Moed Katan 28
אֶלָּא חָיָה. אֲבָל שְׁאָר נָשִׁים — מַנִּיחִין.
with regard to a woman who died in childbirth, and therefore continues to bleed. But the biers of other women may be set down in the street.
רַבִּי אֶלְעָזָר אָמַר: אֲפִילּוּ שְׁאָר הַנָּשִׁים, דִּכְתִיב: ״וַתָּמׇת שָׁם מִרְיָם וַתִּקָּבֵר שָׁם״ — סָמוּךְ לַמִּיתָה קְבוּרָה.
Rabbi Elazar said: Even the biers of other women must not be set down in the street, as it is written: “And Miriam died there and was buried there” (Numbers 20:1), which teaches that the site of her burial was close to the place of her death. Therefore, it is preferable to bury a woman as close as possible to the place where she died.
וְאָמַר רַבִּי אֶלְעָזָר: אַף מִרְיָם בִּנְשִׁיקָה מֵתָה. אָתְיָא ״שָׁם״ ״שָׁם״ מִמֹּשֶׁה. וּמִפְּנֵי מָה לֹא נֶאֱמַר בָּהּ ״עַל פִּי ה׳״ — מִפְּנֵי שֶׁגְּנַאי הַדָּבָר לְאוֹמְרוֹ.
With regard to that same verse Rabbi Elazar said further: Miriam also died by the divine kiss, just like her brother Moses. What is the source for this? This is derived through a verbal analogy between the word “there” stated with regard to Miriam and the word “there” mentioned with regard to Moses. With regard to Moses it says: “So Moses the servant of the Lord died there in the land of Moab by the mouth of the Lord” (Deuteronomy 34:5). For what reason was it not explicitly stated with regard to her, as it is stated with regard to Moses, that she died “by the mouth of the Lord”? It is because it would be unseemly to say such a thing, that a woman died by way of a divine kiss, and therefore it is not said explicitly.
אָמַר רַבִּי אַמֵּי: לָמָּה נִסְמְכָה מִיתַת מִרְיָם לְפָרָשַׁת פָּרָה אֲדוּמָּה? לוֹמַר לָךְ: מָה פָּרָה אֲדוּמָּה מְכַפֶּרֶת — אַף מִיתָתָן שֶׁל צַדִּיקִים מְכַפֶּרֶת. אָמַר רַבִּי אֶלְעָזָר: לָמָּה נִסְמְכָה מִיתַת אַהֲרֹן לְבִגְדֵי כְהוּנָּה? מָה בִּגְדֵי כְהוּנָּה מְכַפְּרִין — אַף מִיתָתָן שֶׁל צַדִּיקִים מְכַפֶּרֶת.
Rabbi Ami said: Why was the Torah portion that describes the death of Miriam juxtaposed to the portion dealing with the red heifer? To tell you: Just as the red heifer atones for sin, so too, the death of the righteous atones for sin. Rabbi Elazar said: Why was the Torah portion that describes the death of Aaron juxtaposed to the portion discussing the priestly garments? This teaches that just as the priestly garments atone for sin, so too, the death of the righteous atones for sin.
תָּנוּ רַבָּנַן: מֵת פִּתְאוֹם — זוֹ הִיא מִיתָה חֲטוּפָה, חָלָה יוֹם אֶחָד וָמֵת — זוֹ הִיא מִיתָה דְּחוּפָה. רַבִּי חֲנַנְיָא בֶּן גַּמְלִיאֵל אוֹמֵר: זוֹ הִיא מִיתַת מַגֵּפָה, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר: ״בֶּן אָדָם הִנְנִי לוֹקֵחַ מִמְּךָ אֶת מַחְמַד עֵינֶיךָ בְּמַגֵּפָה״, וּכְתִיב: ״וָאֲדַבֵּר אֶל הָעָם בַּבֹּקֶר וַתָּמׇת אִשְׁתִּי בָּעָרֶב״.
§ The Sages taught the following baraita: If one dies suddenly without having been sick, this is death through snatching. If he became sick for a day and died, this is an expedited death. Rabbi Ḥananya ben Gamliel says: This is death at a stroke, as it is stated: “Son of man, behold, I am about to take away from you the delight of your eyes at a stroke” (Ezekiel 24:16). And when this prophecy is fulfilled it is written: “So I spoke to the people in the morning and at evening my wife died” (Ezekiel 24:18).
שְׁנֵי יָמִים וָמֵת — זוֹ הִיא מִיתָה דְּחוּיָה. שְׁלֹשָׁה — גְּעָרָה. אַרְבָּעָה — נְזִיפָה. חֲמִשָּׁה — זוֹ הִיא מִיתַת כׇּל אָדָם.
If he was sick for two days and died, this is a quickened death. If he was sick for three days and died, this is a death of rebuke. If he died after being sick for four days, this is a death of reprimand. If one died after a sickness lasting five days, this is the ordinary death of all people.
אָמַר רַבִּי חָנִין, מַאי קְרָא: ״הֵן קָרְבוּ יָמֶיךָ לָמוּת״. ״הֵן״ — חַד, ״קָרְבוּ״ — תְּרֵי, ״יָמֶיךָ״ — תְּרֵי, הָא חֲמִשָּׁה. ״הֵן״ חַד, שֶׁכֵּן בְּלָשׁוֹן יְוָנִי קוֹרִין לְאַחַת ״הֵן״.
Rabbi Ḥanin said: What is the verse from which this is derived? It is stated: “Behold, your days approach that you must die” (Deuteronomy 31:14). This verse is expounded in the following manner: “Behold [hen]” indicates one; “approach [karvu],” a plural term, indicates two; “your days [yamekha],” also a plural term, indicates another two; and therefore in total this is five. How does the word hen indicate one? Because in the Greek language they call the number one hen.
