וְיָצָ֥א חֹ֖טֶר מִגֵּ֣זַע יִשָׁ֑י וְנֵ֖צֶר מִשָּׁרָשָׁ֥יו יִפְרֶֽה׃
און אַ ריטל װעט אַרױס פֿון דעם שטאַם פֿון יִשַי, און אַ צװײַג פֿון זײַנע װאָרצלען װעט שפּראָצן.
Rabbeinu Bahya
Solomon informed us in this verse that a righteous person and a wicked person are absolute opposites of one another. Whereas words spoken by the righteous reflect his wisdom, the words spoken by the wicked person reflect the opposite. This is what is meant by Psalms 1,3: “he is like the tree planted beside streams of water, which yields its fruit in season and whose foliage never fades;” the tree produces leaf and fruit. This is a natural phenomenon, a law of nature which became part of trees alluded to already on the third day of creation when G’d gave the directive to earth: תדשא הארץ, “the earth is to produce vegetation, etc.” The leaf itself performs a useful function in that it protects the fruit against heat by the shade it provides. Nonetheless, the fruit is what counts. Similarly, the righteous is the person, the fruit who counts, he too has “leaves,” similar to the leaves on the tree. His everyday conversation dealing with mundane matters are described as his leaves, whereas his words of Torah are described as his fruit. Just as the leaves on a tree perform an important function, so does even the mundane conversation of the righteous.
When our sages in Avodah Zarah 19 interpreted the words “and his leaves do not wither,” (Psalms 1,2) they said that it means that the casual conversations of the righteous are of similar value to the value of the leaves for the fruit of the tree, [for all the above reasons Solomon mentioned here that the mouth of the wise yields up wisdom]. The word ינוב is used in connection with agricultural produce such as in Isaiah 27,6 ומלאו פני תבל תנובה, “and the face of the world will be covered with fruit.” We also find that word in Lamentations 4,9 as referring to the produce of the field. This is also the subject under discussion in Isaiah 57,19 בורא ניב שפתים, “the One Who creates the fruit of the lips.” Speech may be perceived as the “fruit of the lips.” The righteous trains himself so carefully to utter only words of wisdom that wisdom becomes integral to his personality, he personifies it. It is similar to the fruit which represents the essence of the tree.
The words: “the tongue of the perverted shall be cut off,” describe the wicked person who is the opposite of the righteous, something which is discernible first and foremost in the way he uses his tongue. Seeing that this wicked person indulges in so much slander, libel, etc., Solomon curses him saying that his tongue ought to be cut off. It is the way of the Torah to attach blessings to the righteous and curses to the wicked. This is why we have the famous saying זכר צדיק לברכה ושם רשעים רקב, “the memory of the righteous is a source of blessing, whereas the name of the wicked will rot.” (Proverbs 10,7) It is well known that the virtue of humility is associated with wisdom, whereas arrogance is a characteristic of the wicked. Just as wisdom is “the fruit” of the righteous, so arrogance is “the fruit“ of the wicked. This is why Solomon says (Proverbs 14,3) “in the mouth of the fools is a rod (branch) of pride, but the lips of the wise protect them.” The source of arrogance is in the heart of the fool and its branch becomes manifest in his mouth. The prophet Isaiah 11,10 illustrated this when he spoke of חוטר describing it as a “branch,” i.e. “a branch comes forth from the trunk of Yishai.” Branches cannot grow unless there is a trunk to support them. There is no point in describing the emergence of such a branch unless it is going to bear fruit. The fruit of such branches of the foolish, the wicked, are words of arrogance, scorn. David paraphrases the same sentiment in Psalms 123,4 הלעג השאננים, הבוז לגאיונים, “the scorn of the complacent, the contempt of the haughty.” In other words, the fool gets so used to being arrogant that arrogance becomes second nature to him. Seeing that he “branch” of arrogance is so often in his mouth, it is a foregone conclusion that it will bear fruit, i.e. that he cannot restrain himself from saying things which reveal his arrogance to all his listeners. On the other hand, the wise are protected by their very lips against their mouths saying things they should not say.
