And he sent Judah before him (Gen. 46:28). Scripture says elsewhere in reference to this verse: The wolf and the lamb shall feed together (Isa. 65:25). Observe that whomever the Holy One, blessed be He, afflicts in this world, He heals in the world-to-come. The blind, for it is written: The eyes of the blind shall be opened, and the ears of deaf shall be unstopped (Isa. 35:5); the lame: Then shall the lame man leap as a hart, and the tongue of the dumb shall speak (ibid., v. 6). In the same way all others shall be healed.
And furthermore, just as a man departs this world he will return. [The concept of the resurrection of the dead.] If he departs lame, he will return lame; if he departs deaf, he will return deaf; if he departs blind, he will be resurrected blind. Thus everyone returns as he departed.
Those who depart clothed will return clothed, as it is said: It is changed as clay under the seal; and they stand as a garment (Job 38:14). Come and learn from Samuel. When Saul caused him to be brought up (by the witch of Endor), he said to the woman: “What does he look like?” And she answered: An old man cometh up; and he is covered with a robe (I Sam. 28:14). And Scripture states elsewhere: Moreover, his mother made him a little robe (ibid. 2:19). This teaches us that just as one departs (this life), so he will return. The reason for this is that the wicked should not say: “Some He puts to death, and others He restores to life.” The Holy One, blessed be He, said: Let them arise just as they departed, and then I will heal them. Why so? To confirm the verse Before Me there was no God formed, neither shall any be after Me (Isa. 43:10)
After that the animals will also be healed, as it is said: The wolf and the lamb shall feed together … and dust shall be the serpent’s food (ibid. 65:25). But the serpent shall not be healed. And why not? Because it was responsible for mankind being brought down to the dust. [He caused death to come to mankind by enticing Adam and Eve to eat the forbidden fruit (Gen. 3:1–6).]
Another comment on The wolf and the lamb shall feed together. The wolf refers to Benjamin, as it is said: Benjamin is the wolf that raveneth (Gen. 49:37), and the lamb alludes to the tribes, as is said: Israel is a scattered sheep (Jer. 50:17).
Shall feed together. When did that occur? When Benjamin descended with his brothers. Though Jacob had said: My son shall not go down with you (Gen. 42:38), yet when the time for departure came, he did descend with them. They placed him between themselves and guarded him. And thus it says: Joseph lifted up his eyes, and saw Benjamin his brother, his mother’s son (Gen. 43:29).
And the lion shall eat straw like the ox (Isa. 65:25). “The lion” refers to Judah, as it is said: Judah is a lion’s whelp (Gen. 49:9), and like the ox alludes to Joseph, as is said: His firstling bullock, majesty is his (Deut. 33:17). Finally however, all of them ate together, as it is said: And they sat before him, the firstborn according to his birthright (Gen. 43:33). And it is also written: And portions were taken unto them (ibid., v. 3). Hence Scripture states: And the lion shall eat straw like the ox.