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Daniel Veler
Supporter
Your question is “Do the Jewish people believe in life after death?” The answer is yes. If you read the account of David when he was told that the Lord would take his son because of what he had done with Bathsheba. This is what is written: “Then said his servants unto him, 'What thing is this that thou hast done? Thou didst fast and weep for the child, while it was alive; but when the child was dead, thou didst rise and eat bread.' And he said, 'While the child was yet alive, I fasted and wept: for I said, "Who can tell whether GOD will be gracious to me, that the child may live?" But now he is dead, wherefore should I fast? Can I bring him back again? I shall go to him, but he shall not return to me.'” We see here David spoke of an afterlife.
Jack Gutknecht
Supporter
Dear Anonymous,
Yes. Here's how I know:
1. Ecclesiastes 12:7 – "...and the dust returns to the earth as it was, and the spirit (ruach) returns to God who gave it."
The body goes to the ground. The spirit has a different destination: it goes back to God. This implies personal, conscious existence after death with the Creator.
2. Psalm 16:9-10 – "Therefore my heart is glad... for you will not abandon my soul to Sheol, or let your holy one see the pit."
The psalmist trusts that God will rescue him from Sheol, the realm of the dead. He will not be left there forever. This is a confident hope in an afterlife with God.
3. Psalm 49:7-9, 15 – "Truly no man can ransom himself, or give to God the price of his life, for the ransom of their life is costly and can never suffice, that he should live on forever and never see the pit... But God will ransom my soul from the power of Sheol, for he will receive me."
The Psalmist says animal sacrifice ("the ransom of their life is costly") cannot suffice to give eternal life or prevent the pit. So what will? God directly ransoming his soul from Sheol. That is the afterlife belief arising precisely from the insufficiency of sacrifice.
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