전도서 12:11의 주석

The words of the wise. They made a “fence” for the Torah with [various] decrees in order to distance a person from sin, e.g., eating hallowed things [is permitted] until dawn, but they declared “[only] until midnight,” and likewise, the evening recitation of Shema.⁵³See Mishnayos Berachos 1:1.

“The words of the wise are like goads, and like nails well fastened are the collectors of wisdom; they are given from one shepherd” (Ecclesiastes 12:11).
“The words of the wise are like goads [kadorvonot]” – like a girls’ ball [kadur shel banot]. Just as the ball is passed from hand to hand and does not fall to the ground, so too, “not one word of it has fallen short…” (Joshua 23:14). Just as they pass the ball with their hands and it does not fall, so too, Moses received the Torah from Sinai and transmitted it to Joshua, and Joshua to the elders, and the elders to the prophets, and the prophets transmitted it to the members of the Great Assembly, etc.
Another matter: “Like goads” – like the goad that guides the cow to plow in order to give life to its owner, so too, matters of Torah guide the heart of those who study them from the path of death to the path of life. It is called by three names, dorvan, malmad, marde’a; malmad, because it trains [melamed] the cow; marde’a, because it imparts knowledge [moreh de’a] to the cow; dorvan, because it causes understanding to dwell [dayer bina] in the cow, in order to plow its furrows to give life to its owner. Can these matters not be inferred a fortiori? If for his cow a person crafts a goad, for his evil inclination, which instigates him [to commit acts that will cause him to be banished] from this world and from the World to Come, all the more so.
“And like nails well fastened [netuim]” – the verse should have said only: “Like trees that are planted [netuim],⁴⁴The term netuim is commonly used in reference to trees, while a different verb is generally used regarding nails. but you say: “And like nails well fastened”? Rather, it teaches that they have the advantage of a plant and the round heads of iron nails.⁴⁵Torah has the advantages of both a plant and a nail in that one who studies it and gains a strong foundation in Torah can flourish and produce more knowledge, while the Torah he has already studied remains firmly ingrained in him like a nail hammered into a board.
Another matter: “Like nails well fastened” – just as the nail, even though you remove it from its place, its impression remains, so, anyone whose iniquities cause the Sages to extend their hand against him,⁴⁶The Sages ostracize or excommunicate him. even if he repents, its impression remains. Another matter: “Like nails well fastened” – all the days of Rabbi Eliezer the people practiced in accordance with the opinion of Rabbi Yehoshua.⁴⁷This was because Rabbi Eliezer was ostracized due to his unwillingness to accept the determination of the majority (see Bava Metzia 59b) (Etz Yosef). After Rabbi Eliezer died, they reverted to their initial practice.⁴⁸In accordance with the opinion of Rabbi Eliezer. Thus, Rabbi Eliezer’s case is an exception to the rule stated above. Although he was ostracized, after his death the decree of ostracism was no longer operative and made no lasting mark; Rabbi Eliezer’s rulings were accepted even more so than during his life (Rabbi David Luria; see also Nidda 7b).
“The collectors of wisdom [baalei asupot]” – when are matters of Torah stated properly? It is when its possessors hear it in gatherings [asupot]. From where is it derived that if one heard from a person of Israel it shall be for him as though he heard from a Sage? It is as the verse states: “That I command you today” (Deuteronomy 6:6).⁴⁹This phrase is written in singular, indicating that the Torah is given to each individual member of Israel. Not as though he heard it from a Sage, but rather from the Sages, as it is stated: “The words of the wise are like goads.” Not as though he heard it from the Sages, but rather from the Sanhedrin, as it is stated: “Gather [esfa] to Me seventy men” (Numbers 11:16). Not as though he heard it from the Sanhedrin, but rather as though he heard it from Moses, as it is stated: “They are given from one shepherd”; this is Moses. Not as though he heard it from Moses the shepherd, but rather from the Holy One blessed be He, as it is stated: “From one shepherd,” and “shepherd” is none other than the Holy One blessed be He, as it is stated: “Shepherd of Israel, listen” (Psalms 80:2). And “one,” is none other than the Holy One blessed be He, as it is stated: “Hear Israel, the Lord is our God, the Lord is one” (Deuteronomy 6:4).
There we learned: A man may not go out with a spiked sandal, and not with a single [sandal] when there is no wound on his foot.⁵⁰Mishna Shabbat 6:2. This mishna is cited here because the verse the midrash is commenting on mentions nails. How many spikes may it have?⁵¹In order for it to be permitted to wear the sandal on Shabbat. Rabbi Yoḥanan said five, corresponding to the five books of the Torah. Rabbi Dosa ben Ḥananya says: Seven, corresponding to the seven days of the week. Rabbi Ḥanina says: Nine, corresponding to the nine months of gestation. Rabbi Yosei ben Ḥanina said: A nail shaped like tongs is not included in the tally of the spikes.
Rabbi Ze’eira [said] in the name of Rabbi Abba bar Zavda:⁵²In the Jerusalem Talmud (Shabbat 6:2) the text reads: Rabbi Ze’eira asked Rabbi Abba bar Zavda. ‘What is [the law] regarding placing them on a shoe for Shabbat?’ He said to him: ‘It is permitted.’ ‘What is [the law] regarding switching them?’⁵³Is it permitted to maintain the total number of spikes in both sandals, but to have more than the permitted number in one sandal and fewer in the other? He said to him: ‘It is permitted.’ ‘What is [the law] regarding placing them one atop the other?’⁵⁴Is it permitted to place all of the spikes on one sandal and none on the other? He said to him: ‘It is permitted.’ Rabbi Ḥiyya would place eleven on this side and thirteen on that side,⁵⁵He would place eleven on one side of the sandal and thirteen on the other side. corresponding to the twenty-four books [of the Bible]; just as the books are twenty-four, so too, the priestly watches are twenty-four; and just as the priestly watches are twenty-four, so too, the spikes are twenty-four.

Are like goads. Just as this goad directs the cow to its furrows, so do their words direct a person to the ways of life.

Like well-fastened nails. Just as this nail is permanent, so are their words permanent, and just as a sapling is fruitful and multiplies, so are their words fruitful and multiply, to find a reason for them.

Of the masters of [learned] assemblies. Nails that have a large and thick head, grose in O.F. So did Dunash the son of Labrat explain it.

All were given from one Shepherd. All their words are the words of the living God, He said them; and one shepherd⁵⁴The acronym of משה רבנו עליו השלום is מרעה [=from one shepherd], and that is why מרעה is spelled without a vav. (Sifsei Chachomim) gave them, Moshe from the Almighty.

Like [well fastened] nails. This is written with a sin, for the Torah, with its twenty-four books coincides with the number of the watches of the Kohanim and the Levyim.