מֵת בַּחֲמִשִּׁים שָׁנָה — זוֹ הִיא מִיתַת כָּרֵת. חֲמִשִּׁים וּשְׁתַּיִם שָׁנָה — זוֹ הִיא מִיתָתוֹ שֶׁל שְׁמוּאֵל הָרָמָתִי. שִׁשִּׁים — זוֹ הִיא מִיתָה בִּידֵי שָׁמַיִם.
The Gemara discusses the significance of death at different ages: If one dies when he is fifty years old, this is death through karet, the divine punishment of excision, meted out for the most serious transgressions. If he dies when he is fifty-two years old, this is the death of Samuel from Ramah. If he dies at the age of sixty, this is death at the hand of Heaven.
אָמַר מָר זוּטְרָא: מַאי קְרָא — דִּכְתִיב: ״תָּבֹא בְּכֶלַח אֱלֵי קֶבֶר״, ״בְּכֶלַח״ בְּגִימַטְרִיָּא שִׁיתִּין הָווּ.
Mar Zutra said: What is the verse from which this is derived? As it is written: “You shall come to your grave in a ripe age [bekhelaḥ]” (Job 5:26). The word “ripe age” [bekhelaḥ] has the numerical value of sixty, and it is alluded to there that dying at this age involves a divine punishment.
שִׁבְעִים — שֵׂיבָה. שְׁמוֹנִים — גְּבוּרוֹת, דִּכְתִיב: ״יְמֵי שְׁנוֹתֵינוּ בָהֶם שִׁבְעִים שָׁנָה וְאִם בִּגְבוּרוֹת שְׁמוֹנִים שָׁנָה״. אָמַר רַבָּה: מֵחֲמִשִּׁים וְעַד שִׁשִּׁים שָׁנָה — זוֹ הִיא מִיתַת כָּרֵת. וְהַאי דְּלָא חָשֵׁיב לְהוּ — מִשּׁוּם כְּבוֹדוֹ שֶׁל שְׁמוּאֵל הָרָמָתִי.
One who dies at the age of seventy has reached old age. One who dies at the age of eighty dies in strength, as it is written: “The days of our years are seventy, or if by reason of strength, eighty years” (Psalms 90:10). Rabba said: Not only is death at the age of fifty a sign of karet, but even death from fifty to sixty years of age is death by karet. And the reason that all of these years were not counted in connection with karet is due to the honor of Samuel from Ramah, who died at the age of fifty-two.
רַב יוֹסֵף כִּי הֲוָה בַּר שִׁיתִּין, עֲבַד לְהוּ יוֹמָא טָבָא לְרַבָּנַן, אָמַר: נְפַקִי לִי מִכָּרֵת. אָמַר לֵיהּ אַבָּיֵי: נְהִי דִּנְפַק לֵיהּ מָר מִכָּרֵת דִּשְׁנֵי, מִכָּרֵת דְּיוֹמֵי מִי נָפֵיק מָר? אֲמַר לֵיהּ: נְקוֹט לָךְ מִיהָא פַּלְגָא בִּידָךְ.
The Gemara relates that when Rav Yosef turned sixty he made a holiday for the Sages. Explaining the cause for his celebration, he said: I have passed the age of karet. Abaye said to him: Master, even though you have passed the karet of years, have you, Master, escaped the karet of days? As previously mentioned, sudden death is also considered to be a form of karet. He said to him: Grasp at least half in your hand, for I have at least escaped one type of karet.
רַב הוּנָא נָח נַפְשֵׁיהּ פִּתְאוֹם, הֲווֹ קָא דָּיְיגִי רַבָּנַן, תְּנָא לְהוּ זוּגָא דְּמֵהַדְיָיב: לֹא שָׁנוּ אֶלָּא שֶׁלֹּא הִגִּיעַ לִגְבוּרוֹת, אֲבָל הִגִּיעַ לִגְבוּרוֹת — זוֹ הִיא מִיתַת נְשִׁיקָה.
It was related that Rav Huna died suddenly, and the Sages were concerned that this was a bad sign. The Sage Zuga from Hadayeiv taught them the following: They taught these principles only when the deceased had not reached the age of strength, i.e., eighty. But if he had reached the age of strength and then died suddenly, this is death by way of a divine kiss.
אָמַר רָבָא: חַיֵּי, בְּנֵי וּמְזוֹנֵי, לָא בִּזְכוּתָא תַּלְיָא מִילְּתָא, אֶלָּא בְּמַזָּלָא תַּלְיָא מִילְּתָא. דְּהָא רַבָּה וְרַב חִסְדָּא תַּרְוַיְיהוּ רַבָּנַן צַדִּיקֵי הֲווֹ, מָר מְצַלֵּי וְאָתֵי מִיטְרָא וּמָר מְצַלֵּי וְאָתֵי מִיטְרָא,
Rava said: Length of life, children, and sustenance do not depend on one’s merit, but rather they depend upon fate. As, Rabba and Rav Ḥisda were both pious Sages; one Sage would pray during a drought and rain would fall, and the other Sage would pray and rain would fall.
רַב חִסְדָּא חֲיָה תִּשְׁעִין וְתַרְתֵּין שְׁנִין, רַבָּה חֲיָה אַרְבְּעִין. בֵּי רַב חִסְדָּא שִׁיתִּין הִלּוּלֵי, בֵּי רַבָּה שִׁיתִּין תִּיכְלֵי.
And nevertheless, their lives were very different. Rav Ḥisda lived for ninety-two years, whereas Rabba lived for only forty years. The house of Rav Ḥisda celebrated sixty wedding feasts, whereas the house of Rabba experienced sixty calamities. In other words, many fortuitous events took place in the house of Rav Ḥisda and the opposite occurred in the house of Rabba.
