Noach: Chapter 12

"The End of all Flesh"

Synopsis

When the Angel of Death is given free rein as a result of the accumulated negative actions of mankind, his power becomes vastly enlarged. Even innocent souls who inadvertently cross his path fall victim to his powers of death and destruction. Nevertheless, Noah was able to find refuge within the Ark. The Zohar reveals that the Zohar itself is an embodiment of the Ark, and can therefore provide protection in times of chaos and destruction.

Daniel Darkness David Death Death and the Afterlife Face Flesh Noah Shadow Stones

75. "And Elohim said to Noah, 'The End of All Flesh is come before Me'" (Beresheet 6:13). Rabbi Yehuda related this verse to the one reading, "Hashem, make me know my end, and the measure of my days, what it is; I will know how frail I am" (Tehilim 39:5). King David said to the Holy One, blessed be He: There are two 'ends,' one on the right and one on the left. And they are two paths for man to walk to the World of Truth. THERE IS an end to the right, because it is written: "at the end of the days (also: 'right')" (Daniel 12:13). And THERE IS ALSO an end of the left, as is written: "He sets an end to darkness, and searches out all perfection; the stones of darkness and the shadow of death" (Iyov 28:3). What is meant by, "searches out all perfections"? (also: 'ending'). Who is it that searches? He is none other than the end WHO IS to the left; HE IS THE SEARCHER who brings darkness upon the faces of the creatures.

75. וַיֹּאמֶר אֱלֹקִים אֶל נֹחַ קֵץ כָּל בָּשָׂר בָּא לְפָנַי. רַבִּי יְהוּדָה פְּתַח הוֹדִיעֵנִי ה' קִצִּי וּמִדַּת יָמַי מָה הִיא אֵדְעָה מֶה חָדֵל אָנִי. אֲמַר דָּוִד קַמֵּי קֻדְשָׁא בְּרִיךְ הוּא תְּרֵין קִצִּין אִינוּן, חַד לְיָמִינָא וְחַד לִשְׂמָאלָא, וְאִינוּן תְּרֵין אוֹרְחִין לְמֵהַךְ בְּהוֹ בְּנֵי נָשָׁא לְהַהוּא עָלְמָא. קֵץ לְיָמִינָא, דִּכְתִיב לְקֵץ הַיָּמִין, וְקֵץ לִשְׂמָאלָא, דִּכְתִיב קֵץ שָׂם לַחשֶׁךְ וּלְכָל תַּכְלִית הוּא חוֹקֵר אֶבֶן אוֹפֶל וְצַלְמָוֶת. מַאי וּלְכָל תַּכְלִית הוּא חוֹקֵר, מַאן הוּא חוֹקֵר, אֶלָּא הַהוּא קֵץ לִשְׂמָאלָא דְּמַחְשִׁיךְ אַפֵּיהוֹן דִּבְרִיָּיתָא.

Daniel Earth Resurrection Righteous Wicked Wickedness

76. 'The end of the right' is, as we have previously said, "at the end of the right." As the Holy One, blessed be He, said to Daniel: "But go your way till the end be; for you shall rest" (Daniel 12:13). Daniel asked Him: "in this world or in the World of Truth?" He answered him, In the World of Truth! As it is written: "Peace to them that rest in their graves" (Yeshayah 57:2). He asked Him, At the time when they shall rise from the earth - MEANING AT THE TIME OF THE RESURRECTION OF THE DEAD - "shall I rise and be among them or not?" He answered him: "And stand." Daniel continued, "I know that at the time of the resurrection they shall rise in groups. Some of them shall be the righteous, while the others shall be the wicked of the world. But I do not know with whom shall I rise!" He answered him, "for your allotted portion," MEANING AMONG THE RIGHTEOUS. He continued, But You said "go your way till the end be." But there is the 'end of the right' and the 'end of the left,' and I do not know to which one I will go. He answered him, "at the end of the right" (Daniel 12:13).

