"I like good strong words that mean something." Little Womenby Louisa May Alcott.
(ב) וַיְדַבֵּ֤ר מֹשֶׁה֙ אֶל־רָאשֵׁ֣י הַמַּטּ֔וֹת לִבְנֵ֥י יִשְׂרָאֵ֖ל לֵאמֹ֑ר זֶ֣ה הַדָּבָ֔ר אֲשֶׁ֖ר צִוָּ֥ה יְהֹוָֽה׃
(2) Moses spoke to the heads of the Israelite tribes, saying: This is what GOD has commanded:
Mateh, found here in the plural form "Matot", means "staff", "branch", or "tribe".
מַטֶּה m. (b. h.; נָטָה) 1)staff.Ab. V, 6המ׳ the staff of Moses. Ex. R. s. 3המ׳ שתייסרנו בו the staff with which thou shalt chastise him. Ib. ‘the signs which I placed in thy hands’ (Ex. IV, 21) זה המ׳ that means the staff; a. fr. —2)tribe. Tosef. R. Hash. III (II), 3 שלש על כל מ׳ ומ׳ three notes for each tribe; Y. Succ. V, 55ᶜ
מְטֵי, מְטָא, מְטָה (= h. מָצָא) 1)to stretch, reach; to arrive at; to obtain; to happen to. Targ. Gen. XI, 4 (Y. II מַמְטֵי). Targ. O. ib. X, 19 (h. text באכה). Targ. II Kings XIX, 26. Targ. Koh. VIII, 14; a. fr.—Targ. Esth. V, 2 [read:] ומְטָת לִידָהּ and it (the scepter) reached her hand (v. Meg. 15ᵇ).—Snh. 109ᵃכי מ׳ להאי וכ׳ when he arrived at a certain inn. Keth. 63ᵃכי מַטְיָא לגביה when she came near him. Ib.מ׳ מעלי וכ׳ the eve of the Day of Atonement came. R. Hash. 12ᵇא"ר אסי א"ר יוחנן ומָטוּ בה משמיה וכ׳ said R. A. in the name of R. Joh., and they arrived in the chain of tradition up to ‘in the name of R. J. the Galilean’ (an editorial gloss). Y. Ber. III, 6ᵃ top, a. fr. מַטְתֵיה אונס an accident (mourning) befell him. Y. Peah VIII, end, 21ᵇומטתיה כן and so it happened to him (as he had wished). Ib.ולא מ׳ מיכול וכ׳ and he had no chance to dine with him. Y. Snh. VI, 23ᶜ; Y. Ḥag. II, 77ᵈ bot. בעי מַמְטֵי מיא ולא מ׳ wanted to fetch water but could not. Ib. 78ᵃ top כל דמָטֵי וכ׳, v. זוֹגָא. [Ib.כל מטי יעבוד וכ׳, read: כל חד מינן וכ׳ let each of us do &c.] Y. Keth. IV, 28ᵇ top מְטִינְתָּה להאי דאמר וכ׳ thou hast found that which R … said; ib.מְטִינְתָּא.—Ḥag. 5ᵃכי מ׳ להאי קרא when he came to this verse. Snh. 100ᵃכי מָטוּ מגלת וכ׳ when (in preparing wrappers for the scrolls) they came to the roll of Esther; a. v. fr.—[Ḥull. 132ᵃ top מָטוּנָךְ we or they (the words of the text) have reached thee, agree with thee, Rashi; v. טוּנָא I.] —2) (sub. בישולא or זימנא) to be ripe, ready. Ḥag. l. c. שביק הנך דמָטוּ וֹכ׳ he left those (figs) which were ripe and plucked those which were not. Ḥull. 112ᵃתיתאה מטא the lower portion was ready (roasted).
Af. - אַמְטֵיto cause to reach; to fetch, bring, offer. [Targ. Y. II, Gen. XI, 4מַמְטֵי part. pass., v. supra.] Targ. Y. ib. XXVII, 25. Targ. O. Lev. IX, 12; a. fr.—B. Kam. 117ᵃדרי ואַמְטֵי בהדן take it up and hand it over (to the King’s treasury) in our presence; דרא וא׳ וכ׳ he did take it up &c. Ib. 119ᵇ, a. e. אַמְטוּיֵי ואתויי חד (not אמטוי) is leading the needle forth and bringing it home one stitch (= h. הוליך והביא)? B. Bath. 21ᵃלא מַמְטִינָן וכ׳, v. יָנוּקָא I. Keth. 103ᵇ sq. אַמְטְיוּהִי לצ׳ וכ׳ they took him to Sepphoris which lies high. Gen. R. s. 14, beg.; ib. 20מן דידכון אנא מַמְטֵי לכון from your own language I will offer (proof) to you; a. fr.
