Quotation for Deuteronomy 16:20
צֶ֥דֶק צֶ֖דֶק תִּרְדֹּ֑ף לְמַ֤עַן תִּֽחְיֶה֙ וְיָרַשְׁתָּ֣ אֶת־הָאָ֔רֶץ אֲשֶׁר־יְהוָ֥ה אֱלֹהֶ֖יךָ נֹתֵ֥ן לָֽךְ׃ (ס)
Justice, justice shalt thou follow, that thou mayest live, and inherit the land which the LORD thy God giveth thee.
Rabbeinu Bahya
למען תחיה, “so that you will live,” a reference to the hereafter within the realm of the צדק עליון, the “attribute” צדק in the celestial regions. This region emanates the brilliant light reserved for the righteous.
וירשת את הארץ, “and you will take possession of the land.” a reference to the echo of צדק available in our terrestrial world. Eretz Yisrael is perceived as “opposite” the region of the “true” צדק in the celestial regions. Concerning this concept, Solomon said in Proverbs 21,21 רודף צדקה וחסד ימצא חיים צדקה וכבוד, “he who strives to do righteousness, good deeds and kindness, attains life, righteousness and honor.” The meaning of this verse is that if a person while on earth endeavors to live by the standards of the attribute of חסד ה', he will find that he attains the true צדק in the celestial regions, i.e. eternal life.
וירשת את הארץ, “and you will take possession of the land.” a reference to the echo of צדק available in our terrestrial world. Eretz Yisrael is perceived as “opposite” the region of the “true” צדק in the celestial regions. Concerning this concept, Solomon said in Proverbs 21,21 רודף צדקה וחסד ימצא חיים צדקה וכבוד, “he who strives to do righteousness, good deeds and kindness, attains life, righteousness and honor.” The meaning of this verse is that if a person while on earth endeavors to live by the standards of the attribute of חסד ה', he will find that he attains the true צדק in the celestial regions, i.e. eternal life.
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