Ramban on Exodus 20:2

אָנֹכִי ה' אֱלֹהֶיךָ הַדִּבּוּר הַזֶּה מִצְוַת עֲשֵׂה, אָמַר אָנֹכִי ה', יוֹרֶה וִיצַוֶּה אוֹתָם שֶׁיֵּדְעוּ וְיַאֲמִינוּ כִּי יֵשׁ ה', וְהוּא אֱלֹהִים לָהֶם, כְּלוֹמַר הוֹוֶה, קַדְמוֹן, מֵאִתּוֹ הָיָה הַכֹּל בְּחֵפֶץ וִיכֹלֶת, וְהוּא אֱלֹהִים לָהֶם, שֶׁחַיָּבִים לַעֲבֹד אוֹתוֹ. וְאָמַר אֲשֶׁר הוֹצֵאתִיךָ מֵאֶרֶץ מִצְרַיִם, כִּי הוֹצָאָתָם מִשָּׁם תּוֹרֶה עַל הַמְּצִיאוּת וְעַל הַחֵפֶץ, כִּי בִּידִיעָה וּבְהַשְׁגָּחָה מִמֶּנּוּ יָצָאנוּ מִשָּׁם, וְגַם תּוֹרֶה עַל הַחִדּוּשׁ, כִּי עִם קַדְמוּת הָעוֹלָם לֹא יִשְׁתַּנֶּה דָּבָר מִטִּבְעוֹ, וְתוֹרֶה עַל הַיְּכֹלֶת, וְהַיְּכֹלֶת תּוֹרֶה עַל הַיִּחוּד, כְּמוֹ שֶׁאָמַר (שמות ט':י"ד) "בַּעֲבוּר תֵּדַע כִּי אֵין כָּמֹנִי בְּכָל הָאָרֶץ". וְזֶה טַעַם "אֲשֶׁר הוֹצֵאתִיךָ", כִּי הֵם הַיּוֹדְעִים וְעֵדִים בְּכָל אֵלֶּה: I AM THE ETERNAL THY G-D. This Divine utterance constitutes a positive commandment.²⁶⁰See my Hebrew commentary, p. 388. on the position of the Hilchoth Gedoloth on this point. Ramban thus sides with Rambam, who, in his Sefer Hamitzvoth, counted this as the first commandment. See my translation, “The Commandments,” I, pp. 1-2. He said, I am the Eternal, thus teaching and commanding them that they should know and believe that the Eternal exists and that He is G-d to them. That is to say, there exists an Eternal Being through Whom everything has come into existence by His will²⁶¹The universe is thus a result of design, and not merely of necessity. See Guide of the Perplexed, II, 18. and power, and He is G-d to them, who are obligated to worship Him. He said, Who brought thee out of the land of Egypt, because His taking them out from there was the evidence establishing the existence and will of G-d, for it was with His knowledge and providence that we came out from there. The exodus is also evidence for the creation of the world, for assuming the eternity of the universe, [which precludes a Master of the universe Who is in control of it], it would follow that nothing could be changed from its nature.²⁶²“If you believe in the eternity of matter, it leads to the conclusion that if G-d should desire to shorten a fly’s wing or lengthen an ant’s foot, He would not be able to do it” (Ramban, in his sermon, “G-d’s Law Is Perfect,” Kithvei Haramban, I, p. 146). The miracles preceding the exodus, in which G-d’s mastery of the powers of nature was demonstrated, thus refuted the doctrine of the eternity of matter and established that of Creation. And it is also evidence for G-d’s infinite power, and His infinite power is an indication of the Unity, as He said, that thou [i.e., Pharaoh] mayest know that there is none like Me in all the earth.²⁶³Above, 9:14. This is the intent of the expression, Who brought thee out, since they are the ones who know and are witnesses to all these things.

וְטַעַם מִבֵּית עֲבָדִים שֶׁהָיוּ עוֹמְדִים בְּמִצְרַיִם בְּבֵית עֲבָדִים, שְׁבוּיִים לְפַרְעֹה, וְאָמַר לָהֶם זֶה שֶׁהֵם חַיָּבִין שֶׁיִּהְיֶה הַשֵּׁם הַגָּדוֹל וְהַנִּכְבָּד וְהַנּוֹרָא הַזֶּה לָהֶם לֵאלֹהִים, שֶׁיַּעַבְדוּהוּ, כִּי הוּא פָּדָה אוֹתָם מֵעַבְדוּת מִצְרַיִם, כְּטַעַם "עֲבָדַי הֵם אֲשֶׁר הוֹצֵאתִי אֹתָם מֵאֶרֶץ מִצְרָיִם" (ויקרא כה נה). וּכְבָר רָמַזְתִּי עוֹד לְמַעְלָה (יט כ) טַעַם שְׁנֵי הַשֵּׁמוֹת הַקְּדוֹשִׁים עַל דֶּרֶךְ הָאֱמֶת: וְזוֹ הַמִּצְוָה תִּקָּרֵא בְּדִבְרֵי רַבּוֹתֵינוּ (ברכות יג:) קַבָּלַת מַלְכוּת שָׁמַיִם, כִּי הַמִּלּוֹת הָאֵלֶּה אֲשֶׁר הִזְכַּרְתִּי הֵם בַּמֶּלֶךְ כְּנֶגֶד הָעָם. וְכָךְ אָמְרוּ בַּמְּכִילְתָּא (שמות כ':ג') "לֹא יִהְיֶה לְךָ אֱלֹהִים אֲחֵרִים עַל פָּנָי" לָמָּה נֶאֱמַר, לְפִי שֶׁהוּא אוֹמֵר "אָנֹכִי ה' אֱלֹהֶיךָ", מָשָׁל לְמֶלֶךְ שֶׁנִּכְנַס לַמְּדִינָה, אָמְרוּ לוֹ עֲבָדָיו גְּזֹר עָלֵינוּ גְּזֵרוֹת, אָמַר לָהֶם לָאו, כְּשֶׁתְּקַבְּלוּ מַלְכוּתִי אֶגְזֹר עֲלֵיכֶם גְּזֵרוֹת, שֶׁאִם מַלְכוּתִי אֵינְכֶם מְקַבְּלִים גְּזֵרוֹתַי הַאֵיךְ אַתֶּם מְקַיְּמִין. כָּךְ אָמַר הַמָּקוֹם לְיִשְׂרָאֵל "אָנֹכִי ה' אֱלֹהֶיךָ" "לֹא יִהְיֶה לְךָ", אֲנִי הוּא שֶׁקִּבַּלְתֶּם מַלְכוּתִי עֲלֵיכֶם בְּמִצְרַיִם, אָמְרוּ לוֹ הֵן, כְּשֶׁקִּבַּלְתֶּם מַלְכוּתִי קַבְּלוּ גְּזֵרוֹתַי, כְּלוֹמַר אַחַר שֶׁאַתֶּם מְקַבְּלִים עֲלֵיכֶם וּמוֹדִים שֶׁאֲנִי ה' וַאֲנִי אֱלֹהֵיכֶם מֵאֶרֶץ מִצְרַיִם קִבְּלוּ כָּל מִצְוֹתַי:
וְנֶאֶמְרוּ כָּל הַדִּבְּרוֹת כֻּלָּן בִּלְשׁוֹן יָחִיד, "ה' אֱלֹהֶיךָ אֲשֶׁר הוֹצֵאתִיךָ", וְלֹא כַּאֲשֶׁר הִתְחִיל לָהֶם אַתֶּם רְאִיתֶם וְגוֹ', אִם שָׁמֹעַ תִּשְׁמְעוּ (לעיל יט ד ה), לְהַזְהִיר כִּי כָּל יָחִיד מֵהֶם יֵעָנֵשׁ עַל הַמִּצְוֹת, כִּי עִם כָּל אֶחָד יְדַבֵּר, וּלְכָל אֶחָד יְצַוֶּה שֶׁלֹּא יַחְשְׁבוּ כִּי אַחַר הָרֹב יֵלֵךְ וְהַיָּחִיד יִנָּצֵל עִמָּהֶם. וִיבָאֵר לָהֶם מֹשֶׁה זֹאת הַכַּוָּנָה בְּסוֹף הַתּוֹרָה בְּפָרָשַׁת אַתֶּם נִצָּבִים (דברים כט יז): The meaning of out of the house of bondage is that they stayed in Egypt in a house of bondage as captives of Pharaoh.²⁶⁴This accords with the interpretation of the Mechilta here: “Out of the house of bondage. They were slaves to kings.” And as Rashi puts it, “from the house of Pharaoh where ye were slaves to him.” He said this to them [in order to indicate] that they are obligated [to accept] this Great, Glorious and Fearful Name²⁵⁹Deuteronomy 28:58. as their G-d, and to worship Him, because He redeemed them from Egyptian bondage. It is similar in meaning to the verse, They are My servants whom I brought forth out of the land of Egypt.²⁶⁵Leviticus 25:55. I have also already alluded to above²⁶⁶Above, 19:20. by way of the Truth, [the mystic lore of the Cabala], to the reason why the two sacred Names — [the Tetragrammaton and Elokim] — are mentioned here.
This commandment, in the words of our Rabbis,²⁶⁷Berachoth 13b. is called the obligation “to take upon oneself the yoke of the Kingdom of Heaven,” for these words, [i.e., the Eternal your G-d], which I have mentioned, indicate a King addressing His people. Thus the Rabbis have said in the Mechilta:²⁶⁸Mechilta on Verse 3 here. “Thou shalt have no other gods before Me.²⁶⁹Verse 3. Why is this said?²⁷⁰Since it says, I am the Eternal thy God, etc., it already means, “I, am not another.” Why then does He state again, Thou shalt not have other gods before Me? Because it says, I am the Eternal thy G-d. This can be illustrated by a parable: A king invaded a country, and his attendants said to him, ‘Issue decrees to us.’²⁷¹“Us.” In the Mechilta: “them,” i.e., the people. He, however, refused, saying: ‘No! When you have accepted my sovereignty, I will issue decrees to you, for if you do not accept my sovereignty, how will you carry out my decrees?’ Similarly, G-d said to Israel: ‘I am the Eternal thy G-d, thou shalt have no other gods. I am He Whose sovereignty you have accepted in Egypt.’ And when they said to Him: ‘Yes,’ [He continued]: ‘Now, just as you have accepted My sovereignty, so you must also accept My decrees.’” That is to say, “Since you have accepted upon yourselves and have admitted that I am the Eternal, and that I am your G-d from the [time that you were yet in the] land of Egypt, then accept all My commandments.”
Now all the [Ten] Commandments are expressed in the singular — the Eternal thy G-d, Who brought ‘thee’ out — and not, as He began to say, [before the Giving of the Torah]: ‘Ye’ have seen;²⁷²Above, 19:4. if ‘ye’ will hearken.²⁷³Ibid., Verse 5. This is because His intent is to warn that each individual is subject to punishment for [transgression of] the commandments, since He addresses Himself to each one individually, commanding him that he should not think that He will judge according to the majority and that the individual will be saved with them. This intent was explained to the people by Moses at the end of the Torah, in the section of Atem Nitzavim.²⁷⁴Deuteronomy 29:17-19. See Ramban there on Verse 17.

לֹא יִהְיֶה לְךָ אֱלֹהִים אֲחֵרִים עַל פָּנָי כָּתַב רַשִׁ"י (רש"י על שמות כ':ג') לֹא יִהְיֶה לְךָ לָמָּה נֶאֱמַר, לְפִי שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר לֹא תַעֲשֶׂה לְךָ, אֵין לִי אֶלָּא שֶׁלֹּא יַעֲשֶׂה, הֶעָשׂוּי כְּבָר מִנַּיִן שֶׁלֹּא יְקַיֵּם, ת"ל לֹא יִהְיֶה לְךָ. וְזוֹ בֶּאֱמֶת בָּרַיְתָא הִיא שְׁנוּיָה בַּמְּכִילְתָּא (כאן). וְאִם כֵּן תִּהְיֶה זוֹ מִצְוַת לֹא תַעֲשֶׂה בִּלְבַד, אַזְהָרָה לִמְקַיֵּם ע"ז בִּרְשׁוּתוֹ וְאֵין בָּהּ מִיתַת ב"ד, וְלָמָּה הִקְדִּים הַקִּיּוּם שֶׁהוּא בְּלָאו לְהִשְׁתַּחֲוָאָה וַעֲבוֹדָה שֶׁהֵם בְּכָרֵת וּמִיתַת ב"ד. וּלְפִי דַּעְתִּי שֶׁאֵין הֲלָכָה כְּדִבְרֵי זֹאת הַבָּרַיְתָא, וּכְדִבְרֵי יָחִיד הִיא שְׁנוּיָה, שֶׁכָּךְ שָׁנִינוּ בְּסִפְרָא (ריש קדושים) וֵאלֹהֵי מַסֵּכָה לֹא תַעֲשׂוּ לָכֶם (ויקרא יט ד), יָכוֹל יַעֲשׂוּ לָכֶם אֲחֵרִים, ת"ל "לֹא לָכֶם". אֵין לִי אֶלָּא לָכֶם, יָכוֹל הֵן יַעֲשׂוּ לַאֲחֵרִים, ת"ל "לֹא תַעֲשׂוּ" לֹא לָכֶם וְלֹא לַאֲחֵרִים. מִכָּאן אָמְרוּ הָעוֹשֶׂה ע"ז לְעַצְמוֹ עוֹבֵר מִשּׁוּם שְׁתֵּי אַזְהָרוֹת, מִשּׁוּם לֹא תַּעֲשׂוּ וּמִשּׁוּם לֹא לָכֶם. רַבִּי יוֹסֵי אוֹמֵר מִשּׁוּם שָׁלֹשׁ, מִשּׁוּם לֹא תַּעֲשׂוּ וּמִשּׁוּם לֹא לָכֶם וּמִשּׁוּם לֹא יִהְיֶה. הֲרֵי שֶׁר' יוֹסֵי יָחִיד בִּמְקוֹם רַבִּים הוּא הָאוֹמֵר כִּי לֹא יִהְיֶה לְךָ אַזְהָרָה לִמְקַיֵּם צְלָמִים, וּלְדִבְרֵי תַּנָּא קַמָּא אֵינוֹ כֵּן:
וְהַנָּכוֹן גַּם לְפִי הַפְּשָׁט שֶׁהוּא מִלְּשׁוֹן "וְהָיָה ה' לִי לֵאלֹהִים" (בראשית כח כא), "לִהְיוֹת לָכֶם לֵאלֹהִים" (ויקרא יא מה) יֹאמַר, שֶׁלֹּא יִהְיֶה לָנוּ בִּלְתִּי הַשֵּׁם אֱלֹהִים אֲחֵרִים מִכָּל מַלְאֲכֵי מַעְלָה וּמִכָּל צְבָא הַשָּׁמַיִם הַנִּקְרָאִים אֱלֹהִים, כְּעִנְיָן שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר (שמות כ"ב:י"ט) "זֹבֵחַ לָאֱלֹהִים יָחֳרָם בִּלְתִּי לַה' לְבַדּוֹ", וְהִיא מְנִיעָה שֶׁלֹּא יַאֲמִין בְּאֶחָד מֵהֶם וְלֹא יְקַבְּלֵהוּ עָלָיו בֶּאֱלוֹהַּ וְלֹא יֹאמַר לוֹ אֵלִי אַתָּה. וְכֵן דַּעַת אוּנְקְלוֹס (תרגום אונקלוס על שמות כ':ג') שֶׁאָמַר "אֱלָהּ אָחֳרָן בַּר מִנִּי": וְדַע כִּי בְּכָל מָקוֹם שֶׁאָמַר הַכָּתוּב "אֱלֹהִים אֲחֵרִים" הַכַּוָּנָה בּוֹ אֲחֵרִים זוּלָתִי הַשֵּׁם הַנִּכְבָּד, וְיִתְפֹּס זֶה הַלָּשׁוֹן בְּקַבָּלַת הָאֱלֹהוּת אוֹ בָּעֲבוֹדָה לוֹ, כִּי יֹאמַר לֹא תְּקַבְּלוּ עֲלֵיכֶם אֱלוֹהַּ בִּלְתִּי ה' לְבַדּוֹ, אֲבָל כְּשֶׁיְּדַבֵּר בָּעֲשִׂיָּה לֹא יֹאמַר בַּכָּתוּב אֲחֵרִים חָלִילָה, אֲבָל יֹאמַר "וֵאלֹהֵי מַסֵּכָה לֹא תַעֲשׂוּ לָכֶם" (ויקרא יט ד), "אֱלֹהֵי מַסֵּכָה לֹא תַעֲשֶׂה לָּךְ" (שמות ל"ד:י"ז), וְיִקְרָאֵם כֵּן בַּעֲבוּר שֶׁיַּעֲשֶׂה בְּכַוָּנָה לִהְיוֹת אֱלֹהָיו, אֲבָל בָּהֶם אָמַר הַכָּתוּב (ישעיה לז יט) "כִּי לֹא אֱלֹהִים הֵמָּה כִּי אִם מַעֲשֵׂה יְדֵי אָדָם עֵץ וָאֶבֶן ":
וְהִנֵּה הִזְהִיר בַּדִּבּוּר הַשֵּׁנִי תְּחִלָּה שֶׁלֹּא נְקַבֵּל לָנוּ אָדוֹן מִכָּל הָאֱלֹהִים זוּלָתִי ה', וְאַחַר כָּךְ אָמַר שֶׁלֹּא נַעֲשֶׂה פֶּסֶל וְכָל תְּמוּנָה לְהִשְׁתַּחֲוֹת לָהֶם וְלֹא לְעָבְדָם בְּשׁוּם עֲבוֹדָה בָּעוֹלָם וּלְכָךְ לֹא אָמַר וְלֹא תִּשְׁתַּחֲוֶה לָהֶם, כִּי הוּא נִסְמַךְ אֶל הָעֲשִׂיָּה שֶׁמָּנַע אוֹתָנוּ מֵהִשְׁתַּחֲווֹת לָהֶם. וְהִנֵּה כֻּלָּם אַזְהָרוֹת מֵעֲבוֹדָה זָרָה, וְכֻלָּן חַיָּבֵי מִיתָה, וְאֵין בַּפָּסוּק הַזֶּה אַזְהָרָה לָעֹשֶׂה מֵאָה צְלָמִים שֶׁלֹּא עֲבָדָם, אֲבָל לְמַטָּה יַזְהִיר מִזֶּה "אֱלֹהֵי כֶסֶף וֵאלֹהֵי זָהָב לֹא תַעֲשׂוּ לָכֶם" (שמות כ':כ"ג), וְכֵן "אֱלֹהֵי מַסֵּכָה לֹא תַעֲשֶׂה לָּךְ" (שמות ל"ד:י"ז), "לֹא תַעֲשׂוּ לָכֶם אֱלִילִם" (ויקרא כו א): THOU SHALT HAVE NO OTHER GODS BEFORE MY FACE. Rashi wrote: “Thou shalt have no other gods. Why is this said?²⁷⁰Since it says, I am the Eternal thy God, etc., it already means, “I, am not another.” Why then does He state again, Thou shalt not have other gods before Me? It is because it says, Thou shalt not make unto thee a graven image.²⁷⁵Verse 4. From this I would only know that it is forbidden to make an idol. Whence do I know that one may not keep an idol that has already been made? Scripture therefore says, Thou shalt have no other gods.” This is indeed a Beraitha²⁷⁶See Seder Bo, Note 209. taught in the Mechilta.²⁷⁷Mechilta on the verse here. But if this is so, this verse would constitute a negative commandment in itself, being a prohibition against a person who retains an idol on his premises. [The violation thereof] does not make one liable to the death-penalty by the court. So [the question arises]: Why did He state the prohibition against keeping an idol, which makes one liable to whipping, before [He stated] the prohibition against bowing down to idols or worshipping them,²⁷⁸In Verse 5. which makes one liable to extinction [if done intentionally but with no witnesses present], or death by the court [if there were witnesses]?
In my opinion, the final decision of the Law is not in accordance with this Beraitha,²⁷⁶See Seder Bo, Note 209. for it represents the opinion of a single Sage [against the opinion of the majority]. Thus we find it taught in the Sifra:²⁷⁹Sifra, beginning of Seder Kedoshim (Leviticus, Chapter 19). On “Sifra,” See above, Note 52. “Nor make ye to yourselves molten gods.²⁸⁰Leviticus 19:4. I might think that others may make it for you. Scripture therefore says, Nor… to yourselves. From this I know only that [others may not make it] for you, but I might think that you may make it for others. Scripture therefore says, Nor make ye: not for you by others, and not by you for others. It is from here that the Rabbis have derived the principle that he who makes an idol for himself, transgresses two negative commandments: Nor make ye, and Nor… to yourselves. Rabbi Yosei says, ‘He transgresses three negative commandments: Nor make ye, Nor… to yourselves, and also Thou shalt have no other gods.’” Thus you see that Rabbi Yosei’s opinion is that of one against a majority, for it is he who says that the verse Thou shalt have no other gods constitutes a prohibition against retaining an idol [in one’s house]. However, according to the opinion of the first Sage, [which is that of the majority of the Rabbis], it is not so.
The correct interpretation even according to the literal meaning of Scripture is that the usage of the language of the verse here is similar to the expressions: and the Eternal shall be my G-d;²⁸¹Genesis 28:21. to be your G-d.²⁸²Leviticus 11:45. The verse here thus states that excepting the Eternal only, we are not to have others as gods, neither from all the angels above nor from all the host of heaven who are called elohim. This is something like that which is said, he that sacrificeth ‘la’elohim’ (unto the gods) save unto the Eternal only, shall be utterly destroyed.²⁸³Further, 22:19. It is thus a prohibition against believing in any of these beings, accepting them as gods, or saying to them, “thou art my god.”²⁸⁴See Psalms 140:7 and Sanhedrin 60b. This is also the opinion of Onkelos, who translated: “[thou shalt have no] other gods excepting Me.”²⁸⁵Ramban’s intent is evidently as follows: Since Onkelos always translated elohim acheirim as ta’avath am’maya (the deceptions of the nations) — see e.g., further, 23:13 — and here he translated, ela acharan (other gods), it shows that he referred to the angels of above, etc.
Know that wherever Scripture says elohim acheirim, the meaning is “others besides the Glorious Name.” It uses this expression with reference to accepting G-d or worshipping Him, thus saying: “Do not accept them upon yourselves as G-d, with the exception only of the Eternal.” But when Scripture speaks of making idols, it will never say acheirim (others) — [“other gods”] — Heaven forbid!²⁸⁶“When speaking of accepting or worshipping G-d, Scripture could say, ‘Do not accept or worship any other god besides the Eternal.’ But when Scripture warns against making an idol, how could it say [that we are] not to make ‘other gods’ when it is G-d Who has made everything and Who was not made!” (Tur.) Instead it says, Nor make to yourselves molten gods;²⁸⁰Leviticus 19:4. Molten gods do not make unto thee.²⁸⁷Further, 34:17. They are called [gods] because they were made with the intent of serving their makers as gods, but in reference to them, Scripture says, For they were no gods, but the works of men’s hands, wood and stone; therefore they have destroyed them.²⁸⁸Isaiah 37:19.
