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- ב"ה - Today in Judaism - Today is Shabbat, 3 Tishrei, 5778 · September 23, 2017
Ha'azinu: Deuteronomy 32:1-52
Ha'azinu: Deuteronomy 32:1 “Hear, oh heavens, as I speak!
Listen, earth, to the words from my mouth!
2 May my teaching fall like rain.
May my speech condense like dew,
like light rain on blades of grass,
or showers on growing plants.
3 “For I will proclaim the name of Adonai.
Come, declare the greatness of our God!
4 The Rock! His work is perfect,
for all his ways are just.
A trustworthy God who does no wrong,
he is righteous and straight.
5 “He is not corrupt; the defect is in his children,
a crooked and perverted generation.
6 You foolish people, so lacking in wisdom,
is this how you repay Adonai?
He is your father, who made you his!
It was he who formed and prepared you!
(ii) 7 “Remember how the old days were;
think of the years through all the ages.
Ask your father — he will tell you;
your leaders too — they will inform you.
8 “When ‘Elyon gave each nation its heritage,
when he divided the human race,
he assigned the boundaries of peoples
according to Isra’el’s population;
9 but Adonai’s share was his own people,
Ya‘akov his allotted heritage.
10 “He found his people in desert country,
in a howling, wasted wilderness.
He protected him and cared for him,
guarded him like the pupil of his eye,
11 like an eagle that stirs up her nest,
hovers over her young,
spreads out her wings, takes them
and carries them as she flies.
12 “Adonai alone led his people;
no alien god was with him.
(iii) 13 He made them ride on the heights of the earth.
They ate the produce of the fields.
He had them suck honey from the rocks
and olive oil from the crags,
14 curds from the cows and milk from the sheep,
with lamb fat, rams from Bashan and goats,
with the finest wheat flour;
and you drank sparkling wine from the blood of grapes.
15 “But Yeshurun grew fat and kicked
(you grew fat, thick, gross!).
He abandoned God his Maker;
he scorned the Rock, his salvation.
16 They roused him to jealousy with alien gods,
provoked him with abominations.
17 They sacrificed to demons, non-gods,
gods that they had never known,
new gods that had come up lately,
which your ancestors had not feared.
18 You ignored the Rock who fathered you,
you forgot God, who gave you birth.
(iv) 19 “Adonai saw and was filled with scorn
at his sons’ and daughters’ provocation.
20 He said, ‘I will hide my face from them
and see what will become of them;
for they are a perverse generation,
untrustworthy children.
21 They aroused my jealousy with a non-god
and provoked me with their vanities;
I will arouse their jealousy with a non-people
and provoke them with a vile nation.
22 “‘For my anger has been fired up.
It burns to the depths of Sh’ol,
devouring the earth and its crops,
kindling the very roots of the hills.
23 I will heap disasters on them
and use up all my arrows against them.
24 “‘Fatigued by hunger, they will be
consumed by fever and bitter defeat;
I will send them the fangs of wild beasts,
and the poison of reptiles crawling in the dust.
25 Outside, the sword makes parents childless;
inside, there is panic,
as young men and girls alike are slain,
sucklings and graybeards together.
26 “‘I considered putting an end to them,
erasing their memory from the human race;
27 but I feared the insolence of their enemy,
feared that their foes would mistakenly think,
“We ourselves accomplished this;
Adonai had nothing to do with it.”
28 “‘They are a nation without common sense,
utterly lacking in discernment.
(v) 29 If they were wise they could figure it out
and understand their destiny.
30 After all, how can one chase a thousand
and two put ten thousand to rout,
unless their Rock sells them to their enemies,
unless Adonai hands them over?
31 For our enemies have no rock like our Rock —
even they can see that!
32 “‘Rather, their vine is from the vine of S’dom,
from the fields of ‘Amora —
their grapes are poisonous,
their clusters are bitter;
33 their wine is snake poison,
the cruel venom of vipers.
34 “‘Isn’t this hidden with me,
sealed in my storehouses?
35 Vengeance and payback are mine
for the time when their foot slips;
for the day of their calamity is coming soon,
their doom is rushing upon them.’
36 “Yes, Adonai will judge his people,
taking pity on his servants,
when he sees that their strength is gone,
that no one is left, slave or free.
37 Then he will ask, ‘Where are their gods,
the rock in whom they trusted?
38 Who ate the fat of their sacrifices
and drank the wine of their drink offering?
Let him get up and help you,
let him protect you!
39 See now that I, yes, I, am he;
and there is no god beside me.
I put to death, and I make alive;
I wound, and I heal;
no one saves anyone from my hand!
(vi) 40 “‘For I lift up my hand to heaven and swear,
“As surely as I am alive forever,
41 if I sharpen my flashing sword
and set my hand to judgment,
I will render vengeance to my foes,
repay those who hate me.
42 I will make my arrows drunk with blood,
my sword will devour flesh —
the blood of the slain and the captives,
flesh from the wild-haired heads of the enemy.”’
43 “Sing out, you nations, about his people!
For he will avenge the blood of his servants.
He will render vengeance to his adversaries
and make atonement for the land of his people.”
(vii) 44 Moshe came and proclaimed all the words of this song in the hearing of the people and of Hoshea the son of Nun.
45 When he had finished speaking all these words to all Isra’el, 46 he said to them, “Take to heart all the words of my testimony against you today, so that you can use them in charging your children to be careful to obey all the words of this Torah. 47 For this is not a trivial matter for you; on the contrary, it is your life! Through it you will live long in the land you are crossing the Yarden to possess.”
(Maftir) 48 That same day Adonai said to Moshe, 49 “Go up into the ‘Avarim Range, to Mount N’vo, in the land of Mo’av across from Yericho; and look out over the land of Kena‘an, which I am giving the people of Isra’el as a possession. 50 On the mountain you are ascending you will die and be gathered to your people, just as Aharon your brother died on Mount Hor and was gathered to his people. 51 The reason for this is that both of you broke faith with me there among the people of Isra’el at the M’rivat-Kadesh Spring, in the Tzin Desert; you failed to demonstrate my holiness there among the people of Isra’el. 52 So you will see the land from a distance, but you will not enter the land I am giving to the people of Isra’el.”
Today's Laws & Customs:
• 10 Days of Repentance; Shabbat Shuvah
The 10-day period beginning on Rosh Hashanah and ending on Yom Kippur is known as the "Ten Days of Repentance"; this is the period, say the sages, of which the prophet speaks when he proclaims (Isaiah 55:6) "Seek G-d when He is to be found; call on Him when He is near." It is thus a most auspicious time to rectify the failings and missed opportunities of the past and positively influence the coming year. Psalm 130 and other special inserts and additions are included in our daily prayers during these days.
The Shabbat between Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur is called Shabbat Shuvah, "Shabbat of Return." The name derives from the Haftarah (reading from the prophets) for this Shabbat, which opens with the words (Hosea 14:2), "Return O Israel unto the L-rd your G-d..." According to master Kabbalist Rabbi Isaac Luria ("Ari"), the seven days between Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur (which will always include one Sunday, one Monday, etc.) correspond to the seven days of the week. The Sundaybetween Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur includes within itself all Sundays of the year; the Monday embodies all Mondays, and so on. Shabbat Shuvah is thus the archetypal Shabbat -- the juncture in time at which we are empowered to influence every Shabbat of our year.
Links: About the Ten Days of teshuvah; Voicemail; more on teshuvah
Today in Jewish History:
• Passing of Rebbetzin Devorah Leah (1792)Rebbetzin Devorah Leah, daughter of Rabbi Schneur Zalman of Liadi and mother of Rabbi Menachem Mendel of Lubavitch (the "Tzemach Tzedek"), passed away on this date just three days after her young son's third birthday. Click here to read more about this.
Daily Torah Study:
Chumash: Ha'Azinu, 7th Portion Deuteronomy 32:44-32:52 with Rashi
• English / Hebrew Linear Translation
• Video Class
• Daily Wisdom (short insight)
Deuteronomy Chapter 32
44And Moses came and spoke all the words of this song into the ears of the people he and Hoshea the son of Nun. מדוַיָּבֹ֣א משֶׁ֗ה וַיְדַבֵּ֛ר אֶת־כָּל־דִּבְרֵ֥י הַשִּׁירָֽה־הַזֹּ֖את בְּאָזְנֵ֣י הָעָ֑ם ה֖וּא וְהוֹשֵׁ֥עַ בִּן־נֽוּן:
He and Hoshea the son of Nun: It was the Sabbath upon which there were two leaders [because the office was being transferred to Joshua, i.e.,] authority was taken from one and given to the other. — [Sotah 13b] Moses appointed a meturgeman [literally, an interpreter, here a spokesman] for Joshua, [to relay to the public what Joshua said,] so that Joshua could expound [on the Torah] in Moses’ lifetime, so that Israel would not say [to Joshua], “During your teacher’s lifetime you did not dare to raise your head!” - [Sifrei 31:1] And why does Scripture here call him Hoshea [for his name had long since been changed to Joshua (see Numb. 13:16). To imply [lit., to say] that Joshua did not become haughty, for although he was given high status, he humbled himself as he was at the beginning [when he was still called Hoshea]. — [Sifrei 32:44]
הוא והושע בן נון: שבת של דיוזגי היתה, נטלה רשות מזה ונתנה לזה, העמיד לו משה מתורגמן ליהושע, שיהא דורש בחייו, כדי שלא יאמרו ישראל בחיי רבך לא היה לך להרים ראש. ולמה קוראו כאן הושע, לומר שלא זחה דעתו עליו, שאף על פי שנתנה לו גדולה, השפיל עצמו כאשר מתחלתו:
45And Moses finished speaking all these words to all Israel. מהוַיְכַ֣ל משֶׁ֔ה לְדַבֵּ֛ר אֶת־כָּל־הַדְּבָרִ֥ים הָאֵ֖לֶּה אֶל־כָּל־יִשְׂרָאֵֽל:
46And he said to them, "Set your hearts to all of the words which I bear witness for you this day, so that you may command your children to observe to do all the words of this Torah. מווַיֹּ֤אמֶר אֲלֵהֶם֙ שִׂ֣ימוּ לְבַבְכֶ֔ם לְכָ֨ל־הַדְּבָרִ֔ים אֲשֶׁ֧ר אָֽנֹכִ֛י מֵעִ֥יד בָּכֶ֖ם הַיּ֑וֹם אֲשֶׁ֤ר תְּצַוֻּם֙ אֶת־בְּנֵיכֶ֔ם לִשְׁמֹ֣ר לַֽעֲשׂ֔וֹת אֶת־כָּל־דִּבְרֵ֖י הַתּוֹרָ֥ה הַזֹּֽאת:
Set your hearts: A person must direct his eyes, his heart, and his ears to the words of the Torah, for Scripture states (Ezek. 40: 4),“Son of man, see with your eyes, and listen with your ears, and set your heart [upon all that I show you]” [namely, the plan of the Holy Temple]. Now, here, we have an inference from major to minor: If in the case of the plan of the Holy Temple, which is visible to the eyes and which is measured with a measuring-rod, a person must direct his eyes, ears, and heart to understand, how much more so must he do so to understand the words of the Torah, which are likened to “mountains suspended by a hair” [i.e., numerous laws derived from a single word of the Torah]?!- [Sifrei 32:45]
שימו לבבכם: צריך אדם שיהיו עיניו ולבו ואזניו מכוונים לדברי תורה, וכן הוא אומר (יחזקאל מ, ד) בן אדם ראה בעיניך ובאזניך שמע ושים לבך וגו', הרי דברים קל וחומר, ומה תבנית הבית שהוא נראה לעינים ונמדד בקנה צריך אדם שיהיו עיניו ואזניו ולבו מכוונים להבין, דברי תורה שהן כהררין התלויין בשערה על אחת כמה וכמה:
47For it is not an empty thing for you, for it is your life, and through this thing, you will lengthen your days upon the land to which you are crossing over the Jordan, to possess it." מזכִּי לֹֽא־דָבָ֨ר רֵ֥ק הוּא֙ מִכֶּ֔ם כִּי־ה֖וּא חַיֵּיכֶ֑ם וּבַדָּבָ֣ר הַזֶּ֗ה תַּֽאֲרִ֤יכוּ יָמִים֙ עַל־הָ֣אֲדָמָ֔ה אֲשֶׁ֨ר אַתֶּ֜ם עֹֽבְרִ֧ים אֶת־הַיַּרְדֵּ֛ן שָׁ֖מָּה לְרִשְׁתָּֽהּ:
For it is not an empty thing for you: You do not labor over it in vain, for a great reward is contingent upon it, for “it is your life” [that is, the reward is life itself]. Another explanation: There is not one empty [i.e., superfluous] word in the Torah which, if properly expounded upon, will not have a reward attached to it. You must know this, for [as an illustration:] our Rabbis teach, Scripture states, “And Lotan’s sister was Timna” (Gen. 36:22). [What, one might ask, is the purpose of telling us this? Furthermore, an earlier verse states,] “and Timna was a concubine [to Eliphaz the son of Esau]” (Gen. 36:12). [Is it necessary for the Torah to state this at all? But our Rabbis explain, as follows:] Because Timna said,“If I am unworthy to become Eliphaz’s wife, I hope, at least, to become his concubine!” So why does Scripture enter into all these details [of her birth and marriage]? To teach us the greatness of Abraham, that rulers and kings yearned to cleave to his seed. [Lotan was a prince of Seir; thus the verse tells us that Timna was of noble ancestry; and yet, she preferred to be a mere concubine to Eliphaz, Abraham’s great grandson, rather than become a princess in her own nation.]- [Sifrei 32:46]
כי לא דבר רק הוא מכם: לא לחנם אתם יגעים בה, כי הרבה שכר תלוי בה, כי הוא חייכם. דבר אחר אין לך דבר ריקן בתורה שאם תדרשנו שאין בו מתן שכר, תדע לך שכן אמרו (בראשית לו, כב) ואחות לוטן תמנע, (שם לו, יב) ותמנע היתה פלגש וגו' לפי שאמרה איני כדאי להיות לו לאשה הלואי ואהיה פילגשו, וכל כך למה, להודיע שבחו של אברהם שהיו שלטונים ומלכים מתאוים להדבק בזרעו:
48And the Lord spoke to Moses on that very day, saying, מחוַיְדַבֵּ֤ר יְהֹוָה֙ אֶל־משֶׁ֔ה בְּעֶ֛צֶם הַיּ֥וֹם הַזֶּ֖ה לֵאמֹֽר:
And the Lord spoke to Moses on that very day: Heb. בְּעֶצֶם הַיּוֹם הַזֶּה. In three places Scripture employs the phrase: בְּעֶצֶם הַיּוֹם הַזֶּה [which has the meaning, “at the strongest light of the day”]. First, regarding Noah, Scripture states,“On that very day (בְּעֶצֶם הַיּוֹם הַזֶּה) Noah entered [… the ark]” (Gen. 7:13), which means in the glare of full daylight. Noah’s contemporaries said: “We swear by such and such, that if we notice him about to enter the ark, we will not let him proceed! Moreover, we will take axes and hatchets and split open the ark!” So the Holy One, Blessed is He, said: “I will have Noah enter at midday, and let anyone who has the power to prevent it, come and prevent it!” Second, regarding Egypt, Scripture states, “On that very day, the Lord brought [the children of Israel] out [of the land of Egypt]” (Exod. 12:51). The Egyptians said: “We swear by such and such, that if we notice them about to leave, we will stop them! And not only that, but we will take swords and other weapons, and kill them!” So, the Holy One, Blessed is He, said: “I will bring them out in the middle of the day, and let anyone who has power to prevent it, come and prevent it!” Likewise here, regarding Moses’ death, Scripture states,“on that very day (בְּעֶצֶם הַיּוֹם הַזֶּה) .” The children of Israel said, “We swear by such and such, that if we notice Moses [ascending the mountain to die], we will not let him do so! The man who brought us out of Egypt, divided the Red Sea for us, brought the manna down for us, made flocks of quails fly over to us, brought up the well for us, and gave us the Torah-we will not let him!” Thereupon, the Holy One, Blessed is He, said: “I will have Moses ascend the mountain [to his resting place] in the middle of the day!” - [Sifrei 32:47]
וידבר ה' אל משה בעצם היום הזה: בשלשה מקומות נאמר בעצם היום הזה, נאמר בנח (שם ז, יג) בעצם היום הזה בא נח וגו', במראית אורו של יום, לפי שהיו בני דורו אומרים בכך וכך אם אנו מרגישין בו אין אנו מניחין אותו ליכנס בתיבה, ולא עוד אלא אנו נוטלין כשילין וקרדומות ומבקעין את התיבה. אמר הקב"ה הריני מכניסו בחצי היום, וכל מי שיש בידו כח למחות יבא וימחה. במצרים נאמר (שמות יב, נא) בעצם היום הזה הוציא ה', לפי שהיו מצרים אומרים בכך וכך אם אנו מרגישין בהם אין אנו מניחים אותם לצאת, ולא עוד אלא אנו נוטלין סייפות וכלי זיין והורגין בהם. אמר הקב"ה הריני מוציאן בחצי היום וכל מי שיש בו כח למחות יבא וימחה. אף כאן במיתתו של משה נאמר בעצם היום הזה, לפי שהיו ישראל אומרים בכך וכך אם אנו מרגישין בו אין אנו מניחין אותו, אדם שהוציאנו ממצרים וקרע לנו את הים והוריד לנו את המן והגיז לנו את השליו והעלה לנו את הבאר ונתן לנו את התורה אין אנו מניחין אותו. אמר הקב"ה הריני מכניסו בחצי היום וכו':
49Go up this Mount Avarim [to] Mount Nebo, which is in the land of Moab, that is facing Jericho, and see the Land of Canaan, which I am giving to the children of Israel as a possession, מטעֲלֵ֡ה אֶל־הַר֩ הָֽעֲבָרִ֨ים הַזֶּ֜ה הַר־נְב֗וֹ אֲשֶׁר֙ בְּאֶ֣רֶץ מוֹאָ֔ב אֲשֶׁ֖ר עַל־פְּנֵ֣י יְרֵח֑וֹ וּרְאֵה֙ אֶת־אֶ֣רֶץ כְּנַ֔עַן אֲשֶׁ֨ר אֲנִ֥י נֹתֵ֛ן לִבְנֵ֥י יִשְׂרָאֵ֖ל לַֽאֲחֻזָּֽה:
50And die on the mountain upon which you are climbing and be gathered to your people, just as your brother Aaron died on Mount Hor and was gathered to his people. נוּמֻ֗ת בָּהָר֙ אֲשֶׁ֤ר אַתָּה֙ עֹלֶ֣ה שָׁ֔מָּה וְהֵֽאָסֵ֖ף אֶל־עַמֶּ֑יךָ כַּֽאֲשֶׁר־מֵ֞ת אַֽהֲרֹ֤ן אָחִ֨יךָ֙ בְּהֹ֣ר הָהָ֔ר וַיֵּאָ֖סֶף אֶל־עַמָּֽיו:
Just as your brother Aaron died: [God said to Moses:] “Die with the same death that you witnessed and longed for, that Moses removed Aaron’s first [i.e., upper] garment and dressed Eleazar [Aaron’s son] with it. Then, Moses did the same with the second garment, and the third. Aaron then saw his son in his glory [of his new office]. Moses then said to him: ”Aaron my brother! Go up onto the couch,“ and Aaron went up. ”Stretch out your hands,“ and Aaron stretched [out his hands]. ”Stretch out your legs,“ and Aaron stretched [out his legs]. ”Close your eyes,“ and Aaron closed [his eyes]; ”Close your mouth,“ and Aaron closed [his mouth], and he passed away. Thereupon, Moses said, ”Fortunate is the one who dies a death like this!" - [Sifrei 32:49]
כאשר מת אהרן אחיך: באותה מיתה שראית וחמדת אותה, שהפשיט משה את אהרן בגד ראשון והלבישו לאלעזר וכן שני וכן שלישי וראה בנו בכבודו. אמר לו משה אהרן אחי עלה למטה, ועלה. פשוט ידיך, ופשט. פשוט רגליך, ופשט. עצום עיניך, ועצם. קמוץ פיך, וקמץ והלך לו. אמר משה אשרי מי שמת במיתה זו:
51Because you betrayed Me in the midst of the children of Israel at the waters of Merivath Kadesh, [in] the desert of Zin, [and] because you did not sanctify Me in the midst of the children of Israel. נאעַל֩ אֲשֶׁ֨ר מְעַלְתֶּ֜ם בִּ֗י בְּתוֹךְ֙ בְּנֵ֣י יִשְׂרָאֵ֔ל בְּמֵֽי־מְרִיבַ֥ת קָדֵ֖שׁ מִדְבַּר־צִ֑ן עַ֣ל אֲשֶׁ֤ר לֹֽא־קִדַּשְׁתֶּם֙ אוֹתִ֔י בְּת֖וֹךְ בְּנֵ֥י יִשְׂרָאֵֽל:
Because you betrayed Me: You caused the people to rebel against Me.
על אשר מעלתם בי: גרמתם למעול בי:
because you did not sanctify Me: [Says God to Israel:] You caused Me not to be sanctified [see Yalkut , end of Ha’azinu]: I said to you “Speak to the rock” [to provide you with water in the desert (see Num. 20:8)], but instead, they hit the rock, and so, they had to hit it twice [in order to extract water]. Had they, however, spoken to it [as I told them], so that the rock would have given forth water without being hit, the Name of Heaven would have been sanctified, for the Israelites would have said,"If the rock, which is subject neither to reward nor punishment, for if it acts meritoriously [i.e., fulfills God’s will,] it receives no reward, and if it sins [i.e., not fulfilling God’s will,] it is not punished, and yet [without any of these incentives] the rock fulfills the command of its Creator [by producing water when spoken to], how much more so should we [who do have the incentives of reward and punishment fulfill our Creator’s will]!
על אשר לא קדשתם אותי: גרמתם לי שלא אתקדש אמרתי לכם (במדבר כ, ח) ודברתם אל הסלע והם הכוהו והוצרכו להכותו פעמים ואילו דברו עמו ונתן מימיו בלא הכאה היה מתקדש שם שמים, שהיו ישראל אומרים ומה הסלע הזה שאינו לשכר ולא לפורענות אם זכה אין לו מתן שכר ואם חטא אינו לוקה כך מקיים מצות בוראו אנו לא כל שכן:
52For from afar, you will see the land, but you will not come there, to the land I am giving the children of Israel. נבכִּ֥י מִנֶּ֖גֶד תִּרְאֶ֣ה אֶת־הָאָ֑רֶץ וְשָׁ֨מָּה֙ לֹ֣א תָב֔וֹא אֶל־הָאָ֕רֶץ אֲשֶׁר־אֲנִ֥י נֹתֵ֖ן לִבְנֵ֥י יִשְׂרָאֵֽל:
from afar: Heb. כִּי מִנֶּגֶד from afar.
כי מנגד: מרחוק:
you will see [the Land]: For if you do not see the Land now, you will no longer see it in your lifetime.
תראה וגו': כי אם לא תראנה עכשיו לא תראנה עוד בחייך:
but you will not come there: But I know that the Land is dear to you. That is why I say to you,“Go up [the mountain] and see [it]!”
ושמה לא תבוא: וידעתי כי חביבה היא לך על כן אני אומר לך עלה וראה:
Tehillim: Psalms Chapters 18 - 22
• Hebrew text
• English text
Special Custom for the Month of Elul and High Holidays
The Baal Shem Tov instituted a custom of reciting three additional chapters of Psalms each day, from the 1st of Elul until Yom Kippur (on Yom Kippur the remaining 36 chapters are recited, thereby completing the entire book of Psalms).
See below for today's additional chapters.
Chapter 18
If one merits a public miracle, he should offer a song to God, including in his song all the miracles that have occurred since the day the world was created, as well as the good that God wrought for Israel at the giving of the Torah. And he should say: "He Who has performed these miracles, may He do with me likewise."
1. For the Conductor. By the servant of the Lord, by David, who chanted the words of this song to the Lord on the day the Lord delivered him from the hand of all his enemies, and from the hand of Saul.
2. He said, "I love You, Lord, my strength.
3. The Lord is my rock, my fortress, and my rescuer. My God is my strength in Whom I take shelter, my shield, the horn of my salvation, my stronghold.
4. With praises I call upon the Lord, and I am saved from my enemies.
5. For the pangs of death surrounded me, and torrents of evil people terrified me.
6. Pangs of the grave encompassed me; snares of death confronted me.
7. In my distress I called upon the Lord, I cried out to my God; and from His Sanctuary He heard my voice, and my supplication before Him reached His ears.
8. The earth trembled and quaked; the foundations of the mountains shook-they trembled when His wrath flared.
9. Smoke rose in His nostrils, devouring fire blazed from His mouth, and burning coals flamed forth from Him.
10. He inclined the heavens and descended, a thick cloud was beneath His feet.
11. He rode on a cherub and flew; He soared on the wings of the wind.
12. He made darkness His concealment, His surroundings His shelter-of the dense clouds with their dark waters.
13. Out of the brightness before Him, His clouds passed over, with hailstones and fiery coals.
14. The Lord thundered in heaven, the Most High gave forth His voice-hailstones and fiery coals.
15. He sent forth His arrows and scattered them; many lightnings, and confounded them.
16. The channels of water became visible, the foundations of the world were exposed-at Your rebuke, O Lord, at the blast of the breath of Your nostrils.
17. He sent from heaven and took me; He brought me out of surging waters.
18. He rescued me from my fierce enemy, and from my foes when they had become too strong for me.
19. They confronted me on the day of my misfortune, but the Lord was my support.
20. He brought me into spaciousness; He delivered me because He desires me.
21. The Lord rewar-ded me in accordance with my righteousness; He repaid me according to the cleanliness of my hands.
22. For I have kept the ways of the Lord, and have not transgressed against my God;
23. for all His laws are before me, I have not removed His statutes from me.
