MOSES VISITS PARADISE AND HELL

When Moses was on the point of departing from heaven,
a celestial voice announced: "Moses, thou camest hither,
and thou didst see the throne of My glory. Now thou shalt
see also Paradise and hell," and God dispatched Gabriel on
the errand of showing hell to him. Terrified by its fires,
when he caught sight of them as he entered the portals of
hell, Moses refused to go farther. But the angel encouraged
him, saying, "There is a fire that not only burns but also
consumes, and that fire will protect thee against hell fire,
so that thou canst step upon it, and yet thou wilt not be
seared."

As Moses entered hell, the fire withdrew a distance of