Three Kings and Four Commoners Doomed by Evil Speech

(Leviticus 14:2:) "This shall be the law of the leper," etc. Let our master teach us: How many human beings have no share in the world to come? Thus our Rabbis taught (in Mishnah Sanhedrin 10:1-2): These are they who have no share in the world to come. Three kings and four commoners have no share in the world to come. The three kings are Jeroboam, Ahab, and Manasseh. Rabbi Judah the Levite bar Shalom said: The sages of the Mishnah wished to teach four kings and to count Solomon among them. But a heavenly voice (bat kol) went forth and said (Psalms 105:15): "Touch not My anointed ones." Even so, they returned one day to teach it; fire came from the heavens and scorched their benches. It returned and said (Job 34:33): "Should He repay it as you would, because you have refused?" Why did they teach it at all? Because it is written (1 Kings 11:1, 6): "Now King Solomon loved many foreign women," etc., "and Solomon did what was evil in the eyes of the LORD." And the four commoners are Balaam, Doeg, Ahitophel, and Gehazi. You find that these were condemned to Gehinnom on account of the speech of their mouths. Balaam was thrust into Gehinnom by means of his tongue, as it is said (Numbers 23:7): "From Aram Balak has brought me (yanheni), the king of Moab." I was among the exalted ones; I was from the partition of the patriarchs. Balak brought me (yanheni) and cast me into Gehinnom. And "brought me" (yanheni) means nothing but Gehinnom, as it is said (Ezekiel 32:18): "Son of man, bring down (neheh) the multitude of Egypt and cast it down, etc., to the lowest parts of the earth." And so Doeg was banished on account of his tongue. When? At the time when David fled to Nob, the city of priests, {to Ahimelech}, and {Ahimelech} received him. Saul perceived it and gathered all his servants, and said to them: "Well do you do to me, for David does all that he wishes, and not one of you uncovers my ear," as it is said (1 Samuel 22:8): "For all of you have conspired [against me, and there is none who uncovers my ear, etc.]." Doeg began to speak slander (lashon hara), as it is said (1 Samuel 22:9): "Then Doeg the Edomite answered, who was standing over the servants of Saul." And by his hand eighty-five priests who bear the ephod were slain, and Ahimelech the high priest; and Nob, the city of the priests, he smote with the edge of the sword. And so Ahitophel was banished on account of his tongue, as it is said (2 Samuel 17:23): "And when Ahitophel saw that his counsel was not followed, etc., he set his house in order and hanged himself." And Gehazi was banished on account of his tongue. At the time when Naaman was stricken with leprosy and was healed by means of Elisha, Naaman began to give silver and gold and gifts to Elisha, and he would not accept. Gehazi was ministering before Elisha; he saw the silver and the gold and the garments, and he said (2 Kings 5:20): "My lord has spared this Naaman," etc. "And the leprosy of Naaman [shall cleave to you and to your seed forever]" (2 Kings 5:27). Why? Because it is said (Deuteronomy 13:18): "And there shall cleave nothing of the devoted thing to your hand." Now Naaman and the king of Aram served idolatry, and it is written (Deuteronomy 7:26): "You shall not bring an abomination into your house," etc. And you said (2 Kings 5:20): "I will take from him something." By your life, you shall take his blemish, as it is said: "And the leprosy of Naaman shall cleave to you." Rabbi Pedat said: A covenant has been cut by the Holy One in the world, that everyone who speaks slander (lashon hara) is stricken with leprosy. Whence? From what is written on the matter: "This shall be the law of the leper (ha-metzora)" — the one who brings forth evil (ha-motzi ra).