Thus in the second commandment, He admonished us firstly that we should not accept upon ourselves a master from among all gods excepting the Eternal. He then said that we should not make a graven image or any manner of likeness, [and we are not] to bow down to them or worship them in any manner whatsoever. It is for this reason that He said, Thou shalt not bow down unto them,²⁸⁹Verse 5. The intent of Ramban’s words is as follows: According to his own interpretation that this entire second commandment is directed against worshipping idols, we can understand why it says here in Verse 5, Thou shalt not bow down ‘to them’ and it does not say ‘other gods,’ because the purport of that verse is to be understood in connection with the preceding verse: “do not make a graven image, etc., to bow down ‘unto them.’” But according to Rashi, who interpreted Thou shalt have no other gods (Verse 3) as being a prohibition against keeping an idol, and Thou shalt not make unto thee, etc., (Verse 4) as being a prohibition against making idols, Verse 5 should have said, “Thou shalt not bow down ‘to other gods,’” since the subject of worshipping the idols as gods is here mentioned for the first time. since it is connected with the making [of idols — mentioned in the preceding verse] — which He prohibited the people from bowing down to them. Thus all [of the first three verses in this second commandment] constitute prohibitions against worshipping idols, and their violations all entail death by the court. This verse, [i.e., Thou shalt not make unto thee a graven image, etc. (Verse 4)], is thus not a prohibition against making idols which one does not worship oneself, [as Rashi would have it]. Further on [in Verse 20], He indeed warns against this, as it is said, gods of silver, or gods of gold, ye shall not make unto thee. Similarly, Thou shalt not make unto thee molten gods,²⁸⁷Further, 34:17. Ye shall not make unto thee idols.²⁹⁰Leviticus 26:1.

וְטַעַם עַל פָּנָי כְּמוֹ "אִם לֹא עַל פָּנֶיךָ יְבָרֲכֶךָּ" (איוב א יא), "וְעַתָּה הוֹאִילוּ פְנוּ בִּי וְעַל פְּנֵיכֶם אִם אֲכַזֵּב" (שם ו כח). יַזְהִיר לֹא תַעֲשֶׂה לְךָ אֱלֹהִים אֲחֵרִים, כִּי עַל פָּנַי הֵם, שֶׁאֲנִי מִסְתַּכֵּל וּמַבִּיט בְּכָל עֵת וּבְכָל מָקוֹם בָּעוֹשִׂים כֵּן. הַדָּבָר הֶעָשׂוּי בְּפָנָיו שֶׁל אָדָם וְהוּא עוֹמֵד עָלָיו יִקָּרֵא "עַל פָּנָיו", וְכֵן "וַתַּעֲבֹר הַמִּנְחָה עַל פָּנָיו" (בראשית לב כב), וְכֵן "וַיָּמָת נָדָב וַאֲבִיהוּא וַיְכַהֵן אֶלְעָזָר וְאִיתָמָר עַל פְּנֵי אַהֲרֹן אֲבִיהֶם", שֶׁהָיָה אַהֲרֹן אֲבִיהֶם רוֹאֶה וְעוֹמֵד שָׁם, וּבְדִבְרֵי הַיָּמִים (א כד ב) "וַיָּמָת נָדָב וַאֲבִיהוּא לִפְנֵי אֲבִיהֶם וּבָנִים לֹא הָיוּ לָהֶם". וְהִנֵּה אָמַר לֹא תַעֲשֶׂה לְךָ אֱלֹהִים אֲחֵרִים, שֶׁאֲנִי נִמְצָא עִמְּךָ תָּמִיד וְרוֹאֶה אוֹתְךָ בַּסֵּתֶר וּבַגָּלוּי: וְעַל דֶּרֶךְ הָאֱמֶת תָּבִין סוֹד הַפָּנִים מִמַּה שֶׁכָּתַבְנוּ (רמב"ן על שמות ג':ב'), כִּי הַכָּתוּב הִזְהִיר בַּמַּעֲמָד הַזֶּה "פָּנִים בְּפָנִים דִּבֶּר ה' עִמָּכֶם" (דברים ה ד), וְתֵדַע סוֹד מִלַּת "אֲחֵרִים", וְיָבֹא כָּל הַכָּתוּב כִּפְשׁוּטוֹ וּמַשְׁמָעוֹ. וְכֵן רָמַז אוּנְקְלוֹס (תרגום אונקלוס על שמות כ':ג'), וְהוּא שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר (שמות כ':כ"ג) "לֹא תַעֲשׂוּן אִתִּי" וְגוֹ': כִּי אָנֹכִי ה' אֱלֹהֶיךָ לְבַדִּי, וְאֵין רָאוּי שֶׁתְּשַׁתֵּף עִמִּי אֲחֵרִים. וְאָנֹכִי אֵל, תַּקִּיף, שֶׁיֵּשׁ לְאֵל יָדִי, וְקַנָּא, שֶׁאֲקַנֵּא בְּנוֹתֵן כְּבוֹדִי לְאַחֵר וּתְהִלָּתִי לַפְּסִילִים. וְלֹא נִמְצָא בַּכָּתוּב בְּשׁוּם מָקוֹם שֶׁיָּבֹא לְשׁוֹן קִנְאָה בַּשֵּׁם הַנִּכְבָּד כִּי אִם בְּעִנְיַן עֲבוֹדָה זָרָה בִּלְבַד. וְאָמַר הָרַב בְּמוֹרֶה הַנְּבֻכִים (א לב) שֶׁלֹּא תִּמְצָא בְּכָל הַתּוֹרָה וּבְכָל סִפְרֵי הַנְּבִיאִים לְשׁוֹן חֲרוֹן אַף וְלֹא לְשׁוֹן כַּעַס וְלֹא לְשׁוֹן קִנְאָה אֶלָּא בְּעִנְיַן ע"ז בִּלְבַד. וְהִנֵּה בִּקְדוֹשֵׁי עֶלְיוֹן, "וַיִּחַר אַף ה' בְּמֹשֶׁה" (שמות ד':י"ד), "וַיִּחַר אַף ה' בָּם וַיֵּלַךְ" (במדבר יב ט), וְכָתוּב (איוב מב ז) "חָרָה אַפִּי בְךָ וּבִשְׁנֵי רֵעֶיךָ כִּי לֹא דִבַּרְתֶּם אֵלַי נְכוֹנָה כְּעַבְדִּי אִיּוֹב". אֲבָל בִּלְשׁוֹן קִנְאָה אֱמֶת הוּא. וְכָךְ אָמְרוּ בַּמְּכִילְתָּא (כאן), בְּקִנְאָה אֲנִי נִפְרָע מֵע"ז אֲבָל אֲנִי חַנּוּן וְרַחוּם בִּדְבָרִים אֲחֵרִים:
וּלְפִי דַּעְתִּי שֶׁיַּזְכִּיר קִנְאָה בע"ז בְּיִשְׂרָאֵל בִּלְבַד, וְטַעַם הַקִּנְאָה כִּי יִשְׂרָאֵל סְגֻלַּת הַשֵּׁם הַנִּכְבָּד אֲשֶׁר הִבְדִּילָם לוֹ, כַּאֲשֶׁר פֵּרַשְׁתִּי לְמַעְלָה (יט ה), וְהִנֵּה אִם הָעָם שֶׁלּוֹ מְשָׁרְתָיו פֹּנִים אֶל אֱלֹהִים אֲחֵרִים יְקַנֵּא בָּהֶם הַשֵּׁם כַּאֲשֶׁר הָאִישׁ מְקַנֵּא בְּאִשְׁתּוֹ בְּלֶכְתָּהּ לַאֲחֵרִים, וּבְעַבְדּוֹ בַּעֲשׂוֹת לוֹ אָדוֹן אַחֵר. וְלֹא יֹאמַר הַכָּתוּב כֵּן בִּשְׁאָר הָעַמִּים אֲשֶׁר חָלַק לָהֶם צִבְאוֹת שָׁמַיִם: וּבְכָאן אֲנִי מַזְכִּיר מַה שֶׁיּוֹרוּ הַכְּתוּבִים בְּעִנְיַן ע"ז, כִּי הָיוּ שְׁלֹשָׁה מִינִין, הָרִאשׁוֹנִים הֵחֵלּוּ לַעֲבֹד אֶת הַמַּלְאָכִים שֶׁהֵם הַשְּׂכָלִים הַנִּבְדָּלִים בַּעֲבוּר שֶׁיָּדְעוּ לְמִקְצָתָם שְׂרָרָה עַל הָאֻמּוֹת, כְּעִנְיָן שֶׁכָּתוּב (דניאל י כ) שַׂר מַלְכוּת יָוָן וְשַׂר מַלְכוּת פָּרַס, וְחָשְׁבוּ שֶׁיֵּשׁ לָהֶם יְכֹלֶת בָּם לְהֵיטִיב אוֹ לְהָרַע, וְכָל אֶחָד עוֹבֵד לַשַּׂר שֶׁלּוֹ כִּי הָיוּ הָרִאשׁוֹנִים יוֹדְעִים אוֹתָם, וְאֵלֶּה הֵם הַנִּקְרָאִים בַּתּוֹרָה וּבַכְּתוּבִים כֻּלָּם "אֱלֹהִים אֲחֵרִים", "אֱלֹהֵי הָעַמִּים", כִּי הַמַּלְאָכִים נִקְרָאִים אֱלֹהִים, כְּמוֹ שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר "הוּא אֱלֹהֵי הָאֱלֹהִים" (דברים י יז), "הִשְׁתַּחֲווּ לוֹ כָּל אֱלֹהִים" (תהלים צז ז), "כִּי גָדוֹל ה' מִכָּל הָאֱלֹהִים" (שמות י"ח:י"א). וְאע"פ שֶׁהָיוּ הָעוֹבְדִים מוֹדִים שֶׁהַכֹּחַ הַגָּדוֹל וְהַיְּכֹלֶת הַגְּמוּרָה לְאֵל עֶלְיוֹן, וְכָךְ אָמְרוּ רַבּוֹתֵינוּ (מנחות קי:) דְּקָרוּ לֵהּ אֱלָהּ דֶּאֱלָהַיָּא, וּבְזֶה אָמַר הַכָּתוּב "זוֹבֵחַ לָאֱלֹהִים יָחֳרָם" הִזְכִּירָם בְּשֵׁם הַיְּדִיעָה:
וְהַמִּין הַשֵּׁנִי בע"ז, שֶׁחָזְרוּ לַעֲבֹד לִצְבָא הַשָּׁמַיִם הַנִּרְאֶה, מֵהֶם עוֹבְדֵי הַשֶּׁמֶשׁ אוֹ הַיָּרֵחַ, וּמֵהֶם לְמַזָּל מִן הַמַּזָּלוֹת, כִּי כָּל אַחַת מִן הָאֻמּוֹת יָדְעָה כֹּחַ הַמַּזָּל בָּהּ כְּפִי מִשְׁטָרוֹ עַל הָאָרֶץ שֶׁלָּהֶם, וְחָשְׁבוּ כִּי בַּעֲבוֹדָתָם יִגְבַּר הַמַּזָּל וְיוֹעִיל לָהֶם, כְּעִנְיָן שֶׁכָּתוּב (ירמיה ח ב) "וּשְׁטָחוּם לַשֶּׁמֶשׁ וְלַיָּרֵחַ וּלְכֹל צְבָא הַשָּׁמַיִם אֲשֶׁר אֲהֵבוּם וַאֲשֶׁר עֲבָדוּם וַאֲשֶׁר הָלְכוּ אַחֲרֵיהֶם וַאֲשֶׁר דְּרָשׁוּם וַאֲשֶׁר הִשְׁתַּחֲווּ לָהֶם", וּכְמוֹ שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר בַּתּוֹרָה בְּאִסּוּר שֶׁל ע"ז (דברים ד יט) "וּפֶן תִּשָּׂא עֵינֶיךָ הַשָּׁמַיְמָה וְרָאִיתָ אֶת הַשֶּׁמֶשׁ וְאֶת הַיָּרֵחַ וְאֶת הַכּוֹכָבִים כֹּל צְבָא הַשָּׁמַיִם וְנִדַּחְתָּ וְהִשְׁתַּחֲוִיתָ לָהֶם וַעֲבַדְתָּם אֲשֶׁר חָלַק ה' אֱלֹהֶיךָ אֹתָם לְכֹל הָעַמִּים תַּחַת כָּל הַשָּׁמָיִם", יֹאמַר, כִּי בַּעֲבוּר שֶׁחָלַק הַשֵּׁם אוֹתָם לְכָל הָעַמִּים וְנָתַן לְכָל עַם כּוֹכָב וּמַזָּל, לֹא תִּהְיֶה נִדָּח אַחֲרֵיהֶם לְעָבְדָם. וְאֵלֶּה הָאֲנָשִׁים הֵם שֶׁהֵחֵלּוּ לַעֲשׂוֹת הַצּוּרוֹת הָרַבּוֹת בַּפְּסִילִים וְהָאֲשֵׁרִים וְהַחַמָּנִים, כִּי הָיוּ עוֹשִׂים צוּרוֹת מַזָּלָם בַּשָּׁעוֹת אֲשֶׁר לָהֶם הַכֹּחַ כְּפִי מַעֲלָתָם, וְהָיוּ נוֹתְנִים בָּעָם, כְּפִי מַחְשַׁבְתָּם, כֹּחַ וְהַצְלָחָה: וְקָרוֹב בְּעֵינַי שֶׁהוּחַל זֶה בְּדוֹר הַפַּלָּגָה כַּאֲשֶׁר הֱפִיצָם הַשֵּׁם אֶל הָאֲרָצוֹת, וּמָשְׁלוּ בָּהֶם הַכּוֹכָבִים וְהַמַּזָּלוֹת לְמַחְלְקוֹתֵיהֶם, כִּי הַבּוֹנִים הָיוּ רוֹצִים לַעֲשׂוֹת לָהֶם שֵׁם וְלֹא יִתְחַלְּקוּ, כַּאֲשֶׁר רָמַזְתִּי בִּמְקוֹמוֹ (בראשית יא ב): וְהָיוּ לְכָל אֵלֶּה הַכִּתּוֹת נְבִיאֵי שֶׁקֶר מַגִּידִים לָהֶם מִן הָעֲתִידוֹת וּמוֹדִיעִים קְצָת הַבָּאוֹת עֲלֵיהֶם בְּחָכְמַת הַקֶּסֶם וְהַנִּחוּשׁ, כִּי יֵשׁ גַּם לַמַּזָּלוֹת שָׂרִים שׁוֹכְנִים בָּאֲוִיר כַּמַּלְאָכִים בַּשָּׁמַיִם יוֹדְעִים בָּעֲתִידוֹת. וּמִמִּין הָעֲבוֹדָה הַזֹּאת הָיוּ מֵהֶם עוֹבְדִים לַאֲנָשִׁים, כִּי בִּרְאוֹתָם לְאֶחָד מִבְּנֵי הָאָדָם מֶמְשָׁלָה גְּדוֹלָה וּמַזָּלוֹ עוֹלֶה מְאֹד כִּנְבוּכַדְנֶצַּר, הָיוּ אַנְשֵׁי אַרְצוֹ חוֹשְׁבִים כִּי בְּקַבְּלָם עֲלֵיהֶם עֲבוֹדָתוֹ וְכַוָּנָתָם אֵלָיו יַעֲלֶה מַזָּלָם עִם מַזָּלוֹ, וְהוּא ג"כ יַחְשֹׁב כִּי בְּהִדָּבֵק מַחְשַׁבְתָּם בּוֹ תּוֹסִיף לוֹ הַצְלָחָה בְּכֹחַ נַפְשׁוֹתֵיהֶם הַמְּכֻוָּנוֹת אֵלָיו. וְזֶה הָיָה דַּעַת פַּרְעֹה כְּדִבְרֵי רַבּוֹתֵינוּ (שמו"ר ט ז), וְדַעַת סַנְחֵרִיב שֶׁאָמַר הַכָּתוּב בְּמַחְשַׁבְתּוֹ "אֶעֱלֶה עַל בָּמֳתֵי עָב אֶדַּמֶּה לְעֶלְיוֹן" (ישעיה יד יד), וְחִירָם וַחֲבֵרָיו שֶׁעָשׂוּ עַצְמָם אֱלוֹהוֹת, כִּי הָיוּ רְשָׁעִים לֹא שׁוֹטִים גְּמוּרִים:
וְהַמִּין הַשְּׁלִישִׁי בע"ז, אַחַר כָּךְ חָזְרוּ לַעֲבֹד אֶת הַשֵּׁדִים שֶׁהֵם רוּחוֹת, כַּאֲשֶׁר אֲפָרֵשׁ בע"ה (ויקרא יז ז), כִּי גַּם מֵהֶם יֵשׁ מְמֻנִּים עַל הָאֻמּוֹת שֶׁיִּהְיוּ הֵם בַּעֲלֵי הָאָרֶץ הַהִיא לְהַזִּיק לְצָרֵיהֶם וְלַנִּכְשָׁלִים שֶׁבָּהֶם, כַּיָּדוּעַ מֵעִנְיָנָם בְּחָכְמַת נֶגְרְמוֹנְסְיָא, גַּם בְּדִבְרֵי רַבּוֹתֵינוּ. וּבְזֶה אָמַר הַכָּתוּב (דברים לב יז) "יִזְבְּחוּ לַשֵּׁדִים לֹא אֱלֹהַּ אֱלֹהִים לֹא יְדָעוּם חֲדָשִׁים מִקָּרֹב בָּאוּ לֹא שְׂעָרוּם אֲבֹתֵיכֶם", לָעַג לָהֶם הַכָּתוּב שֶׁהֵם זוֹבְחִים גַּם לַשֵּׁדִים שֶׁאֵינָם אֱלוֹהַּ כְּלָל, כְּלוֹמַר שֶׁאֵינָם כַּמַּלְאָכִים הַנִּקְרָאִים אֱלוֹהַּ, אֲבָל הֵם אֱלֹהִים שֶׁלֹּא יְדָעוּם, כְּלוֹמַר שֶׁלֹּא מָצְאוּ בָּהֶם שׁוּם אֱלֹהוּת וְכֹחַ שׁוּלְטָנוּת, וְהֵם חֲדָשִׁים לָהֶם שֶׁלָּמְדוּ לַעֲשׂוֹת כֵּן מֵחָדָשׁ מִן הַמִּצְרִים הַמְּכַשְּׁפִים, וְגַם אֲבוֹתֵיהֶם הָרְשָׁעִים כְּתֶרַח וְנִמְרוֹד לֹא שְׂעָרוּם כְּלָל. וּמִזֶּה מַזְהִיר "וְלֹא יִזְבְּחוּ עוֹד אֶת זִבְחֵיהֶם לַשְּׂעִירִם אֲשֶׁר הֵם זֹנִים אַחֲרֵיהֶם" (ויקרא יז ז):
וְהִנֵּה הַתּוֹרָה אָסְרָה בַּדִּבּוּר הַזֶּה הַשֵּׁנִי כָּל עֲבוֹדָה בִּלְתִּי לַה' לְבַדּוֹ, וּלְכָךְ הִזְהִיר בַּתְּחִלָּה לֹא יִהְיֶה לְךָ אֱלֹהִים אֲחֵרִים עַל פָּנָי, שֶׁהֵם הַמִּין הָרִאשׁוֹן, וְזֶהוּ עַל פָּנָי, כַּאֲשֶׁר רָמַזְתִּי סוֹדוֹ וְהִזְהִיר עוֹד עַל הַפֶּסֶל וְגַם עַל הַתְּמוּנָה שֶׁהִיא תִּרְמֹז גַּם לַדָּבָר הָרוּחָנִי הַמְדֻמֶּה, כְּעִנְיָן שֶׁכָּתוּב (איוב ד טז) "יַעֲמֹד וְלֹא אַכִּיר מַרְאֵהוּ תְּמוּנָה לְנֶגֶד עֵינָי". וְכָךְ אָמְרוּ (ר"ה כד:) "אֲשֶׁר בַּשָּׁמַיִם", לְרַבּוֹת חַמָּה וּלְבָנָה כּוֹכָבִים וּמַזָּלוֹת, "מִמַּעַל" לְרַבּוֹת מַלְאֲכֵי הַשָּׁרֵת. כִּי גַּם בָּהֶם יַעֲשׂוּ צוּרוֹת לַשְּׂכָלִים הַנִּבְדָּלִים אֲשֶׁר הֵם נֶפֶשׁ לַמַּזָּלוֹת, כַּאֲשֶׁר הָיָה בְּעִנְיַן מַעֲשֵׂה הָעֵגֶל שֶׁאֲנִי עָתִיד לְפָרֵשׁ בע"ה (רמב"ן על שמות ל"ב:א'). AL PANAI’ (BEFORE MY FACE). This is similar in meaning to these expressions: Surely ‘al panecha’ (to Thy face) he will blaspheme Thee;²⁹¹Job 1:11. Now therefore be pleased to look upon me; for surely I shall not lie ‘al p’neichem’ (to your face).²⁹²Ibid., 6:28. He thus admonishes here: “Do not make unto yourselves other gods, for they are before My face, as I look and gaze at all times and in all places at those who make them.” A thing which is done in the face of a person when he is aware thereof is called al panav (before his face). Thus: So the present passed over ‘al panav’ (before him).²⁹³Genesis 32:22. So also: And Nadab and Abihu died… and Eleazar and Ithamar ministered in the priest’s office ‘al p’nei’ (in the presence of) Aaron their father,²⁹⁴Numbers 3:4. meaning that Aaron their father saw it and was aware thereof. In the Book of Chronicles it is written: And Nadab and Abihu died ‘liphnei’ (before) their father, and had no children.²⁹⁵I Chronicles 24:2. Since in the above verse (Numbers 3:4), it says that Nadab and Abihu died before the Eternal, Ramban therefore also quotes the verse from Chronicles, where it is stated that they died before their father. Hence the significance of the statement that he saw the remaining two sons performing the Divine Service in his presence. Thus the purport of the verse here is: “Do not make other gods unto yourselves, for I am present with you always and see you in private and in public.”
By way of the Truth, [the mystic lore of the Cabala], you will understand the secret of panim (face) from that which we have written²⁹⁶Above, 19:20. that Scripture warned concerning the Revelation:²⁹⁷See above, Note 17. ‘Panim b’phanim’ (face to face) did the Eternal speak with you.²⁹⁸Deuteronomy 5:4. And you will know the secret of the word acheirim (others), and then the entire verse will come [to light] in its plain meaning and purport. And so did Onkelos say it.²⁹⁹Onkelos translated al panai as bar mini (outside of Me). Thus the sense of the verse is as follows: “Do not worship elohim acheirim, since they were all created, excepting G-d, Who is eternal and has not been created by any being.” See also Note 285 above. It is this which is said, Ye shall not make with Me.³⁰⁰Verse 20. And as Rashi explains it: “Do not make any likeness of My ministers that serve Me.” “For I the Eternal thy G-d am a jealous G-d,³⁰¹Verse 5. i.e., to be worshipped alone, and it is not fitting that you join others to Me. And I am E-il,³⁰²Ramban now continues to explain the two Hebrew words in the above Verse: E-il kana (a jealous G-d). the Mighty One,³⁰³See Ramban on Genesis 17:1 (Vol. I, pp. 214-215). Who has the power in My hand;³⁰⁴See ibid., 31:29. and I am, furthermore, kana, avenging from the one who gives My glory to another and My praise to graven images.”³⁰⁵See Isaiah 42:8.
