אַ֭שְׁרֵי שֹׁמְרֵ֣י מִשְׁפָּ֑ט עֹשֵׂ֖ה צְדָקָ֣ה בְכָל־עֵֽת׃
Mapapalad ang mga nag-iingat ng katarungan, ang gumagawa ng katuwiran sa lahat ng panahon.
Ein Yaakov (Glick Edition)
(Fol. 50) Happy are those that observe justice, that do charity at all times (Ps. 10, 3). Is it possible to do charity at all times? Our Rabbis of Jamnia, and according to others R. Eliezer, interpreted it: "This refers to one who supports his sons and daughters when they are minors." R. Samuel b. Nachmeni said: "This refers to one who raises an orphan boy and girl in his house and gives them in marriage." (Ib. 112, 3) Plenty of riches shall be in his house, and his righteousness shall endure forever. R. Huna and R. Chisda both explained this verse. One said: "This refers to one who studies the Torah and teaches it to others." The other, however, said: "This refers to one who writes the Pentateuch, the Prophets and the Hagiographa and lends them to others." (Ib. 128, 6) And see thy children's children; may there be peace upon Israel. R. Joshua b. Levi said: "If thy children have children, then there shall be peace upon Israel, for they will not have to resort to Chalitza or Yibum [which causes quarrels."] R. Samuel b. Nachmeni said: "Since there are children unto thy children, there will be peace upon Israel's judges, for there will be no cause for quarrels [as to who is the nearest heir."]
Esther Rabbah
“Happy are those who observe the law, who act with righteousness at all times” (Psalms 106:3). They were counted1They assembled to vote to decide matters of halakha. in the loft of Rabbi Tarfon and said: Who is the one who acts with righteousness at all times? If you say that these are scribes2Those who teach Bible. and Mishna teachers; do they not eat, drink, and sleep? Rather, are they writers of phylacteries and mezuzot; do they not eat, drink, and sleep? Rather, who is the one who acts with righteousness at all times? You must say: This one, who raises an orphan in his house.3This is an allusion to Mordekhai, who raised Esther after her parents died. Wouldn’t you say that he doesn’t turn over naked at night?4When the orphan who is sleepingturns over and is uncovered, he is not benefiting from the kindness of his foster parent. They said: We still need the moda’i [from Modi’in], as Rabbi Elazar HaModa’i came and taught: The Torah referred only to the slice of bread that he eats in his house.5Since the orphan is sustained by the food he eats in his foster parent’s house, righteousness is being done for him at all times.
Alternatively, “happy are those who observe the law” – that is Mordekhai; “who act with righteousness at all times” – because he raised an orphan girl in his house. David said before the Holy One blessed be He: Master of the universe: “Remember me, Lord, when You favor Your people” (Psalms 106:4) – when You bring salvation for Israel by means of Mordekhai and Esther, when Haman sought to destroy Israel and weighed out ten thousand silver talents by means of the king’s craftsmen, as it is written: “And ten thousand talents of silver…” (Esther 3:9). What is written there? “There was a Judean man in the Shushan citadel, and his name was Mordekhai…” (Esther 2:5).
Alternatively, “happy are those who observe the law” – that is Mordekhai; “who act with righteousness at all times” – because he raised an orphan girl in his house. David said before the Holy One blessed be He: Master of the universe: “Remember me, Lord, when You favor Your people” (Psalms 106:4) – when You bring salvation for Israel by means of Mordekhai and Esther, when Haman sought to destroy Israel and weighed out ten thousand silver talents by means of the king’s craftsmen, as it is written: “And ten thousand talents of silver…” (Esther 3:9). What is written there? “There was a Judean man in the Shushan citadel, and his name was Mordekhai…” (Esther 2:5).
Shemot Rabbah
Another matter, “these are the ordinances,” that is what is written: “For Solomon. Endow the king with Your justice, God…May he judge Your people with righteousness” (Psalms 72:1–2). Rabbi [Yehuda HaNasi] says: Just as the Holy One blessed be He cautioned regarding the commandments, so He cautioned regarding justice, upon which the world is contingent, as it is stated: “A king will uphold the land with justice” (Proverbs 29:4). And by its means, Zion will be rebuilt, as it is stated: “Zion will be redeemed with justice” (Isaiah 1:27). And by its means the righteous are uplifted, as it is stated: “Happy are those who heed the law” (Psalms 106:3).