Ithpe. - אִתְמְטֵיto repair to. Targ. O. Num. XXIII, 15; a. fr.
(ב) וַיֹּ֧אמֶר אֵלָ֛יו יְהֹוָ֖ה (מזה)[מַה־זֶּ֣ה] בְיָדֶ֑ךָ וַיֹּ֖אמֶר מַטֶּֽה׃
(2) GOD said to him, “What is that in your hand?”
“A rod.”
But "tribe" is also associated with Shevet.
שֵׁבֶט m. (b. h.; cmp. בטט a. deriv.) 1)rod, staff. Snh. 5ᵃ (ref. to Gen. XLIX, 10) הכא ש׳ והתם מחוקק here (in Babylonia) the rod (the Resh Galutha’s office), there the legislator (the Nasi); ib. אלו ראשי … בש׳ those are the Resh-Galuthas who chastise Israel with the rod; Hor. 11ᵇהתם ש׳ וכ׳ there (in Babylonia) the rod &c.; a. e.—[Tanḥ. B’midb. 16 הש׳ אינו מספיק, read: השָׂרָף.] —2) (cmp. מַטֶּה) tribe. Tanḥ. l. c. למוד הוא הש׳ הזה וכ׳ this tribe (of Levi) is wont to be counted &c. Num. R. s. 5, beg. (ref. to Ps. XXXIII, 18) זה שִׁבְטוֹ של לוי וכ׳ this means the tribe of Levi whose members sit hoping &c.; ib. אלו כ"ד … לש׳ לוי those are the twenty-four gifts assigned to the tribe of Levi. Y. Ter. I, 40ᵈ top מפני גזל הש׳ because it is an injustice to the tribe (of Levi, giving them unnecessary trouble). Pes. 80ᵃש׳ אחד איקרי קהל one tribe is called a community, v. קָהָל; ib.אפי׳ ש׳ אחד טמא וכ׳ even if one tribe is unclean (and prevented from offering the Passover sacrifice) &c. Y. ib. VII, 34ᶜ ש׳ אחד גורר וכ׳, v. גָּרַר I; a. v. fr.—Pl. שְׁבָטִים. Gen. R. s. 98; s. 99 end, v. יָחַד. B. Bath. 117ᵇדילמא לש׳ קאמר לה perhaps the text (Num. XXVI, 55) means a distribution by tribes (as they were on entering the land)? Sabb. 146ᵃ יעקב הוליד י֞ב ש׳ וכ׳ Jacob begat twelve tribes (sons) in whom there was no blemish. Ib. 147ᵇעשרת הש׳ the ten tribes (the kingdom of Israel). Snh. X, 3 (110ᵇ) עשרת הש׳ אינן וכ׳ the ten tribes (carried into exile) are not destined to return; a. fr.
לֹֽא־יָס֥וּר שֵׁ֙בֶט֙ מִֽיהוּדָ֔ה וּמְחֹקֵ֖ק מִבֵּ֣ין רַגְלָ֑יו עַ֚ד כִּֽי־יָבֹ֣א שִׁילֹ֔ה וְל֖וֹ יִקְּהַ֥ת עַמִּֽים׃
The scepter shall not depart from Judah,Nor the ruler’s staff from between his feet;So that tribute shall come to him And the homage of peoples be his.
דָּ֖ן יָדִ֣ין עַמּ֑וֹ כְּאַחַ֖ד שִׁבְטֵ֥י יִשְׂרָאֵֽל׃
Dan shall govern his people,As one of the tribes of Israel.
(כח) כׇּל־אֵ֛לֶּה שִׁבְטֵ֥י יִשְׂרָאֵ֖ל שְׁנֵ֣ים עָשָׂ֑ר וְ֠זֹ֠את אֲשֶׁר־דִּבֶּ֨ר לָהֶ֤ם אֲבִיהֶם֙ וַיְבָ֣רֶךְ אוֹתָ֔ם אִ֛ישׁ אֲשֶׁ֥ר כְּבִרְכָת֖וֹ בֵּרַ֥ךְ אֹתָֽם׃
(28) All these were the tribes of Israel, twelve in number, and this is what their father said to them as he bade them farewell, addressing to each a parting word appropriate to him.