Now in no place in Scripture is an expression of ‘jealousy’ found in reference to the Glorious Name except in the matter of idol-worship. Thus the Rabbi [Moshe ben Maimon] wrote in the Moreh Nebuchim³⁰⁶Guide of the Perplexed, I, 36. that in the entire Torah and in all the books of the Prophets, you will not find the term burning anger, wrath, or jealousy [applied to G-d] except in reference to idolatry. But of the holy ones of the Supreme One it is written: And the anger of the Eternal was kindled against Moses;³⁰⁷Exodus 4:14. And the anger of the Eternal was kindled against them [i.e., Aaron and Miriam] and He departed!³⁰⁸Numbers 12:9. And it is further written, My wrath is kindled against thee [i.e., Eliphaz the Temanite] and against thy two friends, for ye have not spoken of Me the thing that is right, as My servant Job has.³⁰⁹Job 42:7. However, as far as the term ‘jealousy’ is concerned, [Rambam] is correct [in maintaining that it is not applied to G-d except in reference to idolatry]. And so did the Rabbis say in the Mechilta:³¹⁰Mechilta on Verse 5 here. “I zealously exact punishment for idolatry, but in other matters, I am gracious and merciful.”
In my opinion, jealousy is mentioned only with reference to idolatry in Israel. The reason for the jealousy is that Israel is the treasured possession of the Glorious Name, which He has separated to Himself, as I have explained above.³¹¹Above, 19:4. Now if His people, His servants, turn to other gods, G-d is ‘jealous’ of them even as a man is jealous of his wife when she goes to other men, and of a servant who makes another master for himself. But Scripture uses no such term of jealousy with reference to other peoples to whom He has allotted the hosts of heaven.³¹²See Deuteronomy 4:19.
At this point, I make mention of what Scripture teaches concerning idolatry. There were three kinds of idol-worship. The first [group of idol-worshippers] began to worship the angels, who are the Separate Intelligences,³¹³“For the angels are not material bodies but only forms distinguished from each other… All these forms live and realize the Creator, and their knowledge of Him is exceedingly great” (Rambam, Mishneh Torah, Hilchoth Yesodei Hatorah 2:3-8). For Rambam’s version of the development of idolatry, see his first chapter in Hilchoth Akum. See also Guide of the Perplexed I, 49, on figurative expressions applied to angels. because it is known that some of them have rulership over the peoples, something like it is written, the prince of the kingdom of Greece,³¹⁴Daniel 10:20. the prince of the kingdom of Persia.³¹⁵Ibid., Verse 13. They thought that [these angels] have power over them to do good or to do evil, and so each people began to worship the prince appointed over them, as the first [peoples] knew how to identify them. Now these are referred to in the Torah and in all the Writings as other gods, the gods of the peoples,³¹⁶Deuteronomy 6:14. for angels are called elohim, as it is said, He is G-d of gods;³¹⁷Ibid., 10:17. Bow down to Him, all ye gods;³¹⁸Psalms 97:7. For the Eternal is greater than all gods.³¹⁹Above, 18:11. They worshipped the angels even though they admitted that supreme strength and infinite power belonged only to G-d the Most High. Thus did the Rabbis say,³²⁰Menachoth 110a. [with reference to the peoples of the world], that they call G-d the Most High “G-d of gods.” Regarding this kind of idol-worship, Scripture has said, He that sacrificeth ‘la’elohim’ (to the gods) shall be utterly destroyed.³²¹Further, 22:19. It thus mentioned them by the name with which they were known.
The second kind of idolatry appeared when people began worshipping the visible hosts of heaven, some worshipping the sun or the moon, and others worshipping one of the constellations. Each of the nations knew the power of the constellation according to the dominion thereof in their land,³²²See Job 38:33. and they thought that by worshipping them, the constellation would be strengthened and it would help them, something like it is written, or the sun, or the moon, or any of the host of heaven, etc.³²³Deuteronomy 17:3. And it is further written, And they shall spread them before the sun, and the moon, and all the host of heaven, whom they have loved, and whom they have served, and after whom they have walked, and whom they have sought, and to whom they have bowed,³²⁴Jeremiah 8:2. and as it is said in the Torah with reference to the prohibition of idolatry: And lest thou lift up thine eyes unto heaven, and when thou seest the sun and the moon and the stars, even all the host of heaven, thou be drawn away and worship them and serve them, which the Eternal thy G-d hath allotted unto all the peoples under the whole heaven.³¹²See Deuteronomy 4:19. That is to say, because G-d allotted them to all the peoples and gave each people a star or constellation, you should not let yourself be allured to worshipping them. Now these are the people who began making the many forms of graven images, Asheirim and the sun-images.³²⁵Isaiah 27:9. They would make the forms of the constellations in the hours of their strength according to their rank, and in the opinion of the people, it bestowed power and success upon them. It appears likely to me that this [form of idolatry] began in the Generation of the Dispersion,³²⁶See Ramban, Genesis 11:2 (Vol. I, pp. 154-155). In describing the beginnings of this second stage of idolatry, Rambam introduces it with this statement: “In the course of time, there arose among men false prophets who said that G-d commanded them, saying ‘Worship that particular star’” (Mishneh Torah, Hilchoth Akum 1:2). Ramban here is more specific and suggests that the beginnings of this kind of idolatry took place in the age of the dispersion of the nations. This would seem to be the intent of Ramban’s words, “It appears likely to me…” when G-d scattered the nations to various countries and the stars and the constellations began holding sway over them according to their divisions. The builders of the Tower had declared their intention to make themselves a name³²⁷Genesis 11:4. and not be scattered, as I have hinted in its place.³²⁶See Ramban, Genesis 11:2 (Vol. I, pp. 154-155). In describing the beginnings of this second stage of idolatry, Rambam introduces it with this statement: “In the course of time, there arose among men false prophets who said that G-d commanded them, saying ‘Worship that particular star’” (Mishneh Torah, Hilchoth Akum 1:2). Ramban here is more specific and suggests that the beginnings of this kind of idolatry took place in the age of the dispersion of the nations. This would seem to be the intent of Ramban’s words, “It appears likely to me…” Now all these groups had false prophets who foretold them future events and informed them through the arts of sorcery and divination some of the things that were to come upon them. The constellations also have lords who abide in the atmosphere as the angels do in the heavens, and know the things that are to come.
Closely related to this kind of idolatry was the worship of human beings. When people of a country saw that a certain individual — such as Nebuchadnezzar — had great power and that his star was very much in the ascendancy, they thought that by accepting his worship upon themselves and directing their thought towards him, their star would also ascend together with his. He would also think that by their attaching their thoughts to him, his success would be augmented on account of the power of their souls directed towards him. This was the opinion of Pharaoh, who, according to the words of our Rabbis, [looked upon himself as a god],³²⁸Shemoth Rabbah 9:7. and of Sennacherib, concerning whose ideas Scripture says, I will ascend above the heights of the clouds; I will be like the Most High,³²⁹Isaiah 14:14. It is to be noted though that this prophecy was said with reference to the king of Babylon (ibid., Verses 4, and 22). Accordingly, it is difficult to understand why Ramban here mentions Sennacherib who was king of Assyria, and not Nebuchadnezzar, king of Babylon. See however, in Sefer Hage’ulah (Kithvei Haramban I, p. 274) where Ramban writes that Scripture sometimes “interchanges from the name of the king of Babylon to the king of Assyria” and he quotes various verses to prove it. In this sense it may be understood here that Ramban mentioned “Sennacherib” when his intent was really to the king of Babylon. and of Hiram³³⁰Ezekiel 28:2. and his companions³³¹Such as Nimrod. See Chullin 89a. who made themselves gods. They were wicked, but they were not absolute fools.
The third kind of idolatry appeared afterwards when people began worshipping the demons which are spirits, as I will explain with G-d’s help.³³²In Seder Acharei Moth (Leviticus 17:6). Some of them too are appointed over the peoples to be masters in their lands and to harm their beleagured ones and those who have stumbled, as is known of their activity through the art of necromancy, as well as through the words of our Rabbis.³³³Berachoth 6a. See my Hebrew commentary, p. 393. It is with reference to this [third kind of idolatry] that Scripture says, They sacrificed unto demons, no-gods, gods that they knew not, new gods that came up of late, which your fathers dreaded not.³³⁴Deuteronomy 32:17. Scripture ridicules them, [i.e., the Israelites], saying they sacrifice also to the demons who are no gods at all. That is to say, they are not like the angels who are called eloha. Instead, they are gods that they knew not, meaning that they found in them no trace of might or power of rulership. Furthermore, they are new to them, having learned only lately to worship them from the Egyptian sorcerers, and even their wicked forefathers such as Terach and Nimrod³³⁵Genesis 10:9. See Ramban there (Vol. I, p. 147). did not dread them at all. Of this [kind of idolatry] Scripture warns, And they shall no more sacrifice their sacrifices unto the demons, after whom they go astray.³³⁶Leviticus 17:7.
Thus in this second commandment, the Torah prohibited all [kinds of] worship, save unto the Eternal only.³³⁷Further, 22:19. It is for this reason that He first admonished, Thou shalt have no other gods ‘al panai’ (before My face), which is a reference to the first kind of idolatry, namely, the worship of the angels. This is the intent of al panai, whose secret I have alluded to. Then He further admonished against graven images and any manner of likeness of any thing that is in heaven above,³³⁸Verse 4. which also alludes to mental images of spiritual phenomena, something like it is written, It stood still, but I could not discern the appearance thereof; a form was before mine eyes.³³⁹Job 4:16. And so have the Rabbis said:³⁴⁰Rosh Hashanah 24b. “That is in heaven. This includes the sun, moon, stars, and constellations. Above. This includes the ministering angels.” Of them, too, [the worshippers] would make figures representing the Separate Intelligences³¹³“For the angels are not material bodies but only forms distinguished from each other… All these forms live and realize the Creator, and their knowledge of Him is exceedingly great” (Rambam, Mishneh Torah, Hilchoth Yesodei Hatorah 2:3-8). For Rambam’s version of the development of idolatry, see his first chapter in Hilchoth Akum. See also Guide of the Perplexed I, 49, on figurative expressions applied to angels. which are the souls of the constellations, as happened in the case of the [golden calf], as I am prepared to explain there with the help of G-d.³⁴¹Further, 32:1.

וְאָמַר אֲשֶׁר בַּמַּיִם מִתַּחַת לָאָרֶץ לְרַבּוֹת הַשֵּׁדִים, "מִתַּחַת מַיִם וְשׁוֹכְנֵיהֶם" (איוב כו ה), וְכָךְ אָמְרוּ (במכילתא כאן) לְהָבִיא אֶת הַבּוּבְיָא וְאָמַר בְּכֻלָּם לֹא תִשְׁתַּחֲוֶה לָהֶם וְלֹא תָעָבְדֵם בְּשׁוּם עֲבוֹדָה כְּלָל, וַאֲפִלּוּ לֹא יְהֵא דַּעְתּוֹ לְהוֹצִיא עַצְמוֹ מֵרְשׁוּתוֹ שֶׁל הקב"ה, וְהִנֵּה רִיקֵן כָּל הָעֲבוֹדוֹת כֻּלָּן לַשֵּׁם הַמְיֻחָד ית' (סנהדרין ס:): ALL THAT IS IN THE WATER UNDER THE EARTH. This expression includes the demons beneath the waters and the inhabitants thereof.³⁴²Job 26:5. And so the Rabbis have said,³⁴³Mechilta on the verse here. “All that is in the water under the earth: this includes the reflected images [which appear in the water].” Of all of them He said, Thou shalt not bow down unto them, nor serve them³⁴⁴Verse 5. in any manner of worship whatsoever, even if the worshipper’s intent is not to remove himself from the authority of the Holy One, blessed be He. Thus He has ordered all these services to be devoted to the Proper Name [of the Eternal], blessed be He.

פֹּקֵד עֲוֹן אָבוֹת עַל בָּנִים אָמַר ר"א כִּי טַעַם פְּקִידָה כְּטַעַם זְכִירָה, כְּמוֹ "וַה' פָּקַד אֶת שָׂרָה" (בראשית כא א), שֶׁהוּא כְּמוֹ "וַיִּזְכְּרֶהָ ה'" (שמואל א א':י"ט). וְהַטַּעַם, כִּי הַשֵּׁם יַאֲרִיךְ לָרָשָׁע אוּלַי יָשׁוּב וְיוֹלִיד בֵּן צַדִּיק, אֲבָל אִם הָלַךְ הַבֵּן בְּדַרְכֵי אָבִיו גַּם הַדּוֹר הַשְּׁלִישִׁי גַּם הַדּוֹר הָרְבִיעִי יֹאבַד זִכְרָם. כִּי הַשֵּׁם יִזְכֹּר מַה שֶׁעָשׂוּ הָאָבוֹת, וְלֹא יַאֲרִיךְ עוֹד. וְכָזֶה אָמְרוּ כָּל הַמְפָרְשִׁים. וְא"כ לֹא יִפְקֹד עֲוֹן אָבוֹת עַל בָּנִים וְעַל שִׁלֵּשִׁים, רַק עַל רִבֵּעִים, וְרָאוּי הָיָה שֶׁיֹּאמַר פֹּקֵד עֲוֹן אָבוֹת וּבָנִים וְשִׁלֵּשִׁים עַל רִבֵּעִים. וְאוּלַי יֹאמְרוּ שֶׁהוּא זוֹכֵר הֶעָוֹן עַל הַבָּנִים לֵאמֹר אַתָּה וְאָבִיךָ חֲטָאתֶם, וְכֵן יַעֲשֶׂה עִם הַשִּׁלֵּשִׁים וְעִם הָרִבֵּעִים, וְאָז יִנָּקֵם מֵהֶם וְלֹא יִפְקֹד לָהֶם עוֹד כִּי יַכְרִיתֵם בַּעֲוֹן כֻּלָּם: וְאֵין פֵּרוּשָׁם נָכוֹן, שֶׁיֹּאמַר הַכָּתוּב הַזְּכִירָה בְּכֻלָּם בְּשָׁוֶה, וְלֹא יַזְכִּיר הַנְּקָמָה שֶׁתְּהֵא בָּרִבֵּעִים בַּסּוֹף וּלְשׁוֹן פְּקִידָה עִם מִלַּת "עַל" לֹא תָּבֹא עַל זְכִירָה, אֲבָל הִיא הַנְּקָמָה, וְכֵן "וּבְיוֹם פָּקְדִי וּפָקַדְתִּי עֲלֵיהֶם חַטָּאתָם" (שמות ל"ב:ל"ד), וְכֵן "יִפְקֹד ה' בְּחַרְבּוֹ הַקָּשָׁה וְהַגְּדוֹלָה וְהַחֲזָקָה עַל לִוְיָתָן נָחָשׁ בָּרִחַ וְעַל לִוְיָתָן נָחָשׁ עֲקַלָּתוֹן וְהָרַג אֶת הַתַּנִּין אֲשֶׁר בַּיָּם" (ישעיה כז א), וְכֵן "יִפְקֹד ה' עַל צְבָא הַמָּרוֹם בַּמָּרוֹם" (שם כד כא), כֻּלָּם הַנְּקָמָה וְהָעֹנֶשׁ:
וְהַנָּכוֹן בְּעֵינַי שֶׁיֹּאמַר כִּי הוּא פּוֹקֵד הֶעָוֹן אֲשֶׁר עָשָׂה הָאָב עַל בָּנָיו וּמַכְרִיתָם בַּעֲוֹן אֲבִיהֶם, כְּעִנְיָן שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר (שם יד כא) "הָכִינוּ לְבָנָיו מַטְבֵּחַ בַּעֲוֹן אֲבוֹתָם", וְכֵן יִפְקֹד אוֹתוֹ עַל שִׁלֵּשִׁים כְּשֶׁלֹּא יִהְיֶה עֲוֹנָם שָׁלֵם בִּשְׁנֵי הַדּוֹרוֹת, כְּעִנְיַן "כִּי לֹא שָׁלֵם עֲוֹן הָאֱמֹרִי עַד הֵנָּה" (בראשית טו טז) וּפְעָמִים יִפְקֹד עֲוֹן כֻּלָּם עַל הָרִבֵּעִים שֶׁנִּתְמַלְּאָה סְאָתָם וְיַכְרִיתֵם, אֲבָל בְּדוֹר חֲמִישִׁי לֹא יֵעָנֵשׁ הַבֵּן בַּעֲוֹן אָבִיו הָרִאשׁוֹן. וְהוֹסִיף בְּמִשְׁנֵה הַתּוֹרָה (דברים ה ט) "וְעַל שִׁלֵּשִׁים וְעַל רִבֵּעִים לְשֹׂנְאָי", כְּטַעַם אוֹ: וְאָמַר ר"א (אבן עזרא על שמות כ':ה') כִּי בְּנֵי הַבָּנִים נִקְרָאִים בָּנִים, עַל כֵּן אָחַז דֶּרֶךְ קְצָרָה, כִּי מִמִּלַּת שִׁלֵּשִׁים וְרִבֵּעִים יִתְבּוֹנֵן זֶה. וְאֵינֶנּוּ כֵּן, אֲבָל שִׁלֵּשִׁים, הַדּוֹר הַשְּׁלִישִׁי בֶּעָוֹן, וְרִבֵּעִים כֵּן, כִּי הֵם אַרְבָּעָה חַטָּאִים. וְהַכָּתוּב שֶׁאָמַר בִּשְׁלֹשׁ עֶשְׂרֵה מִדּוֹת (שמות ל"ד:ז') "פֹּקֵד עֲוֹן אָבוֹת עַל בָּנִים וְעַל בְּנֵי בָנִים עַל שִׁלֵּשִׁים וְעַל רִבֵּעִים", יְפָרֵשׁ עַל בְּנֵי בָּנִים הַשִּׁלֵּשִׁים וְהָרִבֵּעִים. וּלְפִיכָךְ חָזַר מֹשֶׁה בַּמְּרַגְּלִים וְאָמַר "עַל בָּנִים עַל שִׁלֵּשִׁים וְעַל רִבֵּעִים" (במדבר יד יח), וְלֹא הִזְכִּיר בְּנֵי בָנִים, וְהַכֹּל אֶחָד: וְאָמַר הַכָּתוּב לְשֹׂנְאָי, כְּשֶׁיִּהְיוּ הַבָּנִים שׂוֹנְאֵי הַשֵּׁם, שֶׁאִם הוֹלִיד בֵּן צַדִּיק לֹא יִשָּׂא בַּעֲוֹן הָאָב, כְּמוֹ שֶׁפֵּי' יְחֶזְקֵאל (יחזקאל יח כ): וּמִדִּבְרֵי רַבּוֹתֵינוּ (מכילתא כאן) נִרְאֶה כַּפֵּרוּשׁ הַזֶּה שֶׁפֵּרַשְׁתִּי, שֶׁלָּמְדוּ מִכָּאן שֶׁמִּדָּה טוֹבָה מְרֻבָּה עַל מִדַּת פֻּרְעָנוּת, שֶׁמִּדַּת פּוּרְעָנוּת לְאַרְבָּעָה דּוֹרוֹת וְכוּ', וְאִם הָיָה כַּפֵּרוּשׁ הָרִאשׁוֹן הַזֶּה שֶׁפֵּרַשְׁתִּי, הָיְתָה מִדָּה טוֹבָה מְרֻבָּה אִם יַאֲרִיךְ גַּם דּוֹר עֲשִׂירִי. וְיִתָּכֵן שֶׁתִּהְיֶה הַמִּדָּה הַחֲמוּרָה הַזֹּאת בַּעֲבוֹדָה זָרָה בִּלְבַד, כִּי בָּהּ יַזְהִיר, אֲבָל בִּשְׁאָר הַמִּצְוֹת אִישׁ בַּעֲוֹנוֹ יָמוּת (ירמיה לא כט). וְהַסּוֹד הַנִּסְתָּר בְּפוֹקֵד עֲוֹן אָבוֹת עַל בָּנִים בִּתְחִלַּת סֵפֶר קֹהֶלֶת (א ד) תִּמְצָאֶנּוּ, וּכְבָר כְּתַבְתִּיו (בראשית לח ח): POKEID’ (VISITING) THE INIQUITY OF THE FATHERS UPON THE CHILDREN UNTO THE THIRD AND FOURTH GENERATION OF THEM THAT HATE ME. Rabbi Abraham ibn Ezra said that the meaning of the term p’kidah is similar to that of z’chirah (remembrance), just as in the verse, And the Eternal ‘pakad’ Sarah,³⁴⁵Genesis 21:1. which is like: “and the Eternal remembered her.” The purport [of the verse here, according to Ibn Ezra], is that G-d will postpone [punishment] of the wicked person because perhaps he will repent and beget a righteous son. But if the son walks in his father’s ways, as also the third and fourth generations, their memories will be destroyed, for G-d will ‘remember’ [to visit punishment upon them for] what the parents have done, and He will no longer postpone their punishment. All the commentators have similarly interpreted [the above Scriptural expression]. But if this be so, the sins of the fathers will not be visited upon their children nor upon the third generation, but only on the fourth. It would have been proper then for Scripture to say that He will visit the iniquity of the fathers and their sons and of the third generation upon the fourth generation! Perhaps these commentators will say that the sense of the verse is that He remembers the iniquity of the fathers upon their sons, saying [to them], “You and your fathers have sinned.” He does thus with the third and fourth generations, and then takes vengeance upon them, and never again does He visit it upon them, for He destroys them all in their iniquity.
But their explanation is not correct. Scripture mentions G-d’s remembrance of all of them equally, and it does not specify that the vengeance is exacted [only] in the end, i.e., on the fourth generation. Besides, the term p’kidah in conjunction with the word al — [as it occurs here: ‘pokeid’ avon avoth ‘al’ banim] — is not used in connection with remembrance, but rather signifies vengeance [or punishment]. Thus: And on the day ‘pokdi upakad’ti’ (that I do punish, I will punish) them for their sin;³⁴⁶Further, 32:34. In that day ‘yiphkod hashem’ (the Eternal will punish) with his sore and great and strong sword leviathan the slant serpent, and leviathan the tortuous serpent, and He will slay the dragon that is in the sea;³⁴⁷Isaiah 27:1. ‘yiphkod hashem’ (the Eternal will punish) the host of the high heaven on high.³⁴⁸Ibid., 24:21. All of these are expression of vengeance and punishment.