בֵּי רַב חִסְדָּא סְמִידָא לְכַלְבֵי וְלָא מִתְבְּעֵי, בֵּי רַבָּה נַהֲמָא דִשְׂעָרֵי לְאִינָשֵׁי וְלָא מִשְׁתְּכַח.
In the house of Rav Ḥisda there was bread from the finest flour [semida] even for the dogs, and it was not asked after, as there was so much food. In the house of Rabba, on the other hand, there was coarse barley bread even for people, and it was not found in sufficient quantities. This shows that the length of life, children, and sustenance all depend not upon one’s merit, but upon fate.
וְאָמַר רָבָא: הָנֵי תְּלָת מִילֵּי בְּעַאי קַמֵּי שְׁמַיָּא, תַּרְתֵּי יְהַבוּ לִי, חֲדָא לָא יְהַבוּ לִי: חוּכְמְתֵיהּ דְּרַב הוּנָא, וְעוּתְרֵיהּ דְּרַב חִסְדָּא, וִיהַבוּ לִי. עִנְוְתָנוּתֵיהּ דְּרַבָּה בַּר רַב הוּנָא, לָא יְהַבוּ לִי.
Apropos Rav Ḥisda’s great wealth, the Gemara reports that Rava said: These three things I requested from Heaven, two of which were given to me, and one was not given to me: I requested the wisdom of Rav Huna and the wealth of Rav Ḥisda and they were given to me. I also requested the humility of Rabba bar Rav Huna, but it was not given to me.
רַב שְׂעוֹרִים אֲחוּהּ דְּרָבָא הֲוָה יָתֵיב קַמֵּיהּ דְּרָבָא, חַזְיֵיהּ דַּהֲוָה קָא מְנַמְנֵם. אֲמַר לֵיהּ: לֵימָא לֵיהּ מָר דְּלָא לְצַעֲרַן. אֲמַר לֵיהּ: מָר לָאו שׁוֹשְׁבִינֵיהּ הוּא? אֲמַר לֵיהּ: כֵּיוָן דְּאִימְּסַר מַזָּלָא, לָא אַשְׁגַּח בִּי. אֲמַר לֵיהּ: לִיתְחֲזֵי לִי מָר. אִיתְחֲזִי לֵיהּ. אֲמַר לֵיהּ: הֲוָה לֵיהּ לְמָר צַעֲרָא? אֲמַר לֵיהּ: כִּי רִיבְדָּא דְכוּסִילְתָּא.
The Gemara continues its discussion of the deaths of the righteous. Rav Seorim, Rava’s brother, sat before Rava, and he saw that Rava was dozing, i.e., about to die. Rava said to his brother: Master, tell him, the Angel of Death, not to torment me. Knowing that Rava was not afraid of the Angel of Death, Rav Seorim said to him: Master, are you not a friend of the Angel of Death? Rava said to him: Since my fate has been handed over to him, and it has been decreed that I shall die, the Angel of Death no longer pays heed to me. Rav Seorim said to Rava: Master, appear to me in a dream after your death. And Rava appeared to him. Rav Seorim said to Rava: Master, did you have pain in death? He said to him: Like the prick of the knife when letting blood.
רָבָא הֲוָה יָתֵיב קַמֵּיהּ דְּרַב נַחְמָן, חַזְיֵיהּ דְּקָא מְנַמְנֵם. אֲמַר לֵיהּ: לֵימָא לֵיהּ מָר דְּלָא לְצַעֲרַן. אֲמַר לֵיהּ: מָר לָאו אָדָם חָשׁוּב הוּא? אֲמַר לֵיהּ: מַאן חֲשִׁיב, מַאן סְפִין, מַאן רְקִיעַ!
It was similarly related that Rava sat before Rav Naḥman, and he saw that Rav Naḥman was dozing, i.e., slipping into death. Rav Naḥman said to Rava: Master, tell the Angel of Death not to torment me. Rava said to him: Master, are you not an important person who is respected in Heaven? Rav Naḥman said to him: In the supernal world who is important? Who is honorable? Who is complete?
אֲמַר לֵיהּ: לִיתְחֲזֵי לִי מָר. אִתְחֲזִי לֵיהּ. אֲמַר לֵיהּ: הֲוָה לֵיהּ לְמָר צַעֲרָא? אֲמַר לֵיהּ: כְּמִישְׁחַל בִּנִיתָא מֵחֲלָבָא, וְאִי אָמַר לִי הַקָּדוֹשׁ בָּרוּךְ הוּא זִיל בְּהָהוּא עָלְמָא כִּד הֲוֵית — לָא בָּעֵינָא, דִּנְפִישׁ בִּיעֲתוּתֵיהּ.
Rava said to Rav Naḥman: Master, appear to me in a dream after your death. And he appeared to him. Rava said to him: Master, did you have pain in death? Rav Naḥman said to him: Like the removal of hair from milk, which is a most gentle process. But nevertheless, were the Holy One, Blessed be He, to say to me: Go back to that world, the physical world, as you were, I would not want to go, for the fear of the Angel of Death is great. And I would not want to go through such a terrifying experience a second time.
רַבִּי אֶלְעָזָר הֲוָה קָאָכֵיל תְּרוּמָה. אִיתְחֲזִי לֵיהּ, אֲמַר לֵיהּ: תְּרוּמָה קָא אָכֵילְנָא, וְלָאו קוֹדֶשׁ אִיקְּרִי? חֲלַפָא לֵיהּ שַׁעְתָּא.
