שֹׁפְטִים וְשֹׁטְרִים תִּתֶּן לְךָ בְּכָל שְׁעָרֶיךָ אֲשֶׁר ה' אֱלֹהֶיךָ נֹתֵן לְךָ לִשְׁבָטֶיךָ וְשָׁפְטוּ אֶת הָעָם מִשְׁפַּט צֶדֶק (דברים טז, יח), הֲלָכָה, קְרוֹבוֹ שֶׁל אָדָם מַהוּ שֶׁיְהֵא מֻתָּר לוֹ לֵישֵׁב בְּדִינוֹ, כָּךְ שָׁנוּ חֲכָמִים אֵלּוּ הֵן הַקְּרוֹבִים אָבִיו וְאֶחָיו וַאֲחֵי אָבִיו וַאֲחֵי אִמּוֹ וכו', לָמָּה כֵן, אֶלָּא כְּשֵׁם שֶׁהַקָּרוֹב פָּסוּל לְהָעִיד כֵּן הוּא פָּסוּל לָדוּן, וּמָה רָאִיתָ לוֹמַר כֵּן, אָמַר רַבִּי שִׁמְעוֹן בֶּן יוֹחָאי כְּתִיב (דברים כא, ה): וְנִגְשׁוּ הַכֹּהֲנִים בְּנֵי לֵוִי כִּי בָם בָּחַר ה' אֱלֹהֶיךָ לְשָׁרְתוֹ וּלְבָרֵךְ בְּשֵׁם ה' וְעַל פִּיהֶם יִהְיֶה כָּל רִיב וְכָל נָגַע. בּוֹא וּרְאֵה הִקִּישׁ נְגָעִים לְרִיבִים וְרִיבִים לִנְגָעִים, מַה נְּגָעִים בַּיּוֹם אַף דִּינִים בַּיּוֹם, וּמָה רִיבִים פְּרַט לְקָרוֹב, אַף נְגָעִים פְּרַט לְקָרוֹב. אָמַר רַבָּן שִׁמְעוֹן בֶּן גַּמְלִיאֵל, אַל תְּהִי מְלַגְלֵג בַּדִּין, שֶׁהוּא אֶחָד מִשְּׁלשָׁה רַגְלֵי הָעוֹלָם, לָמָּה, שֶׁשָּׁנוּ חֲכָמִים עַל שְׁלשָׁה דְבָרִים הָעוֹלָם עוֹמֵד, עַל הַדִּין וְעַל הָאֱמֶת וְעַל הַשָּׁלוֹם, תֵּן דַּעְתְּךָ שֶׁאִם הִטֵּיתָ אֶת הַדִּין שֶׁאַתְּ מְזַעֲזֵעַ אֶת הָעוֹלָם שֶׁהוּא אֶחָד מֵרַגְלָיו. רַבָּנָן אָמְרֵי קָשֶׁה הוּא כֹּחוֹ שֶׁל דִּין שֶׁהוּא אֶחָד מֵרַגְלֵי כִּסֵּא הַכָּבוֹד, מִנַּיִן (תהלים פט, טו): צֶדֶק וּמִשְׁפָּט מְכוֹן כִּסְאֶךָ חֶסֶד וֶאֱמֶת יְקַדְמוּ פָנֶיךָ. אָמַר הַקָּדוֹשׁ בָּרוּךְ הוּא הוֹאִיל וְכָךְ עָנְשׁוֹ שֶׁל דִּין קָשֶׁה, הֱווּ זְהִירִין, מִנַּיִן, מִמַּה שֶּׁקָּרִינוּ בָּעִנְיָן שֹׁפְטִים וְשֹׁטְרִים. “Judges and officers you shall place for you within all your gates that the Lord your God is giving you for your tribes, and they shall judge the people with fair judgment” (Deuteronomy 16:18).
“Judges and officers you shall place for you within all your gates that the Lord your God is giving you for your tribes, and they shall judge the people with fair judgment” – halakha: A person’s relative, what is the ruling, is it permitted for him to sit in judgment for him? This is what the Sages taught: These are considered relatives:1Whose testimony is not accepted. One’s father, one’s brother, one’s father’s brothers, and one’s mother’s brothers…Why is it so? Just as a relative is ineligible to testify, so is he ineligible to judge. What do you see that leads you to say so? Rabbi Shimon ben Yoḥai said: It is written: “The priests, sons of Levi, shall approach, as the Lord your God chose them to serve Him, and to bless in the name of the Lord, and by their word shall be every dispute and every case of leprosy” (Deuteronomy 21:5). Come and see that it compares leprosy to disputes, and disputes to leprosy. Just as [the examination of] leprosy is only during the day, so judgment is only during the day, and just as disputes exclude relatives, so, too [the examination of] leprosy excludes relatives.
Rabban Shimon ben Gamliel said: Do not regard justice lightly, as it is one of the stanchions that support the world. Why? It is as the Sages taught: The world stands upon three matters: Upon justice, upon truth, and upon peace. Consider that if you distort judgment you destabilize the world, as it is one of its stanchions. The Rabbis say: The potency of justice is considerable, as it is one of the legs of the Divine Throne. From where is this derived? “Righteousness and justice are at the base of Your throne; kindness and truth greet Your countenance” (Psalms 89:15). The Holy One blessed be He said: ‘Since that is so, the punishment for injustice is harsh; be careful.’ From where is this derived? It is from what we read in our context, “Judges and officers.”
זֶה שֶׁאָמַר הַכָּתוּב (משלי ו, ו ח): לֵךְ אֶל נְמָלָה עָצֵל רְאֵה דְרָכֶיהָ וַחֲכָם אֲשֶׁר אֵין לָהּ קָצִין שֹׁטֵר וּמשֵׁל תָּכִין בַּקַּיִץ לַחְמָהּ אָגְרָה בַקָּצִיר מַאֲכָלָהּ, מָה רָאָה שְׁלֹמֹה לְלַמֵּד לְעָצֵל מִן הַנְּמָלָה, רַבָּנָן אָמְרֵי הַנְּמָלָה הַזּוֹ שְׁלשָׁה בָּתִּים יֵשׁ לָהּ, וְאֵינָהּ כּוֹנֶסֶת בָּעֶלְיוֹן מִפְּנֵי הַדֶּלֶף, וְלֹא בַּתַּחְתּוֹן מִפְּנֵי הַטִּינָה, אֶלָּא בָּאֶמְצָעִי, וְאֵינָהּ חַיָּה אֶלָּא שִׁשָּׁה חֳדָשִׁים, לָמָּה, שֶׁמִּי שֶׁאֵין לוֹ גִּידִים וַעֲצָמוֹת אֵינָהּ חַיָּה אֶלָּא שִׁשָּׁה חֳדָשִׁים, וְכָל מַאֲכָלָהּ אֵינָהּ אֶלָּא חִטָּה וּמֶחֱצָה, וְהִיא הוֹלֶכֶת וּמְכַנֶּסֶת בַּקַּיִץ כָּל מַה שֶּׁמּוֹצְאָה, חִטִּין וּשְׂעוֹרִין וַעֲדָשִׁים. אָמַר רַבִּי תַּנְחוּמָא וְכָל חַיֶּיהָ אֵינָהּ אֶלָּא חִטָּה וּמֶחֱצָה, וְהִיא כּוֹנֶסֶת אֶת אֵלּוּ, וְלָמָּה הִיא עוֹשָׂה כֵן, שֶׁאָמְרָה שֶׁמָּא יִגְזֹר עָלַי הַקָּדוֹשׁ בָּרוּךְ הוּא חַיִּים וְיִהְיֶה לִי מוּכָן לֶאֱכֹל. אָמַר רַבִּי שִׁמְעוֹן בֶּן יוֹחַאי מַעֲשֶׂה הָיָה וּמָצְאוּ בַּבּוֹר שֶׁלָּהּ שְׁלשׁ מֵאוֹת כּוֹר, מַה שֶּׁמְּכַנֶּסֶת מִן הַקַּיִץ לַחֹרֶף, לְפִיכָךְ אָמַר שְׁלֹמֹה לֵךְ אֶל נְמָלָה עָצֵל רְאֵה דְּרָכֶיהָ וַחֲכָם, אַף אַתֶּם הַתְקִינוּ לָכֶם מִצְווֹת מִן הָעוֹלָם הַזֶּה לָעוֹלָם הַבָּא. וּמַהוּ רְאֵה דְּרָכֶיהָ וַחֲכָם, רַבָּנָן אָמְרֵי רְאֵה דֶּרֶךְ אֶרֶץ שֶׁיֵּשׁ בָּהּ שֶׁבּוֹרַחַת מִן הַגָּזֵל. אָמַר רַבִּי שִׁמְעוֹן בֶּן חֲלַפְתָּא מַעֲשֶׂה בִּנְמָלָה אַחַת שֶׁהִפִּילָה חִטָּה אַחַת, וְהָיוּ כֻּלָּן בָּאוֹת וּמְרִיחוֹת בָּהּ, וְלֹא הָיְתָה אַחַת מֵהֶן נוֹטֶלֶת אוֹתָהּ, בָּאָה אוֹתָהּ שֶׁהָיְתָה שֶׁלָּהּ וְנָטְלָה אוֹתָהּ, רְאֵה חָכְמָה שֶׁיֵּשׁ בָּהּ. וְכָל הַשֶּׁבַח הַזֶּה שֶׁיֵּשׁ בָּהּ שֶׁלֹא לָמְדָה מִבִּרְיָה, וְלֹא שׁוֹפֵט וְלֹא שׁוֹטֵר יֵשׁ לָהּ, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר: אֲשֶׁר אֵין לָהּ קָצִין שֹׁטֵר וּמשֵׁל, אַתֶּם שֶׁמִּנִּיתִי לָכֶם שׁוֹפְטִים וְשׁוֹטְרִים עַל אַחַת כַּמָּה וְכַמָּה שֶׁתִּשְׁמְעוּ לָהֶן, הֱוֵי שֹׁפְטִים וְשֹׁטְרִים תִּתֶּן לְךָ בְּכָל שְׁעָרֶיךָ. This is what the verse said: “Idler, go to the ant; see its ways and become wise. Though it does not have a commander, officer, or governor, it prepares its bread in the summer and amasses its food at the harvest” (Proverbs 6:6–8). Why did Solomon see fit to teach the idler a lesson from the ant? The Rabbis said: An ant has three houses.2That is, ant holes have three compartments. It does not store [food] in the upper one, to avoid [water] dripping in, nor in the bottom one because of the [moistness of the] mud, but in the middle one. And it lives only six months. Why? Because anything that does not possess sinews and bones can live only six months. Its diet is only one-and-a-half wheat kernels, but is goes and gathers in the summer everything that it finds – wheat, barley, and lentils. Rabbi Tanḥuma said: All [it requires in] its life is only one-and-a-half wheat kernels, yet it gathers [all] these. Why does it do so? Because it says: ‘Perhaps the Holy One blessed be He will decree life upon me, so I will have something prepared to eat.’ Rabbi Shimon ben Yoḥai said: There was once an incident where they found three hundred kor3A kor is a very large volume, around 350 liters. [of food] in its hole, from what it gathered from summer to winter.
That is why Solomon said: ‘“Idler, go to the ant; see its ways and become wise.” You, too, prepare for yourself mitzvot in this world for the World to Come.’ What is meant by “see its ways and become wise”? The Rabbis said: See the proper behavior that it exhibits, as it eschews robbery. Rabbi Shimon ben Ḥalafta said: There was once an incident involving a certain ant that dropped a wheat kernel. All the others came and smelled it, but not one of them would take it. The one to whom it belonged came back and took it. See the wisdom that it has, all this virtue that it has, which it did not learn from any other creature, and it has neither judge nor officer, as it is stated: “It does not have a commander, officer, or governor”; you, for whom I appointed judges and officers, all the more so that you should heed them. That is, “Judges and officers you shall place for you within all your gates.”
