צֶ֥דֶק צֶ֖דֶק תִּרְדֹּ֑ף לְמַ֤עַן תִּֽחְיֶה֙ וְיָרַשְׁתָּ֣ אֶת־הָאָ֔רֶץ אֲשֶׁר־יְהוָ֥ה אֱלֹהֶ֖יךָ נֹתֵ֥ן לָֽךְ׃ (ס)
La justicia, la justicia seguirás, porque vivas y heredes la tierra que SEÑOR tu Dios te da.
Kli Yakar
And I say that this entire midrash is built on the foundation of humility, to instill it in all who sit in judgment, because it is for this reason that it says before them and not before idolaters, for anyone who is arrogant does not judge deliberately and does not allow the judgment to ferment, to settle on its lees. And this is the meaning of the parable of a king who had many sons, and the analogy is not about the nations and Israel, but rather about all of Israel who are called the children of the living God. And of all of them, He loves the youngest — meaning, among all the sons, that is, among all of Israel, He loves more than all the others the “small one” who diminishes himself, who is humble and lowly — he is chosen to occupy the seat of God in the assembly of judges.
Therefore, he brings proof from the verse For Israel is a youth and I love him (Hosea 11:1), meaning when he makes himself small like a youth and is unlearned, then the Holy One, blessed be He, loves him more than all the children of Israel. For the more humility is found in those below, the more the greatness of God, blessed be He, will be revealed and seen, because the humble restore the crown to its former place, to the Holy One, blessed be He, who is called the Ancient of Days (Daniel 7:9). For through this they acknowledge that He alone is clothed in majesty, and it befits Him and no other.
Therefore, he brings as proof the verse And the Lord of Hosts shall be exalted in judgment (Isaiah 5:16) and says if you preserve judgment — which is related to the term “lees of wine” — meaning that your heart should ferment by judging deliberately, as it is written Keep judgment (Isaiah 56:1). It is also an expression of “lees,” for any liquid that stands still on its lees, the sediment sinks down and the liquid remains clear. Any vinegar has certainly stood for a long time on its lees, and because of this became vinegar. Regarding this it says Keep judgment for all judgment needs to be fermented and delayed until the lees — that is, the waste and confused opinions mixed in human intellect — sink down. And when they go down, his intellect will remain clear, pure, and clean without mixture, and then he will not come to error.
Therefore it says keep judgment but charity should not be delayed; rather, if some poor person asks something of you, fulfill his request immediately. Therefore it says and do righteousness (Isaiah 56:1). All this will be explained further in the portion of Shoftim, with God’s help, on the verse Justice, justice shall you pursue (Deuteronomy 16:20), because the language of “pursuit” applies to charity and not to judgments.
And this is the meaning of “if you keep judgment, I am exalted,” because one who judges deliberately certainly possesses the trait of humility, as he is not embarrassed to ask about his uncertainties or to examine a case for a long time until he brings forth a truthful judgment. And through the humility of those below, the Holy One, blessed be He, is exalted, as it is written And the man shall be humbled, and the person shall be lowered, and the eyes of the lofty shall be humbled. But the Lord of hosts shall be exalted in judgment (Isaiah 5:15-16).
Therefore, he brings proof from the verse For Israel is a youth and I love him (Hosea 11:1), meaning when he makes himself small like a youth and is unlearned, then the Holy One, blessed be He, loves him more than all the children of Israel. For the more humility is found in those below, the more the greatness of God, blessed be He, will be revealed and seen, because the humble restore the crown to its former place, to the Holy One, blessed be He, who is called the Ancient of Days (Daniel 7:9). For through this they acknowledge that He alone is clothed in majesty, and it befits Him and no other.
Therefore, he brings as proof the verse And the Lord of Hosts shall be exalted in judgment (Isaiah 5:16) and says if you preserve judgment — which is related to the term “lees of wine” — meaning that your heart should ferment by judging deliberately, as it is written Keep judgment (Isaiah 56:1). It is also an expression of “lees,” for any liquid that stands still on its lees, the sediment sinks down and the liquid remains clear. Any vinegar has certainly stood for a long time on its lees, and because of this became vinegar. Regarding this it says Keep judgment for all judgment needs to be fermented and delayed until the lees — that is, the waste and confused opinions mixed in human intellect — sink down. And when they go down, his intellect will remain clear, pure, and clean without mixture, and then he will not come to error.
Therefore it says keep judgment but charity should not be delayed; rather, if some poor person asks something of you, fulfill his request immediately. Therefore it says and do righteousness (Isaiah 56:1). All this will be explained further in the portion of Shoftim, with God’s help, on the verse Justice, justice shall you pursue (Deuteronomy 16:20), because the language of “pursuit” applies to charity and not to judgments.