24. I was perfect with Him, and have guarded myself from sin.
25. The Lord repaid me in accordance with my righteousness, according to the cleanliness of my hands before His eyes.
26. With the kindhearted You act kindly, with the upright man You act uprightly.
27. With the pure You act purely, but with the crooked You act cun- ningly.
28. For the destitute nation You save, but haughty eyes You humble.
29. Indeed, You light my lamp; the Lord, my God, illuminates my darkness.
30. For with You I run against a troop; with my God I scale a wall.
31. The way of God is perfect; the word of the Lord is pure; He is a shield to all who take refuge in Him.
32. For who is God except the Lord, and who is a rock except our God!
33. The God Who girds me with strength, and makes my path perfect.
34. He makes my feet like deers', and stands me firmly on my high places.
35. He trains my hands for battle, my arms to bend a bow of bronze.
36. You have given me the shield of Your deliverance, Your right hand upheld me; Your humility made me great.
37. You have widened my steps beneath me, and my knees have not faltered.
38. I pursued my enemies and overtook them; I did not turn back until I destroyed them.
39. I crushed them so that they were unable to rise; they are fallen beneath my feet.
40. You have girded me with strength for battle; You have subdued my adversaries beneath me.
41. You have made my enemies turn their backs to me, and my foes I cut down.
42. They cried out, but there was none to deliver them; to the Lord, but He did not answer them.
43. I ground them as the dust before the wind, I poured them out like the mud in the streets.
44. You have rescued me from the quarrelsome ones of the people, You have made me the head of nations; a nation I did not know became subservient to me.
45. As soon as they hear of me they obey me; strangers deny to me [their disloyalty].
46. Strangers wither away, they are terrified in their strongholds.
47. The Lord lives; blessed is my Rock; exalted is the God of my deliverance.
48. You are the God Who executes retribution for me, and subjugates nations under me.
49. Who rescues me from my enemies, Who exalts me above my adversaries, Who delivers me from the man of violence.
50. Therefore I will laud You, Lord, among the nations, and sing to Your Name.
51. He grants His king great salvations, and bestows kindness upon His anointed, to David and his descendants forever."
Chapter 19
To behold God's might one should look to the heavens, to the sun, and to the Torah, from which awesome miracles and wonders can be perceived--wonders that lead the creations to tell of God's glory.
1. For the Conductor, a psalm by David.
2. The heavens recount the glory of the Almighty; the sky proclaims His handiwork.
3. Day to day speech streams forth; night to night expresses knowledge.
4. There is no utterance, there are no words; their voice is inaudible.
5. Their arc extends throughout the world; their message to the end of the earth. He set in them [the heavens] a tent for the sun,
6. which is like a groom coming forth from his bridal canopy, like a strong man rejoicing to run the course.
7. Its rising is at one end of the heavens, and its orbit encompasses the other ends; nothing is hidden from its heat.
8. The Torah of the Lord is perfect, restoring the soul; the testimony of the Lord is trustworthy, making wise the simpleton.
9. The precepts of the Lord are just, rejoicing the heart; the command of the Lord is clear, enlightening the eyes.
10. The fear of the Lord is pure, abiding forever; the judgments of the Lord are true, they are all righteous together.
11. They are more desirable than gold, than much fine gold; sweeter than honey or the drippings of honeycomb.
12. Indeed, Your servant is scrupulous with them; in observing them there is abundant reward.
13. Yet who can discern inadvertent wrongs? Purge me of hidden sins.
14. Also hold back Your servant from willful sins; let them not prevail over me; then I will be unblemished and keep myself clean of gross transgression.
15. May the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable before You, Lord, my Strength and my Redeemer.
Chapter 20
If a loved one or relative is suffering-even in a distant place, where one is unable to help-offer this prayer on their behalf.
1. For the Conductor, a psalm by David.
2. May the Lord answer you on the day of distress; may the Name of the God of Jacob fortify you.
3. May He send your help from the Sanctuary, and support you from Zion.
4. May He remember all your offerings, and always accept favorably your sacrifices.
5. May He grant you your heart's desire, and fulfill your every counsel.
6. We will rejoice in your deliverance, and raise our banners in the name of our God; may the Lord fulfill all your wishes.
7. Now I know that the Lord has delivered His anointed one, answering him from His holy heavens with the mighty saving power of His right hand.
8. Some [rely] upon chariots and some upon horses, but we [rely upon and] invoke the Name of the Lord our God.
9. They bend and fall, but we rise and stand firm.
10. Lord, deliver us; may the King answer us on the day we call.
One who is endowed with prosperity, and whose every desire is granted, ought not be ungrateful. He should praise and thank God, recognize Him as the cause of his prosperity, and trust in Him. For everything comes from the kindness of the One Above.
1. For the Conductor, a psalm by David.
2. The king rejoices in Your strength, Lord; how greatly he exults in Your deliverance!
3. You have given him his heart's desire, and You have never withheld the utterance of his lips.
4. You preceded him with blessings of good; You placed a crown of pure gold on his head.
5. He asked of You life, You gave it to him-long life, forever and ever.
6. His glory is great in Your deliverance; You have placed majesty and splendor upon him.
7. For You make him a blessing forever; You gladden him with the joy of Your countenance.
8. For the king trusts in the Lord, and in the kindness of the Most High-that he will not falter.
9. Your hand will suffice for all Your enemies; Your right hand will find those who hate You.
10. You will make them as a fiery furnace at the time of Your anger. May the Lord consume them in His wrath; let a fire devour them.
11. Destroy their offspring from the earth, their descendants from mankind.
12. For they intended evil against You, they devised evil plans which they cannot execute.
13. For You will set them as a portion apart; with Your bowstring You will aim at their faces.
14. Be exalted, O Lord, in Your strength; we will sing and chant the praise of Your might.
Chapter 22
Every person should pray in agony over the length of the exile, and our fall from prestige to lowliness. One should also take vows (for self-improvement) in his distress.
1. For the Conductor, on the ayelet hashachar, a psalm by David.
2. My God, my God, why have You forsaken me! So far from saving me, from the words of my outcry?
3. My God, I call out by day, and You do not answer; at night-but there is no respite for me.
4. Yet You, Holy One, are enthroned upon the praises of Israel.
5. In You our fathers trusted; they trusted and You saved them.
6. They cried to You and were rescued; they trusted in You and were not shamed.
7. And I am a worm and not a man; scorn of men, contempt of nations.
8. All who see me mock me; they open their lips, they shake their heads.
9. But one that casts [his burden] upon the Lord-He will save him; He will rescue him, for He desires him.
10. For You took me out of the womb, and made me secure on my mother's breasts.
11. I have been thrown upon You from birth; from my mother's womb You have been my God.
12. Be not distant from me, for trouble is near, for there is none to help.
13. Many bulls surround me, the mighty bulls of Bashan encircle me.
14. They open their mouths against me, like a lion that ravages and roars.
15. I am poured out like water, all my bones are disjointed; my heart has become like wax, melted within my innards.
16. My strength is dried up like a potsherd, and my tongue cleaves to my palate; You set me in the dust of death.
17. For dogs surround me, a pack of evildoers enclose me; my hands and feet are like a lion's prey.
18. I count all my limbs, while they watch and gloat over me.
19. They divide my garments amongst them; they cast lots upon my clothing.
20. But You, Lord, do not be distant; my Strength, hurry to my aid!
21. Save my life from the sword, my soul from the grip of dogs.
22. Save me from the lion's mouth, as You have answered me from the horns of wild beasts.
23. I will recount [the praises of] Your Name to my brothers; I will extol You amidst the congregation.
24. You that fear the Lord, praise Him! Glorify Him, all you progeny of Jacob! Stand in awe of Him, all you progeny of Israel!
25. For He has not despised nor abhorred the entreaty of the poor, nor has He concealed His face from him; rather He heard when he cried to Him.
26. My praise comes from You, in the great congregation; I will pay my vows before those that fear Him.
27. Let the humble eat and be satisfied; let those who seek the Lord praise Him-may your hearts live forever!
28. All the ends of the earth will remember and return to the Lord; all families of nations will bow down before You.
29. For sovereignty is the Lord's, and He rules over the nations.
30. All the fat ones of the earth will eat and bow down, all who descend to the dust shall kneel before Him, but He will not revive their soul.
31. The progeny of those who serve Him will tell of the Lord to the latter generations.
32. They will come and relate His righteousness-all that He has done-to a newborn nation.
Additional Three Chapters
The Baal Shem Tov instituted a custom of reciting three additional chapters of Psalms each day, from the 1st of Elul until Yom Kippur (on Yom Kippur the remaining 36 chapters are recited, thereby completing the entire book of Psalms).
Today's Chapters are 94, 95 and 96.
Chapter 94
An awe-inspiring and wondrous prayer with which every individual can pray for the redemption. It is also an important moral teaching.
1. The Lord is a God of retribution; O God of retribution, reveal Yourself!
2. Judge of the earth, arise; render to the arrogant their recompense.
3. How long shall the wicked, O Lord, how long shall the wicked exult?
4. They continuously speak insolently; all the evildoers act arrogantly.
5. They crush Your people, O Lord, and oppress Your heritage.
6. They kill the widow and the stranger, and murder the orphans.
7. And they say, "The Lord does not see, the God of Jacob does not perceive.”
8. Understand, you senseless among the people; you fools, when will you become wise?
9. Shall He who implants the ear not hear? Shall He who forms the eye not see?
10. Shall He who chastises nations not punish? Shall He who imparts knowledge to man [not know]?
11. The Lord knows the thoughts of man, that they are naught.
12. Fortunate is the man whom You chastise, O Lord, and instruct him in Your Torah,
13. bestowing upon him tranquillity in times of adversity, until the pit is dug for the wicked.
14. For the Lord will not abandon His people, nor forsake His heritage.
15. For judgment shall again be consonant with justice, and all the upright in heart will pursue it.
16. Who would rise up for me against the wicked ones; who would stand up for me against the evildoers?
17. Had the Lord not been a help to me, my soul would have soon dwelt in the silence [of the grave].
18. When I thought that my foot was slipping, Your kindness, O Lord, supported me.
19. When my [worrisome] thoughts multiply within me, Your consolation delights my soul.
20. Can one in the seat of evil, one who makes iniquity into law, consort with You?
21. They band together against the life of the righteous, and condemn innocent blood.
22. The Lord has been my stronghold; my God, the strength of my refuge.
23. He will turn their violence against them and destroy them through their own wickedness; the Lord, our God, will destroy them.
Chapter 95
This psalm speaks of the future, when man will say to his fellow, "Come, let us sing and offer praise to God for the miracles He has performed for us!"
1. Come, let us sing to the Lord; let us raise our voices in jubilation to the Rock of our deliverance.
2. Let us approach Him with thanksgiving; let us raise our voices to Him in song.
3. For the Lord is a great God, and a great King over all supernal beings;
4. in His hands are the depths of the earth, and the heights of the mountains are His.
5. Indeed, the sea is His, for He made it; His hands formed the dry land.
6. Come, let us prostrate ourselves and bow down; let us bend the knee before the Lord, our Maker.
7. For He is our God, and we are the people that He tends, the flock under His [guiding] hand-even this very day, if you would but hearken to His voice!
8. Do not harden your heart as at Merivah, as on the day at Massah in the wilderness,
9. where your fathers tested Me; they tried Me, though they had seen My deeds.
10. For forty years I quarreled with that generation; and I said, "They are a people of erring hearts, they do not know My ways.”
11. So I vowed in My anger that they would not enter My resting place.
Chapter 96
The time will yet come when man will say to his fellow: "Come, let us sing to God!"
1. Sing to the Lord a new song; sing to the Lord, all the earth.
2. Sing to the Lord, bless His Name; proclaim His deliverance from day to day.
3. Recount His glory among the nations, His wonders among all the peoples.
4. For the Lord is great and highly praised; He is awesome above all gods.
5. For all the gods of the nations are naught, but the Lord made the heavens.
6. Majesty and splendor are before Him, might and beauty in His Sanctuary.
7. Render to the Lord, O families of nations, render to the Lord honor and might.
8. Render to the Lord honor due to His Name; bring an offering and come to His courtyards.
9. Bow down to the Lord in resplendent holiness; tremble before Him, all the earth.
10. Proclaim among the nations, "The Lord reigns"; indeed, the world is firmly established that it shall not falter; He will judge the peoples with righteousness.
11. The heavens will rejoice, the earth will exult; the sea and its fullness will roar.
12. The fields and everything therein will jubilate; then all the trees of the forest will sing.
13. Before the Lord [they shall rejoice], for He has come, for He has come to judge the earth; He will judge the world with justice, and the nations with His truth.
Tanya: Iggeret HaKodesh, end of Epistle 19
• English Text (Lessons in Tanya)
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Shabbat, Tishrei 3, 5778 · September 23, 2017
Today's Tanya Lesson
Iggeret HaKodesh, end of Epistle 19
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Part (ii)
The Epistle that follows, beginning “The Letters that are Revealed,” is one of the Epistles that was appended to the edition of Tanya published in Vilna in the year 5660 (1900), these additions being noted by R. Asher of Nikolayev in his introductory declaration there.1
This relevance of this Epistle to the previous one may be found in the following parallel: The previous Epistle explains how only the Netzach-Hod-Yesod-Malchut (i.e., the lower Sefirot) of the Emanator extend to the recipient. The conclusion of the present Epistle likewise explains2 that only the hindmost aspect and externality of the Netzach-Hod-Yesod of the higher realm enter the lower one.