זֶה שֶׁאָמַר הַכָּתוּב (משלי כא, ג): עֲשׂה צְדָקָה וּמִשְׁפָּט נִבְחָר לַה' מִזָּבַח, כְּזֶבַח אֵין כְּתִיב אֶלָּא מִזָּבַח, כֵּיצַד, הַקָּרְבָּנוֹת לֹא הָיוּ קְרֵבִין נוֹהֲגוֹת אֶלָּא בִּפְנֵי הַבַּיִת, אֲבָל הַצְּדָקָה וְהַדִּינִים נוֹהֲגוֹת בִּפְנֵי הַבַּיִת וְשֶׁלֹא בִּפְנֵי הַבַּיִת. דָּבָר אַחֵר, הַקָּרְבָּנוֹת אֵין מְכַפְּרִין אֶלָּא לְשׁוֹגֵג, וְהַצְּדָקָה וְהַדִּינִין מְכַפְּרִים בֵּין לְשׁוֹגֵג בֵּין לְמֵזִיד. דָּבָר אַחֵר, הַקָּרְבָּנוֹת אֵין נוֹהֲגִים אֶלָּא בַּתַּחְתּוֹנִים, וְהַצְּדָקָה וְהַדִּינִין נוֹהֲגִין בֵּין בָּעֶלְיוֹנִים וּבֵין בַּתַּחְתּוֹנִים. דָּבָר אַחֵר, הַקָּרְבָּנוֹת אֵין נוֹהֲגִין אֶלָּא בָּעוֹלָם הַזֶּה, וְהַצְּדָקָה וְהַדִּינִין נוֹהֲגִין בֵּין בָּעוֹלָם הַזֶּה בֵּין בָּעוֹלָם הַבָּא. אָמַר רַבִּי שְׁמוּאֵל בַּר נַחְמָנִי, בְּשָׁעָה שֶׁאָמַר לוֹ הַקָּדוֹשׁ בָּרוּךְ הוּא לְנָתָן (דברי הימים א יז, ד ה): לֵךְ וְאָמַרְתָּ אֶל דָּוִיד עַבְדִּי כֹּה אָמַר ה' לֹא אַתָּה תִּבְנֶה לִי הַבַּיִת לָשָׁבֶת. כִּי לֹא יָשַׁבְתִּי בְּבַיִת מִן הַיּוֹם אֲשֶׁר הֶעֱלֵיתִי אֶת יִשְׂרָאֵל עַד הַיּוֹם הַזֶּה וָאֶהְיֶה [מתהלך] מֵאֹהֶל אֶל אֹהֶל וּמִמִּשְׁכָּן. כָּל מִי שֶׁהָיָה מְבַקֵּשׁ לְקַלֵּל אֶת דָּוִד מָה הָיָה עוֹשֶׂה הָיָה אוֹמֵר לוֹ טוֹב שֶׁיִּבָּנֶה הַבַּיִת. תֵּדַע לְךָ, מַה דָּוִד אוֹמֵר (תהלים קכב, א): שָׂמַחְתִּי בְּאֹמְרִים לִי בֵּית ה' נֵלֵךְ, מְבַקְּשִׁים לִי דְּבָרִים לוֹמַר שֶׁאֵין אַתָּה בּוֹנֶה, אָמַר לוֹ הַקָּדוֹשׁ בָּרוּךְ הוּא, חַיֶּיךָ, שָׁעָה אַחַת מֵחַיֶּיךָ אֵין אֲנִי מְחַסֵּר, מִנַּיִן שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר (שמואל ב ז, יב): כִּי יִמְלְאוּ יָמֶיךָ וְשָׁכַבְתָּ אֶת אֲבֹתֶיךָ וַהֲקִימֹתִי אֶת זַרְעֲךָ אַחֲרֶיךָ אֲשֶׁר יֵצֵא מִמֵּעֶיךָ וַהֲכִינֹתִי אֶת מַמְלַכְתּוֹ. אָמַר לוֹ הַקָּדוֹשׁ בָּרוּךְ הוּא הַצְּדָקָה וְהַדִּינִין שֶׁאַתָּה עוֹשֶׂה חֲבִיבִין עָלַי מִבֵּית הַמִּקְדָּשׁ, מִנַּיִן, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר (שמואל ב ח, טו): וַיְהִי דָּוִד עֹשֶׂה מִשְׁפָּט וּצְדָקָה. מַהוּ מִשְׁפָּט וּצְדָקָה לְכָל עַמּוֹ, רַבִּי יְהוּדָה וְרַב נַחְמָן חַד אָמַר הָיָה דָן אֶת הַדִּין מְזַכֶּה אֶת הַזַּכַּאי וּמְחַיֵּב אֶת הַחַיָּב, אִם לֹא הָיָה לַחַיָּב לִתֵּן, הָיָה דָּוִד נוֹתֵן מִשֶּׁלּוֹ. הֱוֵי מִשְׁפָּט וּצְדָקָה. אָמַר לוֹ רַב נַחְמָן אִם כֵּן נִמְצֵאתָ מֵבִיא אֶת יִשְׂרָאֵל לִידֵי רַמָּיּוּת, וּמַהוּ מִשְׁפָּט וּצְדָקָה, הָיָה דָן אֶת הַדִּין מְזַכֶּה אֶת הַזַּכַּאי וּמְחַיֵּב אֶת הַחַיָּב, הֱוֵי מִשְׁפָּט וּצְדָקָה, שֶׁהָיָה מוֹצִיא אֶת הַגָּזֵל מִיָּדוֹ, אָמַר הַקָּדוֹשׁ בָּרוּךְ הוּא לְיִשְׂרָאֵל, בָּנַי, הוֹאִיל וְכָךְ הַדִּינִין חֲבִיבִים לְפָנַי, הֱווּ זְהִירִין בָּהֶם. This is what the verse said: “Acting with righteousness and justice is preferable to the Lord, more than an offering” (Proverbs 21:3). “Like an offering” is not written, but “more than an offering.” How is this so? Offerings are sacrificed and practiced only when the Temple is standing, but righteousness and justice are practiced when the Temple is standing and when the Temple is not standing. Another matter, offerings atone only for unwitting sinners, but righteousness and justice atone for both unwitting and intentional sinners. Another matter, offerings are practiced only in the lower worlds; righteousness and justice are practiced both in the upper worlds4In Heaven. and in the lower worlds. Another matter, offerings are practiced only in this world, but righteousness and justice are practiced both in this world and in the World to Come.
Rabbi Shmuel bar Naḥmani said: When the Holy One blessed be He said to Natan: “Go and say to David My servant: So says the Lord: It will not be you who will build for Me a house in which to dwell, for I have not dwelled in a house since the day that I brought up Israel to this day, I have been [going] from one tent or another, and from a Tabernacle” (I Chronicles 17:4–5). Anyone who sought to curse David, what would he say? ‘It would be good if the Temple would be built.’5That could happen only if David were to die. You may know this is so, for what did David say? ‘“I rejoiced when they said to me: Let us go to the House of the Lord” (Psalms 122:1)6Despite their attempts to provoke me, I rejoiced when I thought about going to the House of the Lord. – they seek to taunt me, saying: You will not build it.’ The Holy One blessed be He said to him: ‘By your life [I swear], I will not deduct even one moment from your life.’ From where is this derived? As it is stated: “When your days are completed and you lie with your fathers, I will establish after you your offspring, who will emerge from your loins, and I will establish his kingdom” (II Samuel 7:12). The Holy One blessed be He said to him: ‘The righteousness and justice that you practice are more beloved to Me than the Temple.’ From where is this derived? It is as it is stated: “David performed justice and righteousness [for his entire people]” (II Samuel 8:15). What is meant by “justice and righteousness for his entire people”?7Righteousness (tzedaka) connotes acting with kindness, which would seem to be the opposite of strict justice. Rabbi Yehuda and Rav Naḥman, one said: He would adjudicate a judgment, acquit the innocent party and condemn the guilty party, and if the guilty party did not have the means to pay [what the court had ordered], David would pay from his own money. That is “justice and righteousness.” Rav Naḥman said to him: If so, you would be encouraging Israel to engage in deception.8A poor man could conspire with another person to bring a suit to court, just to get money from David. What, then, is meant by “justice and righteousness”? He would adjudicate a judgment, acquit the innocent party and condemn the guilty party – that itself is “justice and righteousness,” as [in doing so] he removes the stolen money from his [the guilty one’s] possession.9In this manner, David was actually doing a favor for the guilty party by ordering him to pay. The Holy One blessed be He said to Israel: ‘My children, since justice is so beloved before Me, be careful with it.’
דָּבָר אַחֵר, שֹׁפְטִים וְשֹׁטְרִים תִּתֶּן לְךָ, זֶה שֶׁאָמַר הַכָּתוּב (דברים לב, מא מב): אִם שַׁנּוֹתִי בְּרַק חַרְבִּי וְתֹאחֵז בְּמִשְׁפָּט יָדִי אָשִׁיב נָקָם לְצָרָי וְלִמְשַׂנְאַי אֲשַׁלֵּם אַשְׁכִּיר חִצַּי מִדָּם וְחַרְבִּי תֹּאכַל בָּשָׂר מִדַּם חָלָל וְשִׁבְיָה מֵרֹאשׁ פַּרְעוֹת אוֹיֵב, מַהוּ הַמִּקְרָא הַזֶּה, רַבִּי יְהוּדָה וְרַב נַחְמָן, רַבִּי יְהוּדָה אוֹמֵר אָמַר הַקָּדוֹשׁ בָּרוּךְ הוּא אִם שׁוֹנֵן אֲנִי אֶת חַרְבִּי כַּבָּרָק אֲנִי מַחֲרִיב אֶת עוֹלָמִי, מָה אֶעֱשֶׂה וְתֹאחֵז בְּמִשְׁפָּט יָדִי. אָמַר רַבִּי נַחְמָן אָמַר הַקָּדוֹשׁ בָּרוּךְ הוּא אִם מְשַׁנֶּה אֲנִי אֶת מִדַּת הַדִּין, בָּרָק אֶחָד אֲנִי מוֹצִיא וּמַחֲרִיב אֶת עוֹלָמִי, מָה אֶעֱשֶׂה וְתֹאחֵז בְּמִשְׁפָּט יָדִי, אָמַר רַבִּי יִצְחָק, שְׁנֵי דְּבָרִים בִּימִינוֹ שֶׁל הַקָּדוֹשׁ בָּרוּךְ הוּא, צְדָקָה וְתוֹרָה, צְדָקָה דִּכְתִיב (תהלים מח, יא): צֶדֶק מָלְאָה יְמִינֶךָ. תּוֹרָה, דִּכְתִיב (דברים לג, ב): מִימִינוֹ אֵשׁ דָּת לָמוֹ. שְׁנֵי דְבָרִים בְּיָדוֹ, וְאֵלּוּ הֵן: הַנֶּפֶשׁ וְהַדִּין. הַנֶּפֶשׁ, דִּכְתִיב (איוב יב, י): אֲשֶׁר בְּיָדוֹ נֶפֶשׁ כָּל חָי. וְהָדֵין, דִּכְתִיב: וְתֹאחֵז בְּמִשְׁפָּט יָדִי. אָמַר הַקָּדוֹשׁ בָּרוּךְ הוּא הַנֶּפֶשׁ וְהַדִּין נְתוּנִים בְּיָדִי, שִׁמְרוּ אֶת הַדִּין וַאֲנִי אֶשְׁמֹר נַפְשׁוֹתֵיכֶם, הֱוֵי שֹׁפְטִים וְשֹׁטְרִים. Another interpretation, “judges and officers you shall place” – this is what the verse said: “If I hone [shanoti] My flashing [berak] sword, and My hand will grasp judgment, I will return vengeance upon My enemies, and those who hate Me, I will requite. I will intoxicate My arrows with blood, and My sword will devour flesh, from the blood of the slain and the captive, from the heads of the enemy raiders” (Deuteronomy 32:41–42). What is meant by this verse? Rabbi Yehuda and Rav Naḥman, Rabbi Yehuda says: The Holy One blessed be He said: ‘If I hone [shonen] My sword like lightning [barak], I will destroy My world. What will I do instead? I will grasp judgment in My hand.’10I will restrain the judgment from being implemented. Rabbi Naḥman said: The Holy One blessed be He said: ‘If I change [meshaneh] the attribute of justice,11If I no longer moderate it with the attribute of mercy. I will take out one lightning bolt [barak] and destroy the world. What will I do instead? I will grasp judgment in My hand.’ Rabbi Yitzḥak said: There are two things held in the right hand of the Holy One blessed be He, righteousness and Torah. Righteousness, as it is written: “Your right hand is filled with righteousness” (Psalms 48:11). Torah, as it is written: “From His right hand, a fiery law to them” (Deuteronomy 33:2). There are two things in His hand, and they are: The soul and justice. The soul, as it is written: “In whose hand is the life of every living thing” (Job 12:10). And justice, as it is written: “And My hand will grasp judgment.” The Holy One blessed be He said: ‘The soul and justice are both in My hand; you keep justice, and I will keep your souls.’ That is “judges and officers.”
