📖 Pirkei DeRabbi Eliezer 53

Chapter 53 of Pirkei DeRabbi Eliezer

Verses: 10

Verses

Verse 1

כָּל הַמַּלְשִׁין אֶת חֲבֵירוֹ בַּסֵּתֶר אֵין לוֹ חֵלֶק לָעוֹלָם הַבָּא, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר: ״מְלָשְׁנִי בַסֵּתֶר רֵעֵהוּ אוֹתוֹ אַצְמִית״, וְכָתוּב אַחֵר אוֹמֵר: ״מַכֵּה רֵעֵהוּ בַסָּתֶר״. תֵּדַע לְךָ שֶׁהוּא כֵּן, בֹּא וּרְאֵה מִנָּחָשׁ שֶׁהִלְשִׁין בֵּין אָדָם לְהַקָּדוֹשׁ בָּרוּךְ הוּא, וְאָרְרוֹ הַקָּדוֹשׁ בָּרוּךְ הוּא שֶׁמַּאֲכָלוֹ יִהְיֶה עָפָר, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר: ״וְעָפָר תֹּאכַל כָּל יְמֵי חַיֶּיךָ״.

THE SIN OF SLANDER EVERYONE who secretly slanders his fellows has no remedy, as it is said, "Whoso privily slandereth his neighbour, him will I destroy: him that hath an high look and a proud heart will I not suffer" (Ps. 101:5). Another Scripture text says, "Cursed be he that smiteth his neighbour in secret" (Deut. 27:24). Know that it is so. Come and see from the (narrative of) the serpent which uttered slander concerning the Holy One, blessed be He, to Adam and his helpmate. The Holy One, blessed be He, cursed it, so that its food became the dust, as it is said, "And dust shalt thou eat all the days of thy life" (Gen. 3:14).

Verse 2

רַבָּן גַּמְלִיאֵל אוֹמֵר: אַף יִשְׂרָאֵל הִלְשִׁינוּ עַל הַקָּדוֹשׁ בָּרוּךְ הוּא וְאָמְרוּ, ״תֹּאמַר שֶׁיֵּשׁ בּוֹ כֹּחַ לָזוּן אוֹתָנוּ בַּמִּדְבָּר?״ שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר: ״וַיְדַבֵּר הָעָם בֵּאלֹהִים (וּבְמֹשֶׁה), אָמְרוּ הֲיוּכַל אֵל לַעֲרֹךְ שֻׁלְחָן בַּמִּדְבָּר?״ שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר: ״הֵן הִכָּה צוּר וַיָּזוּבוּ מַיִם״. שָׁמַע הַקָּדוֹשׁ בָּרוּךְ הוּא שֶׁהִלְשִׁינוּ עַל כְּבוֹדוֹ, וּמִכְּבוֹדוֹ שֶׁהוּא אֵשׁ אוֹכְלָה שָׁלַח בָּהֶם אֵשׁ וְאָכְלָה אוֹתָם סָבִיב, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר: ״וַיְהִי הָעָם כְּמִתְאֹנְנִים רַע בְּאָזְנֵי ה' וַתִּבְעַר בָּם אֵשׁ ה' וַתֹּאכַל בִּקְצֵה הַמַּחֲנֶה״. הָלְכוּ לָהֶם זִקְנֵי יִשְׂרָאֵל אֵצֶל מֹשֶׁה וְאָמְרוּ: ״מֹשֶׁה רַבֵּנוּ, הִנְנוּ בְיַד ה' כַּצֹּאן לַטִּבְחָה וְלֹא לָאֵשׁ אוֹכְלָה אֵשׁ״. וְרָאָה מֹשֶׁה בְּצָרָתָם שֶׁל יִשְׂרָאֵל, עָמַד וְנִתְפַּלֵּל עֲלֵיהֶם וְנֶעְתַּר לוֹ, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר: ״וַיִּצְעַק מֹשֶׁה אֶל ה' וַתִּשְׁקַע הָאֵשׁ״.