האותיות הנגלות לנו, הן במעשה, דיבור ומחשבה
The letters3 that are revealed to us exist in action, speech, and thought.
דמעשה, הן תמונות האותיות שבכתב אשורי שבספר תורה
Pertaining to the plane of action are the visual forms4 of the letters in the Assyrian script of the Torah scroll.5
The very validity of the scroll depends on the scrupulous observance of the numerous detailed laws governing the writing of these twenty-two letters. As is explained in the Note to ch. 12 of Shaar HaYichud VehaEmunah,each letter reflects the flow of a unique life-force and spiritual energy: its distinct shape suggests the form taken by the flow of light and energy revealed in that letter.
ואותיות הדבור נחקקות בהבל וקול, המתחלק לכ״ב חלקים, שונים זה מזה בצורתן
The letters pertaining to speech are engraved in the breath and voice, which is divided into twenty-two parts, one differing from the other with respect to their form,
שהיא הברת ומבטא הכ״ב אותיות בכל לשון
i.e., the enunciation and utterance of the twenty-two letters in any language.6
כי אין הפרש בין לשון הקודש ובין שאר לשונות במהות הברת האותיות, כי אם בצירופן
For there is no difference between the Holy Tongue and the other languages with respect to the nature of the letters’ enunciation, only with respect to their com-binations.7
ואותיות המחשבה הן, גם כן בכל לשון שאדם מחשב, תיבות ואותיות הלשון
The letters of thought are — again, in any language that a person may think in — the words and letters of that language and its letters,
שהן כ״ב לבד
which number twenty-two only.
רק שבמחשבה, יש בה ג׳ מיני בחינות אותיות
Now in thought there are three kinds of letters.
שהרי כשרואה בספר תורה תמונות האותיות, הן מצטיירות במחשבתו
For when one sees the visual forms of the letters in the Torah-scroll they are pictured in his thought.
וזה נקרא בחינת עשיה שבמחשבה
This is called the “action in thought,” i.e., the manner in which thought envisions the letters of actual handwritten script. In terms of the spiritual Worlds of Beriah, Yetzirah and Asiyah, “action in thought” relates to the lowest World — Asiyah, the World of Action.
וכן כאשר שומע אותיות הדבור, הן נרשמות במחשבתו, ומהרהר בהן
Likewise, when one hears the letters of speech, they become inscribed in his thought and he meditates upon them.
וזה נקרא בחינת דבור שבמחשבה, ובחינת יצירה
This is called the “speech in thought,”i.e., thinking about the letters of speech, and it relates to Yetzirah.
ואותיות המחשבה לבדה, בלי הרהור אותיות הדבור, נקראות מחשבה שבמחשבה, בחינת בריאה
The letters of thought alone, without any meditation on the letters of speech, are called the “thought in thought,” and relate to Beriah.
In general terms, thought, speech and action correspond to Beriah, Yetzirah and Asiyah, respectively. More particularly, “action in thought” corresponds to “Asiyah within Beriah,” “speech in thought” to “Yetzirah within Beriah,” and “thought in thought” to “Beriah within Beriah.”
והנה אותיות הדבור ממש, הן מתהוות ומקבלות חיותן מאותיות אלו עצמן שבמחשבה
Now, the letters of actual speech come into being and receive their life-force from those very same letters that are in thought.
ואף שלפעמים מדבר אדם, ומהרהר בדבר אחר
Though sometimes a person may speak [of one thing] while thinking of another,
This would tend to indicate that the letters of speech do not receive their life-force from the letters of thought.
הרי אינו יכול לדבר כי אם אותן דבורים וצירופים שכבר דברם, והיו במחשבתו פעמים רבות מאד
in such an instance he can speak only such words and combinations that he has already spoken previously and that were in his thought a great many times.
ונשאר בדבורים וצירופים אלו הרשימו מהמחשבה, שנכנסה בהם פעמים רבות
Thus in those words and combinations there remains the vestige of the thought that entered into them many times, and this serves as the life-force of the letters of his speech.
וזהו בחינת אחוריים וחיצוניות נה״י מפרצוף העליון שנכנס בתחתון, להיות לו בחינת מוחין וחיות כנודע
And this, in terms of the Sefirot, is the hindmost aspect and the externality of the Netzach-Hod-Yesod of the Visage of the higher realm that enters into the lower one, serving it as the intellective faculty of mochin (lit., “brains”) and life-force, as is known.
| FOOTNOTES | |
| 1. | Note of the Rebbe: “It will have been noted that the Alter Rebbe himself added letters to Iggeret HaKodesh (Sefer HaMaamarim 5708, p. 170, et al.).” |
| 2. | Note of the Rebbe: “For example: In keeping with the teaching that ‘from my flesh do I behold G‑dliness,’ [the above levels are here discussed] as found within man — in thought, speech and action.” |
| 3. | Note of the Rebbe: “In all that follows, cf. Imrei Binah, Shaar HaKriyat Shema, sec. 32; the slight differences in the mode of explanation may be resolved without great difficulty.” |
| 4. | Heb. text emended above according to the Glosses and Emendations of the Rebbe. |
| 5. | Cf. Sanhedrin 21b. |
| 6. | Note of the Rebbe: “In this respect, ‘letters of speech’ and ‘letters of thought’ are superior (to ‘letters of action,’ whose visual forms vanish [when depicted in another language], as they are superseded by its differing visual forms).” |
| 7. | Note of the Rebbe: “What possible connection between the combinations and the enunciations [of the letters] prompted [the Alter Rebbe] to negate it? Possibly he is here anticipating the assumption that since [the letters of other languages] are not holy, they must perforce be on a lower level than those of the Holy Tongue (and surely — different). Hence he explains that the [difference between the letters of the Holy Tongue and those of other languages lies only] in their combinations.” |
• Sefer Hamitzvot:
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Shabbat, Tishrei 3, 5778 · September 23, 2017
A daily digest of Maimonides’ classic work "Sefer Hamitzvot"
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Positive Commandment 173
Crowning a King
"Appoint a king upon yourselves"—Deuteronomy 17:15.
We are commanded to appoint a king, who will unite and rule over our nation. This is one of the three mitzvot the Jews were commanded upon entering the Land—the other two were building the Holy Temple and eradicating Amalek.
The king whom we appoint must command our awe. We must have the ultimate respect, reverence and estimation for the monarch—greater even than that we have for prophets. Any decree that the king issues must be obeyed—provided that it doesn't countermand a Torah law. And the Torah-sanctioned king has the right to have executed anyone who disregards his orders.
Full text of this Mitzvah »
Crowning a King
Positive Commandment 173
Translated by Berel Bell
The 173rd mitzvah is that we are commanded to appoint over ourselves a Jewish king to speak for us1 and lead us.
The source of this commandment is G‑d's statement2 (exalted be He), "You shall appoint for yourselves a king."
We have mentioned previously3 the statement of our Sages in the Sifri,4 "The Jewish people were commanded three mitzvos upon entering the Land of Israel: to appoint a king, to build the Holy Temple, and to destroy the descendants of Amalek." Our Sages also said in the Sifri,5 "The verse, 'You shall appoint for yourselves a king,' constitutes a positive commandment."
This commandment is explained as follows:6 "The verse, 'You shall appoint for yourselves a king,' means that you must instill in yourselves awe of him."7 We should think of him with the greatest possible respect, and awareness of his great and exalted status, to the extent that in our eyes he is greater than any of the prophets of that generation.8
We are required to fulfill any command the king issues unless it contradicts a commandment of the Torah. If a person transgresses the king's command and does not fulfill it, the king is allowed to execute him by the sword. Our ancestors, may they rest in peace, accepted this upon themselves when they said [to Joshua9], "Whoever rebels against your statement, and does not obey all your commands shall be put to death." Anyone who rebels against a king who was appointed in accordance with the Torah, may be executed by the king.
All the details of this mitzvah are explained in the second chapter of tractate Sanhedrin,10 the first chapter of Kerisus,11 and the seventh chapter of Sotah.12
FOOTNOTES
1.Literally, "unite our speech," i.e. represent and speak on behalf of the entire Jewish people. See Kapach, 5731, footnote 55. The Rav Kook edition translates, umoseinu, which is followed by Chavel and translated "unite our whole nation."
2.Deut. 17:15.
3.P20.
4.Deut. 12:10. From the expression, "three mitzvos," the Rambam derives that each of the three is counted as a mitzvah among the 613.
5.Ibid.
6.Sifri, ibid.; Sanhedrin 20b.
7.The verse literally reads, "Place, you shall place upon yourselves a king." It is this redundant use of the word, "you shall place," that alludes to the added dimension of this commandment.
8.See Horios 13a: "A king precedes a kohen gadol...a kohen gadol precedes a prophet."
9.Joshua 1:18.
10.19b.
11.5b.
12.41b.
Negative Commandment 362
Appointing a Foreigner as a King
"You may not set a stranger over you who is not your brother"—Deuteronomy 17:15.
We are forbidden to appoint a king who is not from Jewish ancestry, even if he is a righteous convert. To be eligible for the position, the individual must have been born to a Jewish mother.
The same is true with regards to all appointments – whether governmental or Torah-related – only one with Jewish ancestry may be appointed.
This all applied until King David became king. From that point and onwards, only a descendant of King David (specifically through his son Solomon) is eligible to be king. Anyone other than a descendant of David is considered a "stranger" with regards to kingship, as is anyone not of Aaron's seed with relation to priesthood.
Full text of this Mitzvah »
Appointing a Foreigner as a King
Negative Commandment 362
Translated by Berel Bell
The 362nd prohibition is that we are forbidden from appointing over ourselves a king who is not of Jewish lineage, even if he is a ger tzedek (righteous convert).
The source of this prohibition is G‑d's statement1 (exalted be He), "You may not appoint a foreigner who is not one of your brethren."
The Sifri2 says: "The verse, 'You may not appoint a foreigner,' constitutes a prohibition."
It is also prohibited to appoint a ger tzedek to any another position, whether in Torah3 or in government,4 unless his mother is Jewish. From this that G‑d (exalted be He) said,5 "You shall appoint for yourselves a king among your brethren," our Sages derived,6 "All appointments you make over yourselves must be from among your brethren."
The position of king is unique in that it was bestowed upon Dovid [and his descendants], as you know from the words of the Prophets. Our Sages said explicitly,7 "Kingship was bestowed upon Dovid," and so too his descendants for all generations.8 For those who believe in the Torah of Moshe Rabbeinu, a king must descend from Dovid and Shlomo. One who is not from this distinguished lineage is considered a "foreigner" as far as kingship is concerned, just as any Jew who does not descend from Aaron is considered a "foreigner" as far as serving in the Holy Temple. This is clear beyond any doubt.
The details of this mitzvah are explained in many passages in tractate Yevamos,9 Sanhedrin,10 Sotah,11 and Niddah.12
FOOTNOTES
1.Deut. 17:15.
2.Ibid.
3.Such as a judge.
4.Such as a mayor.
5.Deut. 17:15.
6.Yevamos 45b. The verse literally reads, "Place, you shall place upon yourselves." This is derived from the same repetitive phrase mentioned above in P173.
7.Yoma 72b.
8.See Psalms 18:51.
9.45b.
10.18ff.
11.41a.
12.49b. See Tosafos, "Chada."
Negative Commandment 364
A King Marrying Multiple Wives"Neither shall he have many wives"—Deuteronomy 17:17.
A king may not marry a multitude of wives. The maximum allowable is eighteen wives.
Full text of this Mitzvah »
A King Marrying Multiple Wives
Negative Commandment 364
Translated by Berel Bell
The 364th prohibition is that a king is forbidden from having too many wives.
The source of this prohibition is G‑d's statement1 (exalted be He), "He must not have too many wives."
The limit is that he may not have more than 18 wives legally bound by kesubah and kiddushin.2
The details of this mitzvah are explained in the second chapter of tractate Sanhedrin.3 Whenever he adds on to this limit, he is punished by lashes.
FOOTNOTES
1.Deut. 17:17.
2.Kesubah is a written contract and kiddushin is the actual marriage. This seems to exclude pilagshim (concubines), who do not have a kesubah. In Mishneh Torah (Hilchos Melachim, 3:2), however, the Rambam rules that the limit of 18 applies to the total of regular wives and pilagshim.
3.21a.
Negative Commandment 363
A King Accumulating Many Horses
"But he shall not accumulate many horses"—Deuteronomy 17:16.
A king may not accumulate many horses. He may have one horse to ride upon, and for military purposes as many as necessary in his royal stables. But his entourage may not include even one extra horse running before him.
Full text of this Mitzvah »
A King Accumulating Many Horses
Negative Commandment 363
Translated by Berel Bell
The 363rd prohibition is that a king is forbidden from having too many horses.
The source of this prohibition is G‑d's statement1 (exalted be He), "He must not have too many horses."
