Philosophy:Theodicy – צדיק ורע לו/2

Theodicy – צדיק ורע לו

Exegetical Approaches

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Mistaken Status of Person

This approach understands that just because a man might seem to be righteous or wicked he might not always be so, and Hashem is paying him his true doe.

Sources:Bavli TaanitTaanit 11aAbout the Bavli,¹ opinion in R. Saadia GaonHaEmunot VeHaDeiot 5:3About R. Saadia Gaon,

Afflictions of love

Iyyov

"פֹּקֵד עֲוֺן אָבוֹת עַל בָּנִים"

צדיק ורע לו – Hashem is punishing the person for the little sins that he committed.

רשע וטוב לו

• Hashem is rewarding the wicked man because he might do teshuvah
• Hashem is giving a reward for his few good deeds

Misperception of Retribution

Sources:Sifre Devarim11:26About Sifre Devarim, YerushalmiChagigah 2:1About the Yerushalmi, Bavli ShabbatShabbat 30bAbout the Bavli, Bavli ChulinChulin 142aAbout the Bavli, opinion in R. Saadia GaonHaEmunot VeHaDeiot 5:3About R. Saadia Gaon,

צדיק ורע לו – Hashem is not punishing the innocent people rather He is testing them so in the future or in the world to come He will give them an abundance of good.

רשע וטוב לו – Giving the wicked man a reward he does not deserve, strengthens the power of the punishment he is punished later.

Not Aimed at the Doer

The righteous or wicked man is really not worthy of the retribution they received.

Sources:Bavli BerakhotBerakhot 7aAbout the Bavli,

צדיק ורע לו – The righteous man is being punished over the sins of his generation, or of his ancestors.

רשע וטוב לו – The wicked man being part of a nation who is worthy of good, received good as well, even though he did not deserve it.

Hashem's providence

¹ It is unclear from the Bavli if they hold the person was not really righteous or wicked and rather had what to be rewarded or punished for, or that the real retribution would be in the world to come.