The difference? Shevet is a branch that is still attached to the tree. It is dependent, young, pliable. Mateh is a branch that is detached from the tree. Independent, mature, rigid. The laws we are being given in what is essentially the end of the Torah (Devarim is a repeat of what happened) are guidelines for how we should act now that we are living on our own.
וַיֹּ֗אמֶר מָ֣ה הָעֵֽרָבוֹן֮ אֲשֶׁ֣ר אֶתֶּן־לָךְ֒ וַתֹּ֗אמֶר חֹתָֽמְךָ֙ וּפְתִילֶ֔ךָ וּמַטְּךָ֖ אֲשֶׁ֣ר בְּיָדֶ֑ךָ וַיִּתֶּן־לָ֛הּ וַיָּבֹ֥א אֵלֶ֖יהָ וַתַּ֥הַר לֽוֹ׃
And he said, “What pledge shall I give you?” She replied, “Your seal and cord, and the staff that you carry.” So he gave them to her and slept with her, and she conceived by him.
הִ֣וא מוּצֵ֗את וְהִ֨יא שָׁלְחָ֤ה אֶל־חָמִ֙יהָ֙ לֵאמֹ֔ר לְאִישׁ֙ אֲשֶׁר־אֵ֣לֶּה לּ֔וֹ אָנֹכִ֖י הָרָ֑ה וַתֹּ֙אמֶר֙ הַכֶּר־נָ֔א לְמִ֞י הַחֹתֶ֧מֶת וְהַפְּתִילִ֛ים וְהַמַּטֶּ֖ה הָאֵֽלֶּה׃
As she was being brought out, she sent this message to her father-in-law: “It’s by the man to whom these belong that I’m pregnant.” And she added, “Examine these: whose seal and cord and staff are these?”
כֹּ֚ה אָמַ֣ר יְהֹוָ֔ה בְּזֹ֣את תֵּדַ֔ע כִּ֖י אֲנִ֣י יְהֹוָ֑ה הִנֵּ֨ה אָנֹכִ֜י מַכֶּ֣ה ׀בַּמַּטֶּ֣ה אֲשֶׁר־בְּיָדִ֗י עַל־הַמַּ֛יִם אֲשֶׁ֥ר בַּיְאֹ֖ר וְנֶהֶפְכ֥וּ לְדָֽם׃
Thus says GOD, “By this you shall know that I am GOD.” See, I shall strike the water in the Nile with the rod that is in my hand, and it will be turned into blood;
וְכׇל־מַעְשַׂ֤ר בָּקָר֙ וָצֹ֔אן כֹּ֥ל אֲשֶׁר־יַעֲבֹ֖ר תַּ֣חַת הַשָּׁ֑בֶט הָֽעֲשִׂירִ֕י יִֽהְיֶה־קֹּ֖דֶשׁ לַֽיהֹוָֽה׃
All tithes of the herd or flock—of all that passes under the shepherd’s staff, every tenth one—shall be holy to GOD.
גַּ֤ם כִּֽי־אֵלֵ֨ךְ בְּגֵ֪יא צַלְמָ֡וֶת לֹא־אִ֘ירָ֤א רָ֗ע כִּי־אַתָּ֥ה עִמָּדִ֑י שִׁבְטְךָ֥ וּ֝מִשְׁעַנְתֶּ֗ךָ הֵ֣מָּה יְנַֽחֲמֻֽנִי׃
Though I walk through a valley of deepest darkness, I fear no harm, for You are with me;Your rod and Your staff—they comfort me.
