desire [<i>eTh'aweh</i>] him? <i>BaSH</i>: he that delighteth not in Me [<i>Bi lo haSHak</i>], shall My Name [<i>SHemi</i>] rest upon him? <i>GaR</i>: he has defiled his body [<i>Gufo</i>] — shall I have mercy [<i>arahem</i>] upon him? <i>DaK</i>: he has closed My doors [<i>Dalthothay</i>] shall I not cut off his horns [<i>Karnaw</i>]?<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' Or the passages may be understood affirmatively: though he has rejected Me, yet shall I desire him; etc. ');">³¹</span> Thus far is the exegesis for the wicked, but the interpretation for the righteous is: <i>AT BaSH</i>: If thou are ashamed [to sin] [<i>aTTah BoSh</i>], then <i>GaR DaK</i> [i.e.,] dwell [<i>GuR</i>] in heaven [<i>DoK</i>]. <i>HaZ WaF</i>: there will be a barrier [<i>HaZiZah</i>] between thee and wrath [<i>aF</i>]. <i>Za' HaS TaN</i>: nor wilt thou tremble [<i>miZda' aZe'a</i>] before Satan [<i>SaTaN</i>]. <i>YaM KoL</i>: the prince of Gehenna said to the Holy One, blessed be He, Sovereign of the Universe! To the sea [<i>YaM</i>] let all [<i>KoL</i>] be consigned.<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' Rashi: 'all' — i.e., including Israel; the sea, i.e., Gehenna. ');">³²</span> But the Holy One, blessed be He, replieth, <i>AHaS, BeTa, GiF</i>.<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' A combination of letters wherein the first, eighth. and fifteenth are grouped together; similarly the second, ninth and sixteenth, and so on. ');">³³</span> I [<i>ani</i>] spare [<i>HaS</i>] them, because they have spurned [<i>Ba'aTu</i>] sensual pleasures [<i>GiF</i>]. <i>DaKaZ</i>: they are contrite [<i>Dakkim</i>]; they are true [<i>Kenim</i>]; they are righteous [<i>Zaddikim</i>]. <i>HaLaK</i>: thou hast [<i>LaK</i>] no portion [HeLeK] in them. <i>UMaRZaN SHeTH</i>: the Gehenna cried out before Him, Sovereign of the Universe! My Lord [<i>MaRi</i>]! Satiate me [<i>ZeNini</i>] with the seed of <i>SHeTH</i>.<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' I.e., with all, both Jews and non-Jews. ');">³⁴</span> [But] He retorted, <i>aL BaM</i> [thou hast nought in them]; <i>GaN DaS</i>: Whither shall I lead them? to the Garden [<i>GaN</i>] of myrtles [<i>haDaS</i>].<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' I.e., of Eden, probably so called here on account of its fragrance: cf. B.B. 75a. ');">³⁵</span> <i>Ha! WaF</i>: the Gehenna cried out before the Holy One, blessed be He, Sovereign of the Universe! I am faint [<i>'ayeF</i>] [with hunger]. [To which He replied,] <i>ZaZ HaK</i>: these are the seed [<i>Zar'o</i>] of Isaac [<i>YiZHaK</i>]. <i>TaR YeSH KaT</i>: Wait [<i>TaR</i>]! I have [<i>YeSH</i>] whole companies [<i>KiToth</i>] of heathens whom I will give thee.

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