תניא:
שמעון העמסוני היה דורש כל את ואת שבתורה.
כיון שהגיע (דברים ו יג) ל -
אֶת־יְהֹוָ֧ה אֱלֹהֶ֛יךָ תִּירָ֖א -
פירש.
אמרו לו תלמידיו:
ר' כל אתין שדרשת מה תהא עליהם?
אמר להם:
כשם שקבלתי שכר על הדרישה
כך אני מקבל שכר על הפרישה.
עד שבא רבי עקיבא ולימד:
אֶת־יְהֹוָ֧ה אֱלֹהֶ֛יךָ תִּירָ֖א -
לרבות תלמידי חכמים.
It is taught in a baraita: Shimon HaAmasoni would interpret each and every occurrence of the word “et” in the Torah, deriving additional halakhot with regard to the particular subject matter. Once he reached the verse: “You shall fear the Lord your God” (Deuteronomy 6:13), which is written with the added word “et,” he withdrew from this method of exposition, as whose fear could be an extension of the fear of God?
His students said to him: Our teacher, what will be with all the occurrences of “et” that you interpreted until now?
Shimon HaAmasoni said to them: Just as I received reward for the exposition, so I receive reward for my withdrawal from using this method of exposition.
The word “et” in this verse was not explained until Rabbi Akiva came and taught:
“You shall fear the Lord your God”; the word “et” in the verse serves to include Torah scholars, i.e., that one is commanded to fear them just as one fears God.