The Patriarchs Over Whom the Evil Inclination Held No Power

Our rabbis taught: three there were over whom the evil inclination held no power, and they are these - Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, for it is written concerning them "in all," "of all," "all" [the words bakkol, mikkol, kol appearing in their three stories]. Three the Holy One, blessed be He, let taste of the World to Come [in this life], and they are these - Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, for it is written concerning them "in all," "of all," "all." Six there were over whom the angel of death held no power - Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, for it is written concerning them "in all," "of all," "all"; Moses, Aaron, and Miriam, for it is written concerning them "by the mouth of the LORD" (Numbers 33:38; Deuteronomy 34:5). And Miriam, although it is not written explicitly of her, it is derived by the verbal analogy of "there" and "there" from Moses. And why was it not stated of her? Because it is unseemly to say such a thing concerning a woman [that she died by the mouth, i.e. the kiss, of God]. Our rabbis taught: seven there were over whom worm and maggot held no power - Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, of whom it is written "in all," "of all," "all"; Moses, Aaron, and Miriam, of whom it is written "by the mouth of the LORD"; Benjamin son of Jacob, of whom it is written "the beloved of the LORD shall dwell in safety" (Deuteronomy 33:12); and some say also David, of whom it is written "my flesh also shall dwell in safety" (Psalms 16:9).