The correct interpretation thus appears to me to be that Scripture is stating that He visits the iniquity, which the father perpetrated, upon his children, and excises them on account of the iniquity of their father, something like it is said, Prepare ye slaughter for his children for the iniquity of their fathers.³⁴⁹Ibid., 14:21. Similarly, He visits it upon the third generation if the sin of the two generations is not yet full, something like [it is said], for the iniquity of the Amorite is not yet full.³⁵⁰Genesis 15:16. Sometimes He visits the iniquity of all three generations upon the fourth one when their measure [of iniquity] is filled and then he excises them. But in the fifth generation, no one is punished for the iniquity of his ancestor in the first generation. Now in the Book of Deuteronomy, [where the Ten Commandments are restated], He added a vav [to the expression ‘al shileishim’ (unto the third generation), thus making it] ‘v’al’ shileishim v’al ribei’im l’sonai.³⁵¹Deuteronomy 5:9. But the meaning of the vav [there is not the usual “and”] but “or” — [” ‘or’ unto the third generation ‘or’ unto the fourth generation of them that hate me” — as explained above].
Now Rabbi Abraham ibn Ezra wrote that children’s children are called “children.” This is why He used the briefer term.³⁵²Ibn Ezra tried to answer this question: Since Scripture uses the terms shileishim and ribei’im to signify the third and fourth generations, why does it not say shni’im for the second generation instead of using the term banim (children)? For this reason, Ibn Ezra interpreted banim as meaning “children and children’s children,” for they are both called banim. Hence, Scripture could not use the term shni’im, for that would have meant only the second generation after the sinner, who is the first generation. However, in fact the second and third generations also need to be included here. For this reason, Scripture used banim, which includes the children’s children as well, i.e., the third generation after the sinner. Accordingly, in Ibn Ezra’s opinion, shileishim will mean the children of the third generation, who are the fourth generation after the sinner, and ribei’im will mean the children of the fourth generation, who constitute the fifth generation. Ramban will differ with this entire interpretation. You can understand this from the terms shileishim (the third generation) and ribei’im (the fourth generation).³⁵³Ibn Ezra’s intent is that when you consider the words shileishim and ribei’im, this question will occur: Why does Scripture not use the term shni’im instead of banim? You must then conclude as explained in the preceding note. But this is not so. Shileishim means the third generation in that sin. [Hence, it includes only the father, his children, and his children’s children.] Likewise, ribei’im means the fourth generation in that sin, totalling four sinners. And the verse stated in connection with the thirteen attributes of G-d, visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children, and upon the children’s children, unto the third generation and unto the fourth generation,³⁵⁴Further, 34:7. is to be explained³⁵⁵The Hebrew text possibly lends itself to this translation: “He — [i.e., G-d, Who is proclaiming these thirteen attributes] — is explaining that al b’nei banim (upon the children’s children) is the shileishim (the third generation) and ribei’im (the fourth generation).” In other words, al b’nei banim is in apposition to al shileishim v’al ribei’im. as “the children’s children, who are the third and fourth generations.” It is for this reason that Moses, [when invoking the thirteen attributes] in the case of the spies, turned back [to this specific attribute as expressed here in the Ten Commandments] and said, visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children, upon the third and upon the fourth generation.³⁵⁶Numbers 14:18. He did not mention “children’s children,” for it is all one, [i.e., “children’s children” is the same as shileishim].
Now Scripture states [that this attribute of punishment applies only to] those that hate Me. That is, if the children hate G-d. If the sinner begot a righteous son, he does not bear the iniquity of the father, as [the prophet] Ezekiel has explained.³⁵⁷Ezekiel 18:20.
From the words of our Rabbis,³⁵⁸Tosephta Sotah 4:1. there appears a proof to the explanation I have presented above, [i.e., that ‘pokeid’ the sins of the fathers, etc., is to be understood in the sense of “visiting” or “punishing”]. From here, they have derived the principle that the [Divine] measure of good is greater than the measure of punishment, for the measure of punishment is for four generations [while that of reward is for thousands]. But if it were as the first explanation has it, [namely, that of Ibn Ezra, that pokeid means “remembers,” thus signifying that He postpones the punishment of the sinner until the fourth generation in the hope that perhaps he will beget a righteous son], then “the measure of good” would have been greater if He postponed punishment even to the tenth generation!³⁵⁹According to Ibn Ezra, the phrase in question represents a measure of G-d’s mercy. He does not punish the sinner immediately but “remembers” it until the third and fourth generations because perhaps he will repent and beget a righteous son. But, asks Ramban, if that were the interpretation, “the measure of Divine good” would be increased if such “punishment” were withheld even to the tenth generation! Why then did the Rabbis in the above-mentioned text speak of the Divine measure of good being manifested in punishment only to four generations when that Divine manifestation would apply even if it were extended to the tenth generation? But according to Ramban, who asserts that this verse represents a measure of G-d’s judgment — for pokeid means “punishing,” and the verse declares that the effects of the punishment are felt up to and including the fourth generation — that question cannot be asked. If punishment were extended to the tenth generation, it would no longer represent “a measure of good.” On the contrary, it would be a harsher judgment.
It is possible that this strict measure [of punishment that is imposed on a sinner and which is felt up to the fourth generation] applies only to idolatry, for it is with regard to this prohibition that He is warning here. However, in the rest of the commandments, [the rule applies that] every one shall die of his iniquity.³⁶⁰Jeremiah 31:30. You will find the hidden secret of visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children in the Book of Ecclesiastes.³⁶¹The allusion is to the verse, One generation passeth away, and another generation cometh (Ecclesiastes 1:4), upon which the Sefer Habahir commented: “that hath come already.” This means that the generation that passes away had come into the sins of the father “that had come already” in a previous generation, and the sins of the father are now visited upon the son, etc. (Ma’or V’shamesh). The mystic doctrine of the transmigration of souls is thus alluded to here. I have already written concerning it.³⁶²Genesis 38:8 (Vol. I, pp. 469-470).

לְאֹהֲבַי וּלְשׁוֹמְרֵי מִצְוֹתַי הַנִּרְאֶה מִמַּשְׁמָעוּת הַכָּתוּב שֶׁזּוֹ הַבְטָחָה בְּעִנְיַן הַמִּצְוֹת הָאֵלּוּ אֲשֶׁר הִזְכִּיר, יֹאמַר כִּי הוּא עוֹשֶׂה בָּהֶן חֶסֶד לַאֲלָפִים לְאֹהֲבָיו, הֵם הַמּוֹסְרִים נַפְשָׁם עָלָיו, כִּי הַמּוֹדִים בַּשֵּׁם הַנִּכְבָּד וּבֶאֱלֹהוּתוֹ לְבַדּוֹ וְיִכְפְּרוּ בְּכָל אֱלוֹהַּ נֵכָר וְלֹא יַעַבְדוּ אוֹתָם עִם סַכָּנַת נַפְשָׁם, יִקָּרְאוּ אוֹהֲבָיו, כִּי זוֹ הִיא הָאַהֲבָה שֶׁנִּתְחַיַּבְנוּ בָּהּ בְּנַפְשׁוֹתֵינוּ, כְּמוֹ שֶׁאָמַר "וְאָהַבְתָּ אֵת ה' אֱלֹהֶיךָ בְּכָל לְבָבְךָ וּבְכָל נַפְשְׁךָ" (דברים ו ה), שֶׁתִּמְסֹר נַפְשְׁךָ וְחַיֶּיךָ בְּאַהֲבָתוֹ, שֶׁלֹּא תַּחֲלִיפֶנּוּ בְּאֵל אַחֵר, וְלֹא תְּשַׁתֵּף עִמּוֹ אֵל נֵכָר, וּלְכָךְ נֶאֱמַר בְּאַבְרָהָם "זֶרַע אַבְרָהָם אוֹהֲבִי" (ישעיה מא ח), שֶׁנָּתַן נַפְשׁוֹ שֶׁלֹּא יַעֲבֹד ע"ז בְּאוּר כַּשְׂדִּים. וּשְׁאָר הַצַּדִּיקִים יִקָּרְאוּ שׁוֹמְרֵי מִצְוֹתָיו:
וְרַבִּים פֵּרְשׁוּ (עי' רמב"ם בפירוש משנה סנהדרין ריש פרק י) כִּי אוֹהֲבָיו הָעוֹבְדִים מֵאַהֲבָה שֶׁלֹּא עַל מְנָת לְקַבֵּל פְּרָס, כְּמוֹ שֶׁהִזְכִּירוּ חֲכָמִים (בספרי דברים יא יג): וּמָצָאתִי בַּמְּכִילְתָּא (כאן) "לְאֹהֲבַי", זֶה אַבְרָהָם וְכַיּוֹצֵא בּוֹ. "וּלְשׁוֹמְרֵי מִצְוֹתָי", אֵלּוּ הַנְּבִיאִים וְהַזְּקֵנִים. רַבִּי נָתָן אוֹמֵר, "לְאֹהֲבַי וּלְשׁוֹמְרֵי מִצְוֹתָי", אֵלּוּ שֶׁהֵם יוֹשְׁבִים בְּאֶרֶץ יִשְׂרָאֵל וְנוֹתְנִין נַפְשָׁם עַל הַמִּצְוֹת. מַה לְךָ יוֹצֵא לֵהָרֵג, עַל שֶׁמַּלְתִּי אֶת בְּנִי. מַה לְךָ יוֹצֵא לִשָּׂרֵף, עַל שֶׁקָּרָאתִי בַּתּוֹרָה. מַה לְךָ יוֹצֵא לִצָּלֵב, עַל שֶׁאָכַלְתִּי אֶת הַמַּצָּה. מַה לְךָ לוֹקֶה מֵאֲפַרְגָּל, עַל שֶׁנָּטַלְתִּי אֶת הַלּוּלָב. וְאוֹמֵר (זכריה יג ו) "אֲשֶׁר הֻכֵּיתִי בֵּית מְאַהֲבָי", הַמַּכּוֹת הָאֵלֶּה גָּרְמוּ לִי לֵאָהֵב לְאָבִי שֶׁבַּשָּׁמַיִם. הֲרֵי פֵּרֵשׁ רַבִּי נָתָן כִּי הָאַהֲבָה מְסִירַת הַנֶּפֶשׁ עַל הַמִּצְוָה. וְהַכָּתוּב וַדַּאי עַל ע"ז כִּי בָּהּ נִתְחַיַּבְנוּ בְּיֵהָרֵג וְאַל יַעֲבֹר בְּכָל הַזְּמַנִּים לְעוֹלָם, אֲבָל הִרְחִיב הָעִנְיָן לְכָל הַמִּצְוֹת, לְפִי שֶׁבִּשְׁעַת הַשְּׁמָד אָנוּ נֶהֱרָגִין עַל כֻּלָּן מִן הַכָּתוּב הָאַחֵר "וְלֹא תְחַלְּלוּ אֶת שֵׁם קָדְשִׁי" (ויקרא כב לב). וְת"ק שֶׁאָמַר זֶה אַבְרָהָם וְאֵלּוּ הַנְּבִיאִים, אֵינוֹ נָכוֹן שֶׁיֹּאמַר שֶׁהָיוּ הַנְּבִיאִים עוֹשִׂים עַל מְנָת לְקַבֵּל פְּרָס, אֲבָל יֵשׁ בָּזֶה סוֹד, אָמַר שֶׁאַבְרָהָם מָסַר נַפְשׁוֹ בְּאַהֲבָה, כְּעִנְיָן שֶׁכָּתוּב "חֶסֶד לְאַבְרָהָם", וּשְׁאָר הַנְּבִיאִים בִּגְבוּרָה. וְהָבֵן זֶה: AND HE SHOWETH MERCY UNTO THE THOUSANDTH GENERATION OF THEM THAT LOVE ME AND KEEP MY COMMANDMENTS. It appears from the sense of the verse that this Divine assurance is with respect to the subject-matter of the commandments that He mentioned. He is thus saying that to those that love Him, He will show mercy to their thousandth generation. These are the ones who sacrifice their lives for Him, for they are the ones who acknowledge only the Glorious Name and His G-dship and deny all strange gods, refusing to worship them even if they are in mortal danger. They are called “the lovers [of G-d],” for this is the kind of love that we have been obligated to observe even at the sacrifice of life, just as He has said, And thou shalt love the Eternal thy G-d with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy might,³⁶³Deuteronomy 6:5. meaning that you should give your very life because of your love of Him, that you should not alter Him for another god, nor join Him together with a strange god. It is for this reason that [the prophet] said of Abraham, the seed of Abraham my friend,³⁶⁴Isaiah 41:8. See Maimonides’ “The Commandments,” Vol. I, p. 4. since he risked his life in order not to worship the idols in Ur of the Chaldees.³⁶⁵See Ramban on Genesis 11:28 (Vol. I, pp. 156-161). The rest of the righteous are called those that keep My commandments.
Now many scholars³⁶⁶So it appears from Rashi’s commentary to Sotah 31 a, and from Rambam’s introduction to the tenth chapter of Sanhedrin. See my Hebrew commentary here, p. 395. have explained that “His lovers” are those who worship Him without the intention of receiving a reward, just as our Sages have mentioned.³⁶⁷Aboth 1:3, “Be not like servants who minister to their Master with the intention of receiving a reward; but be like the servants who minister to their Master without the intention of receiving a reward.” But I have found in the Mechilta that it is said:³⁶⁸Mechilta on the verse here. “Of them that love Me. This refers to Abraham and those like him. And those that keep My commandments. This refers to the prophets and the elders. Rabbi Nathan says that the verse, of them that love Me and keep My commandments, refers to those who dwell in the Land of Israel and give their lives for the commandments.³⁶⁹The reference is obviously to the persecutions by the Roman emperor Hadrian (117-138 Common Era), when the Jews in the Land of Israel were forbidden the practice of Judaism, including the study of Torah. Their determination to remain in the Land of Israel and practice their faith instead of emigrating to more peaceful lands such as Babylon, was at those times constituted as a special manifestation of their love of G-d. ‘Why are you being led out to be executed?’ ‘Because I have circumcised my son.’ ‘Why are you being led out to be burned?’ ‘Because I read the Torah.’ ‘Why are you being led out to be hanged?’ ‘Because I ate the unleavened bread.’ ‘Why are you being lashed with the whip?’³⁷⁰In our Mechilta: “Why are you whipped with a hundred lashes?” ‘Because I took the lulav.’³⁷¹“The Palm-branch.” See Leviticus 23:40. And it says, Those with which I was wounded in the house of my friends.³⁷²Zechariah 13:6. These are the wounds which have caused me to become beloved of My Father in heaven.” Thus Rabbi Nathan explained that the love [of G-d, which is referred to in the verse before us], meant the sacrifice of life for the sake of the commandments. Now the verse here certainly refers to idolatry, for it is with reference to it that we are obligated at all times forever to suffer death rather than transgress [the law].³⁷³Sanhedrin 74a. See Rambam, Mishneh Torah, Hilchoth Yesodei Hatorah 5:2-3. But [Rabbi Nathan] broadened the matter to include all the commandments, [such as circumcision, the study of Torah, the eating of unleavened bread on Passover, the taking of the lulav³⁷¹“The Palm-branch.” See Leviticus 23:40. on Succoth — as mentioned above] — because in the time of religious persecutions, we are obligated to suffer death for any of the commandments³⁷³Sanhedrin 74a. See Rambam, Mishneh Torah, Hilchoth Yesodei Hatorah 5:2-3. [rather than transgress them], as derived from the other verse, And ye shall not profane My holy Name.³⁷⁴Leviticus 22:32. For full discussion of this topic, see my translation of Maimonides’ “The Commandments.” Vol. II, commandment 63, pp. 61-63. And it would also be incorrect to say of the first Sage [in the above Mechilta] — i.e., who said that [those who love Me] refers to Abraham, while [those who keep My commandments] refers to the prophets — that he is of the opinion that the prophets kept the commandments with the intention that they receive a reward! [Thus the explanation of “the many scholars”³⁶⁶So it appears from Rashi’s commentary to Sotah 31 a, and from Rambam’s introduction to the tenth chapter of Sanhedrin. See my Hebrew commentary here, p. 395. mentioned above is refuted by the Mechilta.] However, there is a secret in this [Mechilta]: Abraham risked his life in love³⁷⁵Abusaula, in his commentary on the mystic passages in Ramban, explains this as follows: “Abraham’s power revealed itself in mercy, while that of the rest of the prophets in the ameliorated Divine attribute of justice.” See Ramban, Genesis Vol. I, p. 543. — something like it is written, mercy to Abraham³⁷⁶Micah 7:20. “Know that mercy is love” (Ma’or V’shamesh). — and the rest of the prophets in g’vurah (might).³⁷⁵Abusaula, in his commentary on the mystic passages in Ramban, explains this as follows: “Abraham’s power revealed itself in mercy, while that of the rest of the prophets in the ameliorated Divine attribute of justice.” See Ramban, Genesis Vol. I, p. 543. Understand this.

לֹא תִשָּׂא אֶת שֵׁם ה' אֱלֹהֶיךָ לַשָּׁוְא כְּבָר נִתְפָּרֵשׁ זֶה הַכָּתוּב בְּדִבְרֵי רַבּוֹתֵינוּ (שבועות כא.) שֶׁהוּא אוֹסֵר לְהִשָּׁבַע בַּשֵּׁם הַנִּכְבָּד לָרִיק, כְּגוֹן הַנִּשְׁבָּע עַל הַיָּדוּעַ לָאָדָם לְשַׁנּוֹתוֹ אוֹ לְקַיְּמוֹ, עַל עַמּוּד שֶׁל שַׁיִשׁ שֶׁהוּא שֶׁל זָהָב אוֹ שֶׁהוּא שֶׁל שַׁיִשׁ, וְהוּא עוֹמֵד לִפְנֵיהֶם וּמַכִּירִים בּוֹ. וְעַל דֶּרֶךְ הַפְּשָׁט יֶאֱסֹר עוֹד שֶׁלֹּא יִשָּׂא עַל שְׂפָתָיו הַשֵּׁם הַנִּכְבָּד עַל חִנָּם, כִּלְשׁוֹן "לֹא תִשָּׂא שֵׁמַע שָׁוְא" (שמות כ"ג:א'), "וּבַל אֶשָּׂא אֶת שְׁמוֹתָם עַל שְׂפָתָי" (תהלים טז ד), כִּי הַדִּבּוּר יִקָּרֵא כֵן בַּעֲבוּר שֶׁיִּשָּׂא בּוֹ קוֹל. וְכֵן "מַשָּׂא דְּבַר ה'" (זכריה ט א), וְכֵן "יִשָּׂא בַיּוֹם הַהוּא לֵאמֹר לֹא אֶהְיֶה חֹבֵשׁ" (ישעיה ג ז), שֶׁיִּשָּׂא קוֹלוֹ לֵאמֹר כֵּן:
וּבֶאֱמֶת שֶׁגַּם זֶה אָסוּר, וְנִקְרָא בִּלְשׁוֹן חֲכָמִים מוֹצִיא שֵׁם שָׁמַיִם לְבַטָּלָה (תמורה ג:). וּכְבָר אָמְרוּ רַבּוֹתֵינוּ (ספרא ויקרא ב, נדרים י:) מִנַּיִן שֶׁלֹּא יֹאמַר אָדָם לַה' עוֹלָה, לַה' חַטָּאת, אֶלָּא יֹאמַר עוֹלָה לַה', חַטָּאת לַה', ת"ל "קָרְבָּן לַה'" (ויקרא א ב), וַהֲלֹא דְּבָרִים קַל וָחֹמֶר, וּמַה אִם מִי שֶׁהוּא עָתִיד לְהַקְדִּישׁ אָמְרָה תּוֹרָה לֹא יָחוּל שְׁמִי אֶלָּא עַל הַקָּרְבָּן, קַל וָחֹמֶר וְכוּ': וְסִדֵּר זוֹ הַמִּצְוָה אַחַר אַזְהָרַת ע"ז, כִּי כַּאֲשֶׁר רָאוּי לְיִרְאָה אֶת ה' הַגָּדוֹל וְהַנּוֹרָא שֶׁלֹּא לָתֵת כְּבוֹדוֹ לְאַחֵר, כֵּן רָאוּי לָתֵת כָּבוֹד לִשְׁמוֹ, וְהַנּוֹשֵׂא אוֹתוֹ לַשָּׁוְא מְחַלְּלוֹ, כְּעִנְיָן שֶׁכָּתוּב "וְלֹא תִשָּׁבְעוּ בִשְׁמִי לַשָּׁקֶר וְחִלַּלְתָּ אֶת שֵׁם אֱלֹהֶיךָ" (ויקרא יט יב). וּכְמוֹ שֶׁהֶחְמִיר בע"ז וְכָתַב הָעֹנֶשׁ כִּי הוּא אֵל קַנָּא פֹּקֵד עֲוֹן אָבוֹת עַל בָּנִים, כֵּן כָּתַב בָּזֶה הָעֹנֶשׁ כִּי לֹא יְנַקֶּה אוֹתוֹ. וְאָמַר בַּלָּשׁוֹן הַזֶּה, וְלֹא אָמַר כִּי יִפְקֹד עָלָיו, בַּעֲבוּר שֶׁאֵינוֹ אֵצֶל הַנִּשְׁבָּעִים עֲבֵרָה גְּמוּרָה וְיַחְשֹׁב שֶׁרָאוּי לִמְחֹל לוֹ, אָמַר כִּי לֹא יִנָּקֶה כָּל הַנֹּגֵעַ. וְדִבְרֵי ר"א עַל הַכָּתוּב הַזֶּה כַּהֹגֶן:
וְהִנֵּה לְשׁוֹן הַכָּתוּב הַזֶּה אֶת שֵׁם ה' אֱלֹהֶיךָ, כְּאִלּוּ מֹשֶׁה יְדַבֵּר, וְכֵן בְּכָל הַדִּבְּרוֹת אַחֲרֵי כֵן, וּבִשְׁנַיִם הַפְּסוּקִים הָרִאשׁוֹנִים הַשֵּׁם יְדַבֵּר אָנֹכִי, אֲשֶׁר הוֹצֵאתִיךָ, עַל פָּנָי, כִּי אָנֹכִי, לְאֹהֲבַי וּלְשׁוֹמְרֵי מִצְוֹתָי וּמִפְּנֵי זֶה אָמְרוּ רַבּוֹתֵינוּ זַ"ל (מכות כד.) אָנֹכִי וְלֹא יִהְיֶה לְךָ מִפִּי הַגְּבוּרָה שְׁמַעְנוּם, שֶׁהֵם עִקַּר הַכֹּל. ור"א הִקְשָׁה כִּי הַכָּתוּב אָמַר (שמות כ':א') "וַיְדַבֵּר אֱלֹהִים אֵת כָּל הַדְּבָרִים הָאֵלֶּה", וּמְפֹרָשׁ מִזֶּה "אֶת הַדְּבָרִים הָאֵלֶּה דִּבֶּר ה' אֶל כָּל קְהַלְכֶם" (דברים ה יט), וְשָׁם כָּתוּב עוֹד "וַיִּכְתְּבֵם עַל שְׁנֵי לֻחֹת אֲבָנִים", כִּי כַּאֲשֶׁר אֲמָרָם אֶל כָּל קְהַלְכֶם כֵּן כְּתָבָם עַל הַלּוּחוֹת: וַאֲנִי אֲפָרֵשׁ לְךָ קַבָּלַת רַבּוֹתֵינוּ. בְּוַדַּאי שֶׁכָּל עֲשֶׂרֶת הַדִּבְּרוֹת שָׁמְעוּ כָּל יִשְׂרָאֵל מִפִּי אֱלֹהִים כִּפְשׁוּטוֹ שֶׁל כָּתוּב, אֲבָל בִּשְׁנֵי הַדִּבְּרוֹת הָרִאשׁוֹנוֹת הָיוּ שׁוֹמְעִים הַדִּבּוּר וּמְבִינִים אוֹתוֹ מִמֶּנּוּ כַּאֲשֶׁר יָבִין אוֹתָם מֹשֶׁה, וְעַל כֵּן יְדַבֵּר עִמָּהֶם כַּאֲשֶׁר יְדַבֵּר הָאָדוֹן אֶל עַבְדּוֹ, כְּמוֹ שֶׁהִזְכַּרְתִּי. וּמִכָּאן וָאֵילָךְ בִּשְׁאָר הַדִּבְּרוֹת יִשְׁמְעוּ קוֹל הַדִּבּוּר וְלֹא יָבִינוּ אוֹתוֹ, וְיִצְטָרֵךְ מֹשֶׁה לְתַרְגֵּם לָהֶם כָּל דִּבּוּר וְדִבּוּר עַד שֶׁיָּבִינוּ אוֹתוֹ מִמֹּשֶׁה. וְכָךְ הֵם מְפָרְשִׁים מֹשֶׁה יְדַבֵּר וְהָאֱלֹהִים יַעֲנֶנּוּ בְקוֹל (שמות י"ט:י"ט) וְעַל כֵּן הָיוּ בָּהֶם דִּבְרֵי ה' עִם מֹשֶׁה שֶׁיֹּאמַר לָהֶם כֵּן. וְהַכַּוָּנָה הָיְתָה בָּזֶה כְּדֵי שֶׁיִּהְיוּ כֻּלָּם נְבִיאִים בֶּאֱמוּנַת ה' וּבְאִסּוּר ע"ז, כַּאֲשֶׁר פֵּרַשְׁתִּי (שם ט), לְפִי שֶׁהֵם הָעִקָּר לְכָל הַתּוֹרָה וְהַמִּצְוֹת, כְּמוֹ שֶׁאָמַר "הַקְהֶל לִי אֶת הָעָם וְאַשְׁמִעֵם אֶת דְּבָרָי אֲשֶׁר יִלְמְדוּן לְיִרְאָה אֹתִי כָּל הַיָּמִים" (דברים ד י). אֲבָל בִּשְׁאָר הַדִּבְּרוֹת יְקַבְּלוּ מִפִּי מֹשֶׁה בֵּאוּרָן עִם שְׁמִיעָתָם קוֹל הַדְּבָרִים, וּבִשְׁאָר הַמִּצְוֹת יַאֲמִינוּ בְּמֹשֶׁה בַּכֹּל: LO THISA’ (THOU SHALT NOT TAKE) THE NAME OF THE ETERNAL THY G-D IN VAIN. This verse has already been explained in the words of our Rabbis.³⁷⁷Shebuoth 21a. Maimonides’ “The Commandments,” Vol. II, commandment 62, pp. 60-61. He prohibits [here] swearing by the Glorious Name in vain, such as swearing that which is contrary to facts known to man, or swearing to [the truth of] a self-evident fact. For example: if one swears that a pillar of marble is of gold, or that it is of marble, and the pillar is right before them and they recognize it as such [that it is of marble].
