1:10
Then the men became exceedingly afraid, and they said to him: 'What
is this that you have done to us?' For the men knew that he fled from
the presence of Hashem, because he had told them.
What
is this that you have done to us? Why did you do things like this
until now if you were created for these thing and your level is so
exalted (to waste your life chasing after vanities of this world).
For
the men knew that he fled from the presence of Hashem, because he had
told them. He fled all his days (i.e. fled from awareness of Him in
order to justify chasing after pleasures of the world), therefore
they feared so much and asked him why he did this. And how did they
know that he fled? Because he told them. (he fled) all his days, that
all his mind and desire was to this always. (i.e. totally
pre-occupied with the vanities of this world, such as money and
honor).
1:11
Then said they to him: 'What shall we do to you, that the sea may be
calm unto us?' for the sea grew more and more tempestuous.
What
shall we do to you, that the sea may be calm unto us - and what can
we find a rectification for you so that we could heal and to quiet
the heavenly decree.
for
the sea grew more and more tempestuous- Because the sickness is
constantly getting worse.
1:12
And he said to them: 'lift me up, and cast me forth into the sea; so
shall the sea be calm unto you; for I know that for my sake this
great tempest is upon you.'
lift
me up, and cast me forth into the sea As in the verse (Bereishis
40:13) "Paraoh will lift your head from you", because
(before death) the neshama is in the feet, and it needs to rise to
the throat. And they should cast him from the boat which refers to
the body, to the sea which refers to this world, and the body will
remain without him.
so
shall the sea be calm upon you Then you will no longer bear any
suffering of this world.
for
I know that for my sake this great tempest is upon you - Because all
prosecution of the trait of justice is only during the lifetime of a
man, as written in the Zohar...
1:13
Nevertheless the men rowed hard to bring it to the land; but they
could not; for the sea grew more and more tempestuous against them.
the
men rowed - They are all the powers mentioned above.
to
bring it to the land They wanted to go in the good way, the way of
the tree of life (i.e. the afterlife, the way of torah).
but
they could not; for the sea grew more and more tempestuous against
them Now repentance does not help since the decree has already been
made, as written (Shmuel I 2:25) "because Hashem wanted to kill
them", this is after the end of the judgment.
1:14
And they cried unto Hashem, and said: 'Please Hashem, let us not
perish on account of this man's life, and lay not upon us innocent
blood; because You are Hashem, as You have wished, You have done.'
They
screamed to Hashem not to perish with the neshama.
and
lay not upon us innocent blood - As is written that he is destined to
give an accounting on causing him to shorten his life. (i.e. for
accelerating death)
because
You are Hashem, as You have wished, You have done. - It's
understandable that the neshama which is rooted in a holy place, from
above (should receive punishment) but the physical (i.e. us, the
body) tends to evil. What are we guilty of? You made the physical as
you wished, from a foul place. And here is also hinted the blessing
women make "that He made me as His wish" which refers to
the physical as above. And likewise they expounded in the Midrash
Tanchuma (which likens the body and the neshama to a blind watchman
and a lame one who join forces to steal some figs, the lame man
riding on the blind man's shoulders and guiding him. When the owner
catches them, the blind man claims that he could not have stolen the
figs, because he can't see; the lame man claims he is obviously
innocent because he could not climb to pick them. The wise owner puts
the lame man back on his friend's shoulders and judges them
together.)
| 
printable version