מַהוּ שֹׁפְטִים וְשֹׁטְרִים, רַבָּנָן אָמְרֵי שֶׁיְהֵא הַשּׁוֹטֵר כַּשּׁוֹפֵט, כְּשֶׁיִהְיוּ הַמַּעֲשִׂים כְּנֶגֶד הַמַּקֵּל וְהָרְצוּעָה, וְשֶׁלֹא יְהֵא הַמַּכֶּה צָרִיךְ לִלְקוֹת. דָּבָר אַחֵר, רַבִּי אֱלִיעֶזֶר אוֹמֵר בְּמָקוֹם שֶׁיֵּשׁ דִּין אֵין דַּיָּן, וּבְמָקוֹם שֶׁאֵין דִּין יֵשׁ דַּיָּן, וּמַהוּ כֵן, אֶלָּא אָמַר רַבִּי אֱלִיעֶזֶר, אִם נַעֲשָׂה הַדִּין לְמַטָּה, אֵין הַדִּין נַעֲשָׂה לְמַעְלָה, וְאִם לֹא נַעֲשָׂה הַדִּין לְמַטָּה הַדִּין נַעֲשָׂה לְמַעְלָה. What is meant by “judges and officers”? The Rabbis said: [It implies] that the officer should be [virtuous] like a judge, so that his deeds should be in the presence of the rod and the whip,12In his day-to-day conduct, he should imagine the rod and whip before him, and act virtuously. so that the one flogging should not himself incur liability to be flogged.
Another interpretation, Rabbi Eliezer says: In a place where there is justice, there is no judge, and in a place where there is no justice, there is a judge. What is meant by this? The explanation is that Rabbi Eliezer said: If justice is performed below [on earth], justice will not have to be performed above [by divine punishment], but if justice is not performed below, justice will be performed above.
דָּבָר אַחֵר, שֹׁפְטִים וְשֹׁטְרִים, אָמַר רַב אַחָא בּוֹא וּרְאֵה שֵׁשׁ מַעֲלוֹת הָיָה לַכִּסֵּא שֶׁל שְׁלֹמֹה, מִנַּיִן, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר (מלכים א י, יט): שֵׁשׁ מַעֲלוֹת לַכִּסֵּה, וּבְפָרָשָׁה זוֹ כְּתוּבִים שִׁשָּׁה דְבָרִים בְּלֹא תַעֲשֶׂה, וְאֵלּוּ הֵן: לֹא תַטֶּה מִשְׁפָּט, וְלֹא תַכִּיר פָּנִים, וְלֹא תִקַּח שֹׁחַד, לֹא תִטַּע לְךָ אֲשֵׁרָה, וְלֹא תָקִים לְךָ מַצֵּבָה, וְלֹא תִזְבַּח לַה' אֱלֹהֶיךָ שׁוֹר וָשֶׂה. הֲרֵי שִׁשָּׁה. וְהָיָה הַכָּרוֹז עוֹמֵד לִפְנֵי כִּסְאוֹ שֶׁל שְׁלֹמֹה, כֵּיוָן שֶׁהָיָה עוֹלֶה מַעֲלָה הָרִאשׁוֹנָה הָיָה כּוֹרֵז (דברים טז, יט): לֹא תַטֶּה מִשְׁפָּט, מַעֲלָה הַשְּׁנִיָּה הָיָה כּוֹרֵז (דברים טז, יט): לֹא תַכִּיר פָּנִים, שְׁלִישִׁית הָיָה כּוֹרֵז (דברים טז, יט): וְלֹא תִקַּח שֹׁחַד, רְבִיעִית (דברים טז, כא): לֹא תִטַּע לְךָ אֲשֵׁרָה, חֲמִישִׁית (דברים טז, כב): לֹא תָקִים לְךָ מַצֵּבָה, שִׁשִּׁית (דברים יז, א): לֹא תִזְבַּח לַה' אֱלֹהֶיךָ. אָמַר רַבִּי חִיָּא בַּר אַבָּא סֵדֶר הַדִּין כָּךְ הוּא, הַתּוֹבֵעַ תּוֹבֵעַ, וְהַנִּתְבַּע מֵשִׁיב, וְהַדַּיָּן מַכְרִיעַ. אָמַר רַבִּי סִימָא וְצָרִיךְ הַדַּיָּן לִשְׁנוֹת טַעֲנוֹתֵיהֶם מִפִּיו, מִמִּי אַתָּה לָמֵד מִשְּׁלֹמֹה, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר (מלכים א ג, כג): וַיֹּאמֶר הַמֶּלֶךְ זֹאת אֹמֶרֶת זֶה בְּנִי הַחַי וּבְנֵךְ הַמֵּת וְזֹאת אֹמֶרֶת לֹא כִי בְּנֵךְ הַמֵּת וּבְנִי הֶחָי, אָמַר רַבִּי יְהוּדָה בְּרַבִּי אִלְעָאי שָׁמַעְתִּי שֶׁאִם רוֹצֶה הַדַּיָּן לְהוֹשִׁיב הָאַנְטָדִיקוֹן יוֹשִׁיב, וְאֵי זֶה אָסוּר שֶׁלֹא יְהֵא אֶחָד יוֹשֵׁב וְאֶחָד עוֹמֵד, דְּאָמַר רַבִּי יִשְׁמָעֵאל הָיָה דַיָּן וְהָיוּ שְׁנֵי בְּנֵי אָדָם בָּאִים אֶצְלוֹ לְדִין אֶחָד עָשִׁיר וְאֶחָד עָנִי, יְהֵא אוֹמֵר לְבשׁ כְּשֵׁם שֶׁהוּא לָבוּשׁ אוֹ הַלְבִּישׁוֹ כְּשֵׁם שֶׁאַתָּה לָבוּשׁ. (דברים א, יז): לֹא תַכִּירוּ פָנִים, רַבִּי אֶלְעָזָר וְרַבִּי שְׁמוּאֵל בַּר נַחְמָן, רַבִּי אֶלְעָזָר אָמַר אִם הָיִיתָ יוֹדֵעַ שֶׁהַדִּין עִמּוֹ אַל תַּסְבֵּר לוֹ פָּנִים שֶׁלֹא יְהֵא אוֹמֵר מִתְּחִלָּה הָיָה רוֹצֶה לְזַכּוֹתוֹ. וְרַבִּי שְׁמוּאֵל בַּר נַחְמָן אָמַר, אִם תֵּדַע שֶׁאֵין הַדִּין עִמּוֹ הַסְבֵּר לוֹ פָּנִים, שֶׁלֹא יְהֵא אוֹמֵר מִתְּחִלָּה הָיָה רוֹצֶה לְחַיְבֵנִי. אָמַר רַבִּי חֲנִינָא כָּתוּב אֶחָד אוֹמֵר (דברים א, טז): וּשְׁפַטְתֶּם צֶדֶק, וְכָתוּב אֶחָד אוֹמֵר (דברים יג, טו): וְדָרַשְׁתָּ וְחָקַרְתָּ וְשָׁאַלְתָּ הֵיטֵב, וְהֵיאַךְ הוּא, אִם רָאִיתָ אֶת הַדִּין מְרֻמֶּה, חָקְרֵהוּ. וְאִם רָאִיתָ אֶת הַדִּין יוֹצֵא לַאֲמִתּוֹ, צַדְקֵהוּ. Another interpretation, “judges and officers” – Rav Aḥa said: Come and see that Solomon’s throne had six stairs. From where is this derived? It is as it is stated: “There were six stairs to the throne” (I Kings 10:19). And in this passage, six matters are written as negative commandments, and they are: “You shall not distort judgment, you shall not give preference, and you shall not take a bribe” (Deuteronomy 16:19); “You shall not plant for you any kind of sacred tree” (Deuteronomy 16:21); “You shall not establish a monument for you” (Deuteronomy 16:22); “You shall not slaughter to the Lord your God an ox, or a lamb, [in which there is a blemish]” (Deuteronomy 17:1). There you have six. The herald would stand before Solomon’s throne, and when he [Solomon] would ascend the first stair, he would proclaim: “You shall not distort judgment”; for the second stair he would proclaim: “You shall not show preference”; for the third, he would proclaim: “And you shall not take a bribe”; for the fourth: “You shall not plant for you any kind of sacred tree”; for the fifth: “You shall not establish a monument for you”; for the sixth: “You shall not slaughter to the Lord your God […in which there is a blemish].”
Rabbi Ḥiyya bar Abba said: The protocol for a trial is as follows: The plaintiff states his claim, the defendant responds, and the judge renders a decision. Rabbi Sima said: The judge must orally review their claims. From whom can you learn this? From Solomon, as it is stated: “The king said: This one says: This is my living son, and your son is the dead one; and that one says: No, rather, your son is the dead one, and my son is the live one” (I Kings 3:23).
Rabbi Yehuda ben Rabbi Ilai said: I heard that if a judge wishes to seat the litigants, he may seat them. What is it that is prohibited? There may not be one [litigant] sitting and the other one standing, as Rabbi Yishmael said: If there was a judge and two people came to him for judgment, one wealthy and one impoverished, he should say [to the wealthy one]: ‘Dress as he is dressed, or dress him as you are dressed.’
“You shall not show preference” (Deuteronomy 1:17) – Rabbi Elazar and Rabbi Shmuel bar Naḥman, Rabbi Elazar said: If you [the judge], realize that justice is in his favor [one of the litigants], do not show him a favorable countenance, so he [the other litigant] should not say: ‘From the outset he sought to rule in his favor.’ Rabbi Shmuel bar Naḥman said: If you [the judge] know that justice is not in his favor, show him a favorable countenance, so he should not say: ‘From the outset he sought to convict me.’ Rabbi Ḥanina said: One verse says: “You shall judge fairly” (Deuteronomy 1:16),13This verse does not mention extensive investigation of the claims. and another verse says: “You shall inquire, interrogate, and ask diligently” (Deuteronomy 13:15). How can this be [resolved]? If you sense that the case [presented by one of the litigants] is fraudulent, interrogate him, but if you sense that the case is being resolved truthfully, judge him fairly.14Without interrogation.
דָּבָר אַחֵר, שֹׁפְטִים וְשֹׁטְרִים, אָמַר רַבִּי לֵוִי לְמָה הַדָּבָר דּוֹמֶה, לְמֶלֶךְ שֶׁהָיוּ לוֹ בָּנִים הַרְבֵּה וְהָיָה אוֹהֵב אֶת הַקָּטָן יוֹתֵר מִכֻּלָּן, וְהָיָה לוֹ פַּרְדֵס אֶחָד וְהָיָה אוֹהֲבוֹ יוֹתֵר מִכָּל מַה שֶּׁהָיָה לוֹ, אָמַר הַמֶּלֶךְ נוֹתֵן אֲנִי אֶת הַפַּרְדֵּס הַזֶּה שֶׁאֲנִי אוֹהֲבוֹ מִכָּל מַה שֶּׁיֵּשׁ לִי, לִבְנִי הַקָּטָן שֶׁאֲנִי אוֹהֲבוֹ מִכָּל בָּנַי. כָּךְ אָמַר הַקָּדוֹשׁ בָּרוּךְ הוּא מִכָּל הָאֻמּוֹת שֶׁבָּרָאתִי אֵינִי אוֹהֵב אֶלָּא לְיִשְׂרָאֵל, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר (הושע יא, א): כִּי נַעַר יִשְׂרָאֵל וָאֹהֲבֵהוּ. מִכָּל מַה שֶּׁבָּרָאתִי אֵינִי אוֹהֵב אֶלָּא אֶת הַדִּין, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר (ישעיה סא, ח): כִּי אֲנִי ה' אֹהֵב מִשְׁפָּט. אָמַר הַקָּדוֹשׁ בָּרוּךְ הוּא נוֹתֵן אֲנִי מַה שֶּׁאָהַבְתִּי לָעָם שֶׁאֲנִי אוֹהֵב, הֱוֵי שֹׁפְטִים וְשֹׁטְרִים. אָמַר הַקָּדוֹשׁ בָּרוּךְ הוּא לְיִשְׂרָאֵל, בָּנַי, חַיֵּיכֶם בִּזְכוּת שֶׁאַתֶּם מְשַׁמְּרִים אֶת הַדִּין אֲנִי מִתְגַּבֵּהַּ, מִנַיִן, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר (ישעיה ה, טז): וַיִּגְבַּהּ ה' צְבָאוֹת בַּמִּשְׁפָּט, וְעַל יְדֵי שֶׁאַתֶּם מַגְבִּיהִין אוֹתִי בַּדִּין אַף אֲנִי עוֹשֶׂה צְדָקָה וּמַשְׁרֶה קְדֻשָּׁתִי בֵּינֵיכֶם, מִנַּיִן, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר (ישעיה ה, טז): וְהָאֵל הַקָּדוֹשׁ נִקְדַּשׁ בִּצְדָקָה. וְאִם שְׁמַרְתֶּם אֶת שְׁנֵיהֶם, הַצְּדָקָה וְהַדִּין, מִיָּד אֲנִי גוֹאֵל אֶתְכֶם גְּאֻלָּה שְׁלֵמָה, מִנַּיִן, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר (ישעיה נו, א): כֹּה אָמַר ה' שִׁמְרוּ מִשְׁפָּט וַעֲשׂוּ צְדָקָה כִּי קְרוֹבָה יְשׁוּעָתִי לָבוֹא וְצִדְקָתִי לְהִגָּלוֹת. Another interpretation, “judges and officers you shall place” – Rabbi Levi said: To what is this matter comparable? To a king who had many children, and he loved the youngest more than them all. He had a certain orchard, and he liked it more than all his possessions. The king said: ‘I will give this orchard that I like more than all my [other] possessions, to my youngest son, whom I love more than all my children.’ So, too, the Holy One blessed be He said: ‘From all the nations that I created, I love only Israel, as it is stated: “When Israel was a lad, I loved him” (Hosea 11:1). From everything that I created, I love only justice, as it is stated: “For I am the Lord, who loves justice”’ (Isaiah 61:8). The Holy One blessed be He said: ‘I am giving what I love to the people that I love.’ That is, “judges and officers.”