The Gemara relates that Rabbi Elazar was once eating teruma, when the Angel of Death appeared to him. He said to the Angel of Death: I am eating teruma; is it not called sacred? It would be inappropriate for me to die now and thereby defile this sacred teruma. The Angel of Death accepted his argument and left him. The moment passed, and he lived for some time afterward.
רַב שֵׁשֶׁת אִיתְחֲזִי לֵיהּ בְּשׁוּקָא, אֲמַר לֵיהּ: בְּשׁוּקָא כִּבְהֵמָה? אִיתַא לְגַבֵּי בֵּיתָא.
It was similarly related that the Angel of Death once appeared to Rav Sheshet in the marketplace. Rav Sheshet said to the Angel of Death: Shall I die in the market like an animal? Come to my house and kill me there like a human being.
רַב אָשֵׁי אִיתְחֲזִי לֵיהּ (בְּשׁוּקָא), אֲמַר לֵיהּ: אִיתְּרַח לִי תְּלָתִין יוֹמִין, וְאַהְדְּרֵי[הּ] לְתַלְמוּדַאי, דְּאָמְרִיתוּ: אַשְׁרֵי מִי שֶׁבָּא לְכָאן וְתַלְמוּדוֹ בְּיָדוֹ. בְּיוֹם תְּלָתִין אֲתָא. אֲמַר לֵיהּ: מַאי כּוּלֵּי הַאי? קָא דָחֲקָא רַגְלֵיהּ דְּבַר נָתָן, וְאֵין מַלְכוּת נוֹגַעַת בַּחֲבֶירְתָּהּ אֲפִילּוּ כִּמְלֹא נִימָא.
So too, the Angel of Death appeared to Rav Ashi in the marketplace. Rav Ashi said to the Angel of Death: Give me thirty days so that I may review my studies, for you say above: Fortunate is he who comes here to Heaven with his learning in his hand. On the thirtieth day the Angel of Death came to take him. Rav Ashi said to the Angel of Death: What is all of this? Why are you in such a hurry to take me? Why can you not postpone my death? He said to him: The foot of Rav Huna bar Natan is pushing you, as he is ready to succeed you as the leader of the generation, and one sovereignty does not overlap with its counterpart, even by one hairbreadth. Therefore, you cannot live any longer.
רַב חִסְדָּא, לָא הֲוָה יָכֵיל לֵיהּ, דְּלָא הֲוָה שָׁתֵיק פּוּמֵּיהּ מִגִּירְסָא, סְלֵיק יְתֵיב בְּאַרְזָא דְּבֵי רַב. פְּקַע אַרְזָא וּשְׁתַק, וִיכֵיל לֵיהּ.
The Angel of Death was unable to take Rav Ḥisda because his mouth was never silent from study. So the Angel of Death went and sat on the cedar column that supported the roof of the study hall of the Sages. The cedar cracked and Rav Ḥisda was silent for a moment, as he was startled by the sound. At that point the Angel of Death was able to take him.
רַבִּי חִיָּיא לָא הֲוָה מָצֵי לְמִיקְרַבא לֵיהּ, יוֹמָא חַד אִידְּמִי לֵיהּ כְּעַנְיָא, אֲתָא טָרֵיף אַבָּבָא, אֲמַר לֵיהּ: אַפֵּיק לִי רִיפְתָּא, אַפִּיקוּ לֵיהּ. אֲמַר לֵיהּ: וְלָאו קָא מְרַחֵם מָר אַעַנְיָא? אַהָהוּא גַּבְרָא אַמַּאי לָא קָא מְרַחֵם מָר? גַּלִּי לֵיהּ, אַחְוִי לֵיהּ שׁוֹטָא דְנוּרָא, אַמְצִי לֵיהּ נַפְשֵׁיהּ.
The Angel of Death could not come near Rabbi Ḥiyya, owing to his righteousness. One day the Angel of Death appeared to him as a poor person. He came and knocked on the door. He said to Rabbi Ḥiyya: Bring out bread for me, and he took out bread for him. The Angel of Death then said to Rabbi Ḥiyya: Master, do you not have mercy on a poor person? Why, then, do you not have mercy upon that man, i.e., upon me, and give me what I want? The Angel of Death then revealed his identity to him, and showed him a fiery rod in order to confirm that he was the Angel of Death. At this point Rav Ḥiyya surrendered himself to him.
מַתְנִי׳ נָשִׁים בַּמּוֹעֵד מְעַנּוֹת, אֲבָל לֹא מְטַפְּחוֹת. רַבִּי יִשְׁמָעֵאל אוֹמֵר: הַסְּמוּכוֹת לַמִּטָּה מְטַפְּחוֹת.
MISHNA: On the intermediate days of a Festival women may wail in grief over the deceased, but they may not clap [metapeḥot] their hands in mourning. Rabbi Yishmael says: Those who are close to the bier may clap.
בְּרָאשֵׁי חֳדָשִׁים, בַּחֲנוּכָּה וּבְפוּרִים — מְעַנּוֹת וּמְטַפְּחוֹת, בְּזֶה וָזֶה — לֹא מְקוֹנְנוֹת. נִקְבַּר הַמֵּת — לֹא מְעַנּוֹת וְלֹא מְטַפְּחוֹת.
On New Moons, Hanukkah and Purim, which are not Festivals by Torah law, the women may both wail and clap their hands in mourning. On both the intermediate days of a Festival and on New Moons, Hanukkah and Purim they may not lament. After the deceased has been buried they may neither wail nor clap.
אֵיזֶהוּ עִינּוּי — שֶׁכּוּלָּן עוֹנוֹת כְּאַחַת, קִינָה — שֶׁאַחַת מְדַבֶּרֶת וְכוּלָּן עוֹנוֹת אַחֲרֶיהָ, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר: ״וְלַמֵּדְנָה בְנוֹתֵיכֶם נֶהִי וְאִשָּׁה רְעוּתָהּ קִינָה״.
