Komentaryong Sumisipi para sa Mga Kawikaan 22:23

We find that this portion’s beginning, middle, and end are a warning about theft. Its beginning is When a person brings an offering, its middle is and he shall remove its crop with its feathers, because birds feed from theft, and its end is and he shall return the stolen item. This is because offerings and theft are two opposites, for offerings bring the Divine Presence closer while theft distances it, as it says Because of the plundering of the poor… ‘Now I will arise,’ says the Lord (Psalms 12:6). Furthermore, one who offers his animal is as if he has offered his own soul, because a person’s possessions are like his soul, as he brings his bread with his soul, and as it is written, For he is taking a soul as a pledge (Deuteronomy 24:6), and it is written And He will rob those who rob them of [their] soul (Proverbs 22:23). And part of the soul is like the whole. But how can one who offers a stolen animal, which he did not labor for and his hand did not work for, be a substitute for his soul?

This great people of Yours. Since they are many, they have many dealings, and they come to litigate and I have no time to deliberate over their arguments. Another interpretation of, “for who is able to judge this great people of Yours,” their legal decisions are very difficult [for me to make]. If a lawsuit comes before me between two non-Jews, and I take from one and give to the other unjustly, I will not be punished. But [if a lawsuit comes before me] between Jews [and I take from one and give to the other unjustly], I will be punished for it with capital punishment,¹⁹That is why Shlomo refers to the Bnei Yisroel as a “weighty [=כבד] nation.” as it is stated, “And He takes the lives of those that steal from them.”²⁰Mishlei 22:23.

לא אוכל לבדי וגו׳ I AM NOT ABLE [TO BEAR YOU] ALONE — Is it possible that Moses was not able to judge Israel? The man who brought them forth from Egypt, and divided the sea for them, and made the Manna fall, and collected the quails, was not he able to judge them?! But thus did he say unto them, ה' אלהיכם הרבה אתכם THE LORD YOUR GOD HATH MADE YOU GREAT (הרבה) — He has made you superior to and has placed you higher than your judges, inasmuch as He takes the punishment off you and places it upon your judges if they could have prevented your wrongdoing and did not do so. Solomon made a similar statement (namely that the Jewish judge may easily make himself liable to punishment): “For who is able to judge this thy grievous people?” (1 Kings 3:9). Is it possible that he of whom it is said, (1 Kings 5:11) “He was wiser than all men”, should say, "Who is able to judge”? But this did Solomon mean: The judges of this people are not like the judges of other peoples, for if one of the latter gives judgment and wrongly sentences a person to death by the sword, or to flagellation, or to strangulation, or wrests his justice and thus robs him of his due, it is regarded as of little importance (lit., there is nothing at all in that); I, however, if I unjustly sentence a person to pay even a sum of money, my life is required of me, as it is said, (Proverbs 22:23) “And He robs of their life those who rob them" (Sifrei Devarim 9:2; Sanhedrin 7a).

אני ה'‏‎‎‎‎‎ אלהיכם I AM THE LORD YOUR GOD — the Judge Who am certain to punish if necessary and Who for the neglect of these duties will exact from you nothing less than your souls, as it is said (Proverbs 22:22, 23) "Rob not the poor… for the Lord will plead their cause, [and spoil the soul of those that spoiled them]" (Sifra, Kedoshim, Chapter 3 7).