And this is the meaning of “if you keep judgment, I am exalted,” because one who judges deliberately certainly possesses the trait of humility, as he is not embarrassed to ask about his uncertainties or to examine a case for a long time until he brings forth a truthful judgment. And through the humility of those below, the Holy One, blessed be He, is exalted, as it is written And the man shall be humbled, and the person shall be lowered, and the eyes of the lofty shall be humbled. But the Lord of hosts shall be exalted in judgment (Isaiah 5:15-16).
Ramban
MINE ORDINANCES SHALL YE DO. “These are matters prescribed in the Torah which, even if they were not prescribed, one would know that they ought to be prescribed.” Thus the language of Rashi. And in the Torath Kohanim it is stated:233Torath Kohanim, Acharei 13:10. “These are matters written in the Torah which, even if they were not written, would deserve to have been written, such as robberies, forbidden sexual relationships, idolatry, bloodshed and blasphemy.”
Now by way of the simple meaning of Scripture, the term mishpatai (Mine ordinances) is to be understood in its simple sense. It is a reference to the laws stated in the section of V’eileh Hamishpatim (And these are the ordinances)234Exodus 21:1. and in the whole Torah. Therefore He states here, which if a man do, he shall live by them,235Further, Verse 5. as these laws were given so that man should live, and for the development of countries, and peace among men, so that no one should cause harm to his fellowman or kill him. The prophet Ezekiel likewise mentioned many times with reference to these mishpatim (ordinances), which if a man do, he shall live by them,236Ezekiel 20:11, 13 and 21. while of the Sabbath he says, to be a sign between Me and them.237Ibid., Verse 12. Similarly in the Book of Nehemiah it says, Thine ordinances, which if a man do, he shall live by them.238Nehemiah 9:29. But our Rabbis have said:239Yoma 85 b. “He shall live by them235Further, Verse 5. — but not die by them. This teaches that danger to life overrides the Sabbath laws and [all] the commandments.” And according to the Midrashic interpretation it means:240Torath Kohanim, Acharei 9:10. It is also mentioned here in Rashi. “He shall live by them235Further, Verse 5. — in the World to Come. Should you say it means that he shall live in this world, will he not in the end die!”241Hence the Divine assurance that he shall live by them must refer to eternal life. And if so, the expression which if a man do, he shall live by them235Further, Verse 5. refers back [not only to the mishpatim (ordinances), as we explained before, but] also to chukothai [“My statutes,” those laws for which no reason is given, but the observance of which also assures one eternal life].
Know that man’s [reward in] life for the observance of the commandments is in accordance with his preparation for them. For he who fulfills the commandments not for their own sake, but in order to receive a reward, will be rewarded on account of them in this world with longevity, riches, possessions, and honor. It is concerning this [kind of observance of the laws of the Torah] that it is said, in her left hand are riches and honor,242Proverbs 3:16. which the Rabbis interpreted to mean:243Shabbath 63 a. “to those that stand on the left of it [i.e., to those who engage in the observance of the Torah not for its own sake], there are material riches and honor.” Similarly, those who engage in the observance of the commandments so as to merit by them reward in the World to Come, these being the people who serve G-d out of fear [of punishment], will be found worthy on account of their intention to be saved from the judgments that will come upon the wicked, and their souls shall abide in joyfulness244See Psalms 25:13. [in life eternal]. But those who engage in the observance of the commandments out of love, as is right and proper, together with worldly occupation, similar to what is mentioned in the Torah in the section of Im Bechukothai,245If ye walk in My statutes. Further, 26:3. And your threshing shall reach unto the vintage,246Ibid., Verse 5. they will merit good life in this world according to the usual nature of things, and in life eternal, in the World to Come, their merits will still be complete before them [since the reward they received in their lifetime will not reduce that which is to come to them in the hereafter]. But those who abandon altogether the concerns of this world and pay no attention to it, acting as if they themselves were not creatures of physical being, and all their thoughts and intentions are directed only to their Creator, just as was the case with Elijah, [these people] on account of their soul cleaving to the Glorious Name will live forever in body and soul, as is evidenced in Scripture concerning Elijah247II Kings 2:11: and Elijah went up by a whirlwind into heaven. and as is known of him in tradition,248The Talmud and Midrashim abound in instances which prove that Elijah’s removal from earth was no interruption of his earthly existence. On the contrary, in countless appearances he traverses the world in order to protect the innocent etc. (see L. Ginzberg, The Legends of the Jews, IV, pp. 202-235). and as the Midrashim speak of Enoch249Genesis 5:24: And Enoch walked with G-d, and he was not; for G-d took him. Many Midrashim describe his activity after his ascencion into heaven. See, however, Rashi ibid. and of those belonging to the World to Come who will rise at the resurrection. It is for this reason that on the subject of reward for observance of the commandments the verses speak [in various ways, such as]: that thy days may be long;250Exodus 20:12. that thou mayest live;251Deuteronomy 16:20. and that thou mayest prolong thy days.252Ibid., 22:7. For these expressions include all kinds of life, each according to his due.