הַמֶּלֶךְ הַמָּשִׁיחַ עָתִיד לַעֲמֹד וּלְהַחְזִיר מַלכוּת דָּוִד לְיָשְׁנָהּ לַמֶּמְשָׁלָה הָרִאשׁוֹנָה. וּבוֹנֶה הַמִּקְדָּשׁ וּמְקַבֵּץ נִדְחֵי יִשְׂרָאֵל. וְחוֹזְרִין כָּל הַמִּשְׁפָּטִים בְּיָמָיו כְּשֶׁהָיוּ מִקֹּדֶם. מַקְרִיבִין קָרְבָּנוֹת. וְעוֹשִׂין שְׁמִטִּין וְיוֹבְלוֹת כְּכָל מִצְוָתָן הָאֲמוּרָה בַּתּוֹרָה. וְכָל מִי שֶׁאֵינוֹ מַאֲמִין בּוֹ. אוֹ מִי שֶׁאֵינוֹ מְחַכֶּה לְבִיאָתוֹ. לֹא בִּשְׁאָר נְבִיאִים בִּלְבַד הוּא כּוֹפֵר. אֶלָּא בַּתּוֹרָה וּבְמשֶׁה רַבֵּנוּ. שֶׁהֲרֵי הַתּוֹרָה הֵעִידָה עָלָיו שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר (דברים ל, ג) "וְשָׁב ה' אֱלֹהֶיךָ אֶת שְׁבוּתְךָ וְרִחֲמֶךָ וְשָׁב וְקִבֶּצְךָ" וְגוֹ' (דברים ל, ד) "אִם יִהְיֶה נִדַּחֲךָ בִּקְצֵה הַשָּׁמָיִם" וְגוֹ' (דברים ל, ה) "וֶהֱבִיאֲךָ ה'". וְאֵלּוּ הַדְּבָרִים הַמְפֹרָשִׁים בַּתּוֹרָה הֵם כּוֹלְלִים כָּל הַדְּבָרִים שֶׁנֶּאֶמְרוּ עַל יְדֵי כָּל הַנְּבִיאִים. אַף בְּפָרָשַׁת בִּלְעָם נֶאֱמַר וְשָׁם נִבֵּא בִּשְׁנֵי הַמְּשִׁיחִים. בַּמָּשִׁיחַ הָרִאשׁוֹן שֶׁהוּא דָּוִד שֶׁהוֹשִׁיעַ אֶת יִשְׂרָאֵל מִיַּד צָרֵיהֶם. וּבַמָּשִׁיחַ הָאַחֲרוֹן שֶׁעוֹמֵד מִבָּנָיו שֶׁמּוֹשִׁיעַ אֶת יִשְׂרָאֵל [בָּאַחֲרוֹנָה]. וְשָׁם הוּא אוֹמֵר (במדבר כד, יז) "אֶרְאֶנּוּ וְלֹא עַתָּה" זֶה דָּוִד. (במדבר כד, יז) "אֲשׁוּרֶנּוּ וְלֹא קָרוֹב" זֶה מֶלֶךְ הַמָּשִׁיחַ. (במדבר כד, יז) "דָּרַךְ כּוֹכָב מִיַּעֲקֹב" זֶה דָּוִד. (במדבר כד, יז) "וְקָם שֵׁבֶט מִיִּשְׂרָאֵל" זֶה מֶלֶךְ הַמָּשִׁיחַ. (במדבר כד, יז) "וּמָחַץ פַּאֲתֵי מוֹאָב" זֶה דָּוִד. וְכֵן הוּא אוֹמֵר (שמואל ב ח, ב) "וַיַּךְ אֶת מוֹאָב וַיְמַדְּדֵם בַּחֶבֶל" (במדבר כד, יז) "וְקַרְקַר כָּל בְּנֵי שֵׁת" זֶה הַמֶּלֶךְ הַמָּשִׁיחַ שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר בּוֹ (זכריה ט, י) "וּמָשְׁלוֹ מִיָּם עַד יָם". (במדבר כד, יח) "וְהָיָה אֱדוֹם יְרֵשָׁה" זֶה דָּוִד. שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר (שמואל ב ח, יד) "וַתְּהִי אֱדוֹם לְדָוִד לַעֲבָדִים" וְגוֹ'. (במדבר כד, יח) "וְהָיָה יְרֵשָׁה" וְגוֹ' זֶה הַמֶּלֶךְ הַמָּשִׁיחַ שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר (עובדיה א, כא) "וְעָלוּ מוֹשִׁעִים בְּהַר צִיּוֹן" וְגוֹ':
In the future, the Messianic king will arise and renew the Davidic dynasty, restoring it to its initial sovereignty. He will build the Temple and gather the dispersed of Israel.
Then, in his days, the observance of all the statutes will return to their previous state. We will offer sacrifices, observe the Sabbatical and Jubilee years according to all their particulars as described by the Torah.