The limit is that he may not have even one horse for the purpose of running before him.2 He may own only the animal that he himself rides upon, and horses kept ready in his stables for his army to ride on in battle. For himself, he may own only one single animal.
The details of this mitzvah are explained in the second chapter of tractate Sanhedrin.3
FOOTNOTES
1.Deut. 17:16.
2.Non-Jewish kings would have many horses in formation in front of themselves for pomp and glory.
3.21b.
Negative Commandment 365
A King Amassing Personal Wealth
"Neither shall he greatly multiply to himself silver and gold"—Deuteronomy 17:17.
A king may not amass personal wealth. He may keep in his personal treasury funds sufficient to pay his servants' and soldiers' wages—but no more than that. And for communal purposes, he may collect as much as he wishes.
The reason for these prohibitions – against accumulating wives, horses and money – is explicitly stated in the Torah: "He may not acquire many horses for himself, so that he will not bring the people back to Egypt in order to acquire many horses... He shall not take many wives for himself, so that his heart shall not turn away [from G‑d], and he shall not acquire much silver and gold for himself."
Because the reasons for these mitzvot are known, many decided to disregard them [claiming that the reasons do not apply to them]—even Solomon, despite his incredible wisdom and knowledge, and despite the fact that he was dubbed "a friend of G‑d" [fell into this trap].
This is a valuable lesson for us all. Were we to know the reasons behind all the mitzvot, we would find reasons to abolish them all. If Solomon made this mistake, certainly the weak-minded general public would the same, saying, "G‑d only commanded us to do this, and forbade us from doing that, because of such and such. We will be meticulous regarding the reason why the mitzvah was given—but will disregard the mitzvah itself." And the entire religion would thus be lost.
Therefore G‑d concealed the reasons behind [many of] the mitzvot, and most of the reasons are beyond the comprehension of the general population.
But there is not one that doesn't have logic and reason. They are all, as the prophet testifies, "the statutes of G‑d are upright; they make the heart rejoice."
And I beseech G‑d for assistance in observing all that He commanded, and distancing all that He forbade.
And this is what we wished to include in this work.
Translator's Note: This is the final mitzvah in the Sefer Hamitzvot.
Full text of this Mitzvah »
A King Amassing Personal Wealth
Negative Commandment 365
Translated by Berel Bell
The 365th prohibition is that a king is forbidden from having too much money for his personal use.
The source of this prohibition is G‑d's statement1 (exalted be He), "He must not accumulate very much silver and gold."
The limit is that he should not have personal wealth beyond the expenses of his royal court and servants. To accumulate wealth for the needs of the Jewish people, however, is allowed.
The reasons for these mitzvos — "He must not have too many horses," "He must not have too many wives," and "He must not accumulate very much silver and gold" — are given in Scripture.2 Since their reason was known it became possible to nullify them, as is well known from the case of Shlomo, [who nullified them] in spite of his exalted level of knowledge and wisdom, and his being, "Yedidy‑ah" [the beloved of G‑d].
Our Sages said3 that this is a lesson to people that if G‑d would reveal the reasons for all the mitzvos, they would find ways to disobey them. If even one who was so great and perfect [i.e. Shlomo] could make the mistake of thinking that he could do the forbidden act and avoid the underlying reason for the prohibition,4 how much moreso the more weakminded masses. Certainly [if they knew the reasons for the mitzvos] they would disregard them by saying, "this was prohibited," or "this was commanded only for such-and-such a reason. I can avoid the reason for which the commandment was given and ignore [the mitzvah itself]." In such a way, the entire Torah could be nullified. G‑d therefore concealed their rationale.
There is not a single mitzvah, however, that does not have a reason and purpose. The majority of these causes and reasons, though, cannot be grasped or understood by the masses. But regarding them all the Prophet says,5 "The commandments of G‑d are straight, they make the heart rejoice." And I ask that G‑d, in His Kindness, help me fulfill everything that He has commanded from these [mitzvos], and to keep [me] far away from everything He has prohibited from them.
FOOTNOTES
1.Deut. 17:17.
2.Horses: To prevent the king from bringing the Jewish people back to Egypt (which was famous for its horses). Wives: To prevent them from leading his heart astray.
3.Sanhedrin 21b.
4.E.g. to own many horses and nevertheless not return to Egypt.
5.Tehillim 19:9.
Rambam:
• 1 Chapter A Day: Melachim uMilchamot Melachim uMilchamot - Chapter 9
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1
Six precepts were commanded to Adam:
a) the prohibition against worship of false gods;
b) the prohibition against cursing God;
c) the prohibition against murder;
d) the prohibition against incest and adultery;
e) the prohibition against theft;
f) the command to establish laws and courts of justice.
Even though we have received all of these commands from Moses and, furthermore, they are concepts which intellect itself tends to accept, it appears from the Torah's words that Adam was commanded concerning them.
The prohibition against eating flesh from a living animal was added for Noah, as Genesis 9:4 states: 'Nevertheless, you may not eat flesh with its life, which is its blood.' Thus there are seven mitzvot.
These matters remained the same throughout the world until Abraham. When Abraham arose, in addition to these, he was commanded regarding circumcision. He also ordained the morning prayers.
Isaac separated tithes and ordained an additional prayer service before sunset. Jacob added the prohibition against eating the sciatic nerve. He also ordained the evening prayers. In Egypt, Amram was commanded regarding other mitzvot. Ultimately, Moses came and the Torah was completed by him.
א
על ששה דברים נצטווה אדם הראשון: על ע"ז ועל ברכת השם ועל שפיכות דמים ועל גילוי עריות ועל הגזל ועל הדינים אע"פ שכולן הן קבלה בידינו ממשה רבינו והדעת נוטה להן מכלל דברי תורה יראה שעל אלו נצטוה הוסיף לנח אבר מן החי שנאמר אך בשר בנפשו דמו לא תאכלו נמצאו שבע מצות וכן היה הדבר בכל העולם עד אברהם בא אברהם ונצטוה יתר על אלו במילה והוא התפלל שחרית ויצחק הפריש מעשר והוסיף תפלה אחרת לפנות היום ויעקב הוסיף גיד הנשה והתפלל ערבית ובמצרים נצטוה עמרם במצות יתירות עד שבא משה רבינו ונשלמה תורה על ידו:
2
A gentile who worships false gods is liable provided he worships them in an accepted manner.
A gentile is executed for every type of foreign worship which a Jewish court would consider worthy of capital punishment. However, a gentile is not executed for a type of foreign worship which a Jewish court would not deem worthy of capital punishment. Nevertheless, even though a gentile will not be executed for these forms of worship, he is forbidden to engage in all of them.
We should not allow them to erect a monument, or to plant an Asherah, or to make images and the like even though they are only for the sake of beauty.
ב
בן נח שעבד ע"ז הרי זה חייב והוא שיעבוד כדרכה וכל ע"ז שבית דין של ישראל ממיתין עליה בן נח נהרג עליה וכל שאין בית דין של ישראל ממיתין עליה אין בן נח נהרג עליה ואף על פי שאינו נהרג אסור בכל ואין מניחין אותו להקים מצבה ולא ליטע אשרה ולא לעשות צורות וכיוצא בהן לנוי:
3
A gentile who curses God's Name, whether he uses God's unique name or one of His other names, in any language, is liable. This law does not apply with regard to Jews.
ג
בן נח שבירך את השם בין שבירך בשם המיוחד בין שבירך בכינוי בכל לשון חייב מה שאין כן בישראל:
4
A gentile who slays any soul, even a fetus in its mother's womb, should be executed in retribution for its death. Similarly, if he slew a person who would have otherwise died in the near future, placed a person before a lion, or starved a person to death, he should be executed for through one manner or other, he killed.
Similarly, one should be executed if he killed a pursuer when he could have saved the latter's potential victim by maiming one of the pursuer's limbs. These laws do not apply with regard to Jews.
ד
בן נח שהרג נפש אפילו עובר במעי אמו נהרג עליו וכן אם הרג טריפה או שכפתו ונתנו לפי ארי או שהניחו ברעב עד שמת הואיל והמית מכל מקום נהרג וכן אם הרג רודף שיכול להצילו באחד מאיבריו נהרג עליו מה שאין כן בישראל:
5
There are six illicit sexual relations forbidden to a gentile:
a) his mother;
b) his father's wife;
c) a married woman;
d) his maternal sister;
e) a male;
f) an animal.
These prohibitions are derived from the verse Genesis 2:24: 'Therefore, a man shall leave his father and his mother and cling to his wife and they shall become one flesh.'
'His father' - alludes to his father's wife;
'his mother' - is to be understood simply;
'cling to his wife' - and not his colleague's wife;
'his wife' - and not a male;
'They shall become one flesh' - this excludes a domesticated animal, beast, or fowl for man can never become 'one flesh' with them.
The prohibition against relations with a maternal sister is derived from the verse Genesis 20:13: 'She is my sister, my father's daughter, but not my mother's. Thus, she became my wife.'
ה
שש עריות אסורות על בני נח: האם ואשת האב ואשת איש ואחותו מאמו וזכור ובהמה שנאמר על כן יעזוב איש את אביו זו אשת אביו ואת אמו כמשמעה ודבק באשתו ולא באשת חבירו באשתו ולא בזכור והיו לבשר אחד להוציא בהמה חיה ועוף שאין הוא והם בשר אחד ונאמר אחותי בת אבי היא אך לא בת אמי ותהי לי לאשה:
6
A gentile is liable for relations with his mother even though she was seduced or raped by his father and never married to him. She is, nevertheless, his mother.
He is liable for relations with his father's wife even after his father's death.
He is liable for relations with a male whether a minor or an adult and with an animal whether young or old. In the latter instance, the gentile alone is executed and not the animal. We are only commanded to kill an animal with which a Jew engaged in relations.
ו
בן נח חייב על מפותת אביו ואנוסת אביו הרי היא אמו מכל מקום וחייב על אשת אביו אפילו לאחר מיתת אביו וחייב על הזכור בין קטן בין גדול ועל הבהמה בין קטנה בין גדולה והוא נהרג לבדו ואין הורגין את הבהמה שלא נצטוו בהריגת בהמה אלא ישראל:
7
A gentile is not executed for adultery with his colleague's wife unless they engage in relations in the normal manner after she had engaged in relations with her husband at least once. However, if she was merely consecrated or had undergone a wedding ceremony, but had never engaged in relations with her husband, one is not liable for engaging in relations with her, as Genesis 20:3 states: 'For she has been possessed by her husband.'
When does the above apply? When a gentile engages in relations with a gentile woman. However, a gentile who engages in relations with a married Jewess is liable whether their relations were carried out in a normal or abnormal manner.
Similarly, a gentile who engages in relations with a Jewish maiden who has been consecrated is stoned to death because of her as is the law regarding Jews. If he engages in relations with her after she has undergone the wedding ceremony, but has not engaged in relations with her husband, he is strangled to death as is the Jewish law. However, if he engages in relations with a Jewish woman after she engaged in relations with her husband once, he is sentenced to be executed by decapitation as if he had engaged in relations with a gentile woman.
ז
אין בן נח חייב על אשת חבירו עד שיבא עליה כדרכה אחר שנבעלה לבעלה אבל מאורסה או שנכנסה לחופה ולא נבעלה אין חייבין עליה שנאמר והיא בעולת בעל במה דברים אמורים בבן נח שבא על בת נח אבל עכו"ם הבא על הישראלית בין כדרכה בין שלא כדרכה חייב ואם היתה נערה מאורסה נסקל עליה כדיני ישראל בא עליה אחר שנכנסה לחופה ולא נבעלה הרי זה בחנק כדיני ישראל אבל אם בא על אשת ישראל אחר שנבעלה הרי זה כמי שבא על אשת עכו"ם חבירו ויהרג בסייף:
8
A gentile who singles out one of his maid-servants for one of his slaves and, afterwards, engages in relations with her is executed because of her for violation of the prohibition against adultery. However, he is not liable for relations with her until the matter has become public knowledge and everyone refers to her as 'the wife of X, the slave.'
When do relations with her become permitted again? When he separates her from his slave and uncovers her hair in the market-place.
When is a gentile woman considered divorced? When her husband removes her from his home and sends her on her own or when she leaves his domain and goes her own way. They have no written divorce proceedings.
The matter is not dependant on the man's volition alone. Whenever he or she decide to separate, they may and then, are no longer considered as married.
ח
בן נח שייחד שפחה לעבדו ובא עליה הרי זה נהרג עליה משום אשת חבירו ואינו חייב עליה עד שיפשט הדבר ואמרו לה העם זו דבית עבד פלוני ומאימתי תחזור להתירה משיפרישנה מעבדו ויפרע ראשה בשוק ומאימתי תהיה אשת חבירו כגרושה שלנו משיוציאנה מביתו וישלחנה לעצמה או משתצא היא מתחת רשותו ותלך לה שאין להם גירושין בכתב ואין הדבר תלוי בו לבד אלא כל זמן שירצה הוא או היא לפרוש זה מזה פורשין:
9
A gentile is liable for violating the prohibition against theft whether he stole from another gentile or from a Jew.
