Why the Wicked Are Covered by the Deep When They Descend to Sheol

(Numbers 1:1:) "And the LORD spoke to Moses in the Wilderness of Sinai, in the Tent of Meeting." This is what Scripture says (Psalms 36:7): "Your righteousness is like the mighty mountains; [Your judgments are a great deep]." Rabbi Meir said: He compared the righteous by their dwelling, and He compared the wicked by their dwelling. He compared the righteous: "In a good pasture I will feed them, (and in a rich pasture) [and upon the high mountains of Israel] shall be their fold" (Ezekiel 34:14). And He compared the wicked: "Thus said the Lord [GOD]: On the day he went down to Sheol, I caused mourning; I covered the deep over him" (Ezekiel 31:15). And with what are the wicked covered when they go down to Gehinnom? With the deep. Hezekiah bar Hiyya said: This vat, with what do they cover it? With a clay vessel, because it is itself of clay; therefore they cover it with a clay vessel. So too the wicked, of whom it is written, "And their deeds are in darkness" (Isaiah 29:15); therefore they are dark before the Holy One, blessed be He. And He brings them down to Sheol, which is darkness, and covers over them the deep, which is darkness, as it is said, "And darkness was upon the face of the deep" (Genesis 1:2).