Pensamento Judaico sobre Êxodo 22:23

Consider what we said of the opinions [implied in the laws]; in some cases the law contains a truth which is itself the only object of that law, as e.g., the truth of the Unity, Eternity, and Incorporeality of God; in other cases, that truth is only the means of securing the removal of injustice, or the acquisition of good morals; such is the belief that God is angry with those who oppress their fellow-men, as it is said, “Mine anger will be kindled, and I will slay,” etc. (Exod. 22:23); or the belief that God hears the crying of the oppressed and vexed, to deliver them out of the hands of the oppressor and tyrant, as it is written, “And it shall come to pass, when he will cry unto me, that I will hear, for I am gracious” (Exod. 22:26).

The verb shama‘, used in reference to God, must be taken in the sense of perceiving, which is part of the third signification, whenever, according to the literal interpretation of the passage, it appears to have the first meaning: comp. “And the Lord heard it” (Num. 11:1); “For that He heareth your murmurings” (Exod. 16:7). In all such passages mental perception is meant. When, however, according to the literal interpretation the verb appears to have the second signification, it implies that God responded to the prayer of man and fulfilled his wish, or did not respond and did not fulfil his wish: “I will surely hear his cry” (Exod. 22:23); “I will hear, for I am gracious” (ib. 27); “Bow down thine ear, and hear” (2 Kings 19:16); “But the Lord would not hearken to your voice, nor give ear unto you” (Deut. 1:45); “Yea, when ye make many prayers, I will not hear” (Isa. 1:15); “For I will not hear thee” (Jer. 7:16). There are many instances in which shama‘ has this sense.