By way of the plain meaning of Scripture, the verse also prohibits the taking of the Glorious Name in vain upon one’s lips [even without an oath], the usage of the term [lo thisa] being similar to these expressions: ‘Lo thisa’ (Thou shalt not utter) a false report;³⁷⁸Further, 23:1. Nor ‘esa’ (do I take) their names upon my lips.³⁷⁹Psalms 16:4. Speaking is called thisa, [which literally means “lifting”], because the speaker thereby lifts up his voice. Similarly: ‘masa’ (The burden) of the word of the Eternal;³⁸⁰Zechariah 9:1. also, In that day ‘yisa’ (shall he swear), saying: I will not be a healer,³⁸¹Isaiah 3:7. which means that he will lift up his voice to say so. And in truth, this — [i.e., just taking G-d’s Name in vain even without an oath] — is also forbidden, and in the language of the Sages,³⁸²Temurah 3b. it is called “pronouncing the Name of Heaven to no purpose.” Thus our Rabbis have already said:³⁸³Sifra, Vayikra 2. “Whence do we know that [in dedicating a beast for a sacrifice] a man should not say, ‘Unto the Eternal this is a whole-offering,’ or ‘Unto the Eternal this is a sin-offering,’ but instead he should say, ‘This is a whole-offering unto the Eternal,’ ‘This is a sin-offering unto the Eternal’?³⁸⁴The reason for the prohibition is that if he mentions the Name of G-d first and he immediately changes his mind about bringing the beast as an offering, he will have taken the Name of Heaven for no purpose (Nedarim 10 b, Rashi). Scripture therefore says, an offering unto the Eternal.³⁸⁵Leviticus 1:2. Here the word “offering” is mentioned first and then the Name of G-d follows. And must we not reason by using the method of kal vachomer?³⁸⁶See Seder Bo, Note 208. If the Torah said of him who is about to dedicate [something to Heaven], ‘Let My Name not rest on it until [he has first said] korban (sacrifice)’, is it not logical [that we must not pronounce the Name of Heaven to no purpose]!”
He has placed this commandment after the prohibition of idolatry, because just as it is proper to fear the Great and Fearful Name by not giving His Glory to another,³⁸⁷See Isaiah 42:8. so it is fitting to give glory to His Name. He who takes it in vain profanes it, similar to that which is written, And ye shall not swear by My Name falsely, so that thou profane not the Name of thy G-d.³⁸⁸Leviticus 19:12. Just as He was stringent in the case of idolatry and wrote the punishment [for transgression], i.e., that He is a jealous G-d, visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children,³⁸⁹Verse 5. so did He record here the punishment that He will not hold him guiltless. He used this expression instead of saying that He will visit his sin upon him, [as He did in the case of idolatry], because people who swear [in vain] do not consider it a real sin, and they think it is proper that He forgive them. Therefore He said that whosoever toucheth that shall not go unpunished.³⁹⁰Proverbs 6:29. Rabbi Abraham ibn Ezra has written appropriately on this verse.³⁹¹The purport of Ibn Ezra’s explanation is as follows: When one swears by the Name of G-d, his intent is to imply that just as G-d is true, so is his word true. When he fails to fulfill it, it is thus tantamount to denying Him. The same reasoning applies to an oath taken in vain.
Now the language of this verse, the Name of the Eternal thy G-d, implies that it is as if Moses was speaking, and so also in the case of all the following commandments, whereas in the first two verses³⁹²“First two verses.” When the Ten Commandments are read in public, all the five verses contained in the first and second commandments are read as if they were one verse. Ramban’s language must then be understood as: “the first two commandments.” G-d is speaking: I; Who brought thee out; before Me; For I; Of them that love Me and keep My commandments. It is for this reason that our Rabbis of blessed memory have said:³⁹³Makkoth 24a. “We heard the two commandments — I am the Eternal thy G-d and Thou shalt have no other gods — from the Almighty Himself,” for they are the root of everything. But Rabbi Abraham ibn Ezra asked [concerning this tradition of the Rabbis] that Scripture says, And G-d spoke all these words,³⁹⁴Above, Verse 1. and still more clearly it is written [following the Ten Commandments], These words the Eternal spoke unto all your assembly,³⁹⁵Deuteronomy 5:19. and again it is written there, And He wrote them down upon two Tablets of stone,³⁹⁶Ibid., 4:13. meaning that as He said the Ten Commandments to all your assembly, so He wrote them down upon the Tablets!³⁹⁷According to Ibn Ezra, all these verses apparently stand in contradiction to that which the Rabbis have said, i.e., that we heard only the first two commandments from the Almighty Himself. Ramban proceeds to remove the difficulty.
I will explain to you the tradition of our Rabbis [that we heard the first two commandments from the Almighty Himself]. Surely all Israel heard the entire Ten Commandments from the mouth of G-d, as the literal meaning of Scripture indicates. But in the first two commandments, they heard the utterance of speech and understood their words even as Moses understood them. Therefore He spoke to them directly [in the first person], just as a master speaks to his servant, as I have mentioned. From then on, in the rest of the commandments, they heard a voice of speech but they did not understand it, and it became necessary for Moses to explain to them each and every commandment until they understood it from Moses. And so [the Rabbis] explained:³⁹⁸Guide of the Perplexed, II, 33: “Moses spoke, and G-d answered by a voice. In explanation thereof, the Sages said in the Mechilta that Moses brought to them every commandment as he heard it.” I have not been able to identify the exact quotation in the Mechilta. Moses spoke, and G-d answered him by a voice.³⁹⁹Above, 19:19. Therefore [the rest of the Ten Commandments] were addressed by G-d to Moses so that he should tell them thus. The reason [that the first two commandments were spoken to the people directly by G-d] was so that they should all be prophets in the belief of G-d, [His existence, and His Unity], and in the prohibition of idolatry, as I have explained.⁴⁰⁰Ibid., 19:9. Those are the root of the whole Torah and the commandments, just as He said, Assemble Me the people, and I will make them hear My words, that they may learn to fear Me all the days.⁴⁰¹Deuteronomy 4:10. But in the rest of the Ten Commandments, they received their explanation from the mouth of Moses after having heard a voice of words,⁴⁰²Ibid., Verse 12. while in all other commandments [of the whole Torah], they believed in Moses completely.

זָכוֹר אֶת יוֹם הַשַּׁבָּת לְקַדְּשׁוֹ אַחַר שֶׁצִּוָּה שֶׁנַּאֲמִין בַּשֵּׁם הַמְיֻחָד יִתְבָּרַךְ שֶׁהוּא הַנִּמְצָא, הוּא הַבּוֹרֵא, הוּא הַמֵּבִין, וְהַיָּכוֹל, וְשֶׁנְּיַחֵד הָאֱמוּנָה בְּכָל אֵלֶּה וְהַכָּבוֹד לוֹ לְבַדּוֹ, וְצִוָּה שֶׁנְּכַבֵּד זֵכֶר שְׁמוֹ, צִוָּה שֶׁנַּעֲשָׂה בָּזֶה סִימָן וְזִכָּרוֹן תָּמִיד לְהוֹדִיעַ שֶׁהוּא בָּרָא הַכֹּל, וְהִיא מִצְוַת הַשַּׁבָּת שֶׁהִיא זֵכֶר לְמַעֲשֵׂה בְּרֵאשִׁית:
וְאָמַר זָכוֹר אֶת יוֹם הַשַּׁבָּת לְקַדְּשׁוֹ וּבְמִשְׁנֵה תּוֹרָה (דברים ה יב) כָּתוּב "שָׁמוֹר אֶת יוֹם הַשַּׁבָּת לְקַדְּשׁוֹ". וְרַבּוֹתֵינוּ אָמְרוּ בָּזֶה (ר"ה כז.) זָכוֹר וְשָׁמוֹר בְּדִבּוּר אֶחָד נֶאֶמְרוּ, וְלֹא הִקְפִּידוּ בִּלְשׁוֹנוֹת אֲחֵרִים שֶׁנִּתְחַלְּפוּ לָהֶם. וְהַכַּוָּנָה לָהֶם זַ"ל, כִּי "זָכוֹר" מִצְוַת עֲשֵׂה, צִוָּה שֶׁנִּזְכֹּר יוֹם הַשַּׁבָּת לְקַדְּשׁוֹ וְלֹא נִשְׁכָּחֵהוּ, וְ"שָׁמוֹר" אֶצְלָם מִצְוַת לֹא תַעֲשֶׂה, שֶׁכָּל מָקוֹם שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר הִשָּׁמֶר פֶּן וְאַל אֵינוֹ אֶלָּא לֹא תַעֲשֶׂה (עירובין צו.), יַזְהִיר שֶׁנִּשְׁמֹר אוֹתוֹ לְקַדְּשׁוֹ שֶׁלֹּא נְחַלְּלֵהוּ, וְאֵין רָאוּי לְמֹשֶׁה שֶׁיַּחְלִיף דִּבְרֵי הַשֵּׁם מִמִּצְוַת עֲשֵׂה לְמִצְוַת לֹא תַעֲשֶׂה. אֲבָל אִם הֶחְלִיף בַּדִּבּוּר הַשֵּׁנִי וְכָל תְּמוּנָה וְאָמַר כָּל תְּמוּנָה, בְּחֶסְרוֹן וָא"ו, וְהוֹסִיף אוֹתָהּ בְּ"וְעַל שִׁלֵּשִׁים", וְכֵן כָּל כַּיּוֹצֵא בָּזֶה בִּשְׁאָר הַדִּבְּרוֹת, אֵין בְּכָךְ כְּלוּם, כִּי הַכֹּל אֶחָד. וְהַטַּעַם הַזֶּה לֹא יִסְבֹּל אוֹתוֹ אֶלָּא מִי שֶׁאֵינוֹ רָגִיל בַּתַּלְמוּד: וּמְפֹרָשׁ אָמְרוּ (ברכות כ:) נָשִׁים חַיָּבוֹת בְּקִדּוּשׁ הַיּוֹם דְּבַר תּוֹרָה, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר זָכוֹר וְשָׁמוֹר, כָּל שֶׁיֶּשְׁנוֹ בִּשְׁמִירָה יֶשְׁנוֹ בִּזְכִירָה, וְהָנֵי נְשֵׁי הוֹאִיל וְאִיתַנְהוּ בִּשְׁמִירָה אִיתַנְהוּ בִּזְכִירָה, שֶׁהַנָּשִׁים חַיָּבוֹת בִּשְׁמִירָה, שֶׁבְּכָל מִצְוַת לֹא תַעֲשֶׂה הֵן חַיָּבוֹת, וְלֹא הָיוּ חַיָּבוֹת בִּזְכִירָה שֶׁהִיא מִצְוַת עֲשֵׂה שֶׁהַזְּמַן גְּרָמָא וְנָשִׁים פְּטוּרוֹת, אֶלָּא שֶׁהַהֶקֵּשׁ הַזֶּה מְחַיֵּב אוֹתָן. וַאֲנִי תָּמֵהַּ אִם נֶאֱמַר זָכוֹר וְשָׁמוֹר מִפִּי הַגְּבוּרָה, לָמָּה לֹא נִכְתַּב בַּלּוּחוֹת הָרִאשׁוֹנוֹת. וְיִתָּכֵן שֶׁהָיָה בַּלּוּחוֹת הָרִאשׁוֹנוֹת וּבַשְּׁנִיּוֹת כָּתוּב זָכוֹר, וּמֹשֶׁה פֵּרֵשׁ לְיִשְׂרָאֵל כִּי שָׁמוֹר נֶאֱמַר עִמּוֹ. וְזוֹ כַּוָּנָתָם בֶּאֱמֶת:
וּבְמִדְרָשׁוֹ שֶׁל רַבִּי נְחוּנְיָא בֶּן הַקָּנָה (ספר הבהיר אות קפב) הִזְכִּירוּ עוֹד סוֹד גָּדוֹל בְּזָכוֹר וְשָׁמוֹר, וְעַל הַכְּלָל תִּהְיֶה הַזְּכִירָה בַּיּוֹם וְהַשְּׁמִירָה בַּלַּיְלָה, וְזֶהוּ מַאֲמַר הַחֲכָמִים (ב"ק לב:) שֶׁאוֹמְרִים בְּעֶרֶב שַׁבָּת בֹּאִי כַּלָּה בֹּאִי כַּלָּה, בֹּאוּ וְנֵצֵא לִקְרַאת שַׁבָּת מַלְכָּה כַּלָּה, וְיִקְרְאוּ לְבִרְכַּת הַיּוֹם קִדּוּשָׁא רַבָּא (פסחים קו) שֶׁהוּא הַקִּדּוּשׁ הַגָּדוֹל, וְתָבִין זֶה. וֶאֱמֶת הוּא ג"כ כִּי מִדַּת זָכוֹר רָמְזוּ בְּמִצְוַת עֲשֵׂה, וְהוּא הַיּוֹצֵא מִמִּדַּת הָאַהֲבָה וְהוּא לְמִדַּת הָרַחֲמִים, כִּי הָעוֹשֶׂה מִצְוַת אֲדוֹנָיו אָהוּב לוֹ וַאֲדוֹנָיו מְרַחֵם עָלָיו, וּמִדַּת שָׁמוֹר בְּמִצְוַת לֹא תַעֲשֶׂה, וְהוּא לְמִדַּת הַדִּין וְיוֹצֵא מִמִּדַּת הַיִּרְאָה, כִּי הַנִּשְׁמָר מֵעֲשׂוֹת דָּבָר הָרַע בְּעֵינֵי אֲדוֹנָיו יָרֵא אוֹתוֹ, וְלָכֵן מִצְוַת עֲשֵׂה גְּדוֹלָה מִמִּצְוַת לֹא תַעֲשֶׂה, כְּמוֹ שֶׁהָאַהֲבָה גְּדוֹלָה מֵהַיִּרְאָה, כִּי הַמְּקַיֵּם וְעֹשֶׂה בְּגוּפוֹ וּבְמָמוֹנוֹ רְצוֹן אֲדוֹנָיו הוּא גָּדוֹל מֵהַנִּשְׁמָר מֵעֲשׂוֹת הָרַע בְּעֵינָיו, וּלְכָךְ אָמְרוּ דְּאָתֵי עֲשֵׂה וְדָחֵי לֹא תַעֲשֶׂה, וּמִפְּנֵי זֶה יִהְיֶה הָעֹנֶשׁ בְּמִצְוַת לֹא תַעֲשֶׂה גָּדוֹל וְעוֹשִׂין בּוֹ דִּין כְּגוֹן מַלְקוּת וּמִיתָה, וְאֵין עוֹשִׂין בּוֹ דִּין בְּמִצְוַת עֲשֵׂה כְּלָל אֶלָּא בַּמּוֹרְדִין, כְּמוֹ לוּלָב וְצִיצִית אֵינִי עוֹשֶׂה, סֻכָּה אֵינִי עוֹשֶׂה, שֶׁסַּנְהֶדְרִין הָיוּ מַכִּין אוֹתוֹ עַד שֶׁיְּקַבֵּל עָלָיו לַעֲשׂוֹת אוֹ עַד שֶׁתֵּצֵא נַפְשׁוֹ:
וְכָתַב רַשִׁ"י (רש"י על שמות כ':ח') בְּפֵרוּשׁ זָכוֹר תְּנוּ לֵב לִזְכֹּר תָּמִיד אֶת יוֹם הַשַּׁבָּת שֶׁאִם נִזְדַּמֵּן לוֹ חֵלֶק יָפֶה יְהֵא מַזְמִינוֹ לְשַׁבָּת. וְזוֹ בָּרַיְתָא הִיא שֶׁשְּׁנוּיָה בַּמְּכִילְתָּא (כאן) כָּךְ, רַבִּי אֶלְעָזָר בֶּן חֲנַנְיָה בֶּן חִזְקִיָּה בֶּן גָּרוֹן אוֹמֵר זָכוֹר אֶת יוֹם הַשַּׁבָּת לְקַדְּשׁוֹ, תְּהֵא זוֹכְרוֹ מֵאֶחָד בְּשַׁבָּת, שֶׁאִם נִזְדַּמֵּן לְךָ חֵפֶץ יָפֶה תְּהֵא מַתְקִינוֹ לְשַׁבָּת. אֲבָל בִּלְשׁוֹן יָחִיד שְׁנוּיָה, וְאֵינָהּ כַּהֲלָכָה, שֶׁהֲרֵי בַּגְּמָרָא (ביצה טז.) אָמְרוּ תַּנְיָא אָמְרוּ עָלָיו עַל שַׁמַּאי הַזָּקֵן כָּל יָמָיו הָיָה אוֹכֵל לִכְבוֹד שַׁבָּת, כֵּיצַד מָצָא בְּהֵמָה נָאָה אוֹמֵר תְּהֵא זוֹ לִכְבוֹד שַׁבָּת, לְמָחָר מָצָא אַחֶרֶת נָאָה הֵימֶנָּה מַנִּיחַ הַשְּׁנִיָּה וְאוֹכֵל אֶת הָרִאשׁוֹנָה, אֲבָל הִלֵּל הַזָּקֵן מִדָּה אַחֶרֶת הָיְתָה בּוֹ, כָּל מַעֲשָׂיו הָיוּ לְשֵׁם שָׁמַיִם, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר (תהלים סח כ) "בָּרוּךְ ה' יוֹם יוֹם". תַּנְיָא נָמֵי הָכִי, בֵּית שַׁמַּאי אוֹמְרִים בְּחַד בְּשַׁבִּיךְ לְשַׁבְּתִיךְ, וּב"ה אוֹמְרִים "בָּרוּךְ ה' יוֹם יוֹם":
וּבִמְכִילְתָּא אַחֶרֶת (מכילתא דרשב"י) שַׁמַּאי הַזָּקֵן אוֹמֵר זְכִירָה עַד שֶׁלֹּא תָּבֹא, שְׁמִירָה מִשֶּׁתָּבֹא, וּמַעֲשֶׂה בְּשַׁמַּאי הַזָּקֵן שֶׁלֹּא הָיָה זִכְרוֹן שַׁבָּת זָז מִפִּיו, לָקַח חֵפֶץ טוֹב אוֹמֵר זֶה לְשַׁבָּת, כְּלִי חָדָשׁ אוֹמֵר זֶה לְשַׁבָּת אֲבָל הִלֵּל הַזָּקֵן מִדָּה אַחֶרֶת הָיְתָה בּוֹ שֶׁהָיָה אוֹמֵר כָּל מַעֲשֶׂיךָ יִהְיוּ לְשֵׁם שָׁמַיִם. וַהֲלָכָה הִיא כְּדִבְרֵי ב"ה: וְעַל דֶּרֶךְ הַפְּשָׁט אָמְרוּ (במכילתא כאן) שֶׁהִיא מִצְוָה שֶׁנִּזְכֹּר תָּמִיד בְּכָל יוֹם אֶת הַשַּׁבָּת שֶׁלֹּא נִשְׁכָּחֵהוּ וְלֹא יִתְחַלֵּף לָנוּ בִּשְׁאָר הַיָּמִים, כִּי בְּזָכְרֵנוּ אוֹתוֹ תָּמִיד יִזְכֹּר מַעֲשֵׂה בְּרֵאשִׁית בְּכָל עֵת, וְנוֹדֶה בְּכָל עֵת שֶׁיֵּשׁ לָעוֹלָם בּוֹרֵא, וְהוּא צִוָּה אוֹתָנוּ בָּאוֹת הַזֶּה כְּמוֹ שֶׁאָמַר (שמות ל"א:י"ג) "כִּי אוֹת הִיא בֵּינִי וּבֵינֵיכֶם" וְזֶה עִקָּר גָּדוֹל בֶּאֱמוּנַת הָאֵל:
וְטַעַם לְקַדְּשׁוֹ שֶׁיְּהֵא זִכְרוֹנֵנוּ בּוֹ לִהְיוֹת קָדוֹשׁ בְּעֵינֵינוּ, כְּמוֹ שֶׁאָמַר "וְקָרָאתָ לַשַּׁבָּת עֹנֶג לִקְדוֹשׁ ה' מְכֻבָּד" (ישעיה נח יג). וְהַטַּעַם, שֶׁתְּהֵא הַשְּׁבִיתָה בְּעֵינֵינוּ בַּעֲבוּר שֶׁהוּא יוֹם קָדוֹשׁ, לְהִפָּנוֹת בּוֹ מֵעִסְקֵי הַמַּחְשָׁבוֹת וְהַבְלֵי הַזְּמַנִּים, וְלָתֵת בּוֹ עֹנֶג לְנַפְשֵׁנוּ בְּדַרְכֵי ה', וְלָלֶכֶת אֶל הַחֲכָמִים וְאֶל הַנְּבִיאִים לִשְׁמֹעַ דִּבְרֵי ה', כְּמוֹ שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר (מלכים ב ד':כ"ג) "מַדּוּעַ אַתְּ הֹלֶכֶת אֵלָיו הַיּוֹם לֹא חֹדֶשׁ וְלֹא שַׁבָּת", שֶׁהָיָה דַּרְכָּם כֵּן, וְכָךְ אָמְרוּ רז"ל (ר"ה טז.) מִכְּלָל דִּבְחֹדֶשׁ וְשַׁבָּת בָּעֵי לְמֵיזַל. וְזֶה טַעַם שְׁבִיתַת הַבְּהֵמָה, שֶׁלֹּא תְּהֵא בְּלִבֵּנוּ מַחְשָׁבָה עָלֶיהָ: וּלְכָךְ אָמְרוּ זַ"ל (חולין ה) שֶׁהַשַּׁבָּת שְׁקוּלָה כְּנֶגֶד כָּל מִצְוֹת שֶׁבַּתּוֹרָה, כְּמוֹ שֶׁאָמְרוּ בע"ז, מִפְּנֵי שֶׁבָּהּ נָעִיד עַל כָּל עִקְּרֵי הָאֱמוּנָה בַּחִדּוּשׁ וּבַהַשְׁגָּחָה וּבַנְּבוּאָה. וּבַמְּכִילְתָּא (כאן) רַבִּי יִצְחָק אוֹמֵר, לֹא תְּהֵא מוֹנֶה כְּדֶרֶךְ שֶׁהָאֲחֵרִים מוֹנִים, אֶלָּא תְּהֵא מוֹנֶה לְשֵׁם שַׁבָּת. וּפֵרוּשָׁהּ, שֶׁהַגּוֹיִם מוֹנִין יְמֵי הַשָּׁבוּעַ לְשֵׁם הַיָּמִים עַצְמָן, יִקְרְאוּ לְכָל יוֹם שֵׁם בִּפְנֵי עַצְמוֹ, אוֹ עַל שְׁמוֹת הַמְשָׁרְתִים, כַּנּוֹצְרִים, אוֹ שֵׁמוֹת אֲחֵרִים שֶׁיִּקְרְאוּ לָהֶם, וְיִשְׂרָאֵל מוֹנִים כָּל הַיָּמִים לְשֵׁם שַׁבָּת, אֶחָד בְּשַׁבָּת, שֵׁנִי בְּשַׁבָּת, כִּי זוֹ מִן הַמִּצְוָה שֶׁנִּצְטַוֵּינוּ בּוֹ לְזָכְרוֹ תָּמִיד בְּכָל יוֹם. וְזֶה פְּשׁוּטוֹ שֶׁל מִקְרָא, וְכָךְ פֵּרֵשׁ ר"א: וְאוֹמֵר אֲנִי שֶׁזֶּהוּ מִדְרָשׁוֹ שֶׁל שַׁמַּאי הַזָּקֵן (במכילתא דרשב"י) שֶׁפֵּרֵשׁ מִצְוַת זָכוֹר עַד שֶׁלֹּא תָּבֹא, כְּלוֹמַר שֶׁלֹּא נִשְׁכָּחֵהוּ בְּשׁוּם פָּנִים, אֲבָל הִזְכִּירוּ בַּבָּרַיְתָא (בביצה טז:) עוֹד מִדַּת חֲסִידוּתוֹ שֶׁהָיָה הוּא מַזְכִּירוֹ גַּם בְּמַאֲכָלָיו וְאוֹכֵל לִכְבוֹד שַׁבָּת כָּל יְמֵי חַיָּיו, וְהִלֵּל עַצְמוֹ מוֹדֶה בְּמִדְרָשׁוֹ שֶׁל שַׁמַּאי, אֲבָל הָיְתָה בּוֹ מִדָּה אַחֶרֶת בַּמַּאֲכָלִים מִפְּנֵי שֶׁכָּל מַעֲשָׂיו הָיוּ לְשֵׁם שָׁמַיִם, וְהָיָה בּוֹטֵחַ בַּה' שֶׁיַּזְמִין לוֹ לְשַׁבָּת מָנָה יָפָה מִכָּל הַיָּמִים:
אֲבָל לְרַבּוֹתֵינוּ עוֹד בּוֹ מִדְרָשׁ מִמִּלַּת "לְקַדְּשׁוֹ", שֶׁנְּקַדְּשֵׁהוּ בְּזִכָּרוֹן, כְּעִנְיַן "וְקִדַּשְׁתֶּם אֵת שְׁנַת הַחֲמִשִּׁים שָׁנָה" (ויקרא כה י), שֶׁהוּא טָעוּן קִדּוּשׁ ב"ד לוֹמַר בַּיּוֹבֵל מְקֻדָּשׁ מְקֻדָּשׁ, אַף כָּאן צִוָּה שֶׁנִּזְכֹּר אֶת יוֹם הַשַּׁבָּת בְּקַדְּשֵׁנוּ אוֹתוֹ. וְכָךְ אָמְרוּ בַּמְּכִילְתָּא (כאן) "לְקַדְּשׁוֹ", קַדְּשֵׁהוּ בִּבְרָכָה, מִכָּאן אָמְרוּ מְקַדְּשִׁין עַל הַיַּיִן בִּכְנִיסָתוֹ, אֵין לִי אֶלָּא לַיּוֹם, לַלַּיְלָה מִנַּיִן, ת"ל "וּשְׁמַרְתֶּם אֶת הַשַּׁבָּת" (שמות ל"א:י"ד), וְזֶהוּ קִדּוּשׁ הַיּוֹם, וְהוּא מִן הַתּוֹרָה, אֵינוֹ אַסְמַכְתָּא. וְכָךְ אָמְרוּ (ברכות כ:) נָשִׁים חַיָּבוֹת בְּקִדּוּשׁ הַיּוֹם דְּבַר תּוֹרָה, וְזֶה עַל קִדּוּשׁ הַלַּיְלָה, לְפִי שֶׁכָּל הַטְּעוּנִים קִדּוּשׁ מִתְקַדְּשִׁים בִּכְנִיסָתָן פַּעַם אַחַת, כְּגוֹן קִדּוּשׁ הַחֹדֶשׁ, וְקִדּוּשׁ הַיּוֹבֵל, אֲבָל בַּיּוֹם אַסְמַכְתָּא, וְאֵין אוֹמְרִים בּוֹ מְקֻדָּשׁ כְּלָל, שֶׁדַּיֵּנוּ בְּפַעַם אַחַת בִּכְנִיסָתוֹ. וְכֵן עַל הַיַּיִן אַסְמַכְתָּא וְאֵינוֹ קֶבַע כְּלָל: וּבַגְּמָרָא פְּסָחִים (קו) אָמְרוּ זָכוֹר אֶת יוֹם הַשַּׁבָּת לְקַדְּשׁוֹ, זָכְרֵהוּ עַל הַיַּיִן בִּכְנִיסָתוֹ, אֵין לִי אֶלָּא בַּיּוֹם, בַּלַּיְלָה מִנַּיִן, ת"ל אֶת יוֹם הַשַּׁבָּת, הַאי תַּנָּא מַהְדַּר אַלֵּילְיָא וְנָסַב לֵיהּ קְרָא דִּימָמָא, וְעוֹד, עִקַּר קִדּוּשָׁא בַּלַּיְלָה הוּא, אֶלָּא הָכִי קָאָמַר, זָכוֹר אֶת יוֹם הַשַּׁבָּת לְקַדְּשׁוֹ, זָכְרֵהוּ עַל הַיַּיִן בִּכְנִיסָתוֹ, אֵין לִי אֶלָּא בַּלַּיְלָה בַּיּוֹם מִנַּיִן, ת"ל אֶת יוֹם הַשַּׁבָּת. וְכֵן הַבָּרַיְתָא שֶׁבַּמְּכִילְתָּא יְתָרֵץ בָּהּ אֵין לִי אֶלָּא בַּלַּיְלָה שֶׁהוּא עִקַּר הַקִּדּוּשׁ, לַיּוֹם מִנַּיִן וְכוּ', וְהוּא אַסְמַכְתָּא בְּעָלְמָא. וּמִשָּׁם תִּלְמֹד שֶׁהַמִּצְוָה הַזֹּאת לְמֵדָה מִמִּלַּת "לְקַדְּשׁוֹ", אֲבָל זָכוֹר אֶת יוֹם הַשַּׁבָּת מִצְוָה לְזָכְרוֹ תָּמִיד בְּכָל יוֹם, כְּמוֹ שֶׁפֵּרַשְׁנוּ, אֶלָּא שֶׁכָּל מִצְוֹת הַזְּכִירָה בְּמִנְיָן אֶחָד בְּחֶשְׁבּוֹן רמ"ח מִצְוֹת שֶׁנִּצְטַוֵּינוּ. וְדַע זֶה: REMEMBER THE SABBATH DAY, TO KEEP IT HOLY. After He commanded that we believe in the Proper Name of G-d, blessed be He — i.e., that He exists, that He is the Creator, that He understands [and watches over all that happens to man], and that He is the All-powerful⁴⁰³All these principles of truth were made evident through expressing the first commandment. See Ramban above, Verse 2. — and [after commanding] that we should direct both our faith in all these matters and all honor towards Him alone,⁴⁰⁴This was the theme of the second commandment. and He further commanded that the remembrance of His Name be done in a manner of respect,⁴⁰⁵As opposed to taking His Name in vain, as was stated in the third commandment. He now commanded that we make in this matter a sign and perpetual remembrance to let it be known that He created everything. This is in the commandment of the Sabbath, which is a remembrance of the creation.
Now He said here, ‘Remember’ the Sabbath-day, to keep it holy; and in the Book of Deuteronomy it is written, ‘Observe’ the Sabbath-day, to keep it holy.⁴⁰⁶Deuteronomy 5:12. Our Rabbis have said with respect to these verses:⁴⁰⁷Mechilta on the verse here. Also Shebuoth 20b. “Remember and Observe were both spoken with one utterance.” Now the Rabbis were not so particular as to comment on the other changes of language [between the Ten Commandments written here and those in the Book of Deuteronomy. They commented only on the above-mentioned change] because their intent is to point out that zachor (remember) constitutes a positive commandment, i.e., that He commanded that we remember the Sabbath-day to keep it holy and that we do not forget it, [as will be explained further on]. [They considered] shamor (observe), on the other hand, as a negative commandment, just as they have said,⁴⁰⁸Erubin 96 a, etc. “Wherever Scripture says take heed (‘hishamer’), or lest (‘pen’), or do not (‘al’), there is a negative commandment.” It warns us that we should watch it [i.e., the Sabbath] to keep it holy and that we should not profane it, [thus clearly implying both a positive commandment and a negative one with respect to the Sabbath]. It would not have been proper for Moses to change G-d’s words from a positive commandment to a negative commandment. [Therefore the Rabbis were careful to point out that both remember and observe were spoken by G-d in one utterance.] However, the change in the second commandment from ‘and’ any manner of likeness⁴⁰⁹Verse 4. to any manner of likeness,⁴¹⁰Deuteronomy 5:8. omitting the vav (and), and then adding it [to the expression al shileishim (unto the third generation), which is found here in Verse 5, rendering it there in Deuteronomy], v’al shileishim (‘and’ unto the third generation),⁴¹¹Ibid., Verse 9. and all such similar changes in the rest of the Ten Commandments, do not matter, for it is all one. This explanation [of why the Rabbis were particular to comment only on the change from remember to observe] will not be entertained by one who is not used to the ways of the Talmud.⁴¹²See my Hebrew commentary, p. 398, that this is a veiled criticism of Ibn Ezra, who, in his commentary on Verse 1, continued to raise difficulties on this saying of the Sages and finally concluded that “reason does not bear out all these words.” To this came the retort of Ramban: “this explanation, etc.” In a Ramban manuscript, I found this remark expressed in a positive manner: “This explanation will be entertained by him who is used to the ways of the Talmud.” Thus Ramban avoids casting a direct aspersion on Ibn Ezra’s knowledge of the ways of the Talmud. And the Rabbis have expressly said:⁴¹³Berachoth 20b. “Women are obligated by law of the Torah to proclaim the sanctity of the Sabbath,⁴¹⁴The proclaiming of the sanctity of the Sabbath is one of the six hundred thirteen commandments of the Torah. See “The Commandments,” Vol. I, pp. 164-165. because it is said, remember and observe, thus equating them so that all those who are obligated to observe the Sabbath are obligated also to remember it.⁴¹⁵The general rule is: “The observance of all positive commandments that depend on time is incumbent on men but not on women, but the observance of all the negative commandments, whether they depend on time or not, is incumbent both on men and women” (Kiddushin 29 a). Now proclaiming the sanctity of the Sabbath is naturally dependent on time — i.e., the arrival of the Sabbath — and one would therefore say that women are not obligated to observe that commandment. But ‘shamor’ (observe) the Sabbath-day to keep it holy, as was explained in the text, constitutes a negative commandment, and therefore applies to women as well. Now since the Torah equated zachor (remember) with shamor (observe), it follows that women are also obligated in the positive commandment of proclaiming the sanctity of the Sabbath. And since women are obligated in the observance [of the Sabbath] — for women are obligated in the observance thereof, since the observance of all negative commandments is incumbent on women, [and shamor (observe) the Sabbath, as was mentioned above, constitutes a negative commandment] — they are obligated also to remember the Sabbath. Now women would not have been bound to remember the Sabbath — for it is a positive commandment that is dependent on time and is [therefore] not incumbent on women — were it not for this analogy [of remember and observe, i.e., that all who are obligated to observe are bound to remember], which does make it incumbent on them.⁴¹⁶Ramban thus brought proof to his original point that the reason the Rabbis were particular about this change from remember to observe and not about the other changes in the Decalogues, is that here, the change represents a reclassification from a positive to a negative commandment. Hence it became necessary for them to point out that both words were spoken with one Divine utterance.
But I wonder! If remember and observe were both said by the Almighty, why were they not [both] written in the first Tablets? It is possible that in both the first and second Tablets, [only] remember was written, and Moses explained to Israel that observe was [also] said with it. This is indeed the true intent [of the saying of the Rabbis that “remember and observe were both spoken with one utterance]”. And in the Midrash of Rabbi Nechunya ben Hakanah,⁴¹⁷Sefer Habahir, 182. See Vol. I, p. 24, Note 42. the Sages have mentioned also a great secret in this matter of remember and observe.⁴¹⁸See my Hebrew commentary, p. 399. Generally, [in the mystic lore], remembrance is at daytime and observance is at night, and this is the intent of what the Sages used to say on the Sabbath-eve at twilight [when welcoming the Sabbath]:⁴¹⁹Baba Kamma 32b. “Come, O Bride; Come, O Bride; Come, let us go forth to meet the Sabbath, the Queen, the Bride.”⁴²⁰“The Queen, the Bride.” In our Gemara: “the Bride, the Queen.” — These words of welcome constitute to this day the official reception of the Sabbath in the Synagogue service as the worshippers bid “the Sabbath bride” come in peace. And the Sages call the blessing that is recited [over the Kiddush-cup] on the Sabbath-day “the great Kiddush,”⁴²¹Pesachim 106a. for it is the sanctification of the Great One.⁴²²Ma’or V’shamesh. Understand this.
It is also true that the attribute of “remembering” is alluded to in a positive commandment and issues forth from the attribute of love to that of mercy, for he who does his master’s command is beloved of him and his master shows him mercy. But the attribute of “observing” is alluded to in a negative commandment, which goes to the attribute of justice and issues forth from that of fear, for he who guards himself from doing anything which does not please his master does so out of fear for him. It is for this reason that a positive commandment is greater than a negative commandment,⁴²³The question arises: Since, as Ramban writes, a positive commandment is greater than a negative one, why are all punishments for violation of the precepts specified in the Torah only for the negative commandments? This would indicate that the negative commandments are stricter than the positive ones, and indeed, the Rabbis in the Talmud do speak of the negative commandments as being stricter than the positive. Why then did Ramban write that the positive ones are greater? See my Hebrew commentary, p. 399, for lengthy discussion of this problem. In conclusion, the answer presented is as follows: Ramban did not write that a positive commandment is “stricter” than a negative one; he wrote only “greater.” Fulfillment of a Divine positive commandment represents an act of “doing good,” while observance of a negative precept is an expression of one’s “departing from evil.” Between the two — doing good and departing from evil — the former indeed represents “a greater” expression of man’s active dedication to the Divine service. Hence Ramban’s statement above. As for the stricter punishment of the negative commandments, see further in text and also Note 427. just as love is greater than fear, for he who fulfills and observes the will of his master with his body and his possessions is greater than he who guards himself from doing that which is not pleasing to him. This is why the Rabbis have said⁴²⁴Shabbath 132 b, etc. that a positive commandment overrides a negative commandment. And it is for this reason that punishment for violation of the negative commandments is great, — the court punishing the transgressor with whipping or death — whereas no punishment at all is meted out in the case of failure to fulfill the positive commandments, excepting when one is in brazen rebelliousness, such as when he says, “I shall not take the lulav,³⁷¹“The Palm-branch.” See Leviticus 23:40. I shall not make fringes [on my four-cournered garment],⁴²⁵Numbers 15:38. I shall not make a tabernacle.”⁴²⁶Leviticus 23:42. In these cases, the Sanhedrin would whip him until he accepts upon himself to do them, or until he dies.⁴²⁷This rule applies only if the time of the performance is still applicable, but if, for example, the festival of Tabernacles has passed, he is not to be punished for his failure to observe the commandment. See Maimonides’, “The Commandments,” Vol. II, p. 423, where it is clearly so explained. Ramban’s intent is obvious: The violation of a negative commandment entails an act on the part of the sinner, which goes in direct opposition to the King’s command. Hence the punishment is “stricter” than in the case of a violation of a positive commandment, which entails only failure to act in accordance with the King’s desire. Hence if the time for fulfillment of the positive commandment has not yet passed and he is in open defiance of the law, the court may act against him, but if the time for fulfillment has passed, no punishment is to be imposed on him.
In explanation of the word zachor (remember) — [remember the Sabbath-day] — Rashi wrote: “Take care always to remember the Sabbath-day, so that if a food of good quality happens to come your way, you should put it away for the Sabbath.” This is a Beraitha⁴²⁸See Note 209 in Seder Bo. taught in the Mechilta⁴²⁹Mechilta on the verse here. in the following way: “Rabbi Eleazar the son of Chananyah the son of Chizkiyah the son of Garon says: ‘Remember the Sabbath-day, to keep it holy, and remember it from the first day of the week, so that if a good portion happens to come your way, prepare it for the Sabbath.’” But this [Beraitha in the Mechilta] is taught in the name of a single Sage and is not the final decision of the law. In the Gemara,⁴³⁰Beitza 16a. For the word “Gemara,” see Note 204 in Seder Bo. we find that the Rabbis have said: “We have been taught [in the Beraitha]: They have told about Shammai the Elder that all his life, he ate in honor of the Sabbath. How so? If he found a beautiful animal to buy, he would say, ‘This one will be in honor of the Sabbath.’ On the following day, if he would find a more beautiful one, he left the second one for the Sabbath, and ate the first.⁴³¹His eating the first one thus entailed something on which the honor of the Sabbath had rested (see Rashi in Beitza 16 a). Thus all his life he ate in honor of the Sabbath. But Hillel the Elder was guided by another principle. All his deeds were for the sake of Heaven, as it is said, Blessed be the Eternal, day by day He beareth our burden.⁴³²Psalms 68:20. Hillel was thus confident that before the Sabbath, G-d would provide him with his proper needs (Rashi, Beitza). We have also been so taught [in another Beraitha]: The School of Shammai say that on the first day of the week, you should begin preparing for your Sabbath. And the School of Hillel say: Blessed be the Eternal, day by day He beareth our burden.”⁴³²Psalms 68:20. Hillel was thus confident that before the Sabbath, G-d would provide him with his proper needs (Rashi, Beitza). And in another Mechilta⁴³³This is the Mechilta of Rabbi Shimon ben Yochai (Hoffman edition, p. 107). For the significance of the expression “another Mechilta,” see Vol. I, p. 603, Note 245. we find: “Shammai the Elder says: ‘Remembering’ — [Remember the Sabbath-day] — means remember it before it comes; ‘observing’ — [Observe the Sabbath-day]⁴⁰⁶Deuteronomy 5:12. — means observe it when it comes. It was told of Shammai the Elder that the memory of the Shabbath never left his lips. If he bought a good article he would say, ‘This is for the Sabbath;’ a new garment, he would say ‘This is for the Sabbath.’ But Hillel the Elder was guided by another principle, for he would say, ‘Let all thy deeds be done for the sake of Heaven.’” And the accepted decision is like that of the School of Hillel. [Thus it is clear that Rashi’s explanation is like that of Shammai the Elder, or of the School of Shammai, while the accepted decision of law is like that of Hillel or that of the School of Hillel.]⁴³⁴See my Hebrew commentary, p. 400, for Mizrachi’s defense of Rashi’s explanation.