Now by way of the simple meaning of Scripture, the term mishpatai (Mine ordinances) is to be understood in its simple sense. It is a reference to the laws stated in the section of V’eileh Hamishpatim (And these are the ordinances)234Exodus 21:1. and in the whole Torah. Therefore He states here, which if a man do, he shall live by them,235Further, Verse 5. as these laws were given so that man should live, and for the development of countries, and peace among men, so that no one should cause harm to his fellowman or kill him. The prophet Ezekiel likewise mentioned many times with reference to these mishpatim (ordinances), which if a man do, he shall live by them,236Ezekiel 20:11, 13 and 21. while of the Sabbath he says, to be a sign between Me and them.237Ibid., Verse 12. Similarly in the Book of Nehemiah it says, Thine ordinances, which if a man do, he shall live by them.238Nehemiah 9:29. But our Rabbis have said:239Yoma 85 b. “He shall live by them235Further, Verse 5. — but not die by them. This teaches that danger to life overrides the Sabbath laws and [all] the commandments.” And according to the Midrashic interpretation it means:240Torath Kohanim, Acharei 9:10. It is also mentioned here in Rashi. “He shall live by them235Further, Verse 5. — in the World to Come. Should you say it means that he shall live in this world, will he not in the end die!”241Hence the Divine assurance that he shall live by them must refer to eternal life. And if so, the expression which if a man do, he shall live by them235Further, Verse 5. refers back [not only to the mishpatim (ordinances), as we explained before, but] also to chukothai [“My statutes,” those laws for which no reason is given, but the observance of which also assures one eternal life].
Know that man’s [reward in] life for the observance of the commandments is in accordance with his preparation for them. For he who fulfills the commandments not for their own sake, but in order to receive a reward, will be rewarded on account of them in this world with longevity, riches, possessions, and honor. It is concerning this [kind of observance of the laws of the Torah] that it is said, in her left hand are riches and honor,242Proverbs 3:16. which the Rabbis interpreted to mean:243Shabbath 63 a. “to those that stand on the left of it [i.e., to those who engage in the observance of the Torah not for its own sake], there are material riches and honor.” Similarly, those who engage in the observance of the commandments so as to merit by them reward in the World to Come, these being the people who serve G-d out of fear [of punishment], will be found worthy on account of their intention to be saved from the judgments that will come upon the wicked, and their souls shall abide in joyfulness244See Psalms 25:13. [in life eternal]. But those who engage in the observance of the commandments out of love, as is right and proper, together with worldly occupation, similar to what is mentioned in the Torah in the section of Im Bechukothai,245If ye walk in My statutes. Further, 26:3. And your threshing shall reach unto the vintage,246Ibid., Verse 5. they will merit good life in this world according to the usual nature of things, and in life eternal, in the World to Come, their merits will still be complete before them [since the reward they received in their lifetime will not reduce that which is to come to them in the hereafter]. But those who abandon altogether the concerns of this world and pay no attention to it, acting as if they themselves were not creatures of physical being, and all their thoughts and intentions are directed only to their Creator, just as was the case with Elijah, [these people] on account of their soul cleaving to the Glorious Name will live forever in body and soul, as is evidenced in Scripture concerning Elijah247II Kings 2:11: and Elijah went up by a whirlwind into heaven. and as is known of him in tradition,248The Talmud and Midrashim abound in instances which prove that Elijah’s removal from earth was no interruption of his earthly existence. On the contrary, in countless appearances he traverses the world in order to protect the innocent etc. (see L. Ginzberg, The Legends of the Jews, IV, pp. 202-235). and as the Midrashim speak of Enoch249Genesis 5:24: And Enoch walked with G-d, and he was not; for G-d took him. Many Midrashim describe his activity after his ascencion into heaven. See, however, Rashi ibid. and of those belonging to the World to Come who will rise at the resurrection. It is for this reason that on the subject of reward for observance of the commandments the verses speak [in various ways, such as]: that thy days may be long;250Exodus 20:12. that thou mayest live;251Deuteronomy 16:20. and that thou mayest prolong thy days.252Ibid., 22:7. For these expressions include all kinds of life, each according to his due.
Rabbeinu Yonah
Rabbi Yishmael, his son, says: One who withholds himself from judging: Even though it is written (Deuteronomy 16:18), "You shall appoint magistrates and officials in all of your gates," and (Deuteronomy 16:20) "Justice, justice shall you pursue," as it is a commandment to judge [legal cases] - that is in a place where there are no other judges. But any time he can withhold himself, it is good for him to send its yoke onto others, since [that way] he will prevent himself from several problems.