Tanach · Rishonim on Tanach · Sforno · Torah
Sforno on Leviticus 26:3/ספורנו על ויקרא כ״ו:ג׳
אאִם בְּחֻקֹּתַי תֵּלֵכוּ. חֻקּוֹת הֵם גְּזֵרוֹת מֶלֶךְ שֶׁיִּנְהַג הָאָדָם בָּהֶם בְּהִשְׁתַּדְּלוּת עִסְקֵי חַיָּיו, וְהַהִתְנַהֵג בָּהֶם יִקָּרֵא הֲלִיכָה, כַּאֲמָרוֹ ״וּבְחֻקֹּתֵיהֶם לֹא תֵלֵכוּ״ (ויקרא יח:ג), וְכֵן ״וְאֶת חֻקֹּתַי תִּשְׁמְרוּ לָלֶכֶת בָּהֶם״ (ויקרא יח:ד), וְכֵן ״בְּחֻקֹּת הַחַיִּים הָלָךְ״ (יחזקאל לג:טו).
1אם בחקותי תלכו, chukkot are like Royal decrees, something person has to be guided by if he expects his endeavours in life to prosper. The Hebrew expression describing the fact that one abides by them is called הליכה, “walking.” We have encountered this expression in connection with these חקים already in Leviticus 18,3, as well as in 18,4. We also find the term in the Books of Prophets, for instance in Ezekiel 33,15 בחקת החיים הלך, “he followed the laws of life.” ואת מצותי תשמורו; the term שמירה in connection with G’d’s commandments, [something intangible, so that the word “guarding” seems at first glance somewhat incongruous, Ed.] is the meticulous observance of them, i.e. performance in accordance with what they represent. It means that they cannot just be performed by rote but must be performed consciously as such. This has been spelled out by Sifri, Parshat Re-ay where the wording is: “שמור =study.” The thrust of our verse then is as follows: “if you will conduct yourselves in accordance with the practical part of My Torah, i.e. the performance of commandments requiring deeds, and you will study these laws in order to understand their purpose and in order to give meaning to your performance of these laws, you will accomplish that you will deserve the description of being a creature which reflects “His image.”
בוְאֶת מִצְוֺתַי תִּשְׁמְרוּ. הִנֵּה הַשְּׁמִירָה בְּמִצְוֺת הִיא הַהַשְׁגָּחָה בְּאֹפֶן עֲשִׂיָּתָם וּבִמְכֻוָּן מֵהֶם, וְזֶה בְּעִיּוּן נָאוֹת, כְּאָמְרָם זִכְרוֹנָם לִבְרָכָה ״שָׁמוֹר זוֹ מִשְׁנָה״. אָמַר אִם כֵּן, אִם תִּתְנַהֲגוּ בְּדַרְכֵי הָאֵל יִתְבָּרַךְ הַנִּכְלָלִים בַּחֵלֶק הַמַּעֲשִׂי בְּתוֹרָתוֹ, וּתְעַיְּנוּ בַּמִּצְוֺת לָדַעַת אֹפֶן עֲשִׂיָּתָן וְתַכְלִיתָן, וּבָזֶה תַּשְׁלִימוּ כַּוָּנָתוֹ לִהְיוֹתְכֶם בְּצַלְמוֹ כִּדְמוּתוֹ.
2ועשיתם אותם, if you will carry them out in the above-mentioned manner, not as servants who are afraid of incurring the wrath of their masters, this will be the “finishing touch” of your establishing a total claim to the land of your inheritance. You would demonstrate that you perform His will as if it were your own will. (Avot 2,4)
גוַעֲשִׂיתֶם אוֹתָם. וְאָז יִהְיֶה לָכֶם זֶה הַשְּׁלֵמוּת בַּקִּנְיָן בְּאֹפֶן שֶׁתַּעֲשׂוּ אוֹתָם כְּמוֹ פוֹעֲלִים הַטּוֹב בִּרְצוֹן נַפְשְׁכֶם, לֹא כִּמְצֻוִּים וְעוֹשִׂים מִיִּרְאָה, אֲשֶׁר בָּזֶה יִהְיֶה הָעוֹשֶׂה מִתְפַּעֵל בְּצַד מָה, אֲבָל תַּעֲשׂוּ מֵאַהֲבָה חֲפֵצִים בִּרְצוֹן הָאֵל יִתְבָּרַךְ, כְּאָמְרָם (אבות) עֲשֵׂה רְצוֹנוֹ כִּרְצוֹנְךָ.