The mishna explains: What is considered wailing? This is when they all wail together simultaneously. And what is considered a lament? This is when one speaks and they all answer after her with a repeated refrain, as it is stated: “And teach your daughters wailing and everyone her neighbor lamentation” (Jeremiah 9:19).
אֲבָל לֶעָתִיד לָבֹא הוּא אוֹמֵר ״בִּלַּע הַמָּוֶת לָנֶצַח וּמָחָה ה׳ אֱלֹהִים דִּמְעָה מֵעַל כׇּל פָּנִים וְגוֹ׳״.
In order to conclude on a positive note, the mishna says: But with regard to the future, the verse states: “He will destroy death forever; and the Lord, God, will wipe away tears from off all faces and the reproach of His people He will take away from off all the earth” (Isaiah 25:8).
גְּמָ׳ מַאי אֲמַרַן? אָמַר רַב: ״וַיי לְאָזְלָא, וַיי לַחֲבִילָא״.
GEMARA: What do the women who wail over the dead say? Rav said: They say: Woe over him who is now departing; woe over him who is now returning the pledge, i.e., his soul, which had been deposited in his hands all the years of his life.
אָמַר רָבָא, נְשֵׁי דְּשַׁכְנְצִיב אֲמַרַן הָכִי: ״וַיי לָאָזְלָא, וַיי לַחֲבִילָא״. וְאָמַר רָבָא, נְשֵׁי דְשַׁכְנְצִיב אָמְרָן: ״גּוּד גַּרְמָא מִכַּכָּא וְנִמְטֵי מַיָּא לְאַנְטִיכִי״.
Rava said: The women in the city of Shekhantziv, who were known for their wisdom, would say as follows: Woe over him who is now departing; woe over him who is now returning the pledge. And Rava said: The women of Shekhantziv would say about an elderly person: The bone has been removed from the jaw and the water returns to the kettle.
וְאָמַר רָבָא, נְשֵׁי דְשַׁכְנְצִיב אָמְרָן: ״עֲטוֹף וְכַסּוֹ טוּרֵי, דְּבַר רָמֵי וּבַר רַבְרְבֵי הוּא״. וְאָמַר רָבָא: נְשֵׁי דְשַׁכְנְצִיב אָמְרָן: ״שְׁייוֹל אִצְטְלָא דְמֵלָתָא לְבַר חוֹרִין, דִּשְׁלִימוּ זְווֹדֵיהּ״.
And Rava said: The women of Shekhantziv would say at a time of bereavement: Wrap and cover the mountains in mourning, as the deceased is the son of the high and distinguished. Rava said: The women of Shekhantziv would say: Lend out a cloak of fine wool to serve as a burial shroud for a free man whose sustenance has been depleted. In other words, a wealthy person who loses his fortune would rather die than live in poverty.
וְאָמַר רָבָא, נְשֵׁי דְשַׁכְנְצִיב אָמְרָן: ״רָהֵיט וְנָפֵיל אַמַּעְבָּרָא וִיזוּפְתָּא יָזֵיף״. וְאָמַר רָבָא, נְשֵׁי דְשַׁכְנְצִיב אָמְרָן: ״אֲחַנָא תַּגָּרֵי אַזַּבְזָגֵי מִיבַּדְקוּ״. וְאָמַר רָבָא, נְשֵׁי דְשַׁכְנְצִיב אָמְרָן: ״מוֹתָא כִּי מוֹתָא וּמַרְעִין חִיבוּלְיָא״.
And Rava said: The women of Shekhantziv would say: A person runs and tumbles at the ford and still he borrows. And Rava said: The women of Shekhantziv would say: Our brothers, the merchants, will be examined at their places of business to see if they are honest businessmen. And Rava said: The women of Shekhantziv would say: Death is like death, as everyone must die, and suffering is like interest.
תַּנְיָא, הָיָה רַבִּי מֵאִיר אוֹמֵר: ״טוֹב לָלֶכֶת אֶל בֵּית אֵבֶל וְגוֹ׳״ עַד ״וְהַחַי יִתֵּן אֶל לִבּוֹ״ — דְּבָרִים שֶׁל מִיתָה: דְּיִסְפֹּד — יִסְפְּדוּנֵיהּ, דְּיִקְבַּר — יִקְבְּרוּנֵיהּ, דְּיִטְעֹן — יִטְעֲנוּנֵיהּ, דִּידַל — יְדַלּוּנֵיהּ.
It is taught in a baraita that Rabbi Meir would say with regard to the verse “It is better to go to the house of mourning than to go to the house of feasting, for that is the end of all men; and the living will lay it to his heart” (Ecclesiastes 7:2): What should the living lay to his heart? Matters relating to death. And these matters are as follows: He that eulogizes will be eulogized by others. He that buries others will be buried by others. He that loads many words of praise and tribute into the eulogies that he delivers for others will be similarly treated by others. He that raises his voice in weeping over others will have others raise their voices over him.
וְאִיכָּא דְאָמְרִי: דְּלָא יְדַל — יְדַלּוּנֵיהּ, דִּכְתִיב: ״כִּי טוֹב אֲמׇר לְךָ עֲלֵה הֵנָּה וְגוֹ׳״.
And some say: One who does not raise himself with pride, but chooses his place among the lowly, will be raised by others, as it is written: “Do not exalt yourself in the king’s presence, and stand not in the place of great men. For it is better to be told, step up here, than to be degraded in the presence of the great” (Proverbs 25:6–7).
