Pisqa’ 1096H:34-35;JN1:39-40 1. “Until here you are today, numerous as the stars of heaven” (Dt.1:10). Look! You are as abiding (qayyamim) as the day (kayom)!97Note the assonance of the otherwise unrelated words. On this basis they taught: There are seven classes of the Righteous in the Garden of Eden, each above the other. First [are those to whom this verse applies]: “Only the Righteous . . . will sit in Your Presence” (Ps.140:14). Second [are those to whom this verse applies]: “Fortunate is the one You chose . . . to dwell in Your courtyards.” (Ps.65:5) Third [are those to whom this verse applies]: “Fortunate are those who sit in Your house” (Ps.84:5). Fourth [are those to whom this verse applies]: “Oh HASHEM, who will dwell in Your tents?” (Ps.15:1). Fifth [are those to whom this verse applies]: “Who will settle on Your holy mountain?” (Ps.15:1) Sixth [are those to whom this verse apples]: “Who will ascend the mountain of HASHEM ?” (Ps.24:3) Seventh [are those to whom this verse applies]: “Who will stand in His holy place?” (Ps.24:3)
2. R. Shimon b. Yohai says: In the coming future, the faces of the Righteous will simulate seven [sources] of [this-worldly] joy:98See Pisqa’ 47.3. the sun, the moon, the sky, the stars, the lightening, the lilies, and the lamp of the Holy Abode. Like the sun—how do we know? For it is said: “And may His beloved be like the rising sun in splendor” (Jud.5:31). Like the moon—how do we know? For it is said: “Like the moon in beauty” (Song 6:10). Like the sky—how do we know? For it is said: “And the Enlightened will shine with the sky’s splendor” (Dan.12:3). Like the stars—how do we know? For it is said: “Like the stars shall be those teaching righteousness to the masses” (Dan.12:3). Like the lightening—how do we know? For it is said: “Like lightening shall they flash” (Nah.2:5). Like the lilies—how do we know? For it is said: “Like the lilies in duration” (Ps.45:1) Like the lamp of the Holy Abode—how do we know? For it is said: “Like a lamp of gold” (Zech.4:2).99Cf. Pisqa’ 47.3
(דברים א י) וְהִנְּכֶם הַיּוֹם כְּכוֹכְבֵי הַשָּׁמַיִם לָרֹב, הֲרֵי אַתֶּם קַיָּמִים כַּיּוֹם. מִכָּן אָמְרוּ: שֶׁבַע כִּתּוֹת שֶׁל צַדִּיקִים בְּגַן עֵדֶן זוֹ לְמַעְלָה מִזּוֹ. רִאשׁוֹנָה (תהלים קמ יד): ״אַךְ צַדִּיקִים יוֹדוּ לִשְׁמֶךָ יֵשְׁבוּ יְשָׁרִים אֶת פָּנֶיךָ״, שְׁנִיָּה (תהלים סה ה): ״אַשְׁרֵי תִּבְחַר וּתְקָרֵב יִשְׁכֹּן חֲצֵרֶיךָ״, שְׁלִישִׁית (תהלים פד ה): ״אַשְׁרֵי יוֹשְׁבֵי בֵיתֶךָ״, רְבִיעִית (תהלים טו א): ״ה׳ מִי יָגוּר בְּאָהֳלֶךָ״, חֲמִישִׁית (תהלים טו א): ״מִי יִשְׁכֹּן בְּהַר קָדְשֶׁךָ״, שִׁשִּׁית (תהלים כד ג): ״מִי יַעֲלֶה בְּהַר ה׳״, שְׁבִיעִית (תהלים כד ג): ״וּמִי יָקוּם בִּמְקוֹם קָדְשׁוֹ״.
Pisqa’ 1096H:34-35;JN1:39-40
1. “Until here you are today, numerous as the stars of heaven” (Dt.1:10).