The Holy One blessed be He said to Israel: ‘My children, by your lives, in the merit of your preserving justice, I am exalted.’ From where is this derived? It is as it is stated: “But the Lord of hosts will be exalted through justice” (Isaiah 5:16). [God said:] ‘And as a result of you exalting Me through justice, I will perform righteousness and rest My sanctity in your midst.’ From where is this derived? It is as it is stated: “And the Holy God will be sanctified through righteousness” (Isaiah 5:16). [God said:] ‘And if you keep both of them, righteousness and justice, I will immediately redeem you with a full redemption.’ From where is this derived? It is as it is stated: “So said the Lord: Maintain justice and act with righteousness, for My salvation is soon to come, and My righteousness to be revealed” (Isaiah 56:1).
כִּי תָבֹא אֶל הָאָרֶץ וגו' (דברים יז, יד), הֲלָכָה מֶלֶךְ יִשְׂרָאֵל שֶׁהָיָה לוֹ עֵסֶק מַהוּ שֶׁיְּהֵא מֻתָּר לוֹ לָדוּן לִפְנֵי בֵּית דִּין, כָּךְ שָׁנוּ חֲכָמִים, מֶלֶךְ לֹא דָן וְלֹא דָנִין אוֹתוֹ, לֹא מֵעִיד וְלֹא מְעִידִין אוֹתוֹ. לִמְדוּנוּ רַבּוֹתֵינוּ לָמָּה אֵין דָּנִין אוֹתוֹ, אָמַר רַבִּי יִרְמְיָה שֶׁכָּתוּב בְּדָוִד הַמֶּלֶךְ (תהלים יז, ב): מִלְּפָנֶיךָ מִשְׁפָּטִי יֵצֵא, הֱוֵי אֵין בְּרִיָה דָּן אֶת הַמֶּלֶךְ אֶלָּא הַקָּדוֹשׁ בָּרוּךְ הוּא. רַבָּנָן אָמְרֵי אָמַר הַקָּדוֹשׁ בָּרוּךְ הוּא לְיִשְׂרָאֵל, בָּנַי, כָּךְ חָשַׁבְתִּי שֶׁתִּהְיוּ חוֹרִין מִן הַמַּלְכוּת מִנַּיִן, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר (ירמיה ב, כד): פֶּרֶא לָמֻד מִדְבָּר, כְּשֵׁם שֶׁהַפֶּרֶא גָּדֵל בַּמִּדְבָּר וְאֵין אֵימַת אָדָם עָלָיו, כָּךְ חָשַׁבְתִּי שֶׁלֹא תְּהֵא אֵימַת מַלְכוּת עֲלֵיכֶם, אֲבָל אַתֶּם לֹא בִּקַּשְׁתֶּם כֵּן, אֶלָּא (ירמיה ב, כד): בְּאַוַּת נַפְשָׁהּ שָׁאֲפָה רוּחַ, וְאֵין רוּחַ אֶלָּא מַלְכֻיּוֹת, מִנַּיִן, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר (דניאל ז, ב): וַאֲרוּ אַרְבַּע רוּחֵי שְׁמַיָא מְגִיחָן לְיַמָּא רַבָּא. אָמַר הַקָּדוֹשׁ בָּרוּךְ הוּא וְאִם תֹּאמְרוּ שֶׁאֵינִי יוֹדֵעַ שֶׁסּוֹפְכֶם לְעָזְבֵנִי, כְּבָר הִזְהַרְתִּי עַל יְדֵי משֶׁה וְאָמַרְתִּי לוֹ הוֹאִיל וְסוֹפָן לְבַקֵּשׁ לָהֶן מֶלֶךְ בָּשָׂר וָדָם, מֵהֶן יַמְלִיכוּ עֲלֵיהֶן, לֹא מֶלֶךְ נָכְרִי, מִנַּיִן, מִמַּה שֶּׁקָּרִינוּ בָּעִנְיָן (דברים יז, יד): וְאָמַרְתָּ אָשִׂימָה עָלַי מֶלֶךְ. “When you will come to the land that the Lord your God is giving you, and you shall take possession of it, and you shall live in it, and you will say: I will install a king over me, like all the nations that are around me” (Deuteronomy 17:14).
“When you will come to the land…” – halakha: A king of Israel who had a legal issue, what is the ruling? Is it permitted for him to go for a trial before the court? This is what the Sages taught: A king cannot act as judge and others cannot judge him; he cannot testify and others cannot testify concerning him. Our Rabbis taught us: Why is it that others may not judge him? Rabbi Yirmeya said: As it is written regarding King David: “Let my judgment emerge from before You” (Psalms 17:2). That is, no person may judge the king except for the Holy One blessed be He.
The Rabbis said: The Holy One blessed be He said to Israel: ‘My children, I had thought that you would be free from the rule of kings.’ From where is this derived? It is as it is stated: “A wild donkey accustomed to the wilderness” (Jeremiah 2:24). Just as the wild donkey grows up in the wilderness and has no fear of man, so I thought that you would have no fear of kings. But that is not what you sought. Instead, “at its soul's desire it inhales wind” (Jeremiah 2:24). “Wind” [here] refers to nothing other than kingdoms. From where is this derived? It is as it is stated: “And behold, the four winds of the heavens bursting forth to the great sea”15The text there goes on to say that the four winds represent four kingdoms: Babylon, Persia, Greece, and Rome. (Daniel 7:2). The Holy One blessed be He said: ‘And if you should say that I do not know that you will ultimately forsake Me [by appointing a king], I already cautioned you through Moses. I said to him: Since, ultimately, they will request a flesh and blood king, from their midst they should crown a king over themselves, not a foreign king.’ From where is this derived? It is from what we read regarding the matter: “And you will say: I will install a king over me.”16In the following verse it says: “From among your brethren you shall install a king over you; you may not install over you a foreign man” (Deuteronomy 17:15).
זֶה שֶׁאָמַר הַכָּתוּב (איוב לד, ל): מִמְלֹךְ אָדָם חָנֵף מִמֹּקְשֵׁי עָם. רַבִּי יוֹחָנָן וְרֵישׁ לָקִישׁ, רַבִּי יוֹחָנָן אָמַר אִם רָאִיתָ חָנֵף וְרָשָׁע מַנְהִיג אֶת הַדּוֹר, נוֹחַ לוֹ לַדּוֹר לִפְרוֹחַ בָּאֲוִיר וְלֹא לְהִשְׁתַּמֵּשׁ בּוֹ, וְאֵין הַלָּשׁוֹן הַזֶּה מִמֹּקְשֵׁי עָם אֶלָּא לִפְרֹחַ, כָּעִנְיָן שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר (עמוס ג, ה): הֲתִפּוֹל צִפּוֹר עַל פַּח הָאָרֶץ וּמוֹקֵשׁ אֵין לָהּ. מִמְלֹךְ אָדָם חָנֵף וגו', רַבָּנִין אָמְרֵי כֵּיוָן שֶׁעָמְדוּ מְלָכִים עַל יִשְׂרָאֵל וְהִתְחִילוּ מְשַׁעְבְּדִין בָּהֶן, אָמַר הַקָּדוֹשׁ בָּרוּךְ הוּא לֹא אַתֶּם עֲזַבְתֶּם אוֹתִי וּבִקַּשְׁתֶּם לָכֶם מְלָכִים, הֱוֵי אָשִׂימָה עָלַי מֶלֶךְ, זֶה שֶׁאָמַר הַכָּתוּב (תהלים קמו, ג): אַל תִּבְטְחוּ בִנְדִיבִים וגו'. אָמַר רַבִּי סִימוֹן בְּשֵׁם רַבִּי יְהוֹשֻׁעַ בֶּן לֵוִי, כָּל מִי שֶׁבּוֹטֵחַ בְּהַקָּדוֹשׁ בָּרוּךְ הוּא, זוֹכֶה לִהְיוֹת כַּיּוֹצֵא בוֹ, מִנַּיִן, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר (ירמיה יז, ז): בָּרוּךְ הַגֶּבֶר אֲשֶׁר יִבְטַח בַּה' וְהָיָה ה' מִבְטַחוֹ, אֲבָל כָּל מִי שֶׁיִּבְטַח בַּעֲבוֹדַת כּוֹכָבִים נִתְחַיֵּב לִהְיוֹת כַּיּוֹצֵא בָהּ, מִנַּיַן, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר (תהלים קטו, ח): כְּמוֹהֶם יִהְיוּ עֹשֵׂיהֶם. רַבָּנָן אָמְרֵי כָּל מִי שֶׁנִּשְׁעַן בְּבָשָׂר וָדָם עוֹבֵר, אַף פְּרוֹסְטְיָא שֶׁלּוֹ עוֹבֶרֶת, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר (תהלים קמו, ג): בְּבֶן אָדָם שֶׁאֵין לוֹ תְשׁוּעָה, מַה כְּתִיב אַחֲרָיו: תֵּצֵא רוּחוֹ יָשֻׁב לְאַדְמָתוֹ. אָמַר הַקָּדוֹשׁ בָּרוּךְ הוּא וְיוֹדְעִין שֶׁאֵין בָּשָׂר וָדָם כְּלוּם, וּמַנִּיחִין כְּבוֹדִי וְאוֹמְרִין (שמואל א ח, ה): שִׂימָה לָנוּ מֶלֶךְ, מָה אַתֶּם מְבַקְּשִׁין מֶלֶךְ, חַיֵּיכֶם שֶׁסּוֹפְכֶם לְהַרְגִּישׁ מֶה עָתִיד לְהַגִּיעַ לָכֶם מִתַּחַת מַלְכְּכֶם, מִנַּיִן, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר (הושע ז, ז): כָּל מַלְכֵיהֶם נָפָלוּ אֵין קֹרֵא בָהֶם אֵלָי. This is what the verse said: “He prevents a deceitful person from reigning, from setting hindrances [mokeshei] for the people” (Job 34:30). Rabbi Yoḥanan and Reish Lakish, Rabbi Yoḥanan said: If you see a deceitful and wicked man leading the generation, it would be preferable for the generation to fly in the air rather than make use of him. This expression, from setting hindrances [mokeshei] for the people means nothing other than flying, like the matter that is stated: “Will a bird fall into a trap on the ground, and there is no snare [mokesh] for it?” (Amos 3:5).
“He prevents a deceitful person from reigning…” – the Rabbis said: When kings arose over Israel and began subjugating them, the Holy One blessed be He said to them: ‘Did you not forsake Me and request a king for yourselves?’ That is, “I will install a king over me.”
This is what the verse said: “Do not trust in princes…” (Psalms 146:3). Rabbi Simon said in the name of Rabbi Yehoshua ben Levi: Anyone who places his trust in the Holy One blessed be He, merits to be comparable to Him.17People will refer to him as a Godly person. From where is this derived? It is as it is stated: “Blessed is the man who trusts in the Lord, and the Lord is his haven” (Jeremiah 17:7). But one who places his trust in idolatry is condemned to be comparable to it. From where is this derived? It is as it is stated: “Those who make them will be like them” (Psalms 115:8). The Rabbis say: Anyone who places his trust in a flesh-and-blood human, who passes away, his protection, too, passes away, as it is stated: “In man, in whom there is no salvation” (Psalms 146:3). What is written thereafter? “His spirit departs; he returns to his earth” (Psalms 146:4). The Holy One blessed be He said: ‘They know that a flesh-and-blood human is nothing, yet they forsake My honor and say: “Install a king for us” (I Samuel 8:5). Why do you seek a king? By your lives, ultimately you will feel what is destined to befall you under your king.’ From where is this derived? It is as it is stated: “All their kings have fallen; no one among them calls to Me” (Hosea 7:7).