Basically, the logic in all this is that the righteous is drawn to preoccupy himself with matters of the soul, matters which are of eternal value and meaning; the wicked, on the contrary, is preoccupied with transient values, matters which sooner or later cease to exist and have meaning. It is a well known fact that the very definition of the word “body” means that it is something “earthy,” will revert to dust, whereas the soul is something which came from heaven. As long as man is alive in this terrestrial life, he is drawn equally toward earth and heaven. He is drawn towards heaven due to his soul, and towards earthy matters due to his body. Therefore, when Moses cautioned the people to keep the Torah and its commandments, he used as witnesses heaven and earth, both of which are conceptually close to man. This is why he said:
When our sages in Avodah Zarah 19 interpreted the words “and his leaves do not wither,” (Psalms 1,2) they said that it means that the casual conversations of the righteous are of similar value to the value of the leaves for the fruit of the tree, [for all the above reasons Solomon mentioned here that the mouth of the wise yields up wisdom]. The word ינוב is used in connection with agricultural produce such as in Isaiah 27,6 ומלאו פני תבל תנובה, “and the face of the world will be covered with fruit.” We also find that word in Lamentations 4,9 as referring to the produce of the field. This is also the subject under discussion in Isaiah 57,19 בורא ניב שפתים, “the One Who creates the fruit of the lips.” Speech may be perceived as the “fruit of the lips.” The righteous trains himself so carefully to utter only words of wisdom that wisdom becomes integral to his personality, he personifies it. It is similar to the fruit which represents the essence of the tree.
The words: “the tongue of the perverted shall be cut off,” describe the wicked person who is the opposite of the righteous, something which is discernible first and foremost in the way he uses his tongue. Seeing that this wicked person indulges in so much slander, libel, etc., Solomon curses him saying that his tongue ought to be cut off. It is the way of the Torah to attach blessings to the righteous and curses to the wicked. This is why we have the famous saying זכר צדיק לברכה ושם רשעים רקב, “the memory of the righteous is a source of blessing, whereas the name of the wicked will rot.” (Proverbs 10,7) It is well known that the virtue of humility is associated with wisdom, whereas arrogance is a characteristic of the wicked. Just as wisdom is “the fruit” of the righteous, so arrogance is “the fruit“ of the wicked. This is why Solomon says (Proverbs 14,3) “in the mouth of the fools is a rod (branch) of pride, but the lips of the wise protect them.” The source of arrogance is in the heart of the fool and its branch becomes manifest in his mouth. The prophet Isaiah 11,10 illustrated this when he spoke of חוטר describing it as a “branch,” i.e. “a branch comes forth from the trunk of Yishai.” Branches cannot grow unless there is a trunk to support them. There is no point in describing the emergence of such a branch unless it is going to bear fruit. The fruit of such branches of the foolish, the wicked, are words of arrogance, scorn. David paraphrases the same sentiment in Psalms 123,4 הלעג השאננים, הבוז לגאיונים, “the scorn of the complacent, the contempt of the haughty.” In other words, the fool gets so used to being arrogant that arrogance becomes second nature to him. Seeing that he “branch” of arrogance is so often in his mouth, it is a foregone conclusion that it will bear fruit, i.e. that he cannot restrain himself from saying things which reveal his arrogance to all his listeners. On the other hand, the wise are protected by their very lips against their mouths saying things they should not say.
