Isaiah son of Amos saw all five kinds of punishment in Gehinnom (the place of spiritual purification after death). According to the Chronicles of Jerahmeel, a 12th-century Hebrew chronicle compiled by Jerahmeel ben Solomon, the prophet entered each chamber and asked God to reveal the meaning of what he witnessed.
In the first compartment, two men carried pails of water on their shoulders and poured them endlessly into a pit that never filled. God explained: "These coveted their neighbors' property." In the second, men hung by their tongues. "These were slanderers." In the third, men hung by their organs. "These neglected their own wives and committed adultery." In the fourth, women hung by their breasts. "These uncovered themselves in public to attract men and lead them into sin."
The fifth compartment was different. It was filled with smoke. All the princes, chiefs, and great men were there. And presiding over them, watching at the gate, sat Pharaoh himself. He mocked the other rulers: "Why did you not learn from me when I was in Egypt?" The most powerful tyrant of the ancient world, now serving as Gehinnom's gatekeeper.
The full scope of Gehinnom is staggering. Seven compartments, each containing 7,000 rooms. Each room holds 7,000 windows. Each window contains 7,000 vessels filled with venom. All of this awaits slanderous writers and corrupt judges. The fiery river Dinur flows from beneath the Throne of Glory and crashes down upon the heads of the sinners, its sound traveling from one end of the world to the other.
Yet the chapter ends with mercy. These punishments are prepared for apostates, renegades, and those who deny the resurrection of the dead. But if they repent, study Torah, and perform righteous acts, they can still be saved. "For I will not contend forever," God says. "Neither will I always be angry" (Isaiah 57:16). In the end, the Almighty will have compassion on all His creatures.
XVI. (1) There are five kinds of punishment in hell, and
Isaiah, the son of Amos, saw them all. He entered the first
compartment and saw there two men carrying pails full of
water on their shoulders, and they pour that water into a
pit, which, however, never fills. Isaiah said to God, ' 0
Thou who unveilest all that is hidden, unveil to me the
secret of this.' And the Spirit of the Lord answered,
' These are the men who coveted the property of their
neighbours, and this is their punishment.'
(2) He entered the second compartment, and he saw two
men hanging by their tongues; and he said, ' 0 Thou who
unveilest the hidden, reveal to me the secret of this.' He
answered, ' These are the men who slandered, therefore
they are thus punished.'
(3) He entered the third compartment, and he saw there
men hanging by their organs. He said, ' 0 Thou who
unveilest the hidden, reveal to me the secret of this.'
And He answered, ' These are the men who neglected their
own wives, and committed adultery with the daughters of
Israel.'
(4) He entered the fourth compartment and saw there
women hanging by their breasts, and he said, ' 0 Thou
who unveilest the hidden, reveal to me the secret of this.'
And He answered, ' These are the women who uncovered
their hair and rent their veil, and sat in the open market-
place to suckle their children, in order to attract the gaze
of men and to make them sin; therefore they are punished
thus.'
(5) He entered the fifth compartment, and found it full
of smoke. There were all the princes, chiefs, and great
men, and Pharaoh, the wicked, presides over them and
watches at the gate of hell, and he saith unto them, ' Why
did you not learn from me when I was in Egypt ?' Thus
he sits there and watches at the gates of hell.
(6) There are seven compartments in hell, and in each
of them are 7,000 rooms, in each room 7,000 windows, in
each window (recess) there are 7,000 vessels filled with
venom, all destined for slanderous writers and iniquitous
judges. It is to that that Solomon alludes when he says,
' And thou mournest at thy latter end when thy flesh and
thy body are consumed.'
(7) The other nations, however, and the idolators are
punished in the seven compartments of hell, in each com-
partment for a twelvemonth. And the river ' Dinur '
floweth from beneath the throne of glory and falleth over
the heads of the sinners, and the sound travels from one
end of the world to the other.'
(8) All these punishments are prepared for the apostates,
for those who deny the resurrection of the dead, for the rene-
gades, slanderers, and traitors. Of these King Solomon said,
' Their end shall be as bitter as wormwood.' None of these
are saved unless they repent, acquire learning, and perform
pious deeds. But at the end the Almighty will have pity
on all His creatures, as it is said, ' For I will not contend
for ever, neither will I be always wroth, for the spirit shall
pass before Me and the souls which I have made.'
