Deathbed confession
A deathbed confession is a confession of some sort when someone is assumed to be close to death. Sometimes, it takes place on the "deathbed," the bed in which a person dies or lies in during the last few hours before death, hence the phrase.
By religion
Judaism
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The Talmud[1] teaches that "if one falls sick and his life is in danger, he is told: 'Make confession, for all who are sentenced to death make confession.'" Masechet Semachot[2] adds,
"When someone is approaching death, we tell him to confess before he dies, adding that on the one hand, many people confessed and did not die, whilst on the other, there are many who did not confess and died, and there are many who walk in the street and confess; because on the merit of confession you will live."
Notable deathbed confessions
- Naomi Shemer – in a letter to Gil Aldema before dying of cancer, she confessed to using a Basque melody for her famous song "Jerusalem of Gold," something she had long denied.[3]
- Ottis Toole - confessed to the murder of Adam Walsh.
See also
References
- ↑ BT Shabbos 32a
- ↑ Semachot lit. means "Joyous Occasions" and is used euphemistically to refer to mourning. Semachot is one of the "Smaller Tractates" that records Amoraic and Tannaic statements that were not included in the canon of the Talmud
- ↑ "Top 10 Fascinating Deathbed Confessions", Listverse, September 29, 2009
