佐哈尔·贝莱希特 46

1In the next clause, “If thou doest not well, sin coucheth at the door”, this door is the door on high from which issue the chastisements for evil deeds in this world. The “sin” which couches at that door is the angel of death, who is ready to punish thee.

2The word “door” (petah, lit. opening) further contains an allusion to the New Year, the day of judgement, on which Adam was born.’ “Unto thee is his desire”, i.e. he will not be content until thou art destroyed.

3“And thou shalt rule over him”: the word “thou” contains a mystic allusion to the Almighty, who is also called “Thou”. There is a dictum that God is supreme only when the wicked are destroyed, but our text indicates that when the angel of death destroys them, God “rules over him” to prevent him from ruining the world.

4R. Judah, however, explained the words “thou shalt rule over him” to mean “through repentance”.