דָּבָר אַחֵר, וְאָמַרְתָּ אָשִׂימָה עָלַי מֶלֶךְ, אָמַר רַבִּי יְהוּדָה בְּרַבִּי אִלְעָאי עַל שְׁלשָׁה דְבָרִים נִצְטַוּוּ יִשְׂרָאֵל בִּכְנִיסָתָן לָאָרֶץ, וְאֵלּוּ הֵן: לִמְחוֹת זִכְרוֹ שֶׁל עֲמָלֵק, וּלְמַנּוֹת לָהֶם מֶלֶךְ, וְלִבְנוֹת לָהֶם בֵּית הַמִּקְדָּשׁ. וּמִנּוּ לָהֶם מֶלֶךְ, וּמָחוּ זִכְרוֹ שֶׁל עֲמָלֵק, וְלָמָּה לֹא בָּנוּ לָהֶם בֵּית הַמִּקְדָּשׁ, שֶׁהָיוּ בֵּינֵיהֶם דֵּילָטוֹרִין. תֵּדַע לְךָ דְּאָמַר רַבִּי שְׁמוּאֵל בַּר נַחְמָן דּוֹרוֹ שֶׁל אַחְאָב עוֹבְדֵי עֲבוֹדַת כּוֹכָבִים הָיוּ וְהָיוּ יוֹצְאִין לַמִּלְחָמָה וְנוֹצְחִין, וְלָמָּה כֵן, שֶׁלֹא הָיָה בֵּינֵיהֶן דֵּילָטוֹרִין, לְפִיכָךְ הָיוּ יוֹצְאִין לַמִּלְחָמָה וְנוֹצְחִין, תֵּדַע לְךָ כְּשֶׁבִּקְשָׁה אִיזֶבֶל לַהֲרֹג כָּל נְבִיאֵי ה', מֶה עָשָׂה עֹבַדְיָה הִטְמִין אוֹתָן בַּמְּעָרוֹת, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר (מלכים א יח, יג): וָאַחְבִּא מִנְּבִיאֵי ה' מֵאָה אִישׁ חֲמִשִּׁים חֲמִשִּׁים אִישׁ בַּמְּעָרָה, וְלֹא הָיָה אָדָם שֶׁאָמַר לְאַחְאָב כָּךְ וְכָךְ עָשָׂה עֹבַדְיָה, אֲבָל דּוֹרוֹ שֶׁל שָׁאוּל כֻּלָּן הָיוּ דֵּילָטוֹרִין, תֵּדַע לְךָ כְּשֶׁהָיָה שָׁאוּל רוֹדֵף אַחַר דָּוִד הָיוּ הַכֹּל אוֹמְרִים עָלָיו לָשׁוֹן הָרָע לְשָׁאוּל, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר (תהלים נב, ב): בְּבוֹא דּוֹאֵג הָאֲדֹמִי וגו', (תהלים נד, ב): בְּבוֹא הַזִּיפִים וַיֹּאמְרוּ לְשָׁאוּל, לְפִיכָךְ הָיוּ נוֹפְלִים בַּמִּלְחָמָה. דָּבָר אַחֵר, אָמַר רַב מוֹנָא, כָּל שֶׁאוֹמֵר לָשׁוֹן הָרָע מְסַלֵּק הַשְּׁכִינָה מִלְּמַטָּה לְמַעְלָה, תֵּדַע לְךָ מַה דָּוִד אוֹמֵר (תהלים נז, ה): נַפְשִׁי בְּתוֹךְ לְבָאִם אֶשְׁכְּבָה לֹהֲטִים בְּנֵי אָדָם שִׁנֵּיהֶם חַנִּית וְחִצִּים וּלְשׁוֹנָם חֶרֶב חַדָּה, מַה כְּתִיב אַחֲרָיו (תהלים נז, ו): רוּמָה עַל הַשָּׁמַיִם אֱלֹהִים וגו', אָמַר דָּוִד רִבּוֹנוֹ שֶׁל עוֹלָם מָה הַשְּׁכִינָה עוֹשָׂה לְמַטָּה, סַלֵּק אֶת הַשְּׁכִינָה לָרָקִיעַ. דָּבָר אַחֵר, אָמַר רַבִּי שְׁמוּאֵל בַּר נַחְמָן לָמָּה נִקְרָא שְׁמוֹ שֶׁל לָשׁוֹן הָרָע לָשׁוֹן שְׁלִישִׁי, שֶׁהוּא הוֹרֵג שְׁלשָׁה, שֶׁאֲמָרוֹ, וְהַמְקַבְּלוֹ, וְשֶׁנֶּאֱמַר עָלָיו. מִנַּיִן, דּוֹאֵג שֶׁאֲמָרוֹ, וְשָׁאוּל שֶׁקִּבְּלוֹ, וְנוֹב עִיר הַכֹּהֲנִים שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר עֲלֵיהֶן. דָּבָר אַחֵר, אָמַר רַבִּי שְׁמוּאֵל בַּר נַחְמָן שָׁאֲלוּ לַנָּחָשׁ וְאָמְרוּ לֵיהּ לָמָּה אַתָּה מָצוּי בֵּין הַגְּדֵרוֹת, אָמַר לָהֶן שֶׁפָּרַצְתִּי גִּדְרוֹ שֶׁל עוֹלָם. אָמְרוּ לוֹ וְלָמָּה אַתָּה מְהַלֵּךְ בָּאָרֶץ וּלְשׁוֹנְךָ שׁוֹתֵת בָּאָרֶץ, אָמַר לָהֶן שֶׁהוּא גָּרַם לִי שֶׁאָמַרְתִּי לָשׁוֹן הָרָע עַל בּוֹרְאִי, וּמָה הָיָה הַלָּשׁוֹן הָרָע, אָמַר רַבִּי יְהוֹשֻׁעַ דְּסִכְנִין בְּשֵׁם רַבִּי לֵוִי הַנָּחָשׁ הָרִאשׁוֹן הָיָה מֵסִיחַ כִּבְנֵי אָדָם, כֵּיוָן שֶׁלֹא הָיוּ אָדָם וְחַוָּה מְבַקְּשִׁין לֶאֱכֹל מֵאוֹתוֹ אִילָן, הִתְחִיל לוֹמַר לָשׁוֹן הָרָע עַל בּוֹרְאוֹ, אָמַר לָהֶן מִן הָאִילָן הַזֶּה אָכַל הַבּוֹרֵא וּבָרָא אֶת עוֹלָמוֹ, וְצִוָּה אֶתְכֶם שֶׁלֹא תֹאכְלוּ מִמֶּנּוּ וְתִבְרְאוּ עוֹלָם אַחֵר. וּמֶה עָשָׂה לוֹ הַקָּדוֹשׁ בָּרוּךְ הוּא, קָצַץ אֶת רַגְלָיו, וְכָרַת אֶת לְשׁוֹנוֹ, שֶׁלֹא יְהֵא מֵסִיחַ. דָּבָר אַחֵר, שָׁאֲלוּ לַנָּחָשׁ אָמְרוּ לוֹ מָה אַתָּה נֶהֱנָה שֶׁאַתָּה נוֹשֵׁךְ. אָמַר לָהֶם עַד שֶׁאַתֶּם שׁוֹאֲלִין אוֹתִי לָמָּה אֵין אַתֶּם שׁוֹאֲלִין לְבַעֲלֵי לָשׁוֹן הָרָע, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר (קהלת י, יא): אִם יִשֹּׁךְ הַנָּחָשׁ בְּלוֹא לָחַשׁ וְאֵין יִתְרוֹן לְבַעַל הַלָּשׁוֹן, מַה נֶּהֱנָה שֶׁאוֹמֵר לָשׁוֹן הָרָע. דָּבָר אַחֵר, אָמְרוּ לַנָּחָשׁ לָמָּה אַתָּה נוֹשֵׁךְ בְּאֵבָר אֶחָד וְאַרְסְךָ מְהַלֵּךְ בְּכָל הָאֵיבָרִים, אָמַר לָהֶן עַד שֶׁאַתֶּם שׁוֹאֲלִין אוֹתִי לָמָּה אֵין אַתֶּם שׁוֹאֲלִין לְבַעֲלֵי הַלָּשׁוֹן, שֶׁעוֹמֵד בְּרוֹמִי וְהוֹרֵג בְּסוּרְיָא, עוֹמֵד בְּסוּרְיָא וְהוֹרֵג בְּרוֹמִי. רְאֵה כַּמָּה קָשֶׁה כֹּחוֹ שֶׁל לָשׁוֹן הָרָע שֶׁנִּצְטַוּוּ לִבְנוֹת בֵּית הַמִּקְדָּשׁ, וּבִשְׁבִיל שֶׁהָיָה הַדּוֹר בַּעֲלֵי לָשׁוֹן הָרָע לֹא נִבְנָה בִּימֵיהֶם. Another interpretation, “and you will say: I will install a king over me” – Rabbi Yehuda ben Rabbi Ilai said: There were three things that Israel was commanded to do upon their entry into the Land. These are: To eradicate the name of Amalek, to appoint a king for themselves, and to build themselves a Temple. They appointed a king for themselves and they eradicated the name of Amalek. Why, then, did they not build the Temple [at that time]? It is because they had informers in their midst.18The existence of those informers prevented the Divine Presence from resting in their midst. You may know that this is so, as Rabbi Shmuel bar Naḥman said: The people of the generation of Ahab were idol worshippers, yet they would go out to war and emerge victorious. Why was it so? Because they did not have informers in their midst. That is why they would go out to war and emerge victorious. You may know that this is so, as when Jezebel sought to kill all the prophets of the Lord, what did Ovadya do? He concealed them in caves, as it is stated: “I concealed one hundred men of the prophets of the Lord, fifty men to a cave” (I Kings 18:13), and there was no person who said to Ahab: ‘Ovadya did such and such.’ But the generation of Saul, all of them were informers. You may know that it is so, as when Saul was pursuing David, everyone would utter malicious speech about him to Saul, as it is stated: “When Doeg the Edomite came [and informed Saul, saying to him: David has come to the house of Aḥimelekh]” (Psalms 52:2); “when the Zifites came and said to Saul: [David is hiding among us]” (Psalms 54:2). That is why they would suffer defeat in war.
Another interpretation, Rav Mona said: Anyone who utters malicious speech drives away the Divine Presence from below [on earth] to up above. You may know that it is so from what David said: “I lay my soul amid lions, anxious beasts, among men whose teeth are spears and arrows, whose tongues are a honed sword” (Psalms 57:5). What is written thereafter? “Rise above the heavens, God…” (Psalms 57:6) – David said: ‘Master of the universe, what is the Divine Presence doing below? Remove the Divine Presence to the firmament.’
Another interpretation, Rabbi Shmuel bar Naḥman said: Why is malicious speech known as ‘the third speech’? It is because it kills three people – the one who speaks it, the one who accepts it, and the one about whom it is spoken. From where is this derived? From Doeg who spoke it, Saul who accepted it, and Nov the city of priests, about which it was spoken.19See I Samuel chapter 22.
Another interpretation, Rabbi Shmuel bar Naḥman said: They asked the serpent, saying to it: ‘Why are you found among fences?’ It said to them: ‘Because I breached the fence of the world.’ They said to it: ‘Why do you walk on the ground and your tongue protrudes onto the ground?’ It said to them: ‘Because it [my tongue] caused me to utter malicious speech against my Creator.’ What was the malicious speech? Rabbi Yehoshua of Sikhnin said in the name of Rabbi Levi: The primeval serpent was able to speak like humans. When Adam and Eve did not want to eat from that tree [the tree of knowledge], he began uttering malicious speech about his Creator. He said to them: ‘It was from this tree that the Creator ate and thereby created His world. He commanded you that you should not eat from it and create another world.’ What did the Holy One blessed be He do to it? He severed its legs and cut out its tongue, so it would not be able to speak.
Another interpretation, they asked the serpent, saying to it: ‘What benefit do you have from biting?’ It said to them: ‘Before you ask me, why do you not ask those who utter malicious speech [baalei lashon hara],’ as it is stated: “If the serpent bites without a spell, there is no advantage to the charmer [baal halashon]” (Ecclesiastes 10:11) – what benefit does he get by uttering malicious speech?
