R. Eliezer, who was obviously in unbearable pain and agony, expressed his surprise at his disciple’s behavior and retorted: “Akiva, have I neglected anything in the entire Torah [that you say I am deserving of this suffering – Rashi]?” Rabbi Akiva replied, “It was you, our teacher, who taught us (Ecclesiastes 7:20) ‘Ki adam ein tzadik bo’aretz asher ya’aseh tov v’lo yechetah – Is there no man so wholly righteous on earth who always does good and never sins?’”
What Rabbi Akiva meant in his reply was that a person deserves some form of suffering for every sin he commits. If he doesn’t endure that suffering in this lifetime, his reward in the afterlife is decreased.
The Gemara follows with another similar exchange and finally Rabbi Akiva’s conclusion: “Suffering [in this world] is precious.”
The Ktav Sofer notes a difficulty with this exchange: Did R. Eliezer not know the very teaching that he himself taught Rabbi Akiva [and his fellow disciples]? Why, then, did he retort, “Have I neglected anything in the entire Torah?”
(To be continued)