תָּנוּ רַבָּנַן: כְּשֶׁמֵּתוּ בָּנָיו שֶׁל רַבִּי יִשְׁמָעֵאל נִכְנְסוּ אַרְבָּעָה זְקֵנִים לְנַחֲמוֹ, רַבִּי טַרְפוֹן, וְרַבִּי יוֹסֵי הַגְּלִילִי וְרַבִּי אֶלְעָזָר בֶּן עֲזַרְיָה, וְרַבִּי עֲקִיבָא. אֲמַר לָהֶם רַבִּי טַרְפוֹן: דְּעוּ שֶׁחָכָם גָּדוֹל הוּא וּבָקִי בְּאַגָּדוֹת, אַל יִכָּנֵס אֶחָד מִכֶּם לְתוֹךְ דִּבְרֵי חֲבֵירוֹ. אָמַר רַבִּי עֲקִיבָא: וַאֲנִי אַחֲרוֹן.
The Sages taught the following baraita: When the sons of Rabbi Yishmael died, four Elders entered to console him: Rabbi Tarfon, Rabbi Yosei HaGelili, Rabbi Elazar ben Azarya, and Rabbi Akiva. Rabbi Tarfon said to them: Know that Rabbi Yishmael is a great Sage and well versed in aggadot. Let none of you interrupt the words of another, but rather each person should say something novel of his own. Rabbi Akiva said: And I shall speak last.
פָּתַח רַבִּי יִשְׁמָעֵאל וְאָמַר: רַבּוּ עֲוֹנוֹתָיו, תְּכָפוּהוּ אֲבָלָיו, הִטְרִיחַ רַבּוֹתָיו פַּעַם רִאשׁוֹנָה וּשְׁנִיָּה.
Rabbi Yishmael, the mourner, opened and said about himself: Many are his sins. Due to this, his bereavements came in quick succession and he troubled his teachers once and then a second time to come and console him.
נַעֲנָה רַבִּי טַרְפוֹן וְאָמַר: ״וַאֲחֵיכֶם כׇּל בֵּית יִשְׂרָאֵל יִבְכּוּ אֶת הַשְּׂרֵפָה״. וַהֲלֹא דְּבָרִים קַל וָחוֹמֶר: וּמָה נָדָב וַאֲבִיהוּא שֶׁלֹּא עָשׂוּ אֶלָּא מִצְוָה אַחַת, דִּכְתִיב: ״וַיַּקְרִיבוּ בְּנֵי אַהֲרֹן אֶת הַדָּם אֵלָיו״ — כָּךְ, בָּנָיו שֶׁל רַבִּי יִשְׁמָעֵאל — עַל אַחַת כַּמָּה וְכַמָּה.
Having been granted permission to speak, Rabbi Tarfon answered and said: With regard to the death of Aaron’s sons it says: “But let your brethren, the whole house of Israel, bewail the burning that the Lord has kindled” (Leviticus 10:6). Are these matters not inferred a fortiori: If, with regard to Nadav and Avihu, who had performed only one mitzva that is explicitly mentioned in the Bible, as it is written: “And the sons of Aaron brought the blood to him” (Leviticus 9:9), this was nevertheless stated about them, then with regard to the sons of Rabbi Yishmael, who were well known for their performance of many mitzvot, all the more so should the entire Jewish people bewail their death.
נַעֲנָה רַבִּי יוֹסֵי הַגְּלִילִי וְאָמַר: ״וְסָפְדוּ לוֹ כׇל יִשְׂרָאֵל וְקָבְרוּ אוֹתוֹ״, וַהֲלֹא דְּבָרִים קַל וָחוֹמֶר: וּמָה אֲבִיָּה בֶּן יָרׇבְעָם שֶׁלֹּא עָשָׂה אֶלָּא דָּבָר אֶחָד טוֹב, דִּכְתִיב בֵּיהּ: ״יַעַן נִמְצָא בוֹ דָּבָר טוֹב״ — כָּךְ, בָּנָיו שֶׁל רַבִּי יִשְׁמָעֵאל — עַל אַחַת כַּמָּה וְכַמָּה.
Rabbi Yosei HaGelili answered and said: With regard to Abijah, son of King Jeroboam, the verse states: “And all Israel shall mourn for him, and bury him” (I Kings 14:13). Are these matters not inferred a fortiori: If, with regard to Abijah, son of Jeroboam, who did only one good thing, as it is written: “Because in him there is found some good thing toward the Lord God of Israel” (I Kings 14:13), i.e., he did only one good thing, and this was his reward, then with regard to the sons of Rabbi Yishmael all the more so should they be rewarded by having the entire Jewish people mourn for them and bury them.
מַאי דָּבָר טוֹב? רַבִּי זֵירָא וְרַבִּי חִינָּנָא בַּר פָּפָּא, חַד אָמַר: שֶׁבִּיטֵּל מִשְׁמַרְתּוֹ וְעָלָה לָרֶגֶל, וְחַד אָמַר: שֶׁבִּיטֵּל פַּרְדְּסָאוֹת שֶׁהוֹשִׁיב יָרׇבְעָם אָבִיו עַל הַדְּרָכִים שֶׁלֹּא יַעֲלוּ יִשְׂרָאֵל לָרֶגֶל.
The Gemara asks: What was this one good thing that Abijah did? Rabbi Zeira and Rabbi Ḥinnana bar Pappa disagreed about this issue. One said: He abandoned his guard post. His father, Jeroboam, had assigned him to serve as one of the guards whose mission it was to prevent people from going up to Jerusalem on the pilgrimage Festivals. And he himself went up to Jerusalem for the pilgrimage Festival. And one said: He removed the guards [pardesaot] that his father, Jeroboam, had placed along the roads so that the people of Israel would not go up to Jerusalem for the pilgrimage Festivals.