Another interpretation, they said to the serpent: ‘Why do you bite one limb yet your venom circulates into all the limbs?’ It said to them: ‘Before you ask me, why do you not ask those who utter malicious speech, who can be standing in Rome and kill someone in Syria, or stand in Syria and kill someone in Rome?’ See how harsh is the power of malicious speech, as they [the Israelites] were commanded to build the Temple [upon their entry to the Land], and because the people of that generation engaged in malicious speech, it was not built in their days.
דָּבָר אַחֵר, אָשִׂימָה עָלַי מֶלֶךְ. רַבָּנָן אָמְרֵי, אָמַר הַקָּדוֹשׁ בָּרוּךְ הוּא בָּעוֹלָם הַזֶּה בִּקַּשְׁתֶּם מְלָכִים וְעָמְדוּ הַמְלָכִים מִיִּשְׂרָאֵל וְהִפִּילוּ אֶתְכֶם בֶּחָרֶב, שָׁאוּל הִפִּילָם בְּהַר הַגִּלְבֹּעַ, מִנַּיִן (שמואל א ד, יז): נָס יִשְׂרָאֵל לִפְנֵי פְלִשְׁתִּים וגו'. דָּוִד נָתַן מַגֵּפָה, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר (שמואל ב כד, טו): וַיִתֵּן ה' דֶּבֶר בְּיִשְׂרָאֵל. אַחְאָב עָצַר עֲלֵיהֶן אֶת הַגְּשָׁמִים, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר (מלכים א יז, א): אִם יִהְיֶה הַשָּׁנִים הָאֵלֶּה טַל וּמָטָר וגו'. צִדְקִיָּהוּ הֶחֱרִיב אֶת בֵּית הַמִּקְדָּשׁ. כֵּיוָן שֶׁרָאוּ יִשְׂרָאֵל מָה הִגִּיעַ מִתַּחַת יְדֵי מַלְכֵיהֶם, הִתְחִילוּ צֹוְחִין הַכֹּל, אֵין אָנוּ מְבַקְּשִׁין מֶלֶךְ יִשְׂרָאֵל, לְמַלְכֵּנוּ הָרִאשׁוֹן אָנוּ מְבַקְּשִׁין (ישעיה לג, כב): כִּי ה' שֹׁפְטֵינוּ ה' מְחֹקְקֵנוּ ה' מַלְכֵּנוּ הוּא יוֹשִׁיעֵנוּ. אָמַר לָהֶם הַקָּדוֹשׁ בָּרוּךְ הוּא חַיֵּיכֶם, כָּךְ אֲנִי עוֹשֶׂה, מִנַּיִן, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר (זכריה יד, ט): וְהָיָה ה' לְמֶלֶךְ עַל כָּל הָאָרֶץ וגו'. Another interpretation, “I will install a king over me” – the Holy One blessed be He said: ‘In this world, you requested kings, and the kings of Israel arose and caused you to be felled by the sword.’ Saul caused them to be felled on Mount Gilboa. From where is this learned? “Israel has fled before the Philistines…” (I Samuel 4:17). David brought about a plague, as it is stated: “The Lord sent pestilence in Israel” (II Samuel 24:15). Ahab caused the rain to stop falling for them, as it is stated: “There will not be dew or rain during these years…” (I Kings 17:1). Zedekiah caused the Temple to be destroyed. When Israel saw what befell them under the rule of their kings, they all began crying out: ‘We do not want a king of Israel, we want our original King: “For the Lord is our Judge, the Lord is our Lawgiver, the Lord is our King; He will save us”’ (Isaiah 33:22). The Holy One blessed be He said to them: ‘By your lives, I will do so.’ From where is this derived? “The Lord will be King over the entire earth…” (Zechariah 14:9).
כִּי תִקְרַב אֶל עִיר (דברים כ, י), הֲלָכָה אֵלּוּ הֵן דְּבָרִים שֶׁאָמְרוּ מִפְּנֵי דַּרְכֵי שָׁלוֹם, כָּךְ שָׁנוּ חֲכָמִים אֵלּוּ דְּבָרִים אָמְרוּ מִפְּנֵי דַרְכֵי שָׁלוֹם, כֹּהֵן קוֹרֵא רִאשׁוֹן וְאַחֲרָיו לֵוִי וְאַחֲרָיו יִשְׂרָאֵל, רְאֵה כַּמָּה הוּא כֹּחוֹ שֶׁל שָׁלוֹם. אָמַר רַבִּי יוֹחָנָן מִיָּמֶיהָ לֹא רָאֲתָה חַמָּה פְּגִימָתָהּ שֶׁל לְבָנָה, לָמָּה כֵן, מִפְּנֵי דַּרְכֵי שָׁלוֹם, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר (איוב כה, ב): הַמְשֵׁל וָפַחַד עִמּוֹ עֹשֶׂה שָׁלוֹם בִּמְרוֹמָיו. אָמַר רַבִּי לֵוִי אֵין אֶחָד מִן הַמַּזָּלוֹת הַלָּלוּ שֶׁהֵן מְהַלְּכִין בָּרָקִיעַ, רוֹאֶה מַה שֶּׁלְּפָנָיו אֶלָּא שֶׁל אֲחוֹרָיו, כְּאָדָם הַיּוֹרֵד מֵעַל הַסֻּלָּם וּפָנָיו לַאֲחוֹרָיו, כְּדֵי שֶׁיְהֵא כָּל מַזָּל וּמַזָּל אוֹמֵר אֲנִי הוּא הָרִאשׁוֹן, הֱוֵי עֹשֶׂה שָׁלוֹם בִּמְרוֹמָיו. דָּבָר אַחֵר, עֹשֶׂה שָׁלוֹם בִּמְרוֹמָיו, אָמַר רֵישׁ לָקִישׁ מִיכָאֵל כֻּלּוֹ שֶׁלֶג, וְגַבְרִיאֵל כֻּלּוֹ אֵשׁ, וְעוֹמְדִין זֶה אֵצֶל זֶה וְאֵינָם מַזִּיקִים זֶה אֶת זֶה. אָמַר בַּר קַפָּרָא וּמָה אִם הָעֶלְיוֹנִים שֶׁאֵין בָּהֶם לֹא קִנְאָה וְלֹא שִׂנְאָה וְלֹא תַחֲרוּת הֵן צְרִיכִין שָׁלוֹם, הַתַּחְתּוֹנִים שֶׁכֻּלָּן שִׂנְאָה וְתַחֲרוּת וְקִנְאָה עַל אַחַת כַּמָּה וְכַמָּה שֶׁהֵן צְרִיכִין שָׁלוֹם. רַבָּנָן אָמְרֵי תֵּדַע לָךְ כַּמָּה גָּדוֹל כֹּחוֹ שֶׁל שָׁלוֹם אֲפִלּוּ הַמִּלְחָמָה שֶׁאֵין אָדָם יוֹרֵד לְתוֹכָהּ אֶלָּא בַּחֲרָבוֹת וּבִרְמָחִים, אָמַר הַקָּדוֹשׁ בָּרוּךְ הוּא כְּשֶׁתִּהְיוּ הוֹלְכִים לַעֲשׂוֹת מִלְחָמָה לֹא תִהְיוּ פּוֹתְחִין תְּחִלָּה אֶלָּא בְּשָׁלוֹם, מִנַּיִן, מִמַּה שֶּׁקָּרִינוּ בָּעִנְיָן כִּי תִקְרַב אֶל עִיר וגו'. “When you approach a city to wage war against it, you shall call to it for peace” (Deuteronomy 20:10).
“When you approach a city” – halakha: These are the laws that were instituted in order to adhere to the ways of peace. This is what the Sages taught: These are the laws that they instituted in order to adhere to the ways of peace: A priest reads [from the Torah] first, and after him a Levite, and after him an Israelite. See how great the power of peace is. Rabbi Yoḥanan said: The sun has never seen the dark part of the moon’s crescent.20It is always the luminous part of the lunar crescent that faces the sun. Why is it so? It is in order to adhere to the ways of peace,21It is to prevent the moon from being embarrassed, as it were, by the sun. as it is stated: “Dominion and fear are with Him; He makes peace in His heights” (Job 25:2).22God arranges even the heavenly bodies in a manner that ensures peace among them, as it were. Rabbi Levi said: None of the constellations that move in the firmament see the one that precedes it, but only what is after it, like a person climbing down a ladder, and he turns his face [over his shoulder, to look] behind him, so that each and every constellation should say: ‘I am the first one.’ That is, “He makes peace in His heights.”
Another matter, “He makes peace in His heights” – Reish Lakish said: Mikhael is all snow and Gabriel is all fire and yet they stand adjacent to one another and they do not harm one another. Bar Kappara said: If the supernal beings, among whom there is neither jealousy, nor hatred, nor rivalry, are in need of peace, earthly beings, who consist entirely of hatred, rivalry, and jealousy, all the more so are in need of peace. The Rabbis say: You may know how great the power of peace is – even regarding war, into which a person enters only with swords and spears, the Holy One blessed be He said that when you go to wage war, begin only with peace. From where is this derived? From what we read regarding the matter: “When you approach a city….”
דָּבָר אַחֵר, כִּי תִקְרַב אֶל עִיר, זֶה שֶׁאָמַר הַכָּתוּב (איוב כב, כח): וְתִגְזַר אֹמֶר וְיָקָם לָךְ וגו'. רַבָּנָן אָמְרֵי הַמִּקְרָא הַזֶּה מְדַבֵּר בְּשָׁעָה שֶׁכָּעַס הַקָּדוֹשׁ בָּרוּךְ הוּא עַל יִשְרָאֵל בָּעֵגֶל, אָמַר הַקָּדוֹשׁ בָּרוּךְ הוּא לְמשֶׁה (במדבר יד, יב): אַכֶּנּוּ בַדֶּבֶר וְאוֹרִשֶׁנּוּ, מַהוּ אַכֶּנּוּ בַדֶּבֶר וְאוֹרִשֶׁנּוּ, אָמַר לוֹ הַקָּדוֹשׁ בָּרוּךְ הוּא, מָה הֵן סְבוּרִין שֶׁאֲנִי צָרִיךְ חֲרָבוֹת וּרְמָחִים לַהֲרֹג אוֹתָן בָּהֶן, כְּשֵׁם שֶׁבָּרָאתִי עוֹלָמִי בְּדָבָר, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר (תהלים לג, ו): בִּדְבַר ה' שָׁמַיִם נַעֲשׂוּ וּבְרוּחַ פִּיו כָּל צְבָאָם, כָּךְ אֲנִי עוֹשֶׂה לָהֶן מוֹצִיא אֲנִי דָּבָר מִפִּי וְהוֹרְגָן, הֱוֵי אַכֶּנּוּ בַדָּבָר וְאוֹרִשֶׁנּוּ. דָּבָר אַחֵר, מַהוּ וְאוֹרִשֶׁנּוּ, אָמַר לוֹ אֲנִי מוֹרִישׁ אוֹתָן לְךָ וּמַעֲמִיד אֲחֵרִים מִמְּךָ, מִנַּיִן, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר (במדבר יד, יב): וְאֶעֱשֶׂה אֹתְךָ לְגוֹי גָדוֹל, כֵּיוָן שֶׁשָּׁמַע משֶׁה כָּךְ הִתְחִיל מְבַקֵּשׁ עֲלֵיהֶן רַחֲמִים, וּמָה אָמַר משֶׁה בְּאוֹתָהּ שָׁעָה (במדבר יד, יד): אֲשֶׁר עַיִן בְּעַיִן נִרְאָה אַתָּה ה', מַהוּ אֲשֶׁר עַיִן בְּעַיִן, אָמַר רַב אַחָא בְּשֵׁם רַבִּי שִׁמְעוֹן בֶּן לָקִישׁ אָמַר משֶׁה רִבּוֹנוֹ שֶׁל עוֹלָם, הֲרֵי מִדַּת הַדִּין בְּכַף מֹאזְנַיִם מְעֻיָּן, אַתָּה אוֹמֵר אַכֶּנּוּ בַדֶּבֶר, וַאֲנִי אוֹמֵר (במדבר יד, יט): סְלַח נָא. אָמַר לוֹ הַדָּבָר מֻכְרָע נִרְאֶה מִי נוֹצֵחַ, אַתָּה ה' אוֹ אָנִי. אָמַר רַבִּי בֶּרֶכְיָה אָמַר לוֹ הַקָּדוֹשׁ בָּרוּךְ הוּא חַיֶּיךָ שֶׁלִּי בִּטַּלְתָּ וְשֶׁלְךָ קִיַּמְתָּ, מִנַּיִן, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר (במדבר יד, כ): וַיֹּאמֶר ה' סָלַחְתִּי כִּדְבָרֶךָ, הֱוֵי וְתִגְזַר אֹמֶר וְיָקָם לָךְ. דָּבָר אַחֵר, וְתִגְזַר אֹמֶר, אָמַר רַבִּי יְהוֹשֻׁעַ דְּסִכְנִין בְּשֵׁם רַבִּי לֵוִי כָּל מַה שֶּׁגָּזַר משֶׁה הִסְכִּים הַקָּדוֹשׁ בָּרוּךְ הוּא עִמּוֹ, כֵּיצַד לֹא אָמַר לוֹ הַקָּדוֹשׁ בָּרוּךְ הוּא לִשְׁבֹּר אֶת הַלּוּחוֹת, הָלַךְ משֶׁה וְשִׁבְּרָן מֵעַצְמוֹ, וּמִנַּיִן שֶׁהִסְכִּים הַקָּדוֹשׁ בָּרוּךְ הוּא עִמּוֹ, דִּכְתִיב (שמות לד, א): אֲשֶׁר שִׁבַּרְתָּ, יְיַשֵּׁר כֹּחֲךָ שֶׁשִּׁבַּרְתָּ. הַקָּדוֹשׁ בָּרוּךְ הוּא אָמַר לוֹ שֶׁיִּלָּחֵם עִם סִיחוֹן, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר (דברים ב, כד): וְהִתְגָּר בּוֹ מִלְחָמָה, וְהוּא לֹא עָשָׂה כֵן, אֶלָּא (דברים ב, כו): וָאֶשְׁלַח מַלְאָכִים וגו', אָמַר לוֹ הַקָּדוֹשׁ בָּרוּךְ הוּא כָּךְ אָמַרְתִּי לְךָ לְהִלָּחֵם עִמּוֹ, וְאַתָּה פָּתַחְתָּ בְּשָׁלוֹם, חַיֶּיךָ שֶׁאֲנִי מְקַיֵּם גְּזֵרָתְךָ, כָּל מִלְחָמָה שֶׁיְהוּ הוֹלְכִים לֹא יְהוּ פּוֹתְחִים אֶלָּא בְּשָׁלוֹם, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר: כִּי תִקְרַב אֶל עִיר וגו'. Another matter, “when you approach a city” – this is what the verse said: “You will utter a decree, and it will become fulfilled for you…” (Job 22:28). The Rabbis said: This verse is speaking about the time when the Holy One blessed be He became angry at Israel regarding the [Golden] Calf. The Holy One blessed be He said to Moses: “I will smite them with pestilence and destroy them” (Numbers 14:12). What is meant by “I will smite them with pestilence [dever] and I will destroy them”? The Holy One blessed be He said to him: ‘What do you think, that I need swords and spears with which to kill them? Just as I created My world with a word [davar], as it is stated: “By the word of [dvar] the Lord were the heavens made; by the breath of His mouth, all their hosts” (Psalms 33:6), so I will do to them; I will pronounce a word [davar] from My mouth and kill them.’ That is, “I will smite them with pestilence [dever] and I will destroy them.”