This applies to one who forcefully robs an individual or steals money, a kidnapper, an employer who withholds his worker's wages and the like, even a worker who eats from his employer's produce when he is not working. In all such cases, he is liable and is considered as a robber. With regard to Jews, the law is different.
Similarly, a gentile is liable for stealing an object worth less than a p'rutah. Thus, if one gentile stole an object worth less than a p'rutah and another gentile stole it from him, they are both executed because of it.
ט
בן נח חייב על הגזל בין שגזל עכו"ם בין שגזל ישראל ואחד הגוזל או הגונב ממון או גונב נפש או הכובש שכר שכיר וכיוצא בו אפילו פועל שאכל שלא בשעת מלאכה על הכל הוא חייב והרי הוא בכלל גזלן מה שאין כן בישראל וכן חייב על פחות משוה פרוטה ובן נח שגזל פחות משוה פרוטה ובא אחר וגזלה ממנו שניהן נהרגין עליה:
10
Similarly, a gentile is liable for violating the prohibition against eating a limb or flesh from a living creature. This applies regardless of the amount involved, for the specification of minimum amounts only applies to Jews.
A gentile is permitted blood from a living creature.
י
וכן חייב על אבר מן החי ועל בשר מן החי בכל שהוא שלא ניתנו השיעורין אלא לישראל בלבד ומותר הוא בדם מן החי:
11
The prohibition applies to a limb or flesh that is separated from either a domesticated animal or a beast. However, it appears to me that a gentile is not executed for eating a limb taken from a living bird.
יא
אחד האבר או הבשר הפורש מן הבהמה או מן החיה אבל העוף יראה לי שאין בן נח נהרג על אבר מן החי ממנו:
12
Though one slaughters an animal, even if one severs the two signs that distinguish it as having been slaughtered in a kosher manner, as long as the animal moves convulsively, the limbs and meat which are separated from it are forbidden to a gentile because of the prohibition against a limb from a living creature.
יב
השוחט את הבהמה אפילו שחט בה שני הסימנין כל זמן שהיא מפרכסת אבר ובשר הפורשין ממנה אסורין לבני נח משום אבר מן החי:
13
All prohibitions that apply to a Jew regarding a limb from a living creature also apply to gentiles. Furthermore, there are instances where a gentile would be held liable and a Jew will not for a gentile is liable for a limb or flesh from a living creature whether from a domesticated animal or a beast, whether from a kosher or non-kosher species.
Similarly, a gentile is forbidden to partake of a limb from a living creature for a limb or flesh which is separated from an animal that is moving convulsively even though a Jew has already severed the two signs.
יג
כל שאסור על ישראל משום אבר מן החי אסור על בני נח ויש שבני נח חייבין ולא ישראל שבני נח אחד בהמה וחיה בין טמאה בין טהורה חייבין עליה משום אבר מן החי ומשום בשר מן החי ואבר ובשר הפורשין מן המפרכסת אע"פ ששחט בה ישראל שני סימנין הרי זה אסור לבני נח משום אבר מן החי:
14
How must the gentiles fulfill the commandment to establish laws and courts? They are obligated to set up judges and magistrates in every major city to render judgement concerning these six mitzvot and to admonish the people regarding their observance.
A gentile who transgresses these seven commands shall be executed by decapitation. For this reason, all the inhabitants of Shechem were obligated to die. Shechem kidnapped. They observed and were aware of his deeds, but did not judge him.
A gentile is executed on the basis of the testimony of one witness and the verdict of a single judge. No warning is required. Relatives may serve as witnesses. However, a woman may not serve as a witness or a judge for them.
יד
וכיצד מצווין הן על הדינין חייבין להושיב דיינין ושופטים בכל פלך ופלך לדון בשש מצות אלו ולהזהיר את העם ובן נח שעבר על אחת משבע מצות אלו יהרג בסייף ומפני זה נתחייבו כל בעלי שכם הריגה שהרי שכם גזל והם ראו וידעו ולא דנוהו ובן נח נהרג בעד אחד ובדיין אחד בלא התראה ועל פי קרובין אבל לא בעדות אשה ולא תדון אשה להם:
Rambam:
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Audio: Listen | Download | Video ClassMelachim uMilchamot - Chapter 1
Introduction to Hilchos Melachim uMilchamot
This text includes 23 mitzvot; ten positive commandments and thirteen negative commandments. They are:
1) The obligation to appoint a king in Israel;
2) The prohibition against appointing a convert as king;
3) The prohibition against the king marrying many wives;
4) The prohibition against the king accumulating many horses;
5) The prohibition against the king amassing too much silver and gold;
6) The obligation to destroy the seven nations living in the Land of Canaan;
7) The prohibition against allowing any one of them to remain alive;
8) The obligation to destroy the descendents of Amalek;
9) The obligation to remember what Amalek did;
10) The prohibition against forgetting Amalek's evil deeds, including his ambush against the Israelites during their journey from Egypt to Israel; ll) The prohibition against dwelling in Egypt;
12) The obligation to offer peace to the inhabitants of a city when besieging it; to carry out the laws governing the siege as prescribed in the Torah, in particular, the laws applying if the enemy agrees to surrender and those applying if it refuses;
13) The prohibition against offering peace to Ammon and Moab, in contrast to other nations, when besieging them;
14) The prohibition against destroying fruit-bearing trees during a siege;
15) The obligation to set up a latrine outside an army camp;
16) The obligation to carry a spike to dig with;
17) The obligation to anoint a priest to speak to the troops in the event of war;
18) The obligation to allow those who have consecrated wives, built houses, or planted vineyards to rejoice in their new status for a complete year, while releasing them from military conscription;
19) The prohibition against asking those mentioned in the previous category to perform any duties, including handling the needs of one's city or providing supplies to the troops during that year;
20) The obligation not to become frightened, nor to flee in the midst of battle;
21) The prohibitions and obligations regarding a yefat toar, a Gentile woman with whom the Torah allows relations in wartime;
22) The prohibition against selling a yefat toar;
23) The prohibition against subjugating her to perform menial duties after having relations with her.
These mitzvot are explained in the coming chapters.
רמב"ם הלכות מלכים - הקדמה
הלכות מלכים ומלחמותיהם. יש בכללן שלש ועשרים מצות. עשר מצות עשה, ושלש עשרה מצות לא תעשה. וזה הוא פרטן:
(א) למנות מלך בישראל.
(ב) שלא ימנה מקהל גרים.
(ג) שלא ירבה לו נשים.
(ד) שלא ירבה לו סוסים.
(ה) שלא ירבה לו כסף וזהב.
(ו) להחרים שבעה עממים.
(ז) שלא לחיות מהן כל נשמה.
(ח) למחות זרעו של עמלק.
(ט) לזכור מה שעשה עמלק.
(י) שלא לשכוח מעשיו הרעים ואריבתו בדרך.
(יא) שלא לשכון בארץ מצרים.
(יב) לשלוח שלום ליושבי העיר כשצרים עליה, ולדון בה כאשר מפורש בתורה ואם תשלים ואם לא תשלים.
(יג) שלא לדרוש שלום מעמון ומואב בלבד כשצרים עליהם.
(יד) שלא להשחית אילני מאכל במצור.
(טו) להתקין יד שיצאו בו בעלי המחנה להפנות בו.
(טז) להתקין יתד לחפור בו.
(יז) למשוח כהן לדבר באזני אנשי הצבא בשעת המלחמה.
(יח) להיות מארס, ובונה בנין, ונוטע כרם, שמחים בקנינם שנה תמימה, ומחזירין אותן מן המלחמה.
(יט) שלא יעבור עליהם לכל דבר, ולא יצאו אפילו לצרכי העיר ולצרכי הגדוד, ודומה להם.
(כ) שלא לערוץ ולחזור לאחור בשעת המלחמה.
(כא) דין יפת תואר.
(כב) שלא תמכר יפת תואר.
(כג) שלא יכבשנה לעבדות אחר שנבעלה.
וביאור מצות אלו בפרקים אלו.
1
Israel was commanded to fulfill three mitzvot upon entering the Promised Land:
a) To choose a king, as Deuteronomy 17:15 states: 'Appoint a king over yourselves;'
b) To wipe out the descendents of Amalek, as Deuteronomy 25:19 states: 'Erase the memory of Amalek;'
c) To build God's Chosen House, as Deuteronomy 12:5 states: 'Seek out His Presence and go there.'
א
שלש מצות נצטוו ישראל בשעת כניסתן לארץ למנות להם מלך שנאמר שום תשים עליך מלך ולהכרית זרעו של עמלק שנאמר תמחה את זכר עמלק ולבנות בית הבחירה שנאמר לשכנו תדרשו ובאת שמה:
2
The appointment of a king should precede the war against Amalek. This is evident from Samuel's charge to King Saul (I Samuel 15: l-3): 'God sent me to anoint you as king ... Now, go and smite Amalek.'
Amalek's seed should be annihilated before the construction of the Temple, as II Samuel 7:1-2 states: 'And it came to pass, when the king dwelled in his palace, and God gave him peace from all his enemies who surrounded him, the king said to Nathan, the prophet: 'Look! I am dwelling in a house of cedar, ... but the ark of God dwells within curtains.'
Since it is a mitzvah to appoint a king, why was God displeased with the people's request of a king from Samuel? Because they made their request in a spirit of complaint. Rather than seeking to fulfill the mitzvah of appointing a king, they were simply intent on rejecting the Prophet Samuel as implied by God's reply to him (I Samuel 8:7): 'It is not you, but Me they have rejected.'
ב
מינוי מלך קודם למלחמת עמלק שנאמר אותי שלח ה' למשחך למלך עתה לך והכיתה את עמלק והכרתת זרע עמלק קודמת לבנין הבית שנאמר ויהי כי ישב המלך בביתו וה' הניח לו מסביב מכל אויביו ויאמר המלך אל נתן הנביא אנכי יושב בבית ארזים וגו' מאחר שהקמת מלך מצוה למה לא רצה הקב"ה כששאלו מלך משמואל לפי ששאלו בתרעומת ולא שאלו לקיים המצוה אלא מפני שקצו בשמואל הנביא שנאמר כי לא אותך מאסו כי אותי מאסו וגו':
3
As an initial and preferred option, a king may be appointed only by a court of 70 elders, together with a prophet, as Joshua was appointed by Moses and his court, and as Saul and David, were appointed by Samuel of Ramah and his court.
ג
אין מעמידין מלך בתחילה אלא על פי בית דין של שבעים זקנים ועל פי נביא כיהושע שמינהו משה רבינו ובית דינו וכשאול ודוד שמינם שמואל הרמתי ובית דינו:
4
A king should not be appointed from converts to Judaism. This applies even if the convert's ancestors had been Jewish for many generations, unless his mother [or father1] is a native-born Israelite, as Deuteronomy 17:15 states: 'You may not appoint a foreigner who is not one of your brethren.'
This does not apply to the monarchy alone, but to all positions of authority within Israel. A convert may not serve as an army commander, a leader of fifty, or as a leader of ten. He may not even supervise the allocation of water from a stream to various fields.
Needless to say, a judge or a nasi should only be a native-born Israelite, as it is stated (ibid.): 'Appoint a king over you from among your brethren.' This implies that all appointments must only be 'from your brethren.'
ד
אין מעמידין מלך מקהל גרים אפילו אחר כמה דורות עד שתהיה אמו מישראל שנאמר לא תוכל לתת עליך איש נכרי אשר לא אחיך הוא ולא למלכות בלבד אלא לכל שררות שבישראל לא שר צבא לא שר חמשים או שר עשרה אפילו ממונה על אמת המים שמחלק ממנה לשדות ואין צריך לומר דיין או נשיא שלא יהא אלא מישראל שנאמר מקרב אחיך תשים עליך מלך כל משימות שאתה משים לא יהו אלא מקרב אחיך:
5
We may not appoint a woman as king. When describing the monarchy, the Torah employs the male form of the word king and not the female.
This principle also applies to all other positions of authority within Israel. Only men should be appointed to fill them.
ה
אין מעמידין אשה במלכות שנאמר עליך מלך ולא מלכה וכן כל משימות שבישראל אין ממנים בהם אלא איש:
6
Neither a butcher, barber, bath-attendant, nor a tanner should be appointed king or High-Priest. This is not because of an inherent fault, but because their professions are less prestigious, and the people will always treat them lightly.
A person who has served in one of these professions for even one day, is disqualified for the monarchy.
ו
ואין מעמידין מלך ולא כהן גדול לא קצב ולא ספר ולא בלן ולא בורסי לא מפני שהן פסולין אלא הואיל ואומנותן נקלה העם מזלזלין בהן לעולם ומשיעשה במלאכה מאלו יום אחד נפסל:
7
When a king is appointed, he is anointed with oil reserved for this purpose, as I Samuel 10:1 states: 'And Samuel took the cruse of oil and poured it over his head. Then, he kissed him.'
Once a king is anointed, he and his descendents are granted the monarchy until eternity, for the monarchy is passed down by inheritance, as Deuteronomy 17:20 states 'Thus, he the king and his descendents will prolong their reign in the midst of Israel.'
