ייִדישער מחשבֿה אויף שמות 22:26

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.

And in order to exalt even more the virtue of compassion, the Torah attributes this trait to the Blessed one, saying (Shemoth 22:26) "for I am compassionate", (Ibid. 34:6) "The L-rd, the L-rd, a G-d merciful and kind", (Devarim 10:18) "He upholds the cause of orphans and the widow", and many others in the same vein.

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).