Another interpretation, what is meant by “I will…destroy them” [veorishenu]? He [God] said to him: ‘I will bequeath [morish] them to you, and I will produce others out of you.’ From where is this derived? It is as it is stated: “And I will render you a great nation” (Numbers 14:12). When Moses heard this, he began asking for mercy on their behalf. What did Moses say at that time? “That with their very eyes, You, the Lord, were seen” (Numbers 14:14). What is meant by “with their very eyes [ayin be’ayin]”? Rav Aḥa said in the name of Rabbi Shimon ben Lakish: Moses said: ‘Master of the universe, Your attribute of justice is evenly balanced [me’uyan] on the scales. [On the one hand] You say: “I will smite them with pestilence,” but I say: “Please pardon”’ (Numbers 14:19). He said to Him [further]: ‘The matter is balanced, we will see who prevails – You, the Lord; or I.’ Rabbi Berekhya said: The Holy One blessed be He said to him: ‘By your life, you have nullified Mine [My decree], and yours has been maintained.’ From where is this derived? It is as it is stated: “The Lord said: I have pardoned in accordance with your word” (Numbers 14:20). That is, “you will utter a decree, and it will become fulfilled for you…”
Another interpretation, “you will utter a decree ” – Rabbi Yehoshua of Sikhnin said in the name of Rabbi Levi: Everything that Moses decreed, the Holy One blessed be He agreed with him. How is this so? The Holy One blessed be He did not tell him to break the Tablets; Moses went and shattered them on his own. From where is it derived that the Holy One blessed be He agreed with him? It is as it is written: “[The Tablets] that you shattered [asher shibarta]” (Exodus 34:1) – more [yishar] power to you that you have shattered them. The Holy One blessed be He told him to wage war with Siḥon, as it is stated: “Provoke war against him” (Deuteronomy 2:24). But he did not do so. Instead, “I sent messengers [from the wilderness of Kedemot to Siḥon, king of Ḥeshbon, with words of peace]” (Deuteronomy 2:26). The Holy One blessed be He said to him: ‘This is what I said to you, to wage war against him, but you started off with an offer of peace. By your life, I will fulfill your decree: Every war that they wage, they shall start off only with an offer of peace,’ as it is stated: “When you approach a city…”
מִי קִיֵּם הַפָּרָשָׁה הַזֹּאת, יְהוֹשֻׁעַ בִּן נוּן, אָמַר רַבִּי שְׁמוּאֵל בַּר נַחְמָן מֶה עָשָׂה יְהוֹשֻׁעַ, הָיָה פּוֹרֵשׂ דִּאַטְגָּמָא בְּכָל מָקוֹם שֶׁהָיָה הוֹלֵךְ לִכְבּשׁ, וְהָיָה כָּתוּב בָּהּ מִי שֶׁמְבַקֵּשׁ לֵילֵךְ יֵלֵךְ לוֹ, וּמִי שֶׁמְבַקֵּשׁ לַעֲשׂוֹת שָׁלוֹם יַעֲשֶׂה, וּמִי שֶׁיְבַקֵּשׁ לַעֲשׂוֹת מִלְחָמָה, יַעֲשֶׂה, מֶה עָשָׂה הַגִּרְגָּשִׁי, פָּנָה וְהָלַךְ לוֹ מִלִּפְנֵיהֶן, וְנָתַן לוֹ הַקָּדוֹשׁ בָּרוּךְ הוּא אֶרֶץ יָפָה כְּאַרְצוֹ, זוֹ אַפְרִיקֵי. הַגִּבְעוֹנִים שֶׁהִשְׁלִימוּ, עָשָׂה לָהֶם יְהוֹשֻׁעַ שָׁלוֹם, אֲבָל שְׁלשִׁים וְאֶחָד מְלָכִים שֶׁבָּאוּ לְהִלָּחֵם עִמּוֹ, הִפִּילָם הַקָּדוֹשׁ בָּרוּךְ הוּא בְּיָדוֹ, מִנַּיִן, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר (דברים ג, ג): וַנַּכֵּהוּ עַד בִּלְתִּי הִשְׁאִיר לוֹ שָׂרִיד. Who fulfilled this passage?23“When you approach a city to wage war against it, you shall call to it for peace” (Deuteronomy 20:10). Joshua son of Nun. Rabbi Shmuel bar Naḥman said: What did Joshua do? He would publicize an edict in every place that he went to conquer. In it was written: ‘Anyone who wishes to leave, let him leave; whoever wishes to make peace let him do so; and whoever wishes to wage war, let him do so.’ What did the Girgashite nation do? It evacuated and went away from before them, and the Holy One blessed be He gave them a land as beautiful as their land – that is Africa. The Givonites, who made peace, Joshua made peace with them. But the thirty-one kings, who came to wage war with him, the Holy One blessed be He caused them to fall into his hands. From where is this derived? It is as it is stated: “We smote him until we left him no remnant” (Deuteronomy 3:3).
דָּבָר אַחֵר (דברים כ, י): וְקָרָאתָ אֵלֶיהָ לְשָׁלוֹם, רְאֵה כַּמָּה הוּא כֹּחוֹ שֶׁל שָׁלוֹם, בּוֹא וּרְאֵה בָּשָׂר וָדָם אִם יֵשׁ לוֹ שׂוֹנֵא הוּא מְבַקֵּשׁ וּמְחַזֵּר מַה לַּעֲשׂוֹת לוֹ, מַהוּ עוֹשֶׂה לוֹ, הוֹלֵךְ וּמְכַבֵּד לְאָדָם גָּדוֹל מִמֶּנּוּ שֶׁיַּעֲשֶׂה לְאוֹתוֹ שׂוֹנֵא רָעָה, אֲבָל הַקָּדוֹשׁ בָּרוּךְ הוּא אֵינוֹ כֵן אֶלָּא כָּל עוֹבְדֵי כּוֹכָבִים מַכְעִיסִין אוֹתוֹ וְהֵן יְשֵׁנִים וְכָל הַנְּפָשׁוֹת עוֹלוֹת אֶצְלוֹ, מִנַּיִן, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר (איוב יב, י): אֲשֶׁר בְּיָדוֹ נֶפֶשׁ כָּל חָי, וּבַבֹּקֶר הוּא מַחֲזִיר לְכָל אֶחָד וְאֶחָד נִשְׁמָתוֹ, מִנַּיִן, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר (ישעיה מב, ה): נֹתֵן נְשָׁמָה לָעָם עָלֶיהָ. דָּבָר אַחֵר, בָּשָׂר וָדָם אִם יַעֲשֶׂה לַחֲבֵרוֹ רָעָה, אֵינָהּ זָזָה מִלִּבּוֹ לְעוֹלָם, אֲבָל הַקָּדוֹשׁ בָּרוּךְ הוּא אֵינוֹ כֵן, אֶלָּא הָיוּ יִשְׂרָאֵל בְּמִצְרַיִם וְהָיוּ הַמִּצְרִים מְשַׁעְבְּדִין אוֹתָם בְּטִיט וּבִלְבֵנִים, לְאַחַר כָּל הָרָעוֹת שֶׁעָשׂוּ לְיִשְׂרָאֵל חָס הַכָּתוּב עֲלֵיהֶן, וְאָמַר (דברים כג, ח): לֹא תְתַעֵב מִצְרִי כִּי גֵר הָיִיתָ בְּאַרְצוֹ, אֶלָּא רִדְּפוּ אַחַר הַשָּׁלוֹם, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר (תהלים לד, טו): בַּקֵּשׁ שָׁלוֹם וְרָדְפֵהוּ. דָּבָר אַחֵר, מַהוּ בַּקֵּשׁ שָׁלוֹם וְרָדְפֵהוּ, מַעֲשֶׂה בְּרַבִּי מֵאִיר שֶׁהָיָה יוֹשֵׁב וְדוֹרֵשׁ וכו' הָלְכָה אוֹתָהּ אִשָּׁה לְבֵיתָהּ, שֶׁהָיָה לֵיל שַׁבָּת וּמָצְאָה הַנֵּר שֶׁלָּה שֶׁכָּבָה, אָמַר לָהּ בַּעֲלָהּ הֵיכָן הָיִית עַד עַכְשָׁו, אָמְרָה לוֹ שׁוֹמַעַת הָיִיתִי לְרַבִּי מֵאִיר דּוֹרֵשׁ, וְהָיָה אוֹתוֹ הָאִישׁ לֵיצָן, אָמַר לָהּ בְּכָךְ וְכָךְ אֵין אַתְּ נִכְנֶסֶת לְבֵיתִי עַד שֶׁתֵּלְכִי וְתָרֹקִּי בְּפָנָיו שֶׁל רַבִּי מֵאִיר, יָצְאָה לָהּ מִבֵּיתוֹ. נִגְלָה אֵלִיָּהוּ זָכוּר לַטּוֹב עַל רַבִּי מֵאִיר, אָמַר לוֹ הֲרֵי בִּשְׁבִילְךָ יָצְאָה הָאִשָּׁה מִבֵּיתָהּ, הוֹדִיעוֹ אֵלִיָּהוּ זָכוּר לַטּוֹב הֵיאַךְ הָיָה הַמַּעֲשֶׂה, מֶה עָשָׂה רַבִּי מֵאִיר, הָלַךְ וְיָשַׁב לוֹ בְּבֵית הַמִּדְרָשׁ הַגָּדוֹל, בָּאֲתָה אוֹתָהּ אִשָּׁה לְהִתְפַּלֵּל וְרָאָה אוֹתָהּ, וְעָשָׂה עַצְמוֹ מִתְפַּסֵּק, אָמַר מִי יוֹדֵעַ לִלְחשׁ לָעַיִן, אָמְרָה לוֹ אוֹתָהּ אִשָּׁה אֲנִי בָּאתִי לִלְחשׁ, רָקְקָה בְּפָנָיו. אָמַר לָהּ, אִמְרִי לְבַעֲלֵךְ הֲרֵי רָקַקְתִּי בְּפָנָיו שֶׁל רַבִּי מֵאִיר, אָמַר לָהּ לְכִי הִתְרַצִּי לְבַעֲלֵךְ. רְאֵה כַּמָּה גָדוֹל הוּא כֹּחוֹ שֶׁל שָׁלוֹם. דָּבָר אַחֵר, אָמַר רַבִּי עֲקִיבָא תֵּדַע לָךְ כַּמָּה גָּדוֹל הוּא כֹּחוֹ שֶׁל שָׁלוֹם, שֶׁאָמַר הַקָּדוֹשׁ בָּרוּךְ הוּא בְּשָׁעָה שֶׁאָדָם מְקַנֵּא לְאִשְׁתּוֹ הַשֵּׁם הַקָּדוֹשׁ הַנִּכְתָּב בִּקְדֻשָּׁה יִמָּחֶה עַל הַמַּיִם, כְּדֵי לְהַטִּיל שָׁלוֹם בֵּין סוֹטָה לְבַעֲלָהּ. אָמַר רֵישׁ לָקִישׁ, גָּדוֹל הוּא הַשָּׁלוֹם, שֶׁאָמַר הַכָּתוּב דְּבָרִים שֶׁל בְּדַאי לִתֵּן שָׁלוֹם בֵּין יוֹסֵף לְאֶחָיו, בְּשָׁעָה שֶׁמֵּת אֲבִיהֶן הָיוּ מִתְיָרְאִין שֶׁלֹא יִנְקֹם לָהֶן, וּמָה אָמְרוּ לוֹ (בראשית נ, טז יז): אָבִיךָ צִוָּה לִפְנֵי מוֹתוֹ לֵאמֹר כֹּה תֹאמְרוּ לְיוֹסֵף, וְאֵין אָנוּ מוֹצְאִים שֶׁצִּוָּה יַעֲקֹב אָבִינוּ, אֶלָּא אָמְרוּ הַכְּתוּבִים דִּבְרֵי בְּדַאי מִפְּנֵי דַרְכֵי שָׁלוֹם. דָּבָר אַחֵר, חָבִיב הוּא הַשָּׁלוֹם שֶׁנְּתָנוֹ הַקָּדוֹשׁ בָּרוּךְ הוּא לְצִיּוֹן, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר (תהלים קכב, ו): שַׁאֲלוּ שְׁלוֹם יְרוּשָׁלָיִם. דָּבָר אַחֵר, חָבִיב הוּא הַשָּׁלוֹם שֶׁנְּתָנוֹ הַקָּדוֹשׁ בָּרוּךְ הוּא בַּשָּׁמַיִם, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר (איוב כה, ב): עֹשֶׂה שָׁלוֹם בִּמְרוֹמָיו. דָּבָר אַחֵר, חָבִיב הוּא הַשָּׁלוֹם שֶׁנְּתָנוֹ הַקָּדוֹשׁ בָּרוּךְ הוּא לַקְּרוֹבִים וְלָרְחוֹקִים, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר (ישעיה נז, יט): שָׁלוֹם שָׁלוֹם לָרָחוֹק וְלַקָּרוֹב. דָּבָר אַחֵר, חָבִיב הוּא הַשָּׁלוֹם שֶׁלֹא נְתָנוֹ הַקָּדוֹשׁ בָּרוּךְ הוּא לָרְשָׁעִים, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר (ישעיה מח, כב): אֵין שָׁלוֹם אָמַר