76. קֵץ לְיָמִינָא, כִּדְקָאֲמָרָן, דִּכְתִיב לְקֵץ הַיָּמִין. אָמַר לוֹ קֻדְשָׁא בְּרִיךְ הוּא לְדָנִיֵּאל, וְאַתָּה לֵךְ לַקֵּץ וְתָנוּחַ. אָמַר לוֹ מְנוּחָה בְּהַאי עָלְמָא, אוֹ בְּהַהוּא עָלְמָא, אָמַר לוֹ בְּהַהוּא עָלְמָא, כד"א יָנוּחוּ עַל מִשְׁכְּבוֹתָם. אָמַר לוֹ בְּזִמְנָא דִיקוּמוּן מֵעַפְרָא, אֵיקוּם בֵּינַיְיהוּ, אוֹ לָאו, אָמַר לוֹ וְתַעֲמוֹד, אָמַר לוֹ הָא יְדַעְנָא דִּי יְקוּמוּן כִּתּוֹת כִּתּוֹת, מִנְּהוֹן דְּזַכָּאֵי קְשׁוֹט, וּמִנְּהוֹן דְּחַיָּיבֵי עָלְמָא, וְלָא יְדַעְנָא עִם מָאן מִנְּהוֹן אֵיקוּם, א"ל לְגוֹרָלְךָ. אֲמַר לֵיהּ, הָא אֲמַרְתְּ וְאַתָּה לֵךְ לַקֵּץ, אִית קֵץ לְיָמִינָא, וְאִית קֵץ לִשְׂמָאלָא, וְלָא יְדַעְנָא לְאָן קֵץ, לְקֵץ הַיָּמִין, אוֹ לְקֵץ הַיָּמִים. אָמַר לוֹ לְקֵץ הַיָּמִין.

Angel of Death Angels Darkness David Face Flesh Noah

77. Similarly, David said to the Holy One, blessed be He : "Hashem, make me know my end," what is the portion of my lot. THAT IS, HE WANTED TO KNOW HIS FATE. And he had no rest until he was told, "Sit you at My right hand" (Tehilim 110:1). Come and behold: the Holy One, blessed be He, told Noah as well: "The End of all Flesh is come before Me." Noah asked, "which end"? THE END OF THE RIGHT OR THE END OF THE LEFT?" AND HE ANSWERS, It is the end that brought darkness upon the faces of the creatures, being the End of all Flesh, WHICH MEANS IT IS THE END OF THE LEFT, WHICH IS THE ANGEL OF DEATH.

77. אוֹף הָכָא, דָּוִד אָמַר לוֹ לְקֻדְשָׁא בְּרִיךְ הוּא הוֹדִיעֵנִי ה' קִצִּי, מָה אִיהוּ חוּלַק עַדְבִי, וְלָא נָח דַּעְתֵּיהּ עַד דְּאִתְבַּשַּׁר דְּיֶהֱוֵי לְיָמִינָא, דִּכְתִיב שֵׁב לִימִינִי. תָּא חֲזֵי אוֹף קֻדְשָׁא בְּרִיךְ הוּא אָמַר לוֹ לְנֹחַ, קֵץ כָּל בָּשָׂר בָּא לְפָנַי, מָאן אִיהוּ, דָּא קֵץ, דְּאַחְשַׁךְ אַפַּיְיהוּ דִּבְרִיָּיתָא, דְּאִיהוּ קֵץ כָּל בָּשָׂר.

Angel of Death Angels Ark Darkness Earth Face Soul, The Wicked Wickedness

78. From the words "is come before Me" we learn that wicked people hasten to attract the Angel of Death upon themselves in order to bring darkness upon themselves. Therefore, because they give him permission, he grabs the soul. But he never takes the soul without permission. That is why THE VERSE READS, "Is come before Me." THIS MEANS THAT HE COMES BEFORE ME to get permission to bring darkness upon the faces of people of the world. And that is why it is written: "I will destroy them with the earth" (Beresheet 6:13). Because I GAVE HIM PERMISSION: "make an ark of Gopher wood" (Ibid. 14), on which to save yourself so that he should have no power over you.