Anyone who does not believe in him or does not await his coming, denies not only the statements of the other prophets, but those of the Torah and Moses, our teacher. The Torah testified to his coming, as Deuteronomy 30:3-5 states:
God will bring back your captivity and have mercy upon you. He will again gather you from among the nations... Even if your Diaspora is at the ends of the heavens, God will gather you up from there... and bring you to the land....
These explicit words of the Torah include all the statements made by all the prophets.
Reference to Mashiach is also made in the portion of Bilaam who prophesies about two anointed kings: the first anointed king, David, who saved Israel from her oppressors; and the final anointed king who will arise from his descendants and save Israel in the end of days. That passage Numbers 24:17-18 relates:
'I see it, but not now' - This refers to David;
'I perceive it, but not in the near future;" - This refers to the Messianic king;
'A star shall go forth from Jacob' - This refers to David;
'and a staff shall arise in Israel' - This refers to the Messianic king;
'crushing all of Moab's princes' - This refers to David as II Samuel 8:2 relates: 'He smote Moab and measured them with a line;'
'decimating all of Seth's descendants' - This refers to the Messianic king about whom Zechariah 9:10 prophesies: 'He will rule from sea to sea.'
'Edom will be demolished' - This refers to David as II Samuel 8:6 states 'Edom became the servants of David;'
'Seir will be destroyed' - this refers to the Messianic king as Ovadiah 1:21 prophesies: 'Saviors will ascend Mount Zion to judge the mountain of Esau....'
קָטֹ֜נְתִּי מִכֹּ֤ל הַחֲסָדִים֙ וּמִכׇּל־הָ֣אֱמֶ֔ת אֲשֶׁ֥ר עָשִׂ֖יתָ אֶת־עַבְדֶּ֑ךָ כִּ֣י בְמַקְלִ֗י עָבַ֙רְתִּי֙ אֶת־הַיַּרְדֵּ֣ן הַזֶּ֔ה וְעַתָּ֥ה הָיִ֖יתִי לִשְׁנֵ֥י מַחֲנֽוֹת׃
I am unworthy of all the kindness that You have so steadfastly shown Your servant: with my staff alone I crossed this Jordan, and now I have become two camps.
חַיָּב אָדָם לְבָרֵךְ עַל הָרָעָה כְּשֵׁם שֶׁהוּא מְבָרֵךְ עַל הַטּוֹבָה, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר (דברים ו) וְאָהַבְתָּ אֵת יְיָ אֱלֹהֶיךָ בְּכָל לְבָבְךָ וּבְכָל נַפְשְׁךָ וּבְכָל מְאֹדֶךָ. בְּכָל לְבָבְךָ, בִּשְׁנֵי יְצָרֶיךָ, בְּיֵצֶר טוֹב וּבְיֵצֶר רָע. וּבְכָל נַפְשְׁךָ, אֲפִלּוּ הוּא נוֹטֵל אֶת נַפְשֶׁךָ. וּבְכָל מְאֹדֶךָ, בְּכָל מָמוֹנֶךָ. דָּבָר אַחֵר בְּכָל מְאֹדֶךָ, בְּכָל מִדָּה וּמִדָּה שֶׁהוּא מוֹדֵד לְךָ הֱוֵי מוֹדֶה לוֹ בִּמְאֹד מְאֹד. לֹא יָקֵל אָדָם אֶת רֹאשׁוֹ כְּנֶגֶד שַׁעַר הַמִּזְרָח, שֶׁהוּא מְכֻוָּן כְּנֶגֶד בֵּית קָדְשֵׁי הַקָּדָשִׁים. לֹא יִכָּנֵס לְהַר הַבַּיִת בְּמַקְלוֹ, וּבְמִנְעָלוֹ, וּבְפֻנְדָּתוֹ, וּבְאָבָק שֶׁעַל רַגְלָיו, וְלֹא יַעֲשֶׂנּוּ קַפַּנְדַּרְיָא, וּרְקִיקָה מִקַּל וָחֹמֶר. כָּל חוֹתְמֵי בְרָכוֹת שֶׁהָיוּ בַמִּקְדָּשׁ, הָיוּ אוֹמְרִים מִן הָעוֹלָם. מִשֶּׁקִּלְקְלוּ הַמִּינִין, וְאָמְרוּ, אֵין עוֹלָם אֶלָּא אֶחָד, הִתְקִינוּ שֶׁיְּהוּ אוֹמְרִים, מִן הָעוֹלָם וְעַד הָעוֹלָם. וְהִתְקִינוּ, שֶׁיְּהֵא אָדָם שׁוֹאֵל אֶת שְׁלוֹם חֲבֵרוֹ בַּשֵּׁם, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר (רות ב) וְהִנֵּה בֹעַז בָּא מִבֵּית לֶחֶם, וַיֹּאמֶר לַקּוֹצְרִים יְיָ עִמָּכֶם, וַיֹּאמְרוּ לוֹ, יְבָרֶכְךָ יְיָ. וְאוֹמֵר (שופטים ו) יְיָ עִמְּךָ גִּבּוֹר הֶחָיִל. וְאוֹמֵר (משלי כג) אַל תָּבוּז כִּי זָקְנָה אִמֶּךָ. וְאוֹמֵר (תהלים קיט) עֵת לַעֲשׂוֹת לַייָ הֵפֵרוּ תוֹרָתֶךָ. רַבִּי נָתָן אוֹמֵר, הֵפֵרוּ תוֹרָתֶךָ עֵת לַעֲשׂוֹת לַייָ:
The mishna articulates a general principle: One is obligated to recite a blessing for the bad that befalls him just as he recites a blessing for the good that befalls him, as it is stated: “And you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your might” (Deuteronomy 6:5). The mishna explains this verse as follows: “With all your heart” means with your two inclinations, with your good inclination and your evil inclination, both of which must be subjugated to the love of God. “With all your soul” means even if God takes your soul. “And with all your might” means with all your money, as money is referred to in the Bible as might. Alternatively, it may be explained that “with all your might” means with every measure that He metes out to you; whether it is good or troublesome, thank Him. The mishna teaches several Temple-related halakhot. One may not act irreverently or conduct himself flippantly opposite the eastern gate of the Temple Mount, which is aligned opposite the Holy of Holies. In deference to the Temple, one may not enter the Temple Mount with his staff, his shoes, his money belt [punda], or even the dust on his feet. One may not make the Temple a shortcut to pass through it, and through an a fortiori inference, all the more so one may not spit on the Temple Mount. The mishna relates: At the conclusion of all blessings recited in the Temple, those reciting the blessing would say: Blessed are You Lord, God of Israel, until everlasting [haolam], the world. But when the Sadducees strayed and declared that there is but one world and there is no World-to-Come, the Sages instituted that at the conclusion of the blessing one recites: From everlasting [haolam] to everlasting [haolam]. The Sages also instituted that one should greet another in the name of God, i.e., one should mention God’s name in his greeting, as it is stated: “And presently Boaz came from Bethlehem and said to the harvesters, The Lord is with you, and they said to him, May the Lord bless you” (Ruth 2:4). And it says: “And the angel of God appeared to him and said to him, God is with you, mighty man of valor” (Judges 6:12). And it says: “And despise not your mother when she is old” (Proverbs 23:22), i.e., one must not neglect customs which he inherits. And lest you say that mentioning God’s name is prohibited, it says: “It is time to work for the Lord; they have made void Your Torah” (Psalms 119:126), i.e., it is occasionally necessary to negate biblical precepts in order to perform God’s will, and greeting another is certainly God’s will. Rabbi Natan says another interpretation of the verse: “Make void Your Torah” because “it is the time to work for the Lord,” i.e., occasionally it is necessary to negate biblical precepts in order to bolster the Torah.
אַנְטִיגְנוֹס אִישׁ סוֹכוֹ קִבֵּל מִשִּׁמְעוֹן הַצַּדִּיק. הוּא הָיָה אוֹמֵר, אַל תִּהְיוּ כַעֲבָדִים הַמְשַׁמְּשִׁין אֶת הָרַב עַל מְנָת לְקַבֵּל פְּרָס, אֶלָּא הֱווּ כַעֲבָדִים הַמְשַׁמְּשִׁין אֶת הָרַב שֶׁלֹּא עַל מְנָת לְקַבֵּל פְּרָס, וִיהִי מוֹרָא שָׁמַיִם עֲלֵיכֶם:
Antigonus a man of Socho received [the oral tradition] from Shimon the Righteous. He used to say: do not be like servants who serve the master in the expectation of receiving a reward, but be like servants who serve the master without the expectation of receiving a reward, and let the fear of Heaven be upon you.