Basically, the logic in all this is that the righteous is drawn to preoccupy himself with matters of the soul, matters which are of eternal value and meaning; the wicked, on the contrary, is preoccupied with transient values, matters which sooner or later cease to exist and have meaning. It is a well known fact that the very definition of the word “body” means that it is something “earthy,” will revert to dust, whereas the soul is something which came from heaven. As long as man is alive in this terrestrial life, he is drawn equally toward earth and heaven. He is drawn towards heaven due to his soul, and towards earthy matters due to his body. Therefore, when Moses cautioned the people to keep the Torah and its commandments, he used as witnesses heaven and earth, both of which are conceptually close to man. This is why he said:
Rav Hirsch
Es ist nun, wie wir dies bereits in unserer Abhandlung über die שמונה עשרה (Jeschurun, XII. Jahrgang) entwickelt, von tiefster Bedeutung und zeichnet den ganzen Begriff der jüdischen Geschichte, daß קרן דרומית מזרחית, der südöstliche Winkel des Altars, keinen יסוד hatte. Nur die Nord- und die Westseite hatte eine vollständig ausgebaute Basis, auf der Ost- und Südseite war nur nordöstlich und westsüdlich mit einer Elle weit der Anfang eines יסוד gegeben. Der Altar, der seiner Anlage nach an der Basis ein Quadrat von zweiunddreißig Ellen Länge und ebensovieler Breite bildete, entbehrte auf einunddreißig Ellen an der Ostseite und ebensoviel auf der Südseite der Basis. Alles das, was wir aus Gottes Händen zu empfangen hatten, die הורה und die materielle Wohlfahrt durch ארץ ישראל, also West und Nord, war vollständig gegründet; allein zu dem, was aus dem von Gott Gegebenen durch unsere eigene Hingebung und Tätigkeit hervorgehen sollte: zu dem aus der תורה erblühenden Geistesleben und zu der nur auf die תורה gerichteten, nur sich für die תורה begreifenden Nation, Süd und Ost, war nur ein Anfang gemacht, und es wäre somit vielleicht nicht zu kühn zu sagen: der Mangel der südöstlichen Basis ist die beklagenswerte Ursache der ganzen bisherigen jüdischen Geschichte, sowie der Ausbau des südöstlichen Winkels das Ziel und die Hoffnung aller jüdischen Zukunft. Es gewinnt diese historische Anschauung noch an Bedeutung durch die Tatsache, daß Sebachim 53b dieser Mangel des südöstlichen Ausbaues der Altarbasis auf das Motiv zurückgeführt wird: לפי שלא היתה בחלקו של טורף weil der Boden, auf welchem diese unausgebaute südöstliche Basis hätte stehen müssen, nicht mehr zu Benjamins Anteil gehörte. Nach der Ansicht nämlich, nach welcher (Joma 12a und Megilla 29a) ירושלים נתחלקה לשבטים, auch das Terrain von Jerusalem zur Verteilung gekommen und nicht allgemeines Nationaleigentum geblieben, ging die Grenze von Benjamin und Juda gerade über den Tempelberg. Zu Judas Gebiet gehörte der ganze östliche Aufgang, die לשכות, die Seitenhallen, zu welchen auch die לשכת הגזית der Sitz des höchsten Gerichtshofes gehörte, und die drei Vorräume: עזרת ישראל ,עזרת נשים und עזרת כהנים bis zum Altar. Das Terrain des Altars aber und alles westwärts Liegende, somit der Altar und das ganze Heiligtum samt dem Allerheiligsten lag in Benjamins Anteil. מהרש׳׳א in ח׳׳א z. St. in Sebachim weist darauf hin, wie auch aus Richter 1, 8 u. 21 hervorgehe, daß beide, Juda und Benjamin, Anteil an Jerusalem gehabt haben müssen, und dies auch in der Gebietverteilung des Landes, Josua 15, 8 u. 18, 28, also erscheine. Auch in dem Segen Mosche folge Benjamin unmittelbar auf Juda und zwischen beiden Levi, als diejenigen, die an dem anderseitigen Gebiete beteiligt waren. Juda wurde die Staatsmacht (Dewarim 33, 7) überwiesen, Benjamin (daselbst V. 12) die schützende Gottesnähe, die Schechina, Lewi nahm (V. 10) an beidem Anteil: durch יורו משפטיך ליעקב וגו׳ an dem zu Juda gehörenden Sanhedrin, und durch ישימו קטרה וגו׳ an dem in Benjamins Anteil fallenden Altarheiligtum. Nicht auf dem Gebiete des löwenmutigen Herrscherstammes, auf dem Gebiete des kleinsten, schwächsten Stammes stand dieser Überlieferung zufolge das Nationalheiligtum, und, soweit die Basis auf das Gebiet des königlichen Juda streifte, blieb sie unausgebaut und sprach somit die bedeutungsschwere, von der ganzen jüdischen Geschichte bestätigte und ihr Ziel erschließende Wahrheit aus: es soll allerdings in Israel die höchste staatliche Macht sich mit dem Geiste des Gesetzes durchdringen und, von diesem Geiste getragen, sich nur als Mittel zur Richtung der Nation auf Gottes Gesetz begreifen, es soll auf ihr die südliche und östliche Basis des Altars ruhen. Allein diese Vereinigung der Macht mit dem Geiste gehört der Zukunft an. Erst der einstige Sproß aus dem Stamme Juda wird die höchste Macht mit dem höchsten Geist vereinen, ja, eben der Geist wird ihm die Macht verleihen (Jesaias 11, 1 f.), erst er wird (Secharja 6, 13) "Priester auf dem Königsthron" sein. Im Laufe der ganzen jüdischen Geschichte hat sich nur selten die Königsmacht priesterlich begriffen und bewährt, hat der Gesetzesgeist und die Gesetzesnation nicht ihre Basis auf dem Grund des Königtums gefunden, blieb der auf Judas Gebiet streifende Grund der südlichen und östlichen Altarbasis unausgebaut —.