78. בָּא לְפָנַי. מִכָּאן אוֹלִיפְנָא, חַיָּיבֵי עָלְמָא מַקְדִּימִין לֵיהּ, וּמָשְׁכָן לֵיהּ עֲלַיְיהוּ, לְאַחְשָׁכָא לוֹן, דְּכֵיוָן דְּיָהֲבֵי לֵיהּ רְשׁוּתָא, נָטֵיל נִשְׁמָתָא, וְלָא נָטֵיל עַד דְּיָהֲבֵי לֵיהּ רְשׁוּתָא, וְעַל דָּא בָּא לְפָנַי, לְמֵיטַל רְשׁוּ לְאַחְשָׁכָא אַפַּיְיהוּ דִּבְנֵי עָלְמָא, וּבְגִינֵי כָךְ, וְהִנְּנִי מַשְׁחִיתָם אֶת הָאָרֶץ. וְעַל דָּא, עֲשֵׂה לְךָ תֵּיבַת עֲצֵי גוֹפֶר, בְּגִין לְאִשְׁתְּזָבָא, וְלָא יָכֵיל לְשַׁלְטָאָה עֲלָךְ.

Angels Noah Plagues

79. Come and behold: We have learned that when there is a plague in a city or in the world, a person should not show himself in the marketplace, because the Angel of Destruction has received permission to destroy everything. This is why the Holy One, blessed be He, told Noah, 'It behooves you to take heed and not show yourself before the Angel of Destruction, so that he may not have power to rule over you.'

79. תָּא חֲזֵי תָּנִינָן, בְּזִמְנָא דְמוֹתָא אִית בְּמָתָא אוֹ בְּעָלְמָא, לָא יִתְחֲזֵי בַּר נָשׁ בְּשׁוּקָא, בְּגִין דְּאִית לֵיהּ רְשׁוּ לִמְחַבְּלָא לְחַבָּלָא כֹּלָּא. בְּגִינֵי כָךְ אָמַר לוֹ קֻדְשָׁא בְּרִיךְ הוּא, בָּעֵי לָךְ לְאִסְתַּמְרָא, וְלָא תֶחֱזֵי גַרְמָךְ, קַמֵּי דִמְחַבְּלָא, דְּלָא יִשְׁלוֹט עֲלָךְ.

Angels Ark Judgment Noah Waters

80. But, you might say, who mentioned an Angel of Destruction here? It was only the onrush of the waters THAT BECAME A FLOOD. Now come and behold: Whether the world is stricken, or even when the world is only given over for judgment, the Angel of Destruction is in the middle of all punishment done in the world. Now, here as well, there was the Flood. The Angel of Destruction walked within the Flood, and, as a result, he was called 'THE FLOOD.' Thus, he was included within it. So the Holy One, blessed be He, told Noah to hide himself INSIDE THE ARK and not to show himself to the world.

80. וְאִי תֵימָא מָאן יָהִיב הָכָא מְחַבְּלָא, דְּהָא מַיִין הֲווֹ וְאִתְגַּבָּרוּ. תָּא חֲזֵי, לֵית לָךְ דִּינָא בְּעָלְמָא, אוֹ כַּד אִתְמַחֵי, אוֹ כַּד אִתְמְסַר עַלְמָא בְּדִינָא, דְּלָא אִשְׁתְּכַח הַהוּא מְחַבְּלָא, דְּאָזִיל בְּגוֹ אִינוּן דִּינִין דְּאִתְעֲבִידוּ בְּעָלְמָא. אוֹף הָכֵי הָכָא, טוֹפָנָא הֲוָה, וּמְחַבְּלָא אָזִיל בְּגוֹ טוֹפָנָא, וְאִיהוּ אִקְרֵי הָכֵי דְּאִתְכְּלֵיל בִּשְׁמָא דָא. וְעַל דָּא, אֲמַר קֻדְשָׁא בְּרִיךְ הוּא לְנֹחַ, לְטַמְרָא גַרְמֵיהּ, וְלָא יִתְחֲזֵי בְּעָלְמָא.

Angels Ark Door Egypt Face Morning Noah

81. And you may wonder how the ark survived, even though it was seen in the world through which the Angel of Destruction walked? But, as long as the face of the person is not seen by the Angel of Destruction, he cannot rule over him. And how do we know this? From Egypt. Because the verse reads: "As none of you shall go out of the door of his house until the morning" (Shemot 12: 22). The reason is that the Angel of Destruction was present OUTSIDE and could destroy anyone, and none should be seen before him. This is why Noah and all those who joined him hid within the ark. There, the Angel of Destruction had no power over them.