Rabban Gamaliel said: Israel also slandered the Holy One, blessed be He, (by) saying: Wilt thou say that He has power to feed us in the wilderness? as it is said, "Yea, they spake against God; they said, Can God prepare a table in the wilderness? Behold, he smote the rock, that waters gushed out, and streams overflowed" (Ps. 78:19, 20). The Holy One, blessed be He, heard that they slandered His Glory, || and from His Glory, which is a consuming fire, He sent against them a fire which consumed them round about, as it is said, "And the people were as murmurers… and the fire of the Lord burnt among them, and devoured in the uttermost part of the camp" (Num. 11:1). The Israelites betook themselves to our teacher Moses, and they said to him: Moses, our lord! Let these be given like sheep to the slaughter, but not to the fire which is consuming fire. Moses saw the plight of Israel, and he arose to pray on their behalf, and He was entreated of him, as it is said, "And the people cried unto Moses" (Num. 11:2).

Verse 3

רַבִּי יְהוּדָה אוֹמֵר: אוֹתָהּ אֵשׁ שֶׁיָּרְדָה מִן הַשָּׁמַיִם שָׁקְעָה בָּאָרֶץ וְלֹא חָזְרָה עוֹד בִּמְקוֹמָהּ לַשָּׁמַיִם, אֶלָּא נִכְנְסָה לָהּ אֶל אֹהֶל מוֹעֵד. וְכָל הַקָּרְבָּנוֹת שֶׁהָיוּ מַקְרִיבִים בַּמִּדְבָּר – אוֹתָהּ אֵשׁ הָיְתָה יוֹצֵאת וְאוֹכֶלֶת אוֹתָם, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר: ״וַתֵּצֵא אֵשׁ מִלִּפְנֵי ה'״. ״וַתֵּרֶד אֵשׁ״ אֵין כְּתִיב כָּאן, אֶלָּא ״וַתֵּצֵא אֵשׁ מִלִּפְנֵי ה'״. וְאוֹתָהּ הָאֵשׁ יָצְתָה וְאָכְלָה בְּנֵי אַהֲרֹן, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר: ״וַתֵּצֵא אֵשׁ״. יָצְתָה וְאָכְלָה עֲדַת קֹרַח, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר: ״וְאֵשׁ יָצְאָה מֵאֵת ה'״.

Rabbi Judah said: That fire which descended from heaven settled on the earth, and did not again return to its (former) place in heaven, but it entered the Tabernacle. That fire came forth and devoured all the offerings which they brought in the wilderness, as it is said. "And there descended fire from heaven" is not written here, but "And there came forth fire from before the Lord" (Lev. 9:24). This was the fire which came forth and consumed the sons of Aaron, as it is said, "And there came forth fire from before the Lord" (ibid.). That fire came forth and consumed the company of Korah, as it is said, "And fire came forth from the Lord" (Num. 16:85).

Verse 4

וְאֵין אָדָם נִפְטָר מִן הָעוֹלָם עַד שֶׁיַּעֲבֹר עָלָיו מֵאוֹתָהּ הָאֵשׁ שֶׁשָּׁקְעָה בָּאָרֶץ, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר: ״וַתִּשְׁקַע הָאֵשׁ״.

No man departs from this world until some of that fire, which rested among the sons of man, passes over him, as it is said, "And the fire rested" (Num. 11:2). ||

Verse 5

וַתְּדַבֵּר מִרְיָם וְאַהֲרֹן בְּמֹשֶׁה עַל אוֹדוֹת הָאִשָּׁה הַכּוּשִׁית אֲשֶׁר לָקַח, וְכִי כּוּשִׁית הָיְתָה? אֶלָּא מָה כּוּשִׁי זֶה גּוּפוֹ מְשֻׁנֶּה מִכָּל הַבְּרִיּוֹת כָּךְ צִפּוֹרָה מְשֻׁנָּה בְּמַעֲשֶׂיהָ הַטּוֹבִים, לְפִיכָךְ נִקְרֵאת כּוּשִׁית, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר: ״כִּי אִשָּׁה כֻשִׁית לָקָח״.

