The Slanderer in the Torah

Evil speaking is sometimes worse than evil doing. In the Messianic age to come, because God by His grace removes the evil yetzer [the evil inclination, Heb. yetzer hara], the source of all slander, His people are able to do and to be good. Consequently, the Shechinah [God’s glorious presence] can once more rest and dwell among them.

The link between slander and the fall of man is seen in the commentary of the Jewish sages and the Talmud:

Why is the slanderous tongue called shelishi [Third]? Because it slays three: him who utters the slander, him who receives it, and him of whom it is uttered. (Rabbah Numbers, Hukkat, XIX, 2.)

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Author: C. Montefiore, H. Loewe

Keywords: Devil, Satan, Evil inclination, Yetzer hara, Yetzer ha Ra, Yetzer ha Rah, Diabolos, Satanas, yetser hara, Yetser ha ra, Yetzer, Yetser, Temptation, Evil urge, Evil desire, Jesus temptation, Jesus tempted, Tempted by the devil, Tempted by Satan, Jesus tempted by Satan, Jesus tempted by the devil, Christ tempted, Christ tempted by Satan, Christ tempted by the devil, Internal temptation, Wiles of the devil, Fallen angel, Lucifer, Rebel angel, slanderer, slander, slandered, serpent

Bible reference(s): Gen 3:1, Gen 3:4-5, Gen. 3:14, Num. 14:37, Ps. 73:9, Isa. 65:25, Joh 8:44, 1Jo 3:8

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