239) “And these are the nations which the Lord left, to test Israel by them.” Rabbi said, “I was looking at that eternal world, and the world stood only on those righteous that reign their hearts’ desire,” as it is written, “He appointed it in Joseph for a testimony.” Why was Joseph rewarded with that virtue and kingship? For he had conquered his inclination. This is because all who reign their inclination, the kingdom of heaven awaits them.
240) The Creator created the evil inclination only to try people with it, as it is written, “If a prophet … arises among you and gives you a sign or a wonder, and the sign or the wonder … that he spoke to you, saying, ‘Let us go after other gods…’ you shall not listen to the words of that prophet … for the Lord your God is testing you.”
241) Why does He need a test, since all the works of people are revealed before Him? Indeed, it is so as not to give people excuses. See what is written, “And Lot was sitting at the gate of Sodom,” for he was sitting in order to test people, as it is written, “And the wicked are like a troubled sea.” Even at the time of his judgment, the wicked is audacious, and then he exists in his wickedness, as it is written, “Before they lie down.”
242) As the Creator created the Garden of Eden on the Earth, so He created Hell on Earth. As He created the Garden of Eden above, so He created Hell above. The Garden of Eden in the earth is as it is written, “And the Lord God planted a garden in Eden on the east. Hell on Earth, as it is written, “the land of gloom like thick darkness.”
243) The Garden of Eden above, as it is written, “The soul of my lord shall be bound in the bundle of the living with the Lord your God.” It is also written, “The spirit shall return to the God who had given it.” Hell above, as it is written, “And the soul of your enemies he shall sling out as from the hollow of a sling.”
244) The Garden of Eden above is for the souls of the complete righteous, as they are nourished by the great light of above. The Hell below is for those wicked ones who did not accept the circumcision, did not believe in the Creator and in His law, and did not keep the Shabbat [Sabbath]. These are idol-worshipers who are sentenced in the fire, as it is written, “From the fire they emerged and fire will consume them.”
245) The Hell above is for those criminals of Israel who broke the commandments of the Torah and did not repent. They are repelled outside until they receive their punishment. They walk and surround the entire world, as it is written, “The wicked are walking around.”
246) And there they are sentenced twelve months later. Their section is with those who received their punishment in their death, each according to his fitting place. The wicked of the idol-worshipers are always sentenced in fire and in water, and they do not rise again, as it is written, “And their fire will not quench.”
247) The sentence of the wicked is in Hell, as it is written, “And the Lord rained on Sodom and Gomorrah brimstone and fire,” and they will not ascend again and will not rise to the judgment day, as it is written, “which the Lord overturned in His anger and in His wrath.” “In His anger” in this world, and “in His wrath” in the next world.
248) The wicked who spoiled their circumcision and desecrated the Shabbat in public, and desecrated the holidays and denied the Torah, and denied the revival of the dead, and others like them descend to Hell below, where they are sentenced and do not ascend again.
249) However, they will rise to the judgment day, and they will rise to the revival of the dead. It is written about them, “And many of those who sleep in the dust of the earth shall awake, some to everlasting life, and some to shame and everlasting contempt.” Contempt, since everyone will say, “Enough!” upon seeing them, while it is written about the righteous in Israel, “And Your people are all righteous.”