The dead of the wilderness

Synopsis

Four images of men in the heavens appear and say various things and fly. In the morning the rabbis hear the sound of legions and encampments praising God. The entire wilderness is covered in clouds of glory shining and sparkling in a multitude of colors. The rabbis say that the wilderness generation will be the first to arise when King Messiah comes in the future.

Beasts Blossom Creation Fear Firmaments Jacob Seas Waters

212. The other one opened with, "The wilderness and the arid land shall be glad; and the desert shall rejoice, and blossom like the tulip" (Yeshayah 35:1). He flew into the firmament and was hidden. Another one opened the discussion saying, "But now thus says Hashem that created you, O Jacob" (Yeshayah 43:1). "Thus says Hashem, who makes a way in the sea, and a path in the mighty waters..." (Ibid. 16). "The beast of the field shall honor Me, the jackals and the owls..." (Ibid. 20). He concluded and flew into the firmament and disappeared. Then they were overtaken with an awesome fear.

212. פָּתַח אִידָךְ וְאָמַר, יְשׂוּשׂוּם מִדְבָּר וְצִיָּה וְתָגֵל עֲרָבָה וְתִפְרַח כַּחֲבַצָּלֶת. וְשָׁאת בִּרְקִיעָא, וְאַגְנִיז. פָּתַח אִידָךְ וְאָמַר, כֹּה אָמַר יְיָ' בּוֹרַאֲךָ יַעֲקֹב וְגוֹ,' כֹּה אָמַר יְיָ' הַנּוֹתֵן בַּיָּם דָּרֶךְ וּבְמַיִם עַזִּים נְתִיבָה וְגוֹ.' תְּכַבְּדֵנִי חַיַּת הַשָּׂדֶה תַּנִּים וּבְנוֹת יַעֲנָה וְגוֹ.' סִיֵּים וְשָׁאט בִּרְקִיעָא, וְאַגְנִיז. כְּדֵין דְּחִילוּ סַגִּיא וְאֶמְתָּנִי נָפַל עָלַיְיהוּ.

Blessing Cloud Colors Head Lion Praise

213. When the daylight broke, a voice arose again and said, A nation, strong as a lion, powerful as tigers, give honor to your Master, as it is written: "Therefore shall the strong people glorify You..." (Yeshayah 25:3). They heard the sound of legions and encampments that said, "Yours, Hashem, is the greatness, and the power, and the glory, and the victory, and the majesty..." (I Divrei Hayamim 29:11) until "which is exalted above all blessing and praise" (Nechemyah 9:5). They were filled with wonder, and left. During this time, the day became bright. They turned their heads and saw the entire wilderness covered in clouds of glory that shine and sparkle in a multitude of colors.

213. כַּד הֲוָה נָהִיר יְמָמָא, קָלָא אִתְּעַר כְּמִלְּקַדְּמִין, וְאָמַר, עַמָּא תַּקִּיפָא כְּאַרְיֵה, גִּבָּרִין כִּנְמָרִין, הָבוּ יְקָר לְמָארֵיכוֹן. דִּכְתִּיב עַל כֵּן יְכַבְּדוּךָ עַם עָז וְגוֹ.' שָׁמְעוּ קָל. חֵילִין וּמַשִׁרְיָין דַּהֲווֹ אַמְרֵי, לְךָ יְיָ' הַגְּדוּלָה וְהַגְּבוּרָה וְהַתִּפְאֶרֶת וְהַנֵּצַח וְהַהוֹד וְגוֹ,' עַד וּמְרוֹמַם עַל כָּל בְּרָכָה וּתְהִלָּה. תַּוְּוהוּ וְאַזְלוּ. אַדְּהָכִי נָהַר יְמָמָא, אַהְדְּרוּ רֵישָׁא, וְחָמוּ כָּל מַדְבְּרָא חָפֵּי בַּעֲנָנֵי יְקָר, מְנַהֲרָן, מְנַצְּצָן, בִּגְוָונִין סַגִּיאִין.

Love Merit Messiah, The World to Come, The

214. One said to the other, Certainly, the Holy One, blessed be He, wishes to be praised with praises of the generation of the wilderness, since there never existed such a lofty generation as that generation and there will not be until the coming of King Messiah. Certainly, all that we were shown by the Holy One, blessed be He, was only to inform us about their Master's great love for them, to let us know that they have a good portion and merit the World to Come. In the future, when the Holy One, blessed be He, will revive the dead, these, THE WILDERNESS GENERATION, will be destined to rise first, as it says, "The dead men of Your people shall live" (Yeshayah 26:19). That refers to the generation of the wilderness.

214. אָמְרוּ דָּא לְדָא, וַדַּאי קוּדְשָׁא בְּרִיךְ הוּא בָּעֵי לְאִשְׁתַּבְּחָא בְּתוּשְׁבַּחְתָּא דְּדָרָא דְּמַדְבְּרָא, דְּלָא הֲוָה בְּעָלְמָא, דָּרָא עִלָּאָה, כְּדָרָא דָּא. וְלָא יְהֵא עַד דְּיֵיתֵי מַלְכָּא מְשִׁיחָא וַדַּאי כָּל מַה דְּאַחְמֵי לָן קוּדְשָׁא בְּרִיךְ הוּא, לָא הֲוָה, אֶלָּא בְּגִין לְאוֹדָעָא לָן חֲבִיבוּ דְּמָארֵיהוֹן עָלַיְיהוּ. לְאוֹדָעָא דְּאִית לוֹן חוּלָקָא טָבָא, וְאִינּוּן בָּעֵי עָלְמָא דְּאָתֵי. וּלְזִמְנָא דְּאָתֵי כַּד יוֹקִים קוּדְשָׁא בְּרִיךְ הוּא מֵתַיָּיא, זְמִינִין אִלֵּין לְאַחֲיָיא בְּקַדְמֵיתָא. כד"א יִחְיוּ מֵתֶיךָ, וְאִלֵּין אִינּוּן דָּרָא דְּמַדְבְּרָא.