ה' לָרְשָׁעִים. דָּבָר אַחֵר, חָבִיב הוּא הַשָּׁלוֹם שֶׁנְּתָנוֹ הַקָּדוֹשׁ בָּרוּךְ הוּא לְפִינְחָס בִּשְׂכָרוֹ, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר (במדבר כה, יב): הִנְנִי נֹתֵן לוֹ אֶת בְּרִיתִי שָׁלוֹם. דָּבָר אַחֵר, גָּדוֹל הַשָּׁלוֹם שֶׁאֵין הַקָּדוֹשׁ בָּרוּךְ הוּא מְבַשֵֹּׂר אֶת יְרוּשָׁלַיִם שֶׁיִּהְיוּ נִגְאָלִים אֶלָּא בַּשָּׁלוֹם, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר (ישעיה נב, ז): מַשְׁמִיעַ שָׁלוֹם וגו'. דָּבָר אַחֵר, אָמַר רַבִּי לֵוִי חָבִיב הוּא הַשָּׁלוֹם שֶׁכָּל חוֹתְמֵיהֶם שֶׁל בְּרָכוֹת אֵינָן אֶלָּא בְּשָׁלוֹם, קְרִיאַת שְׁמַע חוֹתֶמֶת בְּשָׁלוֹם, פּוֹרֵס סֻכַּת שָׁלוֹם. הַתְּפִלָּה חוֹתֶמֶת בְּשָׁלוֹם. בִּרְכַּת כֹּהֲנִים חוֹתֶמֶת (במדבר ו, כו): וְיָשֵׂם לְךָ שָׁלוֹם. דָּבָר אַחֵר, חָבִיב הוּא הַשָּׁלוֹם שֶׁאֵין הַקָּדוֹשׁ בָּרוּךְ הוּא מְנַחֵם אֶת יְרוּשָׁלַיִם אֶלָּא בְּשָׁלוֹם, מִנַּיִן, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר (ישעיה סו, יב): הִנְנִי נוֹטֶה אֵלֶיהָ כְּנָהָר שָׁלוֹם. אָמַר דָּוִד מְבַקֵּשׁ הָיִיתִי לִשְׁמֹעַ מַהוּ שִׂיחָתוֹ שֶׁל הַקָּדוֹשׁ בָּרוּךְ הוּא עַל יִשְׂרָאֵל, וְשָׁמַעְתִּי שֶׁהָיָה עָסוּק בִּשְׁלוֹמָן, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר (תהלים פה, ט): אֶשְׁמְעָה מַה יְּדַבֵּר הָאֵל ה' כִּי יְדַבֵּר שָׁלוֹם אֶל עַמּוֹ וְאֶל חֲסִידָיו וגו'. אָמַר רַבִּי שִׁמְעוֹן בֶּן חֲלַפְתָּא, רְאֵה מָה חָבִיב הַשָׁלוֹם, כְּשֶׁבִּקֵּשׁ הַקָּדוֹשׁ בָּרוּךְ הוּא לְבָרֵךְ אֶת יִשְׂרָאֵל לֹא מָצָא כְּלִי שֶׁהוּא מַחֲזִיק כָּל הַבְּרָכוֹת לְבָרְכָן בּוֹ אֶלָּא הַשָּׁלוֹם, מִנַּיִן, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר (תהלים כט, יא): ה' עֹז לְעַמּוֹ יִתֵּן ה' יְבָרֵךְ אֶת עַמּוֹ בַשָּׁלוֹם. Another interpretation, “you shall call to it for peace” – see how great the power of peace is. Come and see, a flesh-and-blood human, if he has an enemy, he looks for and seeks out what [harm] to do to him. What does he do to him? He goes and seeks a man greater than he is, to cause harm to that enemy. But the Holy One blessed be He is not like that. Instead, all the idolaters anger Him and yet they go to sleep and all their souls ascend to Him [during their sleep]. From where is this derived? It is as it is stated: “In whose hand is the life of every living being” (Job 12:10), and in the morning, He restores the souls to each and every one of them. From where is this derived? It is as it is stated: “He gives souls to the people upon it” (Isaiah 42:5).
Another interpretation, a flesh-and-blood human, if he causes harm to another person, it never leaves his heart.24He forever holds a grudge against the person who wronged him. But the Holy One blessed be He is not so. Rather, Israel was in Egypt, and the Egyptians enslaved them with mortar and bricks. After all the evils that they committed against Israel, the Scripture had pity upon them and said: “You shall not despise an Egyptian, as you were a stranger in his land” (Deuteronomy 23:8). Instead, pursue peace, as it is stated: “Seek peace and pursue it” (Psalms 34:15).
Another interpretation, “seek peace and pursue it” – there was once an incident involving Rabbi Meir, who was sitting and lecturing….25And a certain woman came to hear his lecture. That woman went home. It was Shabbat eve, and she found that her candle had already become extinguished. Her husband asked her: ‘Where have you been until now?’ She said to him: ‘I was listening to Rabbi Meir lecture.’ That man was a scoffer, and he said to her: ‘I swear, you will not enter my house until you go and spit in Rabbi Meir’s face.’ She left his house. Elijah, of blessed memory, appeared to Rabbi Meir, and said to him: ‘Because of you, that woman has left her house.’ Elijah, of blessed memory, informed him how the incident transpired. What did Rabbi Meir do? He went and sat in the great study hall. That woman came there to pray and he saw her. He pretended to have a sore [in his eye] and said: ‘Does anyone know how to cure an eye with a charm?’ That woman said to him: ‘I have come to cure by using charms.’ She spat in his face.26That was the cure for an eye sore. He said to her: ‘Say to your husband: I have spat in Rabbi Meir’s face.’ He said to her [further]: ‘Go and reconcile with your husband.’ See how great the power of peace is.
Another interpretation, Rabbi Akiva said: You may know how great the power of peace is, as the Holy One blessed be He said: ‘When a man issues a warning to his wife,27Warning her not to be alone with a certain man. the holy Name that is written in sanctity is erased with water28If the woman did not heed the warning, and secluded herself with the man, the procedure described in Numbers chapter 5 is followed. Part of the procedure is to write down a passage which includes God’s name, and then erase the passage with water. in order to make peace between the woman suspected of adultery and her husband.’
Reish Lakish said: Great is peace, as the verse stated fabricated words in order to make peace between Joseph and his brothers. When their father died, they were fearful lest he exact vengeance against them. What did they say to him? “Your father commanded before his death, saying: So say to Joseph: [Please, forgive the transgression of your brothers]” (Genesis 50:16–17). But we do not find anywhere that Jacob our patriarch [actually] issued such a command. Rather, the verses stated fabricated words in order to adhere to the ways of peace.
Another interpretation, beloved is peace, as the Holy One blessed be He granted it to Zion, as it is stated: “Pray for the peace of Jerusalem” (Psalms 122:6).
Another interpretation, beloved is peace, as the Holy One blessed be He installed it in the heavens, as it is stated: “He makes peace in His heights” (Job 25:2).
Another interpretation, beloved is peace, as the Holy One blessed be He provided it to both those who are near and far, as it is stated: “Peace, peace for the far and for the near” (Isaiah 57:19).
Another interpretation, beloved is peace, as the Holy One blessed be He did not provide it to the wicked, as it is stated: “There is no peace, said the Lord, for the wicked” (Isaiah 48:22).
Another interpretation, beloved is peace, as the Holy One blessed be He provided it to Pinḥas as his reward, as it is stated: “Behold, I am giving him My covenant of peace” (Numbers 25:12).
Another interpretation, beloved is peace, as the Holy One blessed be He heralds to Jerusalem that they [its inhabitants] will be saved only by means of peace, as it is stated: “Announcing peace…[heralding salvation]” (Isaiah 52:7).
Another interpretation, Rabbi Levi said: Beloved is peace, as the endings of all the blessings are always about peace. The recitation of the Shema ends with peace – ‘He who spreads a canopy of peace.’ The [Amida] Prayer ends with peace. The Priestly Benediction ends with peace – “and grant you peace” (Numbers 6:26).
Another interpretation, beloved is peace, as the Holy One blessed be He comforts Jerusalem only with peace. From where is this derived? It is as it is stated: “Behold, I will direct peace to it like a river” (Isaiah 66:12).
David said: ‘I was seeking to hear what is the discourse of the Holy One blessed be He regarding Israel, and I heard that He was speaking about peace for them,’ as it is stated: “I will hear what the Almighty Lord will speak, as He will speak peace for His people and to His pious ones” (Psalms 85:9).
Rabbi Shimon ben Ḥalafta said: See how beloved peace is, as when the Holy One blessed be He sought to bless Israel, he did not find a receptacle that holds all the blessings with which He would bless them other than peace, as it is stated: “The Lord will give strength to His people; the Lord will bless His people with peace”29Literally, “inside peace,” as if peace is the receptacle that contains all the blessings. (Psalms 29:11).