III. It follows therefore, that these blessings and curses [mentioned in the law] ought to be understood as signifying: If ye do serve the Lord joyfully, and if ye do keep His way, He will bounteously diffuse over you all these blessings, and moreover remove from you all these curses, so that ye may live at leisure and ease; grow wise by the law; and employ yourselves in [studying and fulfilling] the same; to the end that ye may attain unto the life of the world that is to come; that it may be well with thee in that world which is altogether good; and [that] thou mayest prolong [thy] days in that world which is [to endure] very long2; and consequently ye will partake of the [blessings of] both worlds, [namely, of] a happy life in this world, such as will [also serve to] bring [you] into the life of the world that is to come; for if [one] were not to acquire wisdom, and [perform] good actions here [below], he would have no means of rendering himself worthy [of the blessings of the world that is to come]; seeing that it is said: For [there is] no work, nor device, nor knowledge, nor wisdom, in the grave, (Eccles. ix. 10.). But, if ye forsake the Lord, and if ye are absorbed in [the pleasures נמצא פירוש כל אותן הברכות והקללות על דרך זו ! 1 : literally consequently the interpretation (meaning) of all these blessings and curses [is] in this manner, 2 See page 293. ¶ 1. of] eating, drinking, fornication, or or the like, He will bring upon you all these curses, and moreover remove from you all these blessings, so that your days shall be wasted in confusion and terror; so that ye shall have neither peace of mind nor perfect good health3 [such as are requisite to enable you] to fulfil the commandments; to the end that ye may forfeit your lives in the world that is to come. And consequently ye will have forfeited both worlds; inasmuch as when a man is troubled in this world with illness, war, or famine, he cannot employ himself either in [the pursuits of] wisdom, or in the [fulfilling of the] commandments, which are the [only] means of attaining unto the life of the world that is to come. SO IV. Now it is for this reason that all Israel, their prophets, and their wise men, earnestly long for the days of the Messiah; [their object being this, namely] that they may be relieved from those who do not suffer them to employ themselves in [the study and performance of] the law and the commandments, in such a way as by right they ought; to the end that they may have peace of mind, and [thereby be enabled to] increase in wisdom, and thus to attain unto the life of the world : literally and ולא יהיה לכם לב פנוי ולא גוף שלם 3 ye shall have neither a heart (mind) at ease, nor a whole (healthy) body. 1 that is to come; seeing that in those days (viz. in the days of the Messiah) there will be a great increase of knowledge, wisdom, and truth; as it is said: For the earth shall be full of the knowledge of the Lord, (Isai. xi. 9.); and it is also said: And they shall teach no more every man his neighbour, and every man his brother, (Jer. xxxi. 34.); [and again it is said]: And I will take away the stony heart out of your flesh, (Ezek. xxxvi. 26). For the king who is to arise out of the seed of David will be wiser even than Solomon; moreover he will be a great prophet, nearly [as great] as Moses, our Rabbi; he will therefore instruct the whole nation, and guide them in the way of God; nay all [other] nations will come to hear him, as it is said: And it shall come to pass in the last days, [that] the mountain of the Lord's house shall be established in the top of the mountains, (Isai. ii. 2). [All these however will 3 1 And they shall teach no more every man his neighbour, and every man his brother, saying, Know the Lord; for they shall all know Me, from the least of them unto the greatest of them, saith the Lord; for I will forgive their iniquity, and I will remember their sin no more. 2 A new heart also will I give you, and a new spirit will I put within you, AND I WILL TAKE AWAY THE STONY HEART out of your flESH, and I will give you an heart of flesh. 3 And it shall come to pass in the last days, [that] the mountain of the Lord's house shall be established in the top of the mountains, and shall be exalted above the hills; and all nations shall flow unto it. be mere preliminary advantages], but with regard to the ultimate and full reward', as well as to that ultimate good (bliss) which is is to have neither cessation nor diminution, this will consist in the life of the world that is to come; seeing that the days of the Messiah are [to influence the concerns of] this world, so that matters in this world will [still] have their natural course, with this difference only, that the [dignity of an independent] kingdom will be restored to Israel. This the sages of old have declared already, saying: "There will be no difference between this world [as it is now] and [as it will be in] the days of the Messiah, except only [that we shall then be freed from] submission to to [foreign] govern ments"." literally : but the end of the whole of וסוף כל השכר כולו 4 the reward altogether. דאמר שמואל אין בין העולם הזה לימות המשיח אלא שעבוד מלכיות בלבד "For Samuel said: There will be no difference between this world [as it is now] and [as it will be in] the days of the Messiah, except only [that we shall then be freed from] submission to [foreign] governments. Bab. Talmud, Treatise Sabbath, Section 6. R R PRECEPTS RELATING TO REPENTANCE. CHAPTER X. A MAN must not say: Behold! I will fulfil the commandments of the law, and I will employ myself in [studying] the wisdom which it contains', to the end that I may obtain all the blessings which are written therein, or to the end that I may attain unto the life of the world that is to come; moreover I will refrain2 from the transgressions against which the law warns [men], to the end that I may escape3 from the curses which are written in the law, or to the end that I may not be cut off from the life of the world that is to come.-No, it is by no means becoming to serve God after this manner, seeing that he who serves [God] after this manner, serves [Him] serves [Him] out of fear, [and consequently, the degree of piety] which 2 1n literally: in the wisdom thereof. literally: and I will separate [myself]. כדי שאנצל 3 literally: in order that I may be delivered. |