רבי נתן אומר לעת מצוא זו תורה, שנאמר (משלי ח׳:ל״ה) כי מוצאי מצא חיים. תורה מרמז על מצוה פרטית המיוחדת לאדם בשרשו, שלכל אדם יש לו מצוה מיוחדת השייכת לו בשורש, וצריך לדקדק בה בכל החומרות וגדרים יותר מאדם אחר, ובזה יתוקן שרשו, וכענין שמצינו בש"ס (שבת קיח:) אבוך במאי זהיר טפי במצות ציצית. והענין בזה, שאם ידקדק אדם במצוה שאינה שייכת לשרשו ויחמיר בה יותר מדאי בבטחונו שעל ידה יתוקן שרשו, ע"ז נאמר (משלי כ״ג:ד׳) אל תיגע להעשיר וגו' כי עשה יעשה לו כנפים כנשר יעוף השמים. והוא, שבעוה"ז הסתיר השי"ת עומק הכונה שגנוז במעשה המצות, שאם לא היה בהמצוה רק הכונה בלבד, א"כ למה צוה השי"ת לעשות המצוה בפועל, משמע מזה שאין לאדם ידיעה בד"ת הצפון והגנוז במעשה המצות בעוה"ז, וכדאיתא בש"ס (סוטה כא.) אמר רב יוסף מצוה בעידנא דעסיק בה מגנא ומצלא בעידנא דלא עסיק בה אגוני מגנא אצולי לא מצלא. והוא שבעידנא דלא עסיק בה אזי לא נשאר בגוף מקדושת המצוה, לפי שאין הגוף מבין שרשה. אבל מצוה ששייכת לאדם, בפרט אם ירבה בדקדוקיה ובהבנתה, יאיר לו השי"ת שיבין את המצוה באור תורה, שכל עיקר המצוה תהיה דברי תורה, ויהיה לו הבנה בכוונתה, ויראה שהלבוש והפעולה מהמצוה הוא רק בעוה"ז. וזה הוא שאנו מתפללין (בקדושא דסדרא) הוא יפתח לבנו בתורתו, בוא"ו, וזה מרמז על הד"ת ומצות ששייכים לכל אדם מיוחד בפרט לעיקר השורש שלו:
Rabbi Natan says, "The time of finding (Psalms 32:6) refers to Torah, as it is stated, He who finds Me finds life (Proverbs 8:35)." (Berakhot 8a:11) Torah hints to the specific commandment that is unique to a man in his root source. As every person has a unique commandment that applies to him in his root source, and he has to be more exacting than others about it, in all of its stringencies and its fences. And that way, his root source will be repaired. And it is like the matter that we have found in the Talmud (Shabbat 118b), "In what was your father more careful? In the commandment of tzitzit [fringes]." And the idea in this is that if someone is exacting towards a commandment that does not belong to his root source, and he is more exacting than need be about it due to his confidence that his root source will be repaired — it is about him that it is stated, Do not toil to gain wealth, etc. it grows wings and flies away, like an eagle, heavenward (Proverbs 23:4). And that is that God, may He be blessed, hides the depth of the intention that He has hidden in the act of the commandment. As if there was only the intention in the commandment, then why would God, may He be blessed, have commanded to actually do the commandment. It is implied from this that a person does not have knowledge in this world of the inner hidden words of Torah in the performance of the commandment, And this is like it is found in the Talmud (Sotah 21a), "Rav Yosef said, 'A commandment, at the time when one is engaged in it, protects and saves; at the time when one is not engaged in it, it protects but it does not save.'" And that means that at the time one is not engaged in it, there is nothing of the holiness of the commandment that remains in the body, since the body does not understand its root source. However, a commandment that belongs to a person, especially if he adds to it in its details and its understanding, then God, may He be blessed, enlightens him that he should understand the commandment in the light of the Torah. For all of the essence of the commandments is in the words of the Torah. So he will then have understanding into its intention, and see that the commandment's garment and performance is only in this world. And this is [the meaning of] that which we pray (in the Kedushah of the Order), "May He open our hearts to His Torah," with a vav [making the word possessive, His/his]. This hints to the words of Torah and the commandment that belong especially specifically to each person, according to his root source.