"And Miriam and Aaron spake against Moses because of the Cushite woman whom he had married" (Num. 12:1). Was she then a Cushite woman? Was she not Zipporah? But just as this Cushite is different as regards his body from all other people, so was Zipporah different from all other women by her words and by her good deeds; therefore was she called a Cushite, as it is said, "For he had married a Cushite woman" (ibid.).

Verse 6

רַבִּי תַּחְנָא אוֹמֵר: אַף יִשְׂרָאֵל נִקְרְאוּ כּוּשִׁים, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר ״הֲלוֹא כִבְנֵי כֻשִׁיִּים אַתֶּם לִי״. וְכִי כּוּשִׁים הָיוּ? אֶלָּא מָה כּוּשִׁי זֶה גּוּפוֹ מְשֻׁנֶּה מִכָּל הַבְּרִיּוֹת, כָּךְ הֵם יִשְׂרָאֵל מְשֻׁנִּים בְּדַרְכֵיהֶם וּבְמַעֲשֵׂיהֶם הַטּוֹבִים מִכָּל אֻמּוֹת הָעוֹלָם, לְפִיכָךְ נִקְרְאוּ כּוּשִׁים. וְכָתוּב אַחֵר אוֹמֵר ״וַיֹּאמֶר עֶבֶד הַמֶּלֶךְ הַכּוּשִׁי״. וְכִי עֶבֶד כּוּשִׁי הָיָה? וַהֲלֹא בָּרוּךְ בֶּן נֵרִיָּה הָיָה! אֶלָּא מָה כּוּשִׁי זֶה גּוּפוֹ מְשֻׁנֶּה מִן הַבְּרִיּוֹת, כָּךְ בָּרוּךְ בֶּן נֵרִיָּה מְשֻׁנֶּה בְּדַרְכָּיו וּבְמַעֲשָׂיו הַטּוֹבִים, לְפִיכָךְ נִקְרָא כּוּשִׁי.

Rabbi Tachanah said: The Israelites also are called Cushites, as it is said, "Are ye not as the children of the Cushites unto me, O children of Israel?" (Amos 9:7). Just as the body of this Cushite is different from all creatures, so do the Israelites differ from all the nations of the world in their ways and by their good deeds; therefore are they called Cushites. One Scripture saith, "And Ebedmelech, the Cushite, said" (Jer. 38:12). Was it Ebed? Was he not Baruch, son of Neriah? But just as this Cushite is different in his body from all other people, so was Baruch, son of Neriah, different in his deeds and good ways from the rest of the sons of men. Therefore was he called a Cushite.

Verse 7

וְכָתוּב אַחֵר אוֹמֵר: ״וַיֹּאמֶר יוֹאָב לַכּוּשִׁי לֵךְ הַגֵּד לַמֶּלֶךְ״. וְכִי כּוּשִׁי הָיָה? וַהֲלֹא בֶּן יְמִינִי הָיָה! אֶלָּא מָה כּוּשִׁי זֶה גּוּפוֹ מְשֻׁנֶּה מִכָּל הַבְּרִיּוֹת, כָּךְ הָיָה בֶּן יְמִינִי מְשֻׁנֶּה בִּדְרָכָיו וּבְמַעֲשָׂיו הַטּוֹבִים. לְפִיכָךְ נִקְרָא שְׁמוֹ כּוּשִׁי.

One Scripture text says, "Then said Joab to the Cushite, Go, tell the king what thou hast seen" (2 Sam. 18:21). Was he a Cushite? Was he not a Benjamite? But just as this Cushite is different from all creatures, so was the Benjamite || different by his ways and his good deeds; therefore was his name called "Cushite."