If the king leaves only a young son, the monarchy should be held for him until he matures, as Yehoyada did for Yoash. The order of inheritance of the monarchy is the same as that governing the inheritance of property. An older son is given precedence over a younger one.
Not only the monarchy, but all other positions of authority and appointments in Israel, are transferred to one's children and grandchildren as inheritances forever.
The above applies if the knowledge and the fear of God of the son is equivalent to that of his ancestors. If his fear of God is equivalent to theirs but not his knowledge, he should be granted his father's position and given instruction. However, under no circumstance should a person who lacks the fear of God be appointed to any posi-tion in Israel, even though he possesses much knowledge.
Once David was anointed king, he acquired the crown of kingship. Afterwards, the kingship belonged to him and to his male descendents forever, as II Samuel 7: 16 states: 'Your throne shall be established forever.' Nevertheless, his acquisition of the monarchy was conditional, applying only to the righteous among his descendents, as Psalms 132:12 states: 'If your children will keep My covenant... their children shall also sit on your throne forever.'
Despite this condition, God assured David that the monarchy would never be taken from his descendents forever, as Psalms 89:31-38 states: "lf his children will forsake My Torah and cease walking in My statutes ... I will punish their transgressions with the rod and their sins with plagues. Nevertheless, I will not utterly remove My grace from him.... His throne shall be ... established forever.'
ז
כשמעמידין המלך מושחין אותו בשמן המשחה שנאמר ויקח שמואל את פך השמן ויצק על ראשו וישקהו ומאחר שמושחין המלך הרי זה זוכה לו ולבניו עד עולם שהמלכות ירושה שנאמר למען יאריך ימים על ממלכתו הוא ובניו בקרב ישראל הניח בן קטן משמרין לו המלוכה עד שיגדיל כמו שעשה יהוידע ליואש וכל הקודם בנחלה קודם לירושת המלוכה והבן הגדול קודם לקטן ממנו ולא המלכות בלבד אלא כל השררות וכל המינויין שבישראל ירושה לבנו ולבן בנו עד עולם והוא שיהיה הבן ממלא מקום אבותיו בחכמה וביראה היה ממלא ביראה אף על פי שאינו ממלא בחכמה מעמידין אותו במקום אביו ומלמדין אותו וכל מי שאין בו יראת שמים אע"פ שחכמתו מרובה אין ממנין אותו למינוי מן המינויין שבישראל כיון שנמשח דוד זכה בכתר מלכות והרי המלכות לו ולבניו הזכרים עד עולם שנאמר כסאך יהיה נכון עד עולם ולא זכה אלא לכשרים שנאמר אם ישמרו בניך בריתי אף על פי שלא זכה אלא לכשרים לא תכרת המלוכה מזרע דוד לעולם הקדוש ברוך הוא הבטיחו בכך שנאמר אם יעזבו בניו תורתי ובמשפטי לא ילכון ופקדתי בשבט פשעם ובנגעים עונם וחסדי לא אפיר מעמו:
8
If a prophet appoints a king from any other tribe of Israel and that king follows the path of Torah and mitzvot and fights the wars of God, he is considered as a king, and all the commandments associaed with the monarchy apply to him.
Although the kingship was primarily given to David and one of his descendents will be serving as king, there is halachic legitimacy to the rule of other kings. Behold, Achiyah of Shilo appointed Jeroboam and told him (I Kings 11:38): 'And it shall be that if you obey all that I command you... I will build you a faithful house as I built for David.' Similarly, Achiyah told him (ibid.: 36): 'To his (David's) son, I will grant one tribe, so that David, My servant, will always have sovereignty before Me in Jerusalem.'
ח
נביא שהעמיד מלך משאר שבטי ישראל והיה אותו המלך הולך בדרך התורה והמצוה ונלחם מלחמות ה' הרי זה מלך וכל מצות המלכות נוהגות בו אע"פ שעיקר המלכות לדוד ויהיה מבניו מלך שהרי אחיה השילוני העמיד ירבעם ואמר לו והיה אם שמוע תשמע את כל אשר אצוך ובניתי לך בית נאמן כאשר בניתי לדוד וגו' ואמר לו אחיה ולבנו אתן שבט אחד למען היות ניר לדוד עבדי כל הימים לפני בירושלים:
9
The kings of the Davidic dynasty will prevail forever (II Samuel 7:16): 'Your throne shall be established forever.' In contrast, should a king arise from other Israelites, the monarchy will eventually cease from his descendents. For behold, Jeroboam was told: I Kings 11:39 'I will afflict the House of David.... but not forever.'
ט
מלכי בית דוד הם העומדים לעולם שנאמר כסאך יהיה נכון עד עולם אבל אם יעמוד מלך משאר ישראל תפסק המלכות מביתו שהרי נאמר לירבעם אך לא כל הימים:
10
Kings of Israel are not anointed with the special anointing oil, but with Afarsimon oil. Only a descendent of David may be appointed as king in Jerusalem. And only descendents of David are anointed with the special anointing oil.
י
אין מושחין מלכי ישראל בשמן המשחה אלא בשמן אפרסמון ואין ממנין אותן בירושלים לעולם אלא מלך ישראל מזרע דוד ואין מושחין אלא זרע דוד:
11
The kings of the Davidic dynasty should only be anointed near a spring.
יא
כשמושחין מלכי בית דוד אין מושחין אותן אלא על המעין:
12
A son who succeeds his father as king is not anointed unless he assumes his position amid a dispute over the inheritance or during a civil war. Under these circumstances, he should be anointed in order to remove all disagreement.
Therefore, they anointed Solomon because of the claim of Adoniyahu, Jehoash, because of the usurpation of Atalyah, and Jehoachaz, because of [the claim of his brother, Jehoyakim.
יב
ואין מושחין מלך בן מלך אלא אם כן היתה שם מחלוקת או מלחמה מושחין אותו כדי לסלק המחלוקת לפיכך משחו שלמה מפני אדוניה ויואש מפני עתליה ומשחו יהואחז מפני יהויקים אחיו:
FOOTNOTES
1.Tosafot (Yevamot 102a) explain that if a person's father is a native-born Israelite, he may be appointed to positions of authority, regardless of his mother's origins. Alternatively, a king's yichus is questioned only at the beginning of a dynasty. Once the dynasty has been established, a son may assume his father's position, even if his mother is a convert (Noda B’Yehudah, Choshen Mishpat, Responsum l).
Melachim uMilchamot - Chapter 2
1
The king must be treated with great honor. We must implant awe and fear of him in the hearts of all men. The command Deuteronomy 17:15: 'Appoint a king' implies the obligation to be in awe of him.
We may not ride on his horse, nor sit on his throne, use his scepter, wear his crown, or use any of his utensils. When he dies, they should all be burned before his bier.
Similarly, only another king is allowed to make use of his servants, maids, and attendants. Accordingly, Avishag was permitted to Solomon, but prohibited to Adoniyahu.
א
כבוד גדול נוהגין במלך ומשימין לו אימה ויראה בלב כל אדם שנאמר שום תשים שתהא אימתו עליך אין רוכבין על סוסו ואין יושבין על כסאו ואין משתמשין בשרביטו ולא בכתרו ולא באחד מכל כלי תשמישיו וכשהוא מת כולן נשרפין לפניו וכן לא ישתמש בעבדיו ושפחותיו ושמשיו אלא מלך אחר לפיכך אבישג היתה מותרת לשלמה ואסורה לאדוניה:
2
However, a king's wife is forbidden to share intimacy with another person forever. Even another king may not marry a king's widow or divorced exwife.
ב
אבל אשתו של מלך אינה נבעלת לאחר לעולם אפילו המלך אינו נושא אלמנתו או גרושתו של מלך אחר:
3
It is forbidden to observe him while he is naked, while he is having his hair cut, while he is in the baths, or while he is drying himself afterwards.
He may not perform chalitzah, for concerning that ritual, it is said Deuteronomy 25:9: 'And she shall spit before him.' This would be disrespectful to the king.
Even if he desires to perform this mitzvah, he is not given the opportunity because a king's honor must be preserved even though he is willing to forgo it.
Since he is not allowed to perform chalitzah, he is not eligible to participate in yibbum. Similarly, in the event of his death, since it is forbidden to initiate yibbum with his wife, chalitzah is also not performed for her. Rather, she must remain in her state of attachment forever.
ג
ואסור לראותו כשהוא ערום ולא כשהוא מסתפר ולא כשהוא בבית המרחץ ולא כשהוא מסתפג ואינו חולץ שנאמר וירקה בפניו וזה בזיון ואפילו רצה אין שומעין לו שהמלך שמחל על כבודו אין כבודו מחול והואיל ואינו חולץ אינו מיבם וכן [אם מת הוא] כיון שאי אפשר ליבם את אשתו כך אין חולצין לה אלא תשב לעולם בזיקתה:
4
Even if one of his close relatives dies, he may not leave his palace. When he is served the meal of comfort, the entire nation should sit on the ground and he should sit on a low couch.
If he enters the Temple courtyard, and he is of David's descendents, he may sit. For the only ones who may sit in the Temple Courtyard are kings of the Davidic dynasty, as II Samuel 7:18 states: 'And David sat before God.'
ד
מת לו מת אינו יוצא מפתח פלטרין שלו וכשמברין אותו כל העם מסובין על הארץ והוא מיסב על הדרגש ואם נכנס לעזרה והיה מזרע דוד ישב שאין ישיבה בעזרה אלא למלכי בית דוד בלבד שנאמר ויבא המלך דוד וישב לפני ה:
5
A king should have his hair cut every day. He should dress and adorn himself in attractive and impressive garments, as Isaiah 33:17 states: 'Your eyes shall behold the king in his beauty.'
He sits on his throne in his palace and has a crown placed on his head.
When he desires, the nation must present themselves before him. They should stand before him and prostrate themselves to the ground. Even a prophet must stand before the king and prostrate himself on the ground, as I Kings 1:23 states: 'Behold, Nathan, the prophet came before the king and prostrated himself before the king.'
However, a High Priest need not come before the king unless he the High Priest desires to do so. The High Priest need not stand before the king. Rather, the king stands before the High Priest, as Numbers 27:21 states: 'And he shall stand before Elazar, the priest.'
Nevertheless, it is a mitzvah for the High Priest to honor the king by having him seated and standing in his presence when he visits him. The king should only stand before him when he consults the Urim and Tumim.
Similarly, it is a mitzvah for the king to honor students of Torah when they enter his presence. He should stand before the Sanhedrin and the Sages of Israel and seat them at his side.
Jehosephat, King of Judah would follow this practice. Whenever even a student of a Torah scholar would come to him, he would rise from his throne and kiss him and address him as 'My teacher and master.'
When does the above apply? When the king is alone in his palace. Then, in private, before his servants, he should behave in this fashion. However, in public, before the people at large, he should not conduct himself in this manner. He should not stand before anyone. He should not speak gently and should address a person using his name alone in order that the awe of him will be implanted in everyone's hearts.
ה
המלך מסתפר בכל יום ומתקן עצמו ומתנאה במלבושין נאים ומפוארים שנאמר מלך ביפיו תחזינה עיניך ויושב על כסא מלכותו בפלטרין שלו ומשים כתר בראשו וכל העם באין אליו בעת שירצה ועומדין לפניו ומשתחוים ארצה אפילו נביא עומד לפני המלך משתחוה ארצה שנאמר הנה נתן הנביא ויבא לפני המלך וישתחו למלך אבל כהן גדול אינו בא לפני המלך אלא אם רצה ואינו עומד לפניו אלא המלך עומד לפני כהן גדול שנאמר ולפני אלעזר הכהן יעמוד אעפ"כ מצוה על כהן גדול לכבד את המלך ולהושיבו ולעמוד מפניו כשיבא לו ולא יעמוד המלך לפניו אלא כשישאל לו במשפט האורים וכן מצוה על המלך לכבד לומדי התורה וכשיכנסו לפניו סנהדרין וחכמי ישראל יעמוד לפניהם ויושיבם בצדו וכן היה יהושפט מלך יהודה עושה אפילו לתלמיד חכם היה עומד מכסאו ומנשקו וקורא לו רבי ומורי בד"א בזמן שיהיה המלך בביתו לבדו הוא ועבדיו יעשה זה בצינעה אבל בפרהסיא בפני העם לא יעשה ולא יעמוד מפני אדם ולא ידבר רכות ולא יקרא לאדם אלא בשמו כדי שתהא יראתו בלב הכל:
6
Just as the Torah has granted him great honor and obligated everyone to revere him; so, too, has it commanded him to be lowly and empty at heart, as Psalms 109:22 states: 'My heart is a void within me.' Nor should he treat Israel with overbearing haughtiness. For Deuteronomy 17:20 describes how 'he should not lift up his heart above his brothers.'
He should be gracious and merciful to the small and the great, involving himself in their good and welfare. He should protect the honor of even the humblest of men.
When he speaks to the people as a community, he should speak gently, as I Chronicles 28:2 states 'Listen my brothers and my people....' Similarly, I Kings 12:7 states 'If today, you will be a servant to these people....'
