Why the Fire of Gehinnom Does Not Rule the Sinners of Israel

All the vessels that were in the Sanctuary required immersion, except for the golden altar and the bronze altar, because they are like the ground, the words of Rabbi Eliezer. But the Sages say: because they are overlaid. The bronze altar, as it is written, "An altar of earth you shall make for Me" (Exodus 20:21). The golden altar, as it is written, "the lampstand and the altars": the altars are compared one to the other. But the Sages say: because they are overlaid. On the contrary, since they are overlaid, they should become impure! Say: and the Sages declare them susceptible to impurity because they are overlaid. And if you wish, say: the Sages are speaking to Rabbi Eliezer. What is your reasoning? Because they are overlaid? The overlay is nullified relative to them. Rabbi Eliezer said: the fire of Gehinnom does not rule over the disciples of the wise. This is an inference from the lesser to the greater, from the salamander: just as the salamander, which is an offspring of fire, one who smears himself with its blood, the fire does not rule over him, then the disciples of the wise, whose whole body is fire, as it is written, "Is not My word like fire?" (Jeremiah 23:29), how much more so. And it is written, "At His right hand was a fiery law for them" (Deuteronomy 33:2). Rabbi Shimon ben Lakish said: the fire of Gehinnom does not rule over the transgressors of Israel. This is an inference from the lesser to the greater, from the golden altar: just as the golden altar, which has upon it only the thickness of a golden dinar, for so many years the fire does not rule over it, then the transgressors of Israel, who are as full of commandments as a pomegranate, as it is said, "like a slice of pomegranate are your temples" (Song of Songs 4:3), do not read "your temples" [rakatekh] but "the empty ones among you" [reikanin shebakh], how much more so.