You find that there are many ordinances regarding this matter. For the Holy One blessed be He said: “I am the Lord your God who took you out of the land of Egypt, the house of slavery” (Exodus 20:2). What does it say regarding the Hebrew slave? “If you purchase a Hebrew slave [he shall serve six years]” (Exodus 21:2). The Holy One blessed be He said: ‘Just as I created the world in six days and rested on the seventh, so he shall work with you for six years and emerge as a free man.’ What is written alongside it? “If he comes in by himself” (Exodus 21:3); if he entered alone he shall depart alone, if [he came in] with his wife, he shall depart with her. “If his master gives him a wife…” (Exodus 21:4). Israel enters this situation only if they transgressed the mitzvot, because Israel is as dear as the apple of the supernal eye, as it is stated: “As anyone who touches you, touches the apple of his eye” (Zechariah 2:12). It is the scribes and the Sages who instituted this safeguard.59The verse in Zechariah is stated by God, such that it should have said “anyone who touches you touches the apple of My eye,” but the scribes changed it to “his eye” in order to avoid the challenges that might be caused by the anthropomorphism. Alternatively, the scribes did not change the text but merely taught that the verse means to refer to God’s eye, as it were (see Maharzu; Etz Yosef; Matnot Kehuna to Bereishit Rabba 49:7).
It is analogous to a king who said to his son that he should work for so-and-so, who would not mistreat him.60The king sought to punish his son by having him work, but arranged for him to work for a master who would not mistreat him. He went and even though he worked without pay, [the master] did not refrain from mistreating him. When [the king] reconciled with his son, he decreed that those who had mistreated him would be put to death. So too, the Holy One blessed be He decreed that Israel would be enslaved in Egypt until He would be reconciled and return them. [The Egyptians] stood over them and enslaved them harshly, and not because [Israel] rebelled against them. Therefore God said of them: ‘They should have treated them like slaves and [Israel] would perform their needs until the decree was completed.’ But, “I was mildly enraged, but they contributed to the evil” (Zechariah 1:15).61The Egyptians treated the Israelites far more harshly than they should have.
Thus, after the commandments,62After the Ten Commandments, in which God mentioned that He took Israel out of slavery in Egypt (Exodus 20:2). the Holy One blessed be He cautioned them regarding the ordinances, that they should not violate them, as He would then do to them what He did to Egypt. That is why the prophet said to Israel: “Execute true justice, and…do not exploit the widow, the orphan, the stranger, and the poor” (Zechariah 7:9–10).
You find that there are many ordinances regarding this matter. For the Holy One blessed be He said: “I am the Lord your God who took you out of the land of Egypt, the house of slavery” (Exodus 20:2). What does it say regarding the Hebrew slave? “If you purchase a Hebrew slave [he shall serve six years]” (Exodus 21:2). The Holy One blessed be He said: ‘Just as I created the world in six days and rested on the seventh, so he shall work with you for six years and emerge as a free man.’ What is written alongside it? “If he comes in by himself” (Exodus 21:3); if he entered alone he shall depart alone, if [he came in] with his wife, he shall depart with her. “If his master gives him a wife…” (Exodus 21:4). Israel enters this situation only if they transgressed the mitzvot, because Israel is as dear as the apple of the supernal eye, as it is stated: “As anyone who touches you, touches the apple of his eye” (Zechariah 2:12). It is the scribes and the Sages who instituted this safeguard.59The verse in Zechariah is stated by God, such that it should have said “anyone who touches you touches the apple of My eye,” but the scribes changed it to “his eye” in order to avoid the challenges that might be caused by the anthropomorphism. Alternatively, the scribes did not change the text but merely taught that the verse means to refer to God’s eye, as it were (see Maharzu; Etz Yosef; Matnot Kehuna to Bereishit Rabba 49:7).
It is analogous to a king who said to his son that he should work for so-and-so, who would not mistreat him.60The king sought to punish his son by having him work, but arranged for him to work for a master who would not mistreat him. He went and even though he worked without pay, [the master] did not refrain from mistreating him. When [the king] reconciled with his son, he decreed that those who had mistreated him would be put to death. So too, the Holy One blessed be He decreed that Israel would be enslaved in Egypt until He would be reconciled and return them. [The Egyptians] stood over them and enslaved them harshly, and not because [Israel] rebelled against them. Therefore God said of them: ‘They should have treated them like slaves and [Israel] would perform their needs until the decree was completed.’ But, “I was mildly enraged, but they contributed to the evil” (Zechariah 1:15).61The Egyptians treated the Israelites far more harshly than they should have.
Thus, after the commandments,62After the Ten Commandments, in which God mentioned that He took Israel out of slavery in Egypt (Exodus 20:2). the Holy One blessed be He cautioned them regarding the ordinances, that they should not violate them, as He would then do to them what He did to Egypt. That is why the prophet said to Israel: “Execute true justice, and…do not exploit the widow, the orphan, the stranger, and the poor” (Zechariah 7:9–10).