Pensamento Judaico sobre Levítico 26:14

In reality, the undoubted truth of the matter is that man has full sway over all his actions. If he wishes to do a thing, he does it; if he does not wish to do it, he need not, without any external compulsion controlling him. Therefore, God very properly commanded man, saying, "See I have set before thee this day life and the good, death and evil .... therefore choose thou life",⁶Deut. XXX, 15. 19. Cf. H. Teshubah, V, 3. giving us, as regards these, freedom of choice. Consequently, punishment is inflicted upon those who disobey, and reward granted to the obedient, as it is said, "If thou wilt hearken", and "If thou wilt not hearken".⁷Deut. XI, 27. 28. Learning and teaching are also necessary, according to the commands, "Ye shall teach them to your children",⁸Ibid., XI, 19. "and ye shall do them and observe to do them",⁹Ibid., V, 1. and, similarly, all the other passages referring to the study of the commandments. It is also necessary to take all the precautionary measures laid down in the Law, such as, "Thou shalt make a battlement for thy roof; that thou bring not blood upon thy house",¹⁰Ibid., XXII, 8. "lest he die in the battle",¹¹Ibid XX, 5 or 7. "wherein shall he sleep?"¹²Ex. XXII, 26. , and "no man shall take to pledge the nether or the upper millstone",¹³Deut. XXIV, 6. and many other passages in regard to precautions found in the Law and the Prophets.¹⁴See H. Teshubah, V, 4, and Moreh, III, 20; cf. Ibn Baud, Emunah Ramah, II, 6, 2, p. 96.