Tanach · Rishonim on Tanach · Ramban · Torah
Ramban on Exodus 20:23/רמב"ן על שמות כ׳:כ״ג
אוְלֹא תַעֲלֶה בְמַעֲלֹת עַל מִזְבְּחִי בַּעֲבוּר כִּי הִתְחִיל לְצַוּוֹת בַּמִּזְבֵּחַ הִשְׁלִים מִצְוָתוֹ, וְלֹא אִחֵר זֶה עַד צַוּוֹתוֹ בְּדִבְרֵי הַקָּרְבָּנוֹת בְּתוֹרַת כֹּהֲנִים, וְזוֹ רְאָיָה לְדִבְרֵי חֲכָמִים וְאֵין צְרִיכִין חִזּוּק. וְטַעַם הַמַּעֲלוֹת, יִרְאַת הַמִּזְבֵּחַ וְהִדּוּרוֹ לִכְבוֹד הַשֵּׁם. וּלְמִצְוֹת הַשֵּׁם טְעָמִים רַבִּים בְּכָל אַחַת, כִּי יֵשׁ בְּכָל אַחַת תּוֹעָלוֹת רַבּוֹת לַגּוּף וְלַנֶּפֶשׁ:
1NEITHER SHALT THOU GO UP BY STEPS UNTO MINE ALTAR. Because He began the commandment of the altar, He therefore completed it and did not postpone it until He would command about the subject of the sacrifices in Torath Kohanim590 This is proof to the words of the Sages,591 which are not really in need of defense.The reason for [the prohibition against ascending the altar with] steps is that the fear of the altar and its enhancement is for the glory of G-d. Each of G-d’s commandments has many reasons, there being many benefits in each for body and soul.Mishpatim