Gehenna and 'Sinners of Israel' in the Light of "Seder 'Olam" / גיהנום ופושעי ישראל על פי 'סדר עולם'

The third chapter of Seder 'Olam contains a relatively long passage, which divides those punished in Gehenna into two categories, sinners of a lesser degree who remain in Gehenna for twelve months and the more heinous sinners who are doomed to remain there forever. The editor of this passage has amalgamated several sources together, and it is necessary to isolate them as well as their varying ideological perspectives. First of all, it is not immediately apparent whether this Gehenna is an immediately post-mortem Gehenna of souls or an eschatological Gehenna where the resurrected body and soul are punished together. Other matters needing clarification are the dividing line between the two types of sinners and the final repose of those sinners punished for twelve months in Gehenna. A close analysis of the list of more heinous sinners in Seder 'Olam leads us to the conclusion that the defining characteristic of these sinners is ideological deviation from the accepted belief-system. This passage has a number of parallels in various rabbinic texts: on many occasions it can be shown quite clearly that Seder 'Olam has retained a more original formulation, and this has certain ramifications concerning our understanding of the redactional process of Seder 'Olam.