נַעֲנָה רַבִּי אֶלְעָזָר בֶּן עֲזַרְיָה וְאָמַר: ״בְּשָׁלוֹם תָּמוּת וּבְמִשְׂרְפוֹת אֲבוֹתֶיךָ הַמְּלָכִים הָרִאשׁוֹנִים [אֲשֶׁר הָיוּ לְפָנֶיךָ כֵּן] יִשְׂרְפוּ לָךְ״, וַהֲלֹא דְּבָרִים קַל וָחוֹמֶר: וּמָה צִדְקִיָּהוּ מֶלֶךְ יְהוּדָה שֶׁלֹּא עָשָׂה אֶלָּא מִצְוָה אַחַת, שֶׁהֶעֱלָה יִרְמְיָה מִן הַטִּיט — כָּךְ, בָּנָיו שֶׁל רַבִּי יִשְׁמָעֵאל — עַל אַחַת כַּמָּה וְכַמָּה.
The baraita continues: Rabbi Elazar ben Azarya answered and said: With regard to King Zedekiah, the verse states: “But you shall die in peace; and with the burnings of your fathers, the former kings that were before you, so shall they make a burning for you” (Jeremiah 34:5). Are these matters not inferred a fortiori: If, with regard to Zedekiah, king of Judea, who had performed only one mitzva that is explicitly mentioned in the Bible, for he had Jeremiah lifted out of the mire (Jeremiah 38:10), this was nevertheless stated about him, then with regard to the sons of Rabbi Yishmael all the more so should they be rewarded by dying in peace.
נַעֲנָה רַבִּי עֲקִיבָא וְאָמַר: ״בַּיּוֹם הַהוּא יִגְדַּל הַמִּסְפֵּד בִּירוּשָׁלִַם כְּמִסְפַּד הֲדַדְרִימּוֹן [בְּבִקְעַת מְגִידּוֹ]״, וְאָמַר רַב יוֹסֵף: אִלְמָלֵא תַּרְגּוּמֵיהּ דְּהַאי קְרָא, לָא הֲוָה יָדַעְנָא מַאי קָאָמַר.
Rabbi Akiva answered and said: The verse states: “On that day shall there be a great mourning in Jerusalem, like the mourning of Hadadrimmon in the valley of Megiddon” (Zechariah 12:11). The Gemara comments: With regard to this verse, Rav Yosef said: Had it not been for the Aramaic translation of this verse, we would not have known what it is saying, as nowhere in the Bible do we find this incident involving Hadadrimmon.
בְּעִידָּנָא הָהוּא יִסְגֵּי מִסְפְּדָא בִּירוּשְׁלֶם כְּמִסְפְּדָא דְּאַחְאָב בַּר עָמְרִי דִּקְטַל יָתֵיהּ הֲדַדְרִימּוֹן בַּר טַבְרִימּוֹן, וּכְמִסְפֵּד דְּיֹאשִׁיָּה בַּר אָמוֹן דִּקְטַל יָתֵיהּ פַּרְעֹה חֲגִירָא בְּבִקְעַת מְגִידּוֹ.
The Aramaic translation reads as follows: At that time the mourning in Jerusalem will be as great as the mourning over Ahab, son of Omri, who was slain by Hadadrimmon, son of Tabrimmon, and like the mourning over Josiah, son of Amon, who was slain by Pharaoh the lame in the valley of Megiddon.
וַהֲלֹא דְּבָרִים קַל וָחוֹמֶר: וּמָה אַחְאָב מֶלֶךְ יִשְׂרָאֵל שֶׁלֹּא עָשָׂה אֶלָּא דָּבָר אֶחָד טוֹב, דִּכְתִיב: ״וְהַמֶּלֶךְ הָיָה מׇעֳמָד בַּמֶּרְכָּבָה נֹכַח אֲרָם״ — כָּךְ, בָּנָיו שֶׁל רַבִּי יִשְׁמָעֵאל — עַל אַחַת כַּמָּה וְכַמָּה.
The baraita continues: Are these matters not inferred a fortiori: If, with regard to Ahab, king of Israel, who did only one good thing that is explicitly mentioned in the Bible, as it is written: “And the king was propped up in his chariot facing Aram” (I Kings 22:35), as he did not want the Jewish people to see that he was mortally wounded and flee, and this, that he was greatly mourned, was nevertheless stated about him, then all the more so will the sons of Rabbi Yishmael be greatly mourned.
אֲמַר לֵיהּ רָבָא לְרַבָּה בַּר מָרִי: כְּתִיב בֵּיהּ בְּצִדְקִיָּהוּ ״בְּשָׁלוֹם תָּמוּת״, וּכְתִיב ״וְאֶת עֵינֵי צִדְקִיָּהוּ עִוֵּר״! אֲמַר לֵיהּ, הָכִי אָמַר רַבִּי יוֹחָנָן: שֶׁמֵּת נְבוּכַדְנֶאצַּר בְּיָמָיו.
The Gemara discusses issues in the aforementioned verses: Rava said to Rabba bar Mari: It is written with regard to Zedekiah: “You shall die in peace,” but elsewhere it is written: “And he put out Zedekiah’s eyes” (Jeremiah 39:7). Rabba bar Mari said to him: Rabbi Yoḥanan said as follows: The first verse: “You shall die in peace,” means that Nebuchadnezzar died in Zedekiah’s lifetime and consequently the latter died in peace, having seen the death of the wicked.
וְאָמַר רָבָא לְרַבָּה בַּר מָרִי, כְּתִיב בֵּיהּ בְּיֹאשִׁיָּהוּ: ״לָכֵן הִנְנִי אוֹסִיפְךָ עַל אֲבוֹתֶיךָ וְנֶאֱסַפְתָּ אֶל קִבְרוֹתֶיךָ בְּשָׁלוֹם״, וּכְתִיב: ״וַיּוֹרוּ הַיּוֹרִים לַמֶּלֶךְ יֹאשִׁיָּהוּ״, וְאָמַר רַב יְהוּדָה אָמַר רַב: שֶׁעֲשָׂאוּהוּ כִּכְבָרָה!
