Our Rabbis taught: Four entered the orchard, and these are they: Ben Azzai, and Ben Zoma, the Other One, and Rabbi Akiva. Rabbi Akiva said to them: When you reach the stones of pure marble, do not say "Water, water," because it is said: "He who speaks falsehoods shall not be established before My eyes" (Psalms 101:7). Ben Azzai gazed and died. Of him Scripture says: "Precious in the eyes of the LORD is the death of His pious ones" (Psalms 116:15). Ben Zoma gazed and was stricken. Of him Scripture says: "If you have found honey, eat only what is enough for you, lest you become full of it and vomit it" (Proverbs 25:16). The Other One cut down the shoots. Rabbi Akiva departed in peace.
The Four Who Entered Paradise
Hagigah 14b-15a
תָּנוּ רַבָּנַן: אַרְבָּעָה נִכְנְסוּ בַּפַּרְדֵּס, וְאֵלּוּ הֵן: בֶּן עַזַּאי, וּבֶן זוֹמָא, אַחֵר, וְרַבִּי עֲקִיבָא. אֲמַר לָהֶם רַבִּי עֲקִיבָא: כְּשֶׁאַתֶּם מַגִּיעִין אֵצֶל אַבְנֵי שַׁיִשׁ טָהוֹר, אַל תֹּאמְרוּ ״מַיִם מַיִם״, מִשּׁוּם שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר ״דּוֹבֵר שְׁקָרִים לֹא יִכּוֹן לְנֶגֶד עֵינָי״. בֶּן עַזַּאי הֵצִיץ וָמֵת, עָלָיו הַכָּתוּב אוֹמֵר ״יָקָר בְּעֵינֵי ה׳ הַמָּוְתָה לַחֲסִידָיו״. בֶּן זוֹמָא הֵצִיץ וְנִפְגַּע, וְעָלָיו הַכָּתוּב אוֹמֵר ״דְּבַשׁ מָצָאתָ אֱכוֹל דַּיֶּיךָּ פֶּן תִּשְׂבָּעֶנּוּ וַהֲקֵאתוֹ״. אַחֵר קִיצֵּץ בִּנְטִיעוֹת. רַבִּי עֲקִיבָא יָצָא בְּשָׁלוֹם.
Themes
Original Sources
- B. Hagigah 14b-15a
- Tosefta Hagigah 23
- Genesis Rabbah 2:4
- Leviticus Rabbah 16:4
- Song of Songs Rabbah 1:10
- V. Hagigah 77a-b
- Hekhalot Zutartei
- Ms. Munich 22
- Ms. New York #344-348
- Genizah fragment (TS K 21/95)
- Magen Avot 58b
- IFA 13901