Reward and Punishment/2

Reward and Punishment

Exegetical Approaches

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Individual Recompense in Both Worlds

Individuals are compensated for their actions both in this world and the next world.

Individual Reward only in Next World

Individuals receive their just desserts only in the next world.  The rewards of this world are meted out only to the collective.

Collective Nature of Biblical Blessings

Honoring Parents: "לְמַעַן יַאֲרִיכֻן יָמֶיךָ וּלְמַעַן יִיטַב לָךְ"

"וְשַׂמְתִּי אֲנִי אֶת פָּנַי בָּאִישׁ הַהוּא"

Physical Blessings

Why not reward the individual in this world?

Philosophical motivations

Nature of עולם הבא

Why isn't עולם הבא mentioned in the Torah?

Purpose of rewards / punishments

Is it problematic to hope for reward?

Changing Rewards

Hashem's modes of providence have changed over time.  As the nation gradually moved from a miraculous to natural existence, Hashem's overt providence became covert. Immediate reward and punishment, thus, slowly disappeared over the First Temple period.

"עַל הָאֲדָמָה אֲשֶׁר י״י אֱלֹהֶיךָ נֹתֵן לָךְ"

No Rewards

The blessings promised in the Torah should be viewed as enablers or natural consequences rather than rewards.