And Rava further said to Rabba bar Mari: It is written with regard to Josiah: “Behold, therefore I will gather you unto your fathers, and you shall be gathered into your grave in peace” (II Kings 22:20), and elsewhere it is written: “And the archers shot at King Josiah; and the king said to his servants, Get me away; for I am grievously wounded” (II Chronicles 35:23). And with regard to this verse Rabbi Yehuda said that Rav said: With their many arrows, they made his body like a sieve.
אֲמַר לֵיהּ, הָכִי אָמַר רַבִּי יוֹחָנָן: שֶׁלֹּא חָרַב בֵּית הַמִּקְדָּשׁ בְּיָמָיו.
Rabba bar Mari said to him: Rabbi Yoḥanan said as follows: The words “in peace” stated with regard to King Josiah refer to the fact that the Temple was not destroyed in his lifetime, as the verse itself continues: “And your eyes shall not see all the evil that I will bring upon this place” (II Kings 22:20).
אָמַר רַבִּי יוֹחָנָן: אֵין מְנַחֲמִין רַשָּׁאִין לוֹמַר דָּבָר עַד שֶׁיִּפְתַּח אָבֵל, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר: ״אַחֲרֵי כֵן פָּתַח אִיּוֹב אֶת פִּיהוּ״, וַהֲדַר: ״וַיַּעַן אֱלִיפַז הַתֵּימָנִי״.
The Gemara returns to examining the halakhot of consolation. Rabbi Yoḥanan said: The consolers are not permitted to speak words of consolation until the mourner opens and speaks first. As it is stated: “And they sat down with him upon the ground for seven days and seven nights, and none spoke a word to him; for they saw that his suffering was very great. After this Job opened his mouth” (Job 2:13–3:1). And afterward: “And Eliphaz the Temanite answered and said” (Job 4:1).
אָמַר רַבִּי אֲבָהוּ: מִנַּיִן לָאָבֵל שֶׁמֵּיסֵב בָּרֹאשׁ — שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר: ״אֶבֲחַר דַּרְכָּם וְאֵשֵׁב רֹאשׁ וְאֶשְׁכּוֹן כְּמֶלֶךְ בַּגְּדוּד כַּאֲשֶׁר אֲבֵלִים יְנַחֵם״.
Rabbi Abbahu said: From where is it derived that the mourner reclines at the head [rosh] of the table? As it is stated: “I chose out their way, and sat as chief [rosh], and dwelt as a king in the army, as one that comforts [yenaḥem] the mourners” (Job 29:25). This indicates that the mourner sits at the head of the table, as the chief.
״יְנַחֵם״ — אַחֲרִינֵי מַשְׁמַע! אָמַר רַב נַחְמָן בַּר יִצְחָק: ״יִנָּחֵם״ כְּתִיב.
The Gemara raises an objection: But the word yenaḥem means that he comforts others, thereby implying that one who comforts the mourners sits at the head of the table. Rav Naḥman bar Yitzḥak said: The word is written as yinaḥem, meaning: Will be comforted, and therefore can be understood as referring to the mourner.
מָר זוּטְרָא אָמַר מֵהָכָא: ״וְסָר מִרְזַח סְרוּחִים״. ״מִרְזָח״ — נַעֲשֶׂה שַׂר לִסְרוּחִים.
Mar Zutra said: A proof may be derived from here: The verse “And the revelry [mirzaḥ] of those who stretched themselves out shall pass away [sar]” (Amos 6:7) means that mirzaḥ, he who is bitter [mar] and whose mind is overwrought [zaḥ] due to grief, is made a prince [sar] over those who sit beside him stretched out below him to comfort him.
אָמַר רַבִּי חָמָא בַּר חֲנִינָא: מִנַּיִן לְחָתָן שֶׁמֵּיסֵב בָּרֹאשׁ — שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר: ״כְּחָתָן יְכַהֵן פְּאֵר״, מָה כֹּהֵן בָּרֹאשׁ — אַף חָתָן בָּרֹאשׁ.
Rabbi Ḥama bar Ḥanina said: From where is it derived that a groom reclines at the head of the table? As it is stated: “As a bridegroom decks himself [yekhahen] with a garland” (Isaiah 61:10). Just as a priest [kohen] is at the head of the table, so too, a bridegroom is at the head of the table.
וְכֹהֵן גּוּפֵיהּ מְנָלַן? דְּתָנָא דְּבֵי רַבִּי יִשְׁמָעֵאל: ״וְקִדַּשְׁתּוֹ״, לְכׇל דָּבָר שֶׁבִּקְדוּשָּׁה: לִפְתּוֹחַ רִאשׁוֹן, וּלְבָרֵךְ רִאשׁוֹן, וְלִיטּוֹל מָנָה יָפָה רִאשׁוֹן.
The Gemara asks: From where do we derive that the priest himself sits at the head? The Gemara answers: As the school of Rabbi Yishmael taught: With regard to a priest it says: “You shall sanctify him, for he offers the bread of your God” (Leviticus 21:8), meaning that you are to sanctify him with regard to all matters of sanctity: To be first to begin reading the Torah, to be first to recite the Grace after Meals, and to be first to take a portion during a meal.
אָמַר רַבִּי חֲנִינָא: קָשָׁה יְצִיאַת נְשָׁמָה מִן הַגּוּף
§ The Gemara returns to its discussion of death: Rabbi Ḥanina said: The soul’s departure from the body is as difficult
