Three Ledgers and the Ten Days That Decide the Middle

Pesikta DeRav Kahana 24:3

Curated by Arthur·Told by Maggid·

"And the LORD utters His voice before His army" (Joel 2:11). "And the LORD utters His voice before His army" -- on Rosh Hashanah. "For His camp is very great" (Joel 2:11) -- these are Israel. "For mighty is the one who carries out His word" (Joel 2:11) -- for He gives strength to the righteous who do His will. "For great is the day of the LORD and very awesome" (Joel 2:11) -- this is the Day of Atonement. "And who can endure it?" (Joel 2:11) -- for Rabbi Crispa said in the name of Rabbi Yochanan: there are three ledgers, one of the wholly righteous, one of the wholly wicked, and one of those in between. "These to everlasting life" (Daniel 12:2) -- said Rabbi: these are the wholly righteous. "And these to reproaches and everlasting abhorrence" (Daniel 12:2) -- these are the wholly wicked. "Let them be blotted out of the book" (Psalms 69:29) -- these are the wicked. "Of the living" (Psalms 69:29) -- these are the righteous. "And let them not be written with the righteous" (Psalms 69:29) -- these are the in-between, to whom the Holy One, blessed be He, has given the ten days between Rosh Hashanah and the Day of Atonement: if they repent, they are written with the righteous, and if not, they are written with the wicked. Therefore Hosea warns Israel and says to them, "Return, O Israel" (Hosea 14:2).

Themes

RepentanceDivine JudgmentWorld To Come

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