He should always conduct himself with great humility. There is none greater than Moses, our teacher. Yet, he said Exodus 16:8: 'What are we? Your complaints are not against us.' He should bear the nation's difficulties, burdens, complaints, and anger as a nurse carries an infant.
Psalms 78:71 refers to a king as a shepherd: 'to pasture, Jacob, His nation.' The prophets have described the behavior of a shepherd (Isaiah 40:11): 'He shall pasture His flock like a shepherd, He shall gather the lambs with His arm and carry them in His bosom."
ו
כדרך שחלק לו הכתוב הכבוד הגדול וחייב הכל בכבודו כך צוהו להיות לבו בקרבו שפל וחלל שנאמר ולבי חלל בקרבי ולא ינהג גסות לב בישראל יתר מדאי שנאמר לבלתי רום לבבו מאחיו ויהיה חונן ומרחם לקטנים וגדולים ויצא ויבא בחפציהם ובטובתם ויחוס על כבוד קטן שבקטנים וכשמדבר אל כל הקהל בלשון רבים ידבר רכות שנאמר שמעוני אחי ועמי ואומר אם היום תהיה עבד לעם הזה וגו' לעולם יתנהג בענוה יתירה אין לנו גדול ממשה רבינו והוא אומר ונחנו מה לא עלינו תלונותיכם ויסבול טרחם ומשאם ותלונותם וקצפם כאשר ישא האומן את היונק רועה קראו הכתוב לרעות ביעקב עמו ודרכו של רועה מפורש בקבלה כרועה עדרו ירעה בזרועו יקבץ טלאים ובחיקו ישא וגו':
Melachim uMilchamot - Chapter 3
1
During a king's reign, he must write a Torah scroll for himself in addition to the scroll which was left to him by his ancestors. A court of 71 elders should check this scroll by comparing it to the Torah scroll kept in the Temple Courtyard.
If his ancestors did not leave him a Torah scroll or that scroll was lost, he must write two Torah scrolls:
one, in whose writing, he is obligated as is every individual Israelite, and which he places in his treasury;
the second, which should not move from his presence except when he enters a lavatory, the baths, or other places in which it is not fit to read the words of Torah.
When he goes to war, this scroll should accompany him. When he returns, it should accompany him. When he sits in judgement, it should be with him. When he dines, it should be opposite him, as Deuteronomy 17:19 states: 'It should accompany him and he should read it all the days of his life.'
א
בעת שישב המלך על כסא מלכותו כותב לו ספר תורה לעצמו יתר על הספר שהניחו לו אבותיו ומגיהו מספר העזרה על פי בית דין של שבעים ואחד אם לא הניחו לו אבותיו או שנאבד כותב שני ספרי תורה אחד מניחו בבית גנזיו שהוא מצווה בו ככל אחד מישראל והשני לא יזוז מלפניו אלא בעת שיכנס לבית הכסא או לבית המרחץ או למקום שאין ראוי לקריאה יוצא למלחמה והוא עמו נכנס והוא עמו יושב בדין והוא עמו מיסב והוא כנגדו שנאמר והיתה עמו וקרא בו כל ימי חייו:
2
'He should not amass many wives' Deuteronomy 17:17. The Oral Tradition states that he may take no more than eighteen wives.
The figure eighteen includes both wives and concubines. If he takes an additional wife and has relations with her, he is punished with lashes.
He may divorce one of his wives and marry another instead of the one he divorced.
ב
לא ירבה לו נשים מפי השמועה למדו שהוא לוקח עד שמונה עשרה נשים בין הנשים ופלגשים הכל שמונה עשרה ואם הוסיף אחת ובעלה לוקה ויש לו לגרש ולישא אחרת תחת זו שגירש:
3
He may not accumulate many horses, only what is necessary for his cavalry. It is even forbidden for him to have one additional horse to run before him as is customarily done by other kings. If he adds an additional horse, he is to be lashed.
ג
ולא ירבה לו סוסים אלא כדי מרכבתו אפילו סוס אחד פנוי להיות רץ לפניו כדרך שעושין שאר המלכים אסור ואם הוסיף לוקה:
4
He may not amass silver and gold to keep in his personal treasury in order to boost his pride or allow him to glorify himself. Rather, he may collect only what is necessary to pay his soldiers, servants, and attendants.
Any gold and silver which he does accumulate should be given to the Temple treasury to be kept there, in readiness for the needs of the community and their wars.
It is a mitzvah to accumulate such treasure stores. The prohibition is only against amassing personal wealth in his own treasure houses, as Deuteronomy 17:17 states: 'He shall not amass for himself...' Should he amass personal wealth, he is to be lashed.
ד
ולא ירבה לו כסף וזהב להניח בגנזיו ולהתגאות בו או להתנאות בו אלא כדי שיתן לחיילותיו ולעבדיו ולשמשיו וכל כסף וזהב שירבה לאוצר בית ה' ולהיות שם מוכן לצרכי הצבור ולמלחמותם הרי זה מצוה להרבותו ואין אסור אלא להרבות לעצמו בבית גנזיו שנאמר ולא ירבה לו ואם הרבה לוקה:
5
The king is forbidden to drink wine to the point of intoxication, as Proverbs 31:4 states: 'It is not for kings to drink wine....'
Rather, he should be involved with Torah study and the needs of Israel by day and by night, as Deuteronomy, loc. cit. states: 'It should accompany him and he should read it all the days of his life.'
ה
המלך אסור לשתות דרך שכרות שנאמר אל למלכים שתו יין אלא יהיה עוסק בתורה ובצרכי ישראל ביום ובלילה שנאמר והיתה עמו וקרא בו כל ימי חייו:
6
Similarly, he should not be overly indulgent in his relations with his wives. Even if he has only one wife, he should not constantly be with her as is the practice of fools, as Proverbs 31:3 states: 'Do not give your strength to women.'
When the Torah forbade the king from accumulating many wives, its emphasis was that his heart not go astray as Deuteronomy 17: 17 warns: 'lest his heart go astray.' His heart is the heart of the entire congregation of Israel. Therefore, the verse commanded him to have it cleave to the Torah to a greater degree than the rest of the nation, as it is stated: 'all the days of his life.'
ו
וכן לא יהיה שטוף בנשים אפילו לא היתה לו אלא אחת לא יהיה מצוי אצלה תמיד כשאר הטפשים שנאמר לא תתן לנשים חילך על הסרת לבו הקפידה תורה שנאמר ולא יסור לבבו שלבו הוא לב כל קהל ישראל לפיכך דבקו הכתוב בתורה יתר משאר העם שנאמר כל ימי חייו:
7
We have already explained that kings of the Davidic dynasty may be judged and testimony may be given against them.
However, in regard to the other kings of Israel, the Sages decreed that they neither sit in judgement or be judged. They may not give testimony, nor is testimony given against them. This is because they are arrogant and the matter may cause a tragedy and loss to the faith.
ז
כבר ביארנו שמלכי בית דוד דנין אותן ומעידין עליהן אבל מלכי ישראל גזרו חכמים שלא ידון ולא דנין אותו ולא מעיד ולא מעידין עליו מפני שלבן גס בהן ויבא מן הדבר תקלה והפסד על הדת:
8
Anyone who rebels against a king of Israel may be executed by the king.
Even if the king orders one of the people to go to a particular place and the latter refuses, or he orders him not to leave his house and he goes out, the offender is liable to be put to death. The king may execute him if he desires, as Joshua 1:18 states: 'Whoever rebels against your command ... shall be put to death."
Similarly, anyone who embarrasses or shames the king may be executed by the king as was Shim'i ben Gera.
The king may only execute people by decapitation. He may also imprison offenders and have them beaten with rods to protect his honor. However, he may not confiscate property. If he does, it is considered theft.
ח
כל המורד במלך ישראל יש למלך רשות להרגו אפילו גזר על אחד משאר העם שילך למקום פלוני ולא הלך או שלא יצא מביתו ויצא חייב מיתה ואם רצה להרגו יהרג שנאמר כל איש אשר ימרה את פיך וכן כל המבזה את המלך או המחרפו יש למלך רשות להרגו כשמעי בן גרא ואין למלך רשות להרוג אלא בסייף בלבד ויש לו לאסור ולהכות בשוטין לכבודו אבל לא יפקיר ממון ואם הפקיר הרי זה גזל:
9
A person who negates a king's command because he was occupied with a mitzvah, even a minor one, is not liable. Whose words should have precedence in case of conflict, the words of the Master or the words of the subject? Needless to say, if a king decrees that a mitzvah should be negated, his words should not be heeded.
ט
המבטל גזרת המלך בשביל שנתעסק במצות אפילו במצוה קלה הרי זה פטור דברי הרב ודברי העבד דברי הרב קודמין ואין צריך לומר אם גזר המלך לבטל מצוה שאין שומעין לו:
10
A murderer against whom the evidence is not totally conclusive, or who was not warned before he slew his victim, or even one who was observed by only one witness, and similarly, an enemy who inadvertently killed one of his foes - the king is granted license to execute them and to improve society according to the needs of the time.
He may execute many on one day, hang them, and leave them hanging for many days in order to cast fear into the hearts and destroy the power of the wicked of the earth.
י
כל ההורג נפשות שלא בראיה ברורה או בלא התראה אפילו בעד אחד או שונא שהרג בשגגה יש למלך רשות להרגו ולתקן העולם כפי מה שהשעה צריכה והורג רבים ביום אחד ותולה ומניחן תלויים ימים רבים להטיל אימה ולשבר יד רשעי העולם:
Hayom Yom:
• English Text | Video Class
Shabbat, Tishrei 3, 5778 · 23 September 2017
"Today's Day"
Shabbat, Tishrei 3, Shabbat Teshuva, 5704
Kabalat Shabbat services begin Mizmor l'David (p. 131) not L'chu n'ran'na (p. 128). This applies to every Festival ending on Friday evening. Haftora: Shuva until yikashlu vam, then Mi Keil kamocha until mimei kedem.
Torah lessons: Chumash: Ha'azinu, Shevi'i with Rashi.
Tehillim: 18-22. Also 94-96.
Tanya: But the souls (p. 501) ...limitation and finitude. (p. 503).
The Tzemach Tzedek had yechidus with the Alter Rebbe on Monday of Teitzei, 6 Elul 5564 (1804); the Rebbe told him: "On Shabbat Tavo 5528 (1768), my Rebbe (the Maggid of Mezritch) said a "Torah" beginning V'shavta ad Havayeh Elokecha1 He explained that the avoda of teshuva must attain a level at which Havayeh, transcendent Divinity beyond worlds, becomes Elokecha - Elokim being numerically equivalent to hateva (nature), and as we find, "in the beginning Elokim created the heavens and the earth etc."2 All the Holy Society (disciples of the Maggid) were profoundly stirred by this teaching. The tzadik R. Meshulam Zusya of Anipoli said that he could not attain the heights of such a teshuva; he would therefore break down teshuva to its components, for each letter of the word teshuva is the initial of a verse:
T: Tamim - "Be sincere with the Eternal your G-d."3
Sh: Shiviti - "I have set G-d before me always."4
U: V'ahavta - "Love your fellow as yourself."5
V: B'chol - "In all your ways, know Him."6
H: Hatznei'a - "Walk discreetly with your G-d."7
When my father told me this, he concluded: "The word teshuva comprises five (Hebrew) letters, each letter a path and a method in the avoda of teshuva." (He explained each method at length).8 Each moves from a potential state to actuality through the avoda of davening.9
FOOTNOTES
1.Devarim 4:30 and 30:2 "You shall return to G-d your G-d." V'shavta, "you shall return," is an expression of teshuva ("return" or "repentance"). Two different names of G-d are used in the Hebrew verse; "you shall return to Havayeh (who is) Elokecha - your G-d." "Havayeh" is the Chassidic colloquialism used to indicate that the Name actually appearing in the Hebrew verse is the Tetragrammaton, the ineffable, unpronounced Name-of-Four-Letters. "Elokecha" is a form of "Elokim." Havayeh is indicative of G-d's transcendence; Elokim of His immanence - "descending" (as-it-were) to create and vivify the world with His life-force. Teshuva, says the Maggid, must be to the point that the transcendent Havayeh becomes immanent and palpable.
2.Bereishit 1:1. Elokim is associated with creation, as above.
3.Devarim 18:13.
4.Tehillim 16:8.
5.Vayikra 19:18.
6.Mishlei 3:6.
7.Micha 6:8.
8.See aphorisms of next five days.
9.See "On the Teachings of Chassidus," Kehot, Ch. 29-30.
Daily Thought:
Happy Birthday, Universe
Every year, our sages taught, with the cry of the shofar the entire universe is reborn.
And so, at that time, with our resolutions and our prayers, we hold an awesome power: To determine what sort of child this newborn year shall be—how it will take its first breaths, how it will struggle to its feet and how it will carry us through life for the twelve months to come.
In truth, it is not only once a year: At every new moon, in a smaller way, all life is renewed again.
And so too, every morning, we are all reborn from a nighttime taste of death.
And at every moment—in the smallest increment of time—every particle of the universe is projected into being out of absolute nothingness, as it was at the very beginning.
Which is why there is always hope. Because at every moment, life is born anew. And we are the masters of how this moment will be born
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