Look! You are as abiding (qayyamim) as the day (kayom)!97Note the assonance of the otherwise unrelated words.
On this basis they taught:
There are seven classes of the Righteous in the Garden of Eden,
each above the other.
First [are those to whom this verse applies]:
“Only the Righteous . . . will sit in Your Presence” (Ps.140:14).
Second [are those to whom this verse applies]:
“Fortunate is the one You chose . . . to dwell in Your courtyards.” (Ps.65:5)
Third [are those to whom this verse applies]:
“Fortunate are those who sit in Your house” (Ps.84:5).
Fourth [are those to whom this verse applies]:
“Oh HASHEM, who will dwell in Your tents?” (Ps.15:1).
Fifth [are those to whom this verse applies]:
“Who will settle on Your holy mountain?” (Ps.15:1)
Sixth [are those to whom this verse apples]:
“Who will ascend the mountain of HASHEM ?” (Ps.24:3)
Seventh [are those to whom this verse applies]:
“Who will stand in His holy place?” (Ps.24:3)
רַבִּי שִׁמְעוֹן בֶּן יוֹחַי אוֹמֵר: לְשֶׁבַע שְׂמָחוֹת פְּנֵיהֶם שֶׁל צַדִּיקִים דּוֹמִים לֶעָתִיד לָבוֹא – לַחַמָּה, לַלְּבָנָה, לָרָקִיעַ, וְלַכּוֹכָבִים, וְלַבְּרָקִים, לַשּׁוֹשַׁנִּים, וְלִמְנוֹרַת בֵּית הַמִּקְדָּשׁ. לַחַמָּה מִנַּיִן? שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר (שופטים ה לא): ״וְאֹהֲבָיו כְּצֵאת הַשֶּׁמֶשׁ בִּגְבוּרָתוֹ״, לַלְּבָנָה מִנַּיִן? שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר (שיר השירים ו י): ״יָפָה כַלְּבָנָה״, לָרָקִיעַ (דניאל יב ג): ״וְהַמַּשְׂכִּילִים יַזְהִירוּ כְּזֹהַר הָרָקִיעַ״, לַכּוֹכָבִים (דניאל יב ג): ״וּמַצְדִּיקֵי הָרַבִּים כַּכּוֹכָבִים״, לַבְּרָקִים (נחום ב ה): ״כַּבְּרָקִים יְרוֹצֵצוּ״, לַשּׁוֹשַׁנִּים (תהלים מה א): ״לַמְנַצֵּחַ עַל שׁוֹשַׁנִּים״, לִמְנוֹרוֹת בֵּית הַמִּקְדָּשׁ, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר (זכריה ד ג): ״וּשְׁנַיִם זֵיתִים עָלֶיהָ אֶחָד מִימִין הַגֻּלָּה וְאֶחָד עַל שְׂמֹאלָהּ״.
2. R. Shimon b. Yohai says:
In the coming future,
the faces of the Righteous
will simulate seven [sources] of [this-worldly] joy:98See Pisqa’ 47.3.
the sun, the moon, the sky, the stars,
the lightening, the lilies, and the lamp of the Holy Abode.
Like the sun—how do we know?
For it is said:
“And may His beloved be like the rising sun in splendor” (Jud.5:31).
Like the moon—how do we know?
For it is said:
“Like the moon in beauty” (Song 6:10).
Like the sky—how do we know?
For it is said:
“And the Enlightened will shine with the sky’s splendor” (Dan.12:3).
Like the stars—how do we know?
For it is said:
“Like the stars shall be those
teaching righteousness to the masses” (Dan.12:3).
Like the lightening—how do we know?
For it is said:
“Like lightening shall they flash” (Nah.2:5).
Like the lilies—how do we know?
For it is said:
“Like the lilies in duration” (Ps.45:1)
Like the lamp of the Holy Abode—how do we know?
For it is said:
“Like a lamp of gold” (Zech.4:2).99Cf. Pisqa’ 47.3