In line with the plain meaning of Scripture, the Rabbis have said⁴³⁵In the Mechilta quote further on. See Note 442. that this verse commands us that we should always remember the Sabbath on every day, so that we should neither forget it nor confuse it with the other days.⁴³⁶If each of the days of the week were to have a name of its own — such as Sunday, Monday, etc. — then the Sabbath-day is confused with the other days. But if we refer to the days of the week in relation to the Sabbath — “the first day after the Sabbath,” etc. — then the Sabbath-day stands unique. By always remembering the Sabbath, it will at all times remind us of the creation, and we will forever acknowledge that the universe has a Creator, and that He commanded us regarding this sign, [i.e., the Sabbath], as He has said, for it is a sign between Me and you,⁴³⁷Further 31:13. this being a fundamental principle in the belief of G-d. The meaning of l’kadsho (to keep it holy) is that our remembrance of it should be to the end that it be holy to us, just as He said, and call the Sabbath a delight, the sacred of the Eternal honorable.⁴³⁸Isaiah 58:13. The purport of this is that the resting thereon should be ours because it is a holy day, [which enables us] to turn away from our mental preoccupations and the vanities of the times and instead to give delight to our souls in the ways of G-d, and go to the Sages and to the prophets to hear the words of G-d. This is just as it is said, Wherefore wilt thou go to him [the prophet] today? it is neither New Moon nor Sabbath,⁴³⁹II Kings 4:23. for such was their custom. And so did our Rabbis of blessed memory say:⁴⁴⁰Rosh Hashanah 16b. “From this you learn that on the New Moon and on the Sabbath one must go [to the prophet].” This is the reason [that the Torah commanded us concerning the resting of cattle on the Sabbath], i.e., in order that we should harbor no thought of it in our hearts. And it is for this reason that the Rabbis, of blessed memory, have said⁴⁴¹Chullin 5a. See also Vol. I, p. 332. that the Sabbath is equal in importance to all the commandments in the Torah, just as they have said with reference to idolatry,⁴⁴¹Chullin 5a. See also Vol. I, p. 332. because on the Sabbath we testify to all the fundamentals of the faith — creation, providence, and prophecy. And in the Mechilta we find:⁴⁴²Mechilta on the verse here. “Rabbi Yitzchak says: ‘You should not count [the days of the week] as others count them. Rather you should count them with reference to the Sabbath.’” The meaning of this is that other nations count the days of the week in such a manner that each is independent of the other. Thus they call each day by a separate name or by a name of the ministers [in heaven, such as Sunday, which means “sun’s day,” Monday which means “moon’s day,” etc.], or by any other names which they call them. But Israel counts all days with reference to the Sabbath: “one day after the Sabbath,” “two days after the Sabbath.” This is of the essence of the commandment which we have been obligated always to remember the Sabbath every day [of the week]. This is the literal meaning of the verse, and so did Rabbi Abraham ibn Ezra interpret it.
And I say further that this is the intent of Shammai the Elder’s interpretation [mentioned above],⁴³³This is the Mechilta of Rabbi Shimon ben Yochai (Hoffman edition, p. 107). For the significance of the expression “another Mechilta,” see Vol. I, p. 603, Note 245. who explained the command remember as meaning “[remember the Sabbath] before it comes.” That is to say, we should by no means forget it. [By counting the days of the week with reference to the Sabbath, forgetting it will thus be impossible.] But in the Beraitha [quoted above], they also mentioned a degree of his piety, i.e., that he would remember the Sabbath even in his eating, for all his life he ate in honor of the Sabbath. Now Hillel himself agreed to the interpretation of Shammai [that we are to count the days of the week with reference to the Sabbath], but in food-matters he followed another principle, for all of his deeds were for the sake of Heaven, and he trusted in G-d that He would provide him with a better portion for the Sabbath than that of all the other days of the week.
However, our Rabbis have yet another Midrash on the word l’kadsho (to keep it holy),⁴⁴³In the Mechilta mentioned further in the text. namely, that we are to sanctify it by utterance of words. This is similar in usage to the verse, And ye shall hallow the fiftieth year,⁴⁴⁴Leviticus 25:10. which requires the sanctification of the court, i.e., that they say of the Jubilee year, “It is hallowed! It is hallowed!”⁴⁴⁵Rosh Hashanah 8 b, Rashi. Here too He commanded that we remember the Sabbath-day by proclaiming its sanctity.⁴⁴⁶See Maimonides’, “The Commandments,” Vol. I, pp. 164-165. And so the Rabbis have said in the Mechilta:⁴⁴²Mechilta on the verse here. “To keep it holy. Sanctify it by reciting a blessing. Based on this verse, the Rabbis have said: ‘On its entrance, proclaim the sanctity of the Sabbath over wine. But from this verse, I know only the sanctification for the day. Whence do we know that this applies also for the night? [We know it] from the words of Scripture, And ye shall keep the Sabbath.”⁴⁴⁷Further, 31:14. Since the word “day” is not mentioned in this verse, as it is in the verse before us, Remember the Sabbath-'day’ to keep it holy, it indicates that the proclamation of the Sabbath is to be observed at its entrance at night. See also further in the text here for a more correct version of this Mechilta as Ramban explains it. This is “the sanctification of the [Sabbath-] day” [to which the Rabbis refer].⁴⁴⁸Berachoth 20b. It is incumbent upon us by law of the Torah, and is not a mere asmachta.⁴⁴⁹Literally: “Support.” Where a law is actually of Rabbinic origin but a Scriptural text is quoted as a support, it is called an asmachta. Thus the Rabbis have said:⁴⁴⁸Berachoth 20b. “Women are obligated by law of the Torah to proclaim the sanctity of the day.” Now this really refers to the sanctification recited at night, for all things requiring sanctification need to be done only once at the time of their entrance, such as the sanctification of the New Moon and the sanctification of the Jubilee year. However, the duty to recite it on the day itself is but an asmachta,⁴⁴⁹Literally: “Support.” Where a law is actually of Rabbinic origin but a Scriptural text is quoted as a support, it is called an asmachta. and [the kiddush at daytime] contains no reference to the holiness of the day — [since only a benediction over the wine is recited] — because it is sufficient that we proclaimed the sanctity of the Sabbath once at its entrance. So also is the recital [of the sanctity of the Sabbath] over wine only an asmachta⁴⁴⁹Literally: “Support.” Where a law is actually of Rabbinic origin but a Scriptural text is quoted as a support, it is called an asmachta. and is not at all a fixed part of the commandment itself.
And in the Gemara Pesachim,⁴⁵⁰Pesachim 106a. the Rabbis have said: “Remember the Sabbath-day, to keep it holy. That is, remember it over wine at its entrance. From this, I know only that it be done at daytime. Whence do we know that it must be done at night? It is from the Scriptural words, the Sabbath-'day.’ [On the version of the Beraitha, the Sages of the Gemara asked]: ‘This Tanna⁴⁵¹A Rabbi mentioned in a Mishnah or Beraitha. is seeking to find a basis for the sanctification at night, and he mentions a verse which speaks of the day! Besides, the main sanctification is at nighttime!’ Rather, you must learn [the above Beraitha] in this way: ‘Remember the Sabbath-day, to keep it holy. That is, remember it over wine at its entrance. From this, I know only that the Sabbath is to be sanctified at night.’ Whence do we know that it must be done at daytime? It is from the Scriptural words, the Sabbath day.” In a similar way we will explain the Mechilta [mentioned above to make it read as follows]: “From this, I know only that the sanctification of the Sabbath is to be done at night, which is the main kiddush. Whence do we know that it must be done at daytime, etc.,” this being but a mere asmachta.⁴⁴⁹Literally: “Support.” Where a law is actually of Rabbinic origin but a Scriptural text is quoted as a support, it is called an asmachta. And from there you will learn that this commandment [of proclaiming the sanctity of the Sabbath] is derived from the word l’kadsho (to sanctify it), while the expression, Remember the Sabbath-day, constitutes the commandment to remember it continually every day, as we have explained. However, in the number of two hundred and forty-eight positive commandments that we have been commanded to observe, both aspects are included in the one commandment of remembering the Sabbath. Know this.

שֵׁשֶׁת יָמִים תַּעֲבֹד וְעָשִׂיתָ כָּל מְלַאכְתֶּךָ עִנְיַן עֲבוֹדָה הִיא מְלָאכָה שֶׁאֵינָהּ לַהֲנָאַת הַגּוּף כְּאֹכֶל נֶפֶשׁ וְכַיּוֹצֵא בָּהּ, כְּעִנְיָן שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר "וּבְכָל עֲבוֹדָה בַּשָּׂדֶה" (שמות א יד), "כִּי תַעֲבֹד אֶת הָאֲדָמָה" (בראשית ד יב), "וְנֶעֱבַדְתֶּם וְנִזְרַעְתֶּם" (יחזקאל לו ט), וְכַאֲשֶׁר אֲפָרֵשׁ עוֹד בע"ה (ויקרא כג ז). וּלְכָךְ אָמַר שֵׁשֶׁת יָמִים תַּעֲבֹד אֶת הָאֲדָמָה, וְעָשִׂיתָ כָּל מְלַאכְתֶּךָ, אֲשֶׁר הִיא לְצֹרֶךְ גּוּפְךָ וְלַהֲנָאָתְךָ, כְּעִנְיַן "אֵת אֲשֶׁר תֹּאפוּ אֵפוּ" (שמות ט"ז:כ"ג), וּבְשַׁבָּת לֹא תַעֲשֶׂה שׁוּם מְלָאכָה: אַתָּה וּבִנְךָ וּבִתֶּךָ הַקְּטַנִּים, הִזְהִירָנוּ בְּשַׁבָּת שֶׁלֹּא יַעֲשׂוּ הַבָּנִים הַקְּטַנִּים מְלָאכָה לְדַעְתֵּנוּ וּבִרְצוֹנֵנוּ (שבת קכא.): וְעַבְדְּךָ וַאֲמָתְךָ הָעֲבָדִים שֶׁמָּלוּ וְטָבְלוּ שֶׁחַיָּבִין בְּכָל דִּינֵי הַשַּׁבָּת כְּיִשְׂרָאֵל, כְּמוֹ שֶׁאָמַר בְּמִשְׁנֵה תּוֹרָה (דברים ה יד) "לְמַעַן יָנוּחַ עַבְדְּךָ וַאֲמָתְךָ כָּמוֹךָ". וְאֵלּוּ חַיָּבִין בְּכָל הַמִּצְוֹת כַּנָּשִׁים, כְּמוֹ שֶׁמְּפֹרָשׁ בְּדִבְרֵי רַבּוֹתֵינוּ (חגיגה ד.), וְרָאוּי הָיָה שֶׁיַּזְהִיר לָהֶם בְּעַצְמָם, כִּי הֵם עַצְמָם מְצֻוִּים בַּשַּׁבָּת, אֲבָל דִּבֵּר הַכָּתוּב עִמָּנוּ מִפְּנֵי שֶׁהָעֲבָדִים בִּרְשׁוּתֵנוּ, לוֹמַר שֶׁשְּׁבִיתָתָם עָלֵינוּ, וְאִם לֹא נִמְנָעֵם אֲנַחְנוּ נֶעֱנָשִׁים עֲלֵיהֶם. וְעוֹד, בַּעֲבוּר שֶׁעִם יִשְׂרָאֵל יְדַבֵּר אֱלֹהִים בְּכָל עֲשֶׂרֶת הַדִּבְּרוֹת: SIX DAYS SHALT THOU LABOR, AND DO ALL THY WORK. The term “labor” applies to work which is not for the needs of the body, such as cooking and the like, something like it is said: and in all manner of labor in the field;⁴⁵²Above, 1:14. when thou tillest the ground;⁴⁵³Genesis 4:12. and ye shall be tilled and sown,⁴⁵⁴Ezekiel 36:9. and as I will yet explain with the help of G-d.⁴⁵⁵Leviticus 23:7. It is for this reason that He said: “Six days you shall work the ground and do all thy work which is for your physical needs and your benefit, something like, bake that which you will bake.⁴⁵⁶Above, 16:23. But on the Sabbath, you shall not do any kind of work, thou, thy son, nor thy daughter — i.e., the minors.” Thus He has warned us against our minor children doing work on the Sabbath with our knowledge and consent. Nor thy manservant, nor thy maidservant means the servants who have undergone circumcision and immersion,⁴⁵⁷And are thus b’nei b’rith (children of the covenant). See Mechilta here. See also above, Note 79. who are obligated to observe all laws of the Sabbath just as Israelites, even as He said in the Book of Deuteronomy, that thy manservant and thy maidservant may rest as well as thou.⁴⁵⁸Deuteronomy 5:14. In all [other] commandments of the Torah, observance is incumbent upon them as it is upon women, as is explained in the words of our Rabbis.⁴⁵⁹Chagigah 4 a, etc. And see Note 415 above. Now it would have been proper that He warn them directly, for they themselves are duty-bound to observe the Sabbath. Scripture, however, speaks to us because the servants are in our possession, thus telling us that their resting is incumbent upon us and that if they are not hindered from doing work, we will be punished on account of them. Besides, it is with Israel that G-d speaks in all of the Ten Commandments, [and for this reason, the command is not given directly to the servants].

וְגֵרְךָ אֲשֶׁר בִּשְׁעָרֶיךָ עַל דֶּרֶךְ הַפְּשָׁט גֵּר שַׁעַר לְעוֹלָם הוּא גֵּר תּוֹשָׁב שֶׁבָּא לָגוּר בְּשַׁעֲרֵי עִירֵנוּ וְקִבֵּל עָלָיו שֶׁבַע מִצְוֹת בְּנֵי נֹחַ, וְהוּא הַנִּקְרָא "גֵּר אוֹכֵל נְבֵלוֹת" (ע"ז סד:) שֶׁאָמַר בּוֹ הַכָּתוּב (דברים יד כא) "לַגֵּר אֲשֶׁר בִּשְׁעָרֶיךָ תִּתְּנֶנָּה וַאֲכָלָהּ". וְלָכֵן לֹא הָיְתָה בּוֹ הַמִּצְוָה שֶׁיֹּאמַר לֹא תַעֲשֶׂה בּוֹ מְלָאכָה הָאֶזְרָח וְהַגֵּר, אֲבָל לָנוּ יְצַוֶּה שֶׁלֹּא יַעֲשֶׂה מְלָאכָה לְצָרְכֵנוּ כַּקְּטַנִּים וְהַבְּהֵמָה, וְהוּא בְּעַצְמוֹ אֵין עָלָיו זֹאת הַמִּצְוָה, וְעֹשֶׂה מְלָאכָה לְעַצְמוֹ בְּשַׁבָּת. וְהַכָּתוּב שֶׁאָמַר (שמות כ"ג:י"ב) "וְיִנָּפֵשׁ בֶּן אֲמָתְךָ וְהַגֵּר", הוּא גֵּר צֶדֶק שֶׁנִּתְיַהֵד וְחָזַר לְתוֹרָתֵנוּ, שֶׁצִּוָּה אוֹתוֹ בַּשַּׁבָּת וְכֵן בְּכָל שְׁאָר הַמִּצְוֹת כַּאֲשֶׁר אָמַר "תּוֹרָה אַחַת וּמִשְׁפָּט אֶחָד יִהְיֶה לָכֶם וְלַגֵּר הַגָּר אִתְּכֶם" (במדבר טו טז), "וְלַגֵּר וּלְאֶזְרַח הָאָרֶץ" (שם ט יד):
אֲבָל מָצָאנוּ לְרַבּוֹתֵינוּ (במכילתא כאן) שֶׁדָּרְשׁוּ בְּהֶפֶךְ, אָמְרוּ כִּי "וְגֵרְךָ אֲשֶׁר בִּשְׁעָרֶיךָ" עַל דֶּרֶךְ הַפְּשָׁט הוּא גֵּר צֶדֶק, וְהוּא חַיָּב כָּמוֹנוּ בַּשְּׁבִיתָה, "וְיִנָּפֵשׁ בֶּן אֲמָתְךָ וְהַגֵּר" (שמות כ"ג:י"ב) לְרַבּוֹת גֵּר תּוֹשָׁב הֶעָרֵל. וּרְצוֹנָם שֶׁיִּהְיֶה הַמֻּזְהָר תְּחִלָּה הַגֵּר הַנִּמּוֹל שֶׁחַיָּב כָּמוֹנוּ, וְהַכָּתוּב הַשֵּׁנִי לְרַבּוֹת הֶעָרֵל. וּלְפִיכָךְ הֻקַּשׁ לַבְּהֵמָה, שֶׁאָמַר (שם) "לְמַעַן יָנוּחַ שׁוֹרְךָ וַחֲמֹרֶךָ וְיִנָּפֵשׁ בֶּן אֲמָתְךָ וְהַגֵּר", צִוָּנוּ בִּשְׁבִיתַת כֻּלָּם בְּשָׁוֶה, שֶׁלֹּא יַעֲשׂוּ לָנוּ, וְיַעֲשׂוּ כִּרְצוֹנָם לְעַצְמָם, וְכֵן יִהְיוּ הָעֶבֶד וְהַגֵּר הַנִּזְכָּרִים בַּעֲשֶׂרֶת הַדִּבְּרוֹת שָׁוִים, וְחַיָּבִים בְּכָל דִּין הַשַּׁבָּת כָּמוֹנוּ, כְּמוֹ שֶׁאָמַר (דברים ה יד) "לְמַעַן יָנוּחַ עַבְדְּךָ וַאֲמָתְךָ כָּמוֹךָ": NOR THY STRANGER THAT IS WITHIN THY GATES. In line with the plain meaning of Scripture, “the stranger of the gate” is always the geir toshav,⁴⁶⁰Literally: “resident alien,” so called because he was permitted to dwell within the Land of Israel. The conditions under which he becomes a geir toshav are described here in the text. who came to dwell in “the gates of our cities” and has taken upon himself the Seven Laws of the Noachides.⁴⁶¹See Vol. I, p. 417, Note 148, and see also in index there under “Noachides.” It is he who is called “the stranger who eats the unlawfully-slaughtered animal,” of whom Scripture says, thou mayest give it to the stranger that is within thy gates, that he may eat it.⁴⁶²Deuteronomy 14:21. Therefore, the commandment [prohibiting work on the Sabbath] was not directed to him so that Scripture would be saying: “Do not do any work on it, the home-born or the stranger.” Instead, it is we who are commanded that he do no work for our benefit, just as [we are commanded about] our minors and the cattle, but this commandment is not incumbent upon him and he may do work for himself on the Sabbath. The verse which states, so that the son of thy handmaid, and the stranger, may rest,⁴⁶³Further, 23:12. speaks of the righteous proselyte who has become Jewish and embraced our Torah, which has commanded him concerning the Sabbath and all the rest of the commandments as well, as He has said, One law and one ordinance shall be both for you, and for the stranger that sojourneth with you;⁴⁶⁴Numbers 15:16. both for the stranger, and for him that is born in the land.⁴⁶⁵Ibid., 9:14.
However, we have found in the words of our Rabbis that they have interpreted it in the opposite manner. Thus they have said⁴⁶⁶Mechilta on the verse here. that by way of the plain meaning of Scripture, thy stranger that is within thy gates means the righteous proselyte, and ceasing from work [on the Sabbath] is incumbent upon him as it is upon us. The verse, so that the son of thy handmaid, and the stranger, may rest,⁴⁶³Further, 23:12. includes the uncircumcised geir toshav.⁴⁶⁰Literally: “resident alien,” so called because he was permitted to dwell within the Land of Israel. The conditions under which he becomes a geir toshav are described here in the text. The Rabbis’ intent in so explaining the verses is that first, [i.e., right here in the Ten Commandments], “the stranger” warned is the proselyte who has been circumcised, who is obligated in the observance of the Sabbath as we are. The second verse — [further, 23:12] — includes the uncircumcised [geir toshav]. Therefore, he is likened there to the cattle, as the verse says, that thine ox and thine ass may have rest, and the son of thy handmaid, and the stranger, may rest.⁴⁶³Further, 23:12. Thus He commanded us concerning the resting of all of them alike that they should not work for us, but they may do [work] for themselves if they so wish. Similarly, the servant and the stranger mentioned in the Ten Commandments are alike, being obligated in the observance of all laws of the Sabbath as we are, even as He has said, that thy manservant and thy maidservant may rest as well as thou.⁴⁵⁸Deuteronomy 5:14.

בֵּרַךְ ה' אֶת יוֹם הַשַּׁבָּת וַיְקַדְּשֵׁהוּ אָמַר שֶׁיִּהְיֶה יוֹם הַשַּׁבָּת מְבֹרָךְ וְקָדוֹשׁ, כִּי צִוָּה בַּזְּכִירָה לְבָרֵךְ אוֹתוֹ וּלְהַדְּרוֹ, וְצִוָּה בַּשְּׁבִיתָה שֶׁיִּהְיֶה לָנוּ קָדוֹשׁ וְלֹא נַעֲשֶׂה בּוֹ מְלָאכָה. ור"א אָמַר כִּי בֵּרֵךְ ה' הַיּוֹם הַזֶּה וְקִדְּשׁוֹ, שֶׁזִּמֵּן אוֹתוֹ לְקַבֵּל בּוֹ הַנֶּפֶשׁ תּוֹסֶפֶת חָכְמָה יוֹתֵר מִכָּל הַיָּמִים: וְדֶרֶךְ הָאֱמֶת כְּתַבְתִּיו (בבראשית ב ב) בְּפָסוּק "וַיְכֻלּוּ", וּמִשָּׁם תַּשְׂכִּיל וְתָבִין כִּי שֵׁשֶׁת יָמִים עָשָׂה ה' לֹא יֶחְסַר בֵּי"ת, אֲבָל "כִּי שֵׁשֶׁת יָמִים עָשָׂה ה' וּבַיּוֹם הַשְּׁבִיעִי שָׁבַת וַיִּנָּפַשׁ" (שמות ל"א:י"ז): THE ETERNAL BLESSED THE SABBATH-DAY, AND SANCTIFIED IT. The verse is stating that the Sabbath-day will be blessed and hallowed because He has commanded to bless it and glorify it by remembering it. Therefore, He commanded us to rest thereon so that the day will be sacred to us, and that we should not do any work on it. And Rabbi Abraham ibn Ezra wrote that G-d blessed this day and sanctified it by endowing it with a greater capacity to enable the soul to receive additional wisdom than on all of the other days. I have already written concerning this matter by way of the Truth, [the mystic lore of the Cabala], on the verse in Vayechulu.⁴⁶⁷Genesis 2:1. Ramban’s discussion of the mystic nature of the blessing of the Sabbath is found there on Verse 3 (Vol. I, p. 60). From there, you will succeed in understanding that the expression ki sheisheth yamim asa hashem — [literally: “for six days the Eternal made”]⁴⁶⁸Here in the verse before us, which is generally translated: “for in six days the Eternal made.” — is not missing the letter beth, [which would make the verse read: “for in six days the Eternal made”]. Rather, the sense of the verse is that G-d made six days⁴⁶⁹Ramban is hinting here to what he wrote on Genesis 2:3, i.e., that the six days of creation allude to the six thousand years which are “all the days of the world.” See Vol. I, pp. 61-64. Thus the sense of the verse here is clearly, “for G-d made six days,” and not, “for in six days G-d made.” The six days represent the six milleniums of world-history, while the seventh millenium “will be wholly a Sabbath and will bring rest for life everlasting” (ibid., p. 64). and on the seventh day He ceased from work and rested.⁴⁷⁰Further, 31:17.