Verse 8

רַבִּי אֱלִיעֶזֶר אוֹמֵר: בֹּא וּרְאֵה יָשְׁרוֹ וְתֻמּוֹ שֶׁל אוֹתוֹ הָאִישׁ שֶׁאָמַר לְיוֹאָב, ״אֲפִלּוּ אַתָּה נוֹתֵן לִי זָהָב וָכֶסֶף הַרְבֵּה מְאֹד אֵינִי עוֹבֵר עַל מִצְוַת הַמֶּלֶךְ״. אָמַר לוֹ יוֹאָב: ״בְּבַקָּשָׁה מִמְּךָ שֶׁתַּרְאֵנִי הַמָּקוֹם שֶׁהָיָה אַבְשָׁלוֹם תָּלוּי בּוֹ״, וְלֹא קִבֵּל. הִתְחִיל כּוֹרֵעַ וּמִשְׁתַּחֲוֶה לְפָנָיו, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר: ״וַיֹּאמֶר יוֹאָב לֹא כֵן אֹחִילָה פָנֶיךָ״, וְלָקַח אוֹתוֹ בַּזְּרוֹעַ וְהֶרְאָה לוֹ אֶת הַמָּקוֹם שֶׁאַבְשָׁלוֹם תָּלוּי בּוֹ. וְכָל הָעוֹבֵר עַל מִצְוַת ״כַּבֵּד אֶת אָבִיךָ (וְאֶת אִמֶּךָ)״ כְּאִלּוּ עוֹבֵר עַל עֲשֶׂרֶת הַדִּבְּרוֹת, לְפִיכָךְ נִדְקְרוּ בּוֹ עֲשָׂרָה רְמָחִים, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר (שמואל ב יח, טו): ״וַיָּסֹבּוּ עֲשָׂרָה נְעָרִים נֹשְׂאֵי כְּלֵי יוֹאָב וַיַּכּוּ אֶת אַבְשָׁלוֹם וַיְמִיתֻהוּ״.

Rabbi Eliezer said: Come and see the integrity and perfection of that man, for he said to Joab, Even if thou wouldst give me gold and silver I would not transgress the king's commands which he commanded thee, as it is said, "And the man said unto Joab, Though I should receive a thousand (pieces of) silver in mine hand" (2 Sam. 18:12). Joab said to him: I beseech thee, show me the place where Absalom is hanging. But he did not consent. Joab began to bend the knee, and to prostrate himself before him, as it is said, "Then said Joab, Shall I not entreat thee in this wise?" (2 Sam. 18:14). Then he took (Joab) by his arm, and showed him the place where Absalom was hanging. Everyone who transgresses the commandment "Honour thy father" is accounted as though he had transgressed the Decalogue. Therefore was (Absalom) pierced by ten spears, as it is said, "And ten young men that bare Joab's armour compassed about and smote Absalom; and slew him" (2 Sam. 18:15).

Verse 9

שִׁשָּׁה נִדְמוּ לְאָדָם הָרִאשׁוֹן וְכֻלָּם נֶהֶרְגוּ, וְאֵלּוּ הֵן: שִׁמְשׁוֹן בְּכֹחוֹ וְנֶהֱרַג, שָׁאוּל בְּקוֹמָתוֹ וְנֶהֱרַג, עֲשָׂהאֵל בִּמְרוּצָתוֹ וְנֶהֱרַג, יֹאשִׁיָּהוּ בִּנְחִירָיו וְנֶהֱרַג, צִדְקִיָּהוּ בְּעֵינָיו וְנֶהֱרַג, אַבְשָׁלוֹם בִּשְׂעָרוֹ וְנֶהֱרַג. וְאַבְשָׁלוֹם גִּבּוֹר כֹּחַ הָיָה בַּמִּלְחָמָה וְחֶרֶב מְצֻמֶּדֶת עַל מָתְנָיו, וּמִפְּנֵי מָה לֹא שָׁלַף אֶת חַרְבּוֹ וְכָרַת אֶת שְׂעַר רֹאשׁוֹ וְיָרַד, אֶלָּא שֶׁרָאָה שֶׁנִּפְתְּחָה גֵּיהִנֹּם תַּחְתָּיו, אָמַר: מוּטָב לִי לִתְלוֹת בִּשְׂעָרִי וְלֹא לֵירֵד בָּאֵשׁ, לְפִיכָךְ הָיָה תָּלוּי, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר: ״הִנֵּה רָאִיתִי אֶת אַבְשָׁלוֹם תָּלוּי בָּאֵלָה״.

