开云体育SEFER SHMIRAS HALOSHON? Retroactive Guilt ? One should ponder the fact that at the moment he speaks loshon hora, the Heavenly angels announce his own sins (Roke’ach, Aggadas Mishlei?11:27). ? Riva (cited by Semak 283) states that if one kills someone who is attempting to commit a capital crime against his fellow (and, as such, should be killed if that is the only way to ensure that the crime will not be committed) and later is guilty of that very same offense, then retroactively, he is considered as if he had shed innocent blood. As proof, Riva cites the episode of King Yeihu who, in killing the members of King Achav’s household, was fulfilling the Divine will as transmitted through prophecy. Yet because Yeihu too was guilty of a degree of idol worship — though his infractions did not approach the heinous acts of Achav — he was held responsible for murdering Achav’s household, as it is written, “And I shall bring to account the blood of [Achav who was killed in] Yizrael upon the house of Yeihu” (Hoshea 1:4). ? The same applies to any sin between man and his fellow. If one rightfully attacks someone physically (to prevent him from committing a crime), or embarrasses him (for his having publicly disgraced Hashem’s Name), or speaks negatively about him (to prevent him from causing someone else harm), and has committed or later commits that very same offense, then he is considered as if he had acted or spoken against an innocent man. Consequently, he will be subject to Divine retribution as if he had acted or spoken against a Jew whose service of Hashem is wholesome and beyond reproach. |