81. וְאִי תֵימָא הַאי תֵּיבוּתָא אִתְחֲזֵי בְּגוֹ הַאי עָלְמָא, וּמְחַבְּלָא אָזִיל בְּגַוֵּויהּ. כָּל זִמְנָא דְּלָא יִתְחֲזֵי אַפֵּי דְּב"נ קַמֵּי מְחַבְּלָא, לָא יָכִיל לְשַׁלְטָאָה עֲלֵיהּ. מְנָלָן מִמִּצְרַיִם, דִּכְתִיב וְאַתֶּם לֹא תֵצְאוּ אִישׁ מִפֶּתַח בֵּיתוֹ עַד בֹּקֶר, מַאי טַעְמָא, בְּגִין דְּאִיהוּ אִשְׁתַּכַּח, וְיָכִיל הוּא לְחַבְּלָא, וְלֹא אִצְטְרִיךְ לְאִתְחַזָּאָה קַמֵּיהּ. בְּגִין כָּךְ הֲוָה גָנִיז נֹחַ, וְכָל אִינוּן דְּעִמֵּיהּ בְּתֵיבוּתָא, וּמְחַבְּלָא לָא יָכִיל לְשַׁלְטָאָה עֲלַיְיהוּ.

Mountains Mount Ararat Sin Wicked Wickedness

82. Rabbi Chiya and Rabbi Yosi were on their way, when they came upon the mountains of Ararat, where they observed some deep ravines which had been left from the days of the Great Flood. Rabbi Chiya told Rabbi Yosi: These ravines are from the days of the Great Flood, and the Holy One, blessed be He, has left them to stay on throughout all the generations to come, so that the sins of the wicked would not be erased before Him.

82. רַבִּי חִיָּיא וְרַבִּי יוֹסֵי הֲווֹ אָזְלֵי בְּאָרְחָא, אִעָרַע בְּהַנֵּי טוּרֵי דְּקַרְדוֹ, חָמוֹ רְשִׁימִין בְּקִיעִין בְּאָרְחָא, דַּהֲווֹ מִן יוֹמֵי דְטוֹפָנָא, א"ל רַבִּי חִיָּיא לְרַ' יוֹסֵי, הַנֵּי בְּקִיעִין דַּהֲווֹ מִיּוֹמוֹי דְּטוֹפָנָא, וְקֻדְשָׁא בְּרִיךְ הוּא שָׁבִיק לוֹן לְדָרֵי דָרִין, בְּגִין דְּלָא יִתְמַחֵי חוֹבֵיהוֹן דְּרַשִּׁיעַיָא קַמֵּיהּ.

Jeremiah Righteous Sin Wicked Wickedness

83. Because it is the way of the Holy One blessed be He. He desires that the righteous who fulfill His will be remembered above as well as below. He desires that their memories not be forgotten through the generations. Likewise, He also desires that the wicked who do not fulfill His will BE REMEMBERED. HE DESIRES that their sins never be forgotten and their punishments and their wicked ways always remembered, as it is written: "The stain of your iniquity is before Me" (Yirmeyah 2:22).

83. דְּכָךְ אָרְחוֹי דְּקֻדְשָׁא בְּרִיךְ הוּא, לְזַכָּאִין דְּעָבְדִין רְעוּתֵיהּ, בָּעֵי דְּיִדְכְּרוּן לְהוֹ לְעֵילָא וְתַתָּא, וְלָא יִתְנְשֵׁי דּוּכְרָנֵיהוֹן לְדָרֵי דָרִין לְטַב. כְּגַוְונָא דָא לְרַשִּׂיעַיָיא דְּלָא עָבְדִין רְעוּתֵיהּ, בְּגִין דְּלָא יִתְנְשֵׁי חוֹבַיְיהוּ, וּלְאַדְכָּרָא עָנְשַׁיְיהוּ וְדָכְרָנֵיהוֹן לְבִישׁ לְדָרֵי דָרִין. הַיְינוּ דִכְתִיב נִכְתַּם עֲוֹנֵךְ לְפָנַי וגו'.

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