כַּבֵּד אֶת אָבִיךָ הִנֵּה הִשְׁלִים כָּל מַה שֶׁאָנוּ חַיָּבִין בְּדִבְרֵי הַבּוֹרֵא בְּעַצְמוֹ וּבִכְבוֹדוֹ, וְחָזַר לְצַוּוֹת אוֹתָנוּ בְּעִנְיְנֵי הַנִּבְרָאִים, וְהִתְחִיל מִן הָאָב שֶׁהוּא לְתוֹלְדוֹתָיו כְּעִנְיַן בּוֹרֵא מִשְׁתַּתֵּף בַּיְּצִירָה, כִּי הַשֵּׁם אָבִינוּ הָרִאשׁוֹן, וְהַמּוֹלִיד אָבִינוּ הָאַחֲרוֹן, וּלְכָךְ אָמַר בְּמִשְׁנֵה תּוֹרָה (דברים ה טז) כַּאֲשֶׁר צִוִּיתִךָ בִּכְבוֹדִי כֵּן אָנֹכִי מְצַוְּךָ בִּכְבוֹד הַמִּשְׁתַּתֵּף עִמִּי בִּיצִירָתְךָ. וְלֹא פֵּרֵשׁ הַכָּתוּב הַכָּבוֹד, שֶׁהוּא נִלְמַד מִן הַכָּבוֹד הַנֶּאֱמָר לְמַעְלָה בָּאָב הָרִאשׁוֹן יִתְבָּרַךְ, שֶׁיּוֹדֶה בּוֹ שֶׁהוּא אָבִיו וְלֹא יִכְפֹּר בּוֹ לֵאמֹר עַל אָדָם אַחֵר שֶׁהוּא אָבִיו, וְלֹא יַעַבְדֶנּוּ כְּבֵן לִירֻשָּׁתוֹ, אוֹ לְעִנְיָן אַחֵר שֶׁיְּצַפֶּה מִמֶּנּוּ, וְלֹא יִשָּׂא שֵׁם אָבִיו וְיִשָּׁבַע בְּחַיֵּי אָבִיו לַשָּׁוְא וְלַשֶּׁקֶר. וְיִכָּנְסוּ בִּכְלַל הַכָּבוֹד דְּבָרִים אֲחֵרִים, כִּי בְּכָל כְּבוֹדוֹ נִצְטַוֵּינוּ, וּמְפֹרָשִׁים הֵם בְּדִבְרֵי רַבּוֹתֵינוּ (קדושין לא:), וּכְבָר אָמְרוּ (שם ל:) שֶׁהֻקַּשׁ כְּבוֹדוֹ לִכְבוֹד הַמָּקוֹם: וְכַאֲשֶׁר הַמִּצְוָה הַזֹּאת הִיא בַּתַּחְתּוֹנִים, כֵּן נָתַן שְׂכָרָהּ בַּאֲרִיכוּת יָמִים בָּאָרֶץ אֲשֶׁר יִתֵּן לָנוּ. וְעַל דַּעַת רַבּוֹתֵינוּ (קידושין לט:) עִנְיַן הַכָּתוּב לְמַעַן יַאֲרִכוּן יָמֶיךָ עַל הָאֲדָמָה, יַבְטִיחַ כִּי בַּמִּצְוָה הַזֹּאת יִהְיוּ כָּל יְמוֹתֵינוּ אֲרֻכִּים, כִּי יְמַלֵּא הַשֵּׁם יָמֵינוּ בָּעוֹלָם הַזֶּה, וְיִהְיוּ אֲרֻכִּים בָּעוֹלָם הַבָּא שֶׁכֻּלּוֹ אָרֹךְ, וְתִהְיֶה יְשִׁיבָתֵנוּ לָעַד עַל הָאֲדָמָה הַטּוֹבָה שֶׁיִּתֵּן לָנוּ, וּבְמִשְׁנֵה תּוֹרָה (דברים ה טז) פֵּרֵשׁ "לְמַעַן יַאֲרִיכֻן יָמֶיךָ וּלְמַעַן יִיטַב לָךְ עַל הָאֲדָמָה", וְהִנֵּה הֵם שְׁתֵּי הַבְטָחוֹת: HONOR THY FATHER. Having finished all that we are obligated towards the Creator Himself and His glory, He turns now to command us about those matters which concern created beings. He begins with the father, for in relation to his offspring, he is akin to a creator, being partner with Him in the forming of the child.⁴⁷¹Kiddushin 30 b: “There are three partners in man: the Holy One, blessed be He, his father and his mother.” G-d is our first Father, and he who begets it [i.e., the child] is our last male parent. This is why He said in the Book of Deuteronomy, [Honor thy father… as the Eternal thy G-d commanded thee].⁴⁷²Deuteronomy 5:16. That is, “just as I have commanded you concerning My honor, so do I command you concerning the honor of those who have joined Me in your formation.” Now Scripture has not explained [the nature of the honor we are to give our parents], for it may be derived from the honor mentioned above that we owe to our first Father, blessed be He. Thus, one is to acknowledge [his male parent] as his father and not deny him, saying of another man that he is his father. Nor should he serve him because of his estate or any other benefit he hopes to derive from him. Nor should he take his father’s name and swear “by the life of my father” in vain or falsely. There are other matters which are included within the term “honor,” for we are commanded in every aspect thereof, and they are explained in the words of our Rabbis.⁴⁷³“What is honoring [one’s parents? It entails] providing them with food and drink, raiment and warmth, and guiding their footsteps [when they are old and infirm]” (Kiddushin 31 b). The Sages have already said⁴⁷⁴Ibid., 30b. that honoring parents has been likened to honoring G-d.
Now since this commandment refers to creatures on the earth, He has designated its reward to be prolongation of life on earth which He will give us. But in the opinion of our Rabbis,⁴⁷⁵Ibid., 39b. the purport of the verse is “that thy days may be long and upon the Land.” [It thus expresses two declarations]: He promises that our lives will be prolonged by observing this commandment — i.e., that G-d will fulfill our days in this world and they will be prolonged in the World to Come, which is unending — and that our dwelling will forever be on the good earth⁴⁷⁶A reference to eternal life. which He will give us. And in the Book of Deuteronomy, He expressly stated it: that thy day may be long, and that it may go well with thee, upon the Land which the Eternal thy G-d giveth thee.⁴⁷²Deuteronomy 5:16. Thus they are two promises.

לֹא תִּרְצָח לֹא תִּנְאָף לֹא תִּגְנֹב אָמַר, הִנֵּה צִוִּיתִיךָ לְהוֹדוֹת שֶׁאֲנִי בּוֹרֵא אֶת הַכֹּל בַּלֵּב וּבְמַעֲשֶׂה, וּלְכַבֵּד הָאָבוֹת בַּעֲבוּר שֶׁהֵם מִשְׁתַּתְּפִים בַּיְּצִירָה, אִם כֵּן הִשָּׁמֶר פֶּן תַּחֲבֹל מַעֲשֵׂה יָדַי וְתִשְׁפֹּךְ דַּם הָאָדָם אֲשֶׁר בָּרָאתִי לִכְבוֹדִי וּלְהוֹדוֹת לִי בְּכָל אֵלֶּה, וְלֹא תִּנְאָף אֵשֶׁת רֵעֶךָ, כִּי תְּחַבֵּל עִנְיַן כְּבוֹד הָאָבוֹת לִכְפֹּר בָּאֱמֶת וּלְהוֹדוֹת בַּשֶּׁקֶר, כִּי לֹא יֵדְעוּ אֶת אֲבִיהֶם וְיִתְּנוּ כְּבוֹדָם לְאַחֵר, כַּאֲשֶׁר יַעֲשׂוּ עוֹבְדֵי ע"ז "אֹמְרִים לָעֵץ אָבִי אַתָּה" (ירמיה ב כז), וְלֹא יָדְעוּ אֲבִיהֶם שֶׁבְּרָאָם מֵאַיִן. וְאַחַר כֵּן הִזְהִיר לֹא תִּגְנֹב נֶפֶשׁ, כִּי הוּא כְּמוֹ כֵן גּוֹרֵם כָּזֹאת, וְכֵן סֵדֶר הַמִּצְוֹת בְּחוּמְרָן וְעָנְשָׁן כָּךְ הוּא, אַחַר ע"ז שְׁפִיכוּת דָּמִים, וְאַחֲרֵי כֵּן גִּלּוּי עֲרָיוֹת וְאַחַר כָּךְ הִזְהִיר גְּנֵבַת נֶפֶשׁ וְעֵדוּת שֶׁקֶר וְגָזֵל. וּמִי שֶׁלֹּא יַחְמֹד לֹא יַזִּיק לְעוֹלָם לַחֲבֵרוֹ. וְהִנֵּה הִשְׁלִים כָּל מַה שֶׁאָדָם חַיָּב בְּשֶׁל חֲבֵרוֹ. וְאַחַר כֵּן יְבָאֵר הַמִּשְׁפָּטִים בִּפְרָט, כִּי הַמִּתְחַיֵּב לַחֲבֵרוֹ בְּמִשְׁפָּט מִן הַמִּשְׁפָּטִים אִם לֹא יַחְמֹד וְלֹא יִתְאַוֶּה לְמָה שֶׁאֵינוֹ שֶׁלּוֹ יְשַׁלֵּם מַה שֶׁעָלָיו:
וְאָמַר ר"א (אבן עזרא על שמות כ':א') (בהקדמה לעשרת הדברות) כִּי אָחַז הַכָּתוּב דֶּרֶךְ אֶרֶץ לֵאמֹר תְּחִלָּה בֵּית רֵעֶךָ, כִּי הַמַּשְׂכִּיל יַקְדִּים לִהְיוֹת לוֹ בַּיִת וְאַחֲרֵי כֵּן יִקַּח אִשָּׁה לַהֲבִיאָהּ אֶל בֵּיתוֹ, וְאַחֲרֵי כֵּן יִקְנֶה עֶבֶד וְאָמָה, וּבְמִשְׁנֵה תּוֹרָה הִזְכִּיר הָאִשָּׁה תְּחִלָּה, כִּי הַבַּחוּרִים יִתְאַוּוּ לָשֵׂאת אִשָּׁה תְּחִלָּה. אוֹ שֶׁחֶמְדַּת הָאִשָּׁה הָאִסּוּר הַגָּדוֹל שֶׁבָּהֶם. וְהִנֵּה עֲשֶׂרֶת הַדִּבְּרוֹת חֲמִשָּׁה בִּכְבוֹד הַבּוֹרֵא וַחֲמִשָּׁה לְטוֹבַת הָאָדָם, כִּי כַּבֵּד אֶת אָבִיךָ כְּבוֹד הָאֵל, כִּי לִכְבוֹד הַבּוֹרֵא צִוָּה לְכַבֵּד הָאָב הַמִּשְׁתַּתֵּף בַּיְּצִירָה, וְנִשְׁאֲרוּ חֲמִשָּׁה לָאָדָם בְּצָרְכּוֹ וְטוֹבָתוֹ:
וְהִנֵּה הִזְכִּיר בִּקְצָת הַדִּבְּרוֹת גְּמוּלָם, וּבִקְצָתָם לֹא הִזְכִּיר, כִּי בַּדִּבּוּר הַשֵּׁנִי אֵל קַנָּא, בַּשְּׁלִישִׁי כִּי לֹא יְנַקֶּה, בַּחֲמִישִׁי לְמַעַן יַאֲרִיכוּן, וְלֹא הִזְכִּיר בַּאֲחֵרִים עֹנֶשׁ אוֹ שָׂכָר וְהָיָה זֶה, כִּי הַחֲמִשָּׁה דְּבָרִים הָאַחֲרוֹנִים טוֹבַת הָאָדָם הֵם, וְהִנֵּה שְׂכָרוֹ אִתּוֹ וּפְעֻלָּתוֹ לְפָנָיו. אֲבָל בע"ז צָרִיךְ אַזְהָרַת עֹנֶשׁ לַחֹמֶר הַגָּדוֹל שֶׁבָּהּ, וְהוּא לִכְבוֹד הַבּוֹרֵא: וְהַנִּרְאֶה אֵלַי כִּי אָמַר אֵל קַנָּא, עַל לֹא יִהְיֶה לְךָ, וְאָמַר וְעֹשֶׂה חֶסֶד, עַל אָנֹכִי, כִּי הָעֹנֶשׁ יָבֹא עַל מִצְוַת לֹא תַעֲשֶׂה, וְהַשָּׂכָר עַל מִצְוַת עֲשֵׂה, וְקַבָּלַת מַלְכוּת הָאֵל וְאַזְהָרַת עֲבוֹדַת זוּלָתוֹ עִנְיָן אֶחָד, וְהִשְׁלִים הַדָּבָר וְאַחַר כָּךְ הִזְהִיר עַל הָעוֹבֵר, וְהִבְטִיחַ בַּשָּׂכָר עַל הָעוֹשֶׂה. וְהִזְהִיר בִּשְׁבוּעַת שָׁוְא בְּעֹנֶשׁ לֹא יְנַקֶּה, וְלֹא הִזְכִּיר בַּשַּׁבָּת גְּמוּל כְּלָל, וְלֹא אָמַר עַל הַמְחַלֵּל הַשַּׁבָּת עֹנֶשׁ הַכָּרֵת אוֹ עֹנֶשׁ אַחֵר זוּלָתוֹ, וְלֹא הִזְכִּיר שָׂכָר עַל הַשּׁוֹמֵר שַׁבָּת מֵחַלְּלוֹ, מִפְּנֵי שֶׁהַשַּׁבָּת נִכְלָל בִּשְׁתֵּי מִצְוֹת הָרִאשׁוֹנוֹת, כִּי הַשּׁוֹמֵר שַׁבָּת מֵעִיד עַל מַעֲשֵׂה בְּרֵאשִׁית וּמוֹדֶה בְּמִצְוַת אָנֹכִי, וְהַמְּחַלְּלוֹ מַכְחִישׁ בְּמַעֲשֵׂה בְּרֵאשִׁית וּמוֹדֶה בְּקַדְמוּת הָעוֹלָם לְהַכְחִישׁ בְּמִצְוַת אָנֹכִי, וְהִנֵּה הוּא בִּכְלַל אֵל קַנָּא פֹּקֵד, וּבִכְלַל וְעֹשֶׂה חֶסֶד לַאֲלָפִים וּבַדִּבּוּר הַחֲמִישִׁי בִּכְבוֹד הָאָבוֹת הִזְכִּיר שָׂכָר כִּי הִיא מִצְוַת עֲשֵׂה:
וְהַנִּרְאֶה בְּמִכְתַּב הַלּוּחוֹת שֶׁהָיוּ הֶחָמֵשׁ רִאשׁוֹנוֹת בְּלוּחַ אֶחָד שֶׁהֵם כְּבוֹד הַבּוֹרֵא כְּמוֹ שֶׁהִזְכַּרְתִּי, וְהֶחָמֵשׁ הַשְּׁנִיּוֹת בְּלוּחַ אֶחָד, שֶׁיִּהְיוּ חָמֵשׁ כְּנֶגֶד חָמֵשׁ, כְּעִנְיָן שֶׁהִזְכִּירוּ בְּסֵפֶר יְצִירָה (א ג) בְּעֶשֶׂר סְפִירוֹת בְּלִי מָה כְּמִסְפַּר עֶשֶׂר אֶצְבָּעוֹת, חָמֵשׁ כְּנֶגֶד חָמֵשׁ, וּבְרִית יָחִיד מְכֻוֶּנֶת בָּאֶמְצַע. וּמִזֶּה יִתְבָּרֵר לְךָ לָמָּה הָיוּ שְׁתַּיִם, כִּי עַד כַּבֵּד אֶת אָבִיךָ הוּא כְּנֶגֶד תּוֹרָה שֶׁבִּכְתָב, וּמִכָּאן וְאֵילָךְ כְּנֶגֶד תּוֹרָה שֶׁבְּעַל פֶּה. וְנִרְאֶה שֶׁלָּזֶה רָמְזוּ רַבּוֹתֵינוּ זַ"ל שֶׁאָמְרוּ (תנחומא עקב י) שְׁתֵּי לוּחוֹת כְּנֶגֶד שָׁמַיִם וָאָרֶץ וּכְנֶגֶד חָתָן וְכַלָּה וּכְנֶגֶד שְׁנֵי שׁוֹשְׁבִינִין וּכְנֶגֶד שְׁנֵי עוֹלָמִים. וְכָל זֶה רֶמֶז אֶחָד, וְהַמַּשְׂכִּיל יָבִין הַסּוֹד: THOU SHALT NOT MURDER. THOU SHALT NOT COMMIT ADULTERY. THOU SHALT NOT STEAL. He is stating: “Now I have commanded you to acknowledge in thought and in deed that I am the Creator of all, and to honor parents because they joined [Me] in your formation. If so, guard against destroying the work of My hands and spilling the blood of man, whom I have created to honor Me and acknowledge Me in all these matters.⁴⁷⁷See Ramban at end of Seder Bo. And do not commit adultery with your fellow-man’s wife, because you will thereby destroy the principle of honoring parents, [causing the children] to deny the truth and acknowledge falsehood. They will not know their fathers and will thus give their honor to another, just as the idol-worshippers do, who say to a block of wood, ‘thou art my father,’⁴⁷⁸Jeremiah 2:27. and they do not know their Father who created them out of nothing.” After that, He warned against stealing a human being,⁴⁷⁹Mechilta on the verse here. for that too brings about a similar [disintegration of values].⁴⁸⁰See Ramban further, 21:15.
With respect to their stringency and penalties, the order of the commandments is as follows: after idolatry comes bloodshed, and after that adultery, and then stealing of a human being and false testimony and robbery;⁴⁸¹Since coveting also relates to action by robbery, Ramban mentions here “robbery” although the tenth commandment speaks of coveting. and he who does not covet, will never harm his neighbor. Thus, He completed all obligations that a person owes towards his neighbor. After that, [in the Seder of Mishpatim which follows], He will explain the ordinances in detail, for he who has been found guilty in any suit to pay his neighbor will pay the amount he is so obligated if he does not covet or desire that which is not his.
Rabbi Abraham ibn Ezra wrote⁴⁸²In his introduction to the Ten Commandments. [of the commandment, Thou shalt not covet thy neighbor’s house… thy neighbor’s wife, nor his manservant, nor his maidservant, etc.], that Scripture adopted a normal course of life. First, it mentioned the neighbor’s house, for an enlightened person will first acquire a house, and then marry a woman to bring her to his house, and only afterwards will he acquire a manservant or a maidservant. But in the Book of Deuteronomy,⁴⁸³Deuteronomy 5:18. it mentions the wife first, because young men desire to marry first [before they acquire a house]. It may be⁴⁸⁴This is Ramban’s own comment. that because the coveting of a neighbor’s wife is the greatest sin of all things mentioned in that verse, [it is listed first].
Thus, of the Ten Commandments, there are five which refer to the glory of the Creator and five are for the welfare of man, for [the fifth commandment], Honor thy father, is for the glory of G-d, since it is for the glory of the Creator that He commanded that one honor one’s father who is a partner in the formation of the child. Five commandments thus remain for the needs and welfare of man.
In some commandments, He mentioned their recompense, and in others He did not. Thus, in the second commandment, He mentioned a jealous G-d;⁴⁸⁵Verse 5. in the third, for the Eternal will not hold him guiltless;⁴⁸⁶Verse 7. in the fifth, that thy days may be long.⁴⁸⁷Verse 12. But in the others, He mentioned neither punishment [for transgression], nor reward [for fulfillment]. The reason for this is that the last five commandments deal with the welfare of man, and behold, His reward is with Him, and His recompense before Him.⁴⁸⁸Isaiah 40:10. In other words, the recompense for the last five commandments is self-evident. If man observes them, his society will prosper, and if not, the whole fabric of society will collapse. But in the case of idolatry, a warning of punishment is needed because of its great stringency, involving as it does the glory of the Creator.
It appears to me that His saying a jealous G-d⁴⁸⁵Verse 5. refers to the commandment, Thou shalt have no other gods,⁴⁸⁹Verse 3. and that His saying, And He showeth mercy⁴⁹⁰Verse 6. refers to I am the Eternal,⁴⁹¹Verse 2. for punishment comes for [transgressing] the negative commandments, and reward for [fulfillment of] the positive commandments. [He did not mention the reward immediately in the first commandment because] the acceptance of the Kingdom of G-d, [as mentioned in the first commandment], and the admonition against the worship of anything besides Him, constitute one subject. Therefore, He first finished that entire matter and then warned the idol-worshipper of punishment, and then He assured reward for he who fulfills the commandments.
He warned of punishment in case of a vain oath, the Eternal will not hold him guiltless,⁴⁸⁶Verse 7. but He mentioned no reward [for observing it]. For profaning the Sabbath, He mentioned neither excision⁴⁹²Further, 31:14. nor any other punishment, neither did He mention a reward for him that keepeth the Sabbath from profaning it.⁴⁹³Isaiah 56:2. This is because it is included in the first two commandments. He who observes the Sabbath testifies to the Creation and acknowledges his belief in the commandment, I am the Eternal, while he who profanes the Sabbath denies the Creation and admits the eternity of the universe, thereby denying the commandment, I am the Eternal. Thus, [the punishment for profaning the Sabbath] is included in: a jealous G-d, visiting the iniquity,⁴⁸⁵Verse 5. while [the reward for he who keeps the Sabbath] is included in the verse, And He showeth mercy unto the thousandth generation.⁴⁹⁰Verse 6. In the fifth commandment, which concerns the honor due to parents, He mentioned the reward because it is a positive commandment, [and as mentioned above, reward is for fulfillment of the positive commandments].
With reference to the writing on the Tablets of law, it would appear that the first five commandments were on one Tablet, for they are for the glory of the Creator, as I have mentioned, and the second five commandments were on another Tablet. Thus there were five opposite five, something like the Rabbis mentioned in the Book of Creation:⁴⁹⁴Sefer Yetzirah 1:3. This is one of the earliest books on the Cabala. Saadia Gaon was among the first great scholars to write a commentary on it. It is written in profound symbolic language. “With ten emanations,⁴⁹⁵In our version of Sefer Yetzirah: “Ten Emanations”; the word “with” is not present. intangible, as is the number of ten fingers, five opposite five, and the Covenant of the Unity placed directly in the middle.” From this it will be made clear to you why there were two Tablets, for up to Honor thy father, it corresponds to the Written Torah, and from there on it corresponds to the Oral Torah. It would appear that it is this that our Rabbis, of blessed memory, have alluded to in saying⁴⁹⁶Shemoth Rabbah 41:7. that the two Tablets correspond to heaven and earth,⁴⁹⁷Since the Torah was the instrument with which the world was created, the first Tablet containing our duties towards G-d thus corresponds to heaven, while the second Tablet which states our duties to man corresponds to earth (Eitz Yoseph, ibid.) to a groom and bride,⁴⁹⁸The symbol is that of the bestower and the bestowed. Heaven is the bestower and earth is the bestowed. So also is the relationship between G-d and man. to the two friends [of the groom and bride], and to the two worlds [this world and the World to Come]. All these constitute one allusion, and the person learned in the mystic lore of the Cabala will understand the secret.