We are not now speaking of the forgiveness of sins. In truth, Rabbinism knew nothing of a forgiveness of sin, free and unconditional, unless in the case of those who had not the power of doing anything for their atonement. Even in the passage which extols most the freeness and the benefits of repentance (the last pages of the Tractate on the Day of Atonement), there is the most painful discussion about sins great and small, about repentance from fear or from love, about sins against commands or against prohibitions; and, in what cases repentance averted, or else only deferred, judgment, leaving final expiation to be wrought by other means. These were: personal sufferings, [2413] death, [2414] or the Day of Atonement. [2415] Besides these, there were always the merits of the fathers;' [2416] or, perhaps, some one good work done; [2417] or, at any rate, the brief period of purgatorial pain, which might open the gate of mercy. These are the so-called advocates' (Peraqlitin, {hebrew}) of the penitent sinner. In a classical passage on the subject, [2418] repentance is viewed in its bearing on four different spiritual [2419] conditions, which are supposed to be respectively referred to in Jer. iii. 22; Lev. xvi. 30; Is. xxii. 14; and Ps. lxxxix. 32. The first of these refers to a breach of a command, with immediate and persistent cry for forgiveness, which is at once granted. The second is that of a breach of a prohibition, when, besides repentance, the Day of Atonement is required. The third is that of purposed sin, on which death or cutting off had been threatened, when, besides repentance and the Day of Atonement, sufferings are required; while in open profanation of the Name of God, only death can make final atonement. [2420]
But the nature of repentance has yet to be more fully explained. Its gate is sorrow and shame. [2421] In that sense repentance may be the work of a moment, as in the twinkling of an eye,' [2422] and a life's sins may obtain mercy by the tears and prayers of a few minutes' repentance. [2423] [2424] To this also refers the beautiful saying, that all which rendered a sacrifice unfit for the altar, such as that it was broken, fitted the penitent for acceptance, since the sacrifices of God were a broken and contrite heart.' [2425] By the side of what may be called contrition, Jewish theology places confession (Viddui, {hebrew}). This was deemed so integral a part of repentance, that those about to be executed, [2426] or to die, [2427] were admonished to it. Achan of old had thus obtained pardon. [2428] But in the case of the living all this could only be regarded as repentance in the sense of being its preparation or beginning. Even if it were Charatah, or regret at the past, it would not yet be Teshubhah, or return to God; and even if it changed purposed into unintentional sin, arrested judgment, and stayed or banished its Angel, it would still leave a man without those works which are not only his real destiny and merit heaven, but constitute true repentance. For, as sin is ultimately dereliction of the Law, beginning within, so repentance is ultimately return to the Law. In this sense there is a higher and meritorious confession, which not only owns sin but God, and is therefore an inward return to Him. So Adam, when he saw the penitence of Cain, burst into this Psalm, [2429] It is a good thing to confess [2430] unto the Lord.' [2431] [2432] Manasseh, when in trouble, called upon God and was heard, [2433] although it is added, that this was only done in order to prove that the door of repentance was open to all. Indeed, the Angels had closed the windows of Heaven against his prayers, but God opened a place for their entrance beneath His throne of glory. [2434] Similarly, even Pharaoh, who, according to Jewish tradition, made in the Red Sea confession of God, [2435] was preserved, became king of Nineveh, and so brought the Ninevites to true repentance, which verily consisted not merely in sackcloth and fasting, but in restitution, so that every one who had stolen a beam pulled down his whole palace to restore it. [2436]