Ramban
And abounding in goodness and truth; keeping mercy upon the thousandth generation — these three denote the attribute of mercy, since He increases the goodness over His strength and might and the truth in His mercies. And ‘notzeir’ (keeping) mercy unto the thousandth generation, for He hath remembered His mercy and His faithfulness toward the house of Israel.508Psalms 98:3. Or it may be that the word notzeir means “sprouting,” of the root, ‘v’neitzer’ (and a twig) shall grow forth out of his roots.509Isaiah 11:1. And in His goodness He is ‘nosei’ (forgiving) iniquity and transgression and sin. This is of the expression, I have made, and I ‘esa’ (will bear).510Isaiah 46:4.
The two phrases, and that will by no means clear the guilty, and visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children, are an explanation to the one of forgiving iniquity [mentioned before]. It is called an “attribute”511Thus it is now clear that Ramban counts the thirteen attributes as follows: 1. The Eternal. 2. The Eternal. 3. G-d. 4. Merciful. 5. Gracious 6. Long-suffering. 7.-8. Abounding in goodness and truth. 9. Keeping mercy unto the thousandth generation. 10.-11.-12. Forgiving iniquity, transgression and sin. 13. That will by no means clear the guilty, visiting the iniquity etc. — See Tosafoth Rosh Hashanah 17 b that such is also the opinion of Rabbeinu Tam. Ibn Ezra likewise follows generally this interpretation. because He clears the sinner by this visitation. And because this act of forgiving is not equal for iniquity, transgression and sin, but instead in each category has its own form of clearing the sinner, it is called in each case “one attribute.”512“And the expressions, and that will by no means clear the guilty; visiting the iniquity of the fathers etc., also constitute an independent attribute, for the ‘clearing’ done in this form of forgiving is by visitation, it being another way of forgiveness of sin, that He will not forgive it outright, but visit it upon the generations etc.” (Abusaula).
The two phrases, and that will by no means clear the guilty, and visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children, are an explanation to the one of forgiving iniquity [mentioned before]. It is called an “attribute”511Thus it is now clear that Ramban counts the thirteen attributes as follows: 1. The Eternal. 2. The Eternal. 3. G-d. 4. Merciful. 5. Gracious 6. Long-suffering. 7.-8. Abounding in goodness and truth. 9. Keeping mercy unto the thousandth generation. 10.-11.-12. Forgiving iniquity, transgression and sin. 13. That will by no means clear the guilty, visiting the iniquity etc. — See Tosafoth Rosh Hashanah 17 b that such is also the opinion of Rabbeinu Tam. Ibn Ezra likewise follows generally this interpretation. because He clears the sinner by this visitation. And because this act of forgiving is not equal for iniquity, transgression and sin, but instead in each category has its own form of clearing the sinner, it is called in each case “one attribute.”512“And the expressions, and that will by no means clear the guilty; visiting the iniquity of the fathers etc., also constitute an independent attribute, for the ‘clearing’ done in this form of forgiving is by visitation, it being another way of forgiveness of sin, that He will not forgive it outright, but visit it upon the generations etc.” (Abusaula).