Six people were similar to the first man, and they were all slain. They were: Samson with his might, and he was slain; Saul with his stature, and he was slain; Asahel with his swiftness, and he was slain; Josiah with his nostrils, and he was slain through his nostrils; Zedekiah with his eyes, and he was slain through his eyes; Absalom with his hair, and he was killed through his hair. Absalom was a mighty hero in battle, and his sword was bound upon his loins. Why || did he not draw his sword and cut the hair of his head, and get down? But he saw that Gehinnom was open beneath him, and he said: It is better for me to hang by my hair and not to descend into the fire; therefore he was hanging, as it is said, "Behold, I saw Absalom hanging in an oak" (2 Sam. 18:10).

Verse 10

רַבִּי יוֹסֵי אוֹמֵר: שִׁבְעָה פְּתָחִים לַגֵּיהִנֹּם, וְנִכְנַס אַבְשָׁלוֹם עַד חֲמִשָּׁה פְּתָחִים. וְשָׁמַע דָּוִד וְהִתְחִיל בּוֹכֶה וּמְיַלֵּל וּמְסַפֵּד, וְקָרָא ״אַבְשָׁלוֹם בְּנִי״ חֲמִשָּׁה פְּעָמִים, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר (שמואל ב יט, א): ״וַיִּרְגַּז הַמֶּלֶךְ וַיַּעַל עַל עֲלִיַּת הַשַּׁעַר וַיֵּבְךְּ וְכֹה אָמַר בְּלֶכְתּוֹ בְּנִי אַבְשָׁלוֹם בְּנִי בְנִי אַבְשָׁלוֹם מִי יִתֵּן מוּתִי אֲנִי תַחְתֶּיךָ אַבְשָׁלוֹם בְּנִי בְנִי״. וְהֶחֱזִירוּ מֵחֲמִשָּׁה פְּתָחִים. וְרָאָה דָּוִד שֶׁנִּצַּל מֵחֲמִשָּׁה פְּתָחִים וְהִתְחִיל מְהַלֵּל וּמְשַׁבֵּחַ וּמְפָאֵר לְיוֹצְרוֹ, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר: ״עֲשֵׂה עִמִּי אוֹת לְטוֹבָה וְיִרְאוּ שׂוֹנְאַי וְיֵבֹשׁוּ כִּי אַתָּה ה' עֲזַרְתַּנִי וְנִחַמְתָּנִי״. עֲזַרְתַּנִי מִמִּלְחֶמֶת אַבְשָׁלוֹם, וְנִחַמְתַּנִי עַל אַבְשָׁלוֹם, וְנִחַמְתַּנִי עַל אֶבְלִי.

Rabbi José said: There are seven doors to Gehinnom. Absalom entered as far as the fifth door, and David heard (thereof), and began to weep, to lament, and to mourn, and he called Absalom! My son! five times, My son, my son, my son! "And the king was much moved, and he went up to the chamber over the gate, and wept: and as he went, thus he said, O my son Absalom, my son, my son Absalom! would God I had died for thee, O Absalom, my son, my son!" (2 Sam. 18:33). And they brought him back from the five doors of Gehinnom, and he began to praise and laud and to glorify his Creator, saying: "Shew me a token for good; that they which hate me may see it, and be ashamed: because thou, Lord, hast helped me, and comforted me" (Ps. 86:17). "Thou hast helped me" out of the war of Absalom, and "thou hast comforted me" in my mourning for him.