스가랴 4:10의 유대 사상

The Midrash explains that G-d does not need the light of the candelabra, but He wanted us to provide that light in the tabernacle so that He in turn could provide a great light for us in the world of the future. G-d also wishes to demonstrate to mankind at large that those who kindle lights for Him, deserve to have Him light the way for them. In order to enjoy the benefits of the natural guidance of G-d, one needs to be constantly aware of G-d’s guiding hand in history as well as His share in shaping the fate of individuals. The leaders of the people especially, need visible reminders of that. Therefore, leaders, i.e. Levites were encamped around the tabernacle. The priests would be reminded of G-d’s presence and intervention in the fate of man whenever they would look at the eternal flame on the altar. The holy ark was carried physically by the group of Levites of the highest moral fibre. By the awareness of the proximity of G-d, they in turn invoked the hashgachah peratit, Divine involvement at the personal level. This kept all the dangers inherent in an inhospitable climate such as the desert, away from the Israelites. (see our commentary in chapter 34)

Surely, regarding G-d, it is more fitting and more obligatory on us to adorn ourselves in His service in our inner thoughts, heart and limbs, since He watches them and contemplates them continuously and nothing can distract Him from some matter, as the verse says "I am the L-ord who searches the heart; I test the reins" (Yirmiya 17:10), and "the eyes of the L-ord are in every place, beholding the evil and the good" (Mishlei 15:3), and "the eyes of the L-ord, that run to and fro throughout the land" (Zecharya 4:10), and the verse says regarding the awe one should feel regarding the watching of the Creator "Be not rash with your mouth, and let not your heart be hasty to utter a word before G-d; for G-d is in heaven, and you are upon earth; therefore let your words be few" (Koheles 5:1), and "The L-ord looks down from heaven upon men" (Tehilim 14:2).

Regarding the witnesses of the supernal court: However the essence of the matter is like this: We have already explained above how much precision is found in the judgement of each and every individual. For behold in general with every individual, many arguments will be found according to the different causes, such that the individual can be judged in many ways. And in the particulars also, each and every one of his actions is found to have an aspect of innocence and an aspect of guilt, in many different ways. For all the matters of the world are truly combined from many combinations and lead to different ways. Nevertheless, all of these true aspects are accurately revealed in these supernal courts. And each one of the host that is found in that court has one aspect revealed to him according to his [own] character, until - among all of them - every aspect is revealed; not one thing is withheld. And then the matter is weighed according to all of these true aspects, such that the decree comes out according to what is proper. However this conclusion is made by the one who is the head of that court. And if it is one of the courts that the Master, blessed be He, wants to sit at its head - note that even though everything is foreseen in front of Him, He lets all of the host of servants argue in front of Him, according to the aspect of the matter that is truly revealed to them. [Hence] the matter is concluded as it should. And it comes out according to this principle that the Holy One, blessed be He, does not judge the world from the aspect of His knowledge, but rather from the aspect of the order that He wanted to set up for the matter. And from what He further ordered is that no matter at all should be judged in any [supernal] court until appointees that He appointed for this are brought in front of Him. And this matter is that He appointed appointees of the angelic type to oversee all of the things that occur in the world. And these come to the supernal court and testify about the things that they grasped and were revealed to them, such that these matters are [all] brought to judgement. And I have already mentioned several times that these matters are not a result of His [lack of] knowledge, may He be blessed. For none of these matters are needed by Him, since everything is always foreseen by Him. Rather this is how He decreed and ordered it in His amazing wisdom. So the world truly functions according to these arrangements. And it is about these matters that Scripture hints at in its metaphors - like the matter that is stated (Genesis 11:5), "The Lord came down to look, etc."; "and the divine beings came to present themselves, etc." (Job 1:6); "the eyes of the Lord range over the whole earth" (Zechariah 4:10); "These were sent out by the Lord to roam the earth" (Zechariah 1:10); and others like them. It is all stated about the ways of [God's] direction according to the arrangements that He designed. And those angels appointed to oversee the affairs of the world and testify about them are called "the eyes of the Lord." And when He, may His name be blessed, reveals Himself to one of these courts to judge one of the matters - such as the builders of the Tower [of Babel] at its time, it is stated, "The Lord came down to look, etc." However you should reflect that the comparison in these matters to that which is done in earthly kingdoms is only about the arrangements. But in the manner that the things are done, the comparison is untrue. For the physical [judges] act in accordance with what is applicable to them, in terms of what they grasp and in all their other qualities; whereas the spiritual [judges act] in accordance with what is applicable to them, in terms of what they grasp and their qualities.