“For anyone who is joined to any of the living there is hope, as a living dog is better than a dead lion” (Ecclesiastes 9:4). “For anyone who is joined [yeḥubar],” Rabbi Aḥa said: “Chooses [yivḥar]” is written. Who will choose the good inclination over the evil inclination? These are the righteous.
Who will choose the evil inclination over the good inclination? These are the wicked. “To any of the living there is hope” – even those who extended their hands against God’s dwelling8Those who aided in the destruction of the Temple. have hope.9To avoid Gehenna, if they repented. To resurrect them10In the revival of the dead. is impossible, as they already extended their hand against God’s dwelling, but to eliminate them is impossible because they already repented.
In their regard it says: “They will sleep an eternal slumber” (Jeremiah 51:39). The Rabbis say: The minors among the wicked of the nations, they and the armies of Nebuchadnezzar11Those who were forced to participate in the destruction of the Temple but did not do so willfully, or those who repented (Midrash HaMevoar). are not resurrected, and not judged. In their regard it says: “They will sleep an eternal slumber.”
Rabbi Yoḥanan said: Each and every drop that the Holy One blessed be He rained on the Generation of the Flood, He boiled it and then rained it on them, as it is stated: “When they are seared they vanish” (Job 6:17); their searing was for eternity.