There might easily be types of "change" within hell, especially since entrance into the final state provokes at least some sorrow and grief. The rabbis of the time of Jesus (at least as explained through the Talmud) had an odd mixture of traditionalism, annihilationism, and a type of 'purgatory'. Cohen summarizes some of the main teachings in [i]Everyman's Talmud[/i] (Dutton): ...
"The locus classicus on the subject reads: 'The School of Shammai declared, There are three classes with respect to the Day of judgment: the perfectly righteous, the completely wicked, and the average people. Those in the first class are forthwith inscribed and sealed for eternal life. Those in the second class are forthwith inscribed and sealed for Gehinnom; as it is said, "Many of them that sleep in the dust of the earth shall awake, some to everlasting life and some to shame and everlasting contempt" (Dan. xii. 2). The third class will descend to Gehinnom and cry out (from the pains endured there) and then ascend; as it is said, " I will bring the third part through fire, and will refine them as silver is refined, and will try them as gold is tried; they shall call on My name and I will hear them" (Zech. xiii. 9). Concerning them Hannah said, "The Lord killeth and maketh alive, He bringeth down to Sheol and bringeth up" (i Sam. ii. 6). The School of Hillel quoted, "He is plenteous in mercy " (Exod. xxxiv. 6); He inclines towards mercy; and concerning them said David, " I love the Lord, because He hath heard my voice and my supplications" (Ps. cxvi. i). The whole of that Psalm was composed by David about them: "I was brought low and He saved me " (ibid. 6). The sinners of Israel with their bodies and the sinners of the Gentiles with their bodies descend
to Gehinnom and are judged there for twelve months. After twelve months their bodies are destroyed, and their souls burnt and scattered by a wind under
the soles of the feet of the righteous; as it is said, "Ye shall tread down the wicked, for they shall be ashes under the soles of your feet" (Mal. iv.
3). But the sectaries, informers, epicureans who denied the Torah and denied the Resurrection, they who separated themselves from the ways of the community, they who set their dread in the land of the living, and they who, like Jeroboam the son of Nebat and his associates, sinned and caused the multitude to sin (cf. i Kings xiv. i6), will descend to Gehinnom and be judged there generations on generations; as it is said, "They shall go forth and look upon the carcasses of the men that have transgressed against Me; for their worm shall not die, neither shall their fire be quenched" (Is. lxvi. 24). Gehinnom will cease but they will not cease (to suffer); as it is said, " Their form shall be for Sheol to consume that there be no habitation for it" (Ps. xlix. 14). Concerning them said Hannah, "They that strive with the Lord shall be broken to pieces" (i Sam. ii. i o). R. Isaac b. Abin said, Their faces will be black like the bottom of a pot' (R.H. 16b et seq.).
