Genesis 23 Death
Our discussion is about the death of our body and the life of our soul. Our body was created from dust near the Holy Altar’s future location near the Temple of God in Jerusalem. Rabbi Aryeh Kaplan, Jerusalem the Eye of the Universe, {New York, N.Y. Publishers: National Conference of Synagogue Youth / Union of Orthodox Jewish Congregations of America, 2002} pp. 13,14.
Genesis 2.7
And the Lord God formed man of the dust of the ground and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life, and man became a living soul. See Genesis 5.1 – 2.
Genesis 3.19
In the sweat of your face shall you eat bread till you return to the ground from which you were taken. You are dust, and to dust shall you return.
The Word Taw Shoov תָּשׁוּב meanas to return. Our body returns to the ground we were created from, i.e., the earth’s dust around the Holy Altar. The decay of the body is the final step of repentance! Worms and maggots eat the body. In the process of time, our body returns to the dust of the ground surrounding the Holy Altar.
Ecclesiastes 12
The dust returns to the earth as it was, and the Spirit returns to God who gave it.
The Midrash relates how Sarah died after learning about Abraham offering Isaac as a sacrifice on Mount Moriah. She cried, collapsed as her body died. It was devastating for Isaac, Abraham, and all who loved Sarah. Abraham buried Sarah, his wife, in the cave of the field of Machpelah to await the resurrection of the dead.
Ezekiel 37
Therefore prophesy and say to them, Thus says the Lord God: Behold, Ooh my people, I Will Open your graves, and cause you to come up out of your graves. Also see The Midrash Says. Rabbi Moshe Weissman, The Midrash Says Book 1 (Brooklyn, New York: Benei Yakov Publications 1980), p. 438. Rabbi Meir Zlotowitz and Rabbi Nosson Scherman, The Artscroll Tanach Series – Bereishis Vol. I(a) (Brooklyn, New York: Mesorah Publications, Ltd. 3rd Impression, 1989), p 1068 – The day Abraham died, Esau and Jacob were 15 years of age. Esau sinned by denying the resurrection of the dead.
Rabbi Tabi said in the name of Rabbi Josiah: What is meant by the text in Proverbs 30.15 – 16? ‘There are three things which are never satisfied, . . . the grave and the barren womb? Why is the grave next to the womb? It is to teach us that just as the womb takes in and gives forth again, so the grave takes in and will give forth again. And have we not here a conclusion a fortiori: if the womb which takes in silently gives forth with a loud noise, does it not stand to reason that the grave which takes in with loud noise will give forth with loud noise? Here is a refutation of those who deny the resurrection of the dead.
Psalms 116
I love the Lord because He has heard my voice and my supplications. Because he has inclined his ear to me, therefore I will call upon him as long as I live. The cords of death surrounded me, and the pains of the grave seized me. I found trouble and sorrow. Then I called upon the name of the Lord; Ooh Lord, I beseech you, save my soul. Gracious is the Lord and righteous; our God is merciful. The Lord preserves the simple; I was brought low, and he saved me. Return to your rest, Ooh my soul; for the Lord has dealt bountifully with you, for you Ooh Lord have saved my soul from death, my eyes from tears, and my feet from falling.
When death claims our body, our soul is released to return to God to await the time when our body will rise again to be reunited with our soul.
As we journey towards Shabbat, may we each take comfort in knowing our Spirit / Soul is eternal, and our body will be restored in the resurrection. May we receive rest, comfort, unity, peace, loving-kindness, good health, financial success, and a wonderful week and a beautiful Shabbat.
Blessings and Peace!
Dr. Akiva Gamliel Belk
