1

“What was the Jews’ understanding of hell in

the OT (where the unfaithful went when they died)? Did they

have one?” •God’s word re. eternal punishment gradually revealed – Hebrews 1:1

•General emphasis of OT is life on earth – Ecclesiastes 8:10-17

•Shadow of heavenly things – Hebrews 8:4-5; 10:1; Colossians 2:16-17

2

“What was the Jews’ understanding of hell in

the OT (where the unfaithful went when they

died)? Did they have one?”

SHEOL (Death, the grave, the pit)

•“to ask” (demand), hence, insatiable (Prov. 30:15-16); “to be hollow”

•Receptacle (abode) of the dead

-Death (2 Sam. 22:6); Grave (Gen. 37:35); Pit (Num. 16:33; Isa. 14:15)

3

SHEOL

•The abode of the dead

•Place of darkness, silence & forgetfulness – Psa. 88:10-12; 115:17; Eccl. 9:5-6, 10

•The companion of destruction – Job 28:22

4

SHEOL

•Not a state of unconsciousness or annihilation (1 Sam. 28:11-15)

•God of the living – Exo. 3:6; Matt. 22:31-33

•Jewish hope included belief in resurrection from the dead – Acts 24:15 (Dan. 12:2)

•Those in Sheol were not beyond God’s jurisdiction (Psa. 139:8)

5

Reward after death

•Implied in OT•Escape corruption – Psa. 16:10-11

•Redemption – Psa. 49:15

•Merciful deliverance – Psa. 86:13

6

Punishment after death

•Implied in OT•Fire of judgment reaching to the lowest part of Sheol – Deut. 32:22

•Sinners perish there – Num. 16:33

•Consumes sinners – Job 24:19

•Judgment after death – Eccl. 12:14

•Fire & worms – Isa. 66:24

7

Reality of eternal punishment

•HELL (Gehenna) – Matt. 5:29-30•Everlasting fire – Matt. 5:22; 18:8-9

•Destruction – Matt. 10:28

•Corruption & agony – Mk. 9:43-48

•Everlasting torment of fire – Matt. 25:41, 46; Rev. 14:10-11; 20:10, 14-15

•Utter darkness – Matt. 25:30 (1 Jno. 1:5)

8

•Those who sin and will not repent – Matt. 5: 29-30

•Those who will not confess Jesus in this life – Matt. 10:28, 33

•Those who do not know God & do not obey Him – 2 Ths. 1:8-9

•Those who do not obey the truth, but do evil – Rom. 2:8-9; Rev. 21:8

Reality of eternal punishment

9

“What was the Jews’ understanding of hell in the

OT (where the unfaithful went when they died)? Did

they have one?” •OT: Death ends man’s opportunities on earth & ushers him into the shadowy

realm of the grave

•NT: If we are not saved from our sins by the Son of God we will suffer eternal punishment beyond the grave

•God will judge His people & punish evil-doers – Heb. 10:30-31; 12:29