L’Tov Lanu
Moshe Rabbeinu uses his last words—eternalized by sefer Devarim—to encourage the Jewish people to continue following Hashem and observing His mitzvot after his death. In parshat Eikev, he minimizes Hashem’s asking of the Jewish people: “And now, what does Hashem ask from you? Merely to fear Hashem, your God,” (Devarim 10:12).
The Gemara (Brachot 33b) asks the obvious question: How could Moshe present fear of God as a small thing? People spend their whole lives trying to achieve it and still find it elusive.
We can add a second question: After mentioning yirat shamayim, Moshe lists many other requests: following Hashem’s path, loving Him, serving Him with all our heart and soul and observing His mitzvot and chukim. Even if fear of God was a small thing, how could Moshe present this entire list as a small ask?
To answer these questions, Tosafot (Daat Zekeinim, Devarim 10:12) and the Ramban (ibid.) focus on Moshe’s last two words. After listing Hashem’s requests, Moshe adds the words, “l’tov lach—for your own good.” Hashem indeed asks for many things, and a life committed to Torah and mitzvot is indeed rigorous and detailed, but all of it—including the seemingly mysterious chukim—has intrinsic value for us. We should not see His requests as burdensome because they are all for our sake.
Hashem made this point to Avraham Avinu when He gave him his first mitzvah—the mitzvah of brit milah. Hashem told Avraham that milah would make him “tamim—complete,” (Bereishit 17:1). Though the mitzvah required him to circumcise part of his body, the removal completed him.
Moshe Rabbeinu made the same point regarding all the mitzvot. Though we should observe mitzvot because Hashem commands us to, our fulfillment also benefits us. Mitzvah observance is not just a duty but a privilege. This is why Yirmiyahu HaNavi (2:19) describes the abandonment of avodat Hashem as “ra vamar—bad and bitter.” It is bad because it constitutes rebellion against Hashem; it is bitter because one forfeits the benefits intrinsic to mitzvah fulfillment.
He Knows What’s Best for Us
Though we fulfill mitzvot for Hashem’s sake, He does not need our fulfillment and it does not help or contribute to His existence in any way. The midrash (Bereishis Rabbah 44:1) gives the mitzvah of shechita (ritual slaughter) as an example of this idea. “Does Hashem care which side of the neck we slaughter? Does the shechita affect or assist Him? Clearly, the mitzvot are for our sake—to refine and purify us, not for Hashem’s benefit.”
Rabbi Chanaya ben Akashya famously makes this point regarding the multitude of mitzvot we are commanded to observe. Anticipating one viewing the long list of mitzvot as onerous, Rabbi Chananya explains that they are actually all gifts from Hashem. “Ratzah Hakadosh Baruch Hu l’zakot et Yisrael. Lefichach hirbah lahem Torah u’mitzvot,” (Makkot 23b). Hashem enlarged the amount of Torah and mitzvot in order to grant us more beneficial opportunities.
The Ramban understood the benefit of mitzvah fulfillment as the message of the famous pasuk that links life to mitzvah observance: “U’shmartem et chukotai … vachai bahem,” (Vayikra 18:5). Chazal derived the concept of pikuach nefesh from this pasuk: we do not sacrifice our lives to observe (most) mitzvot. The Ramban added a second lesson. Not only do mitzvot not supersede life, they also help us live life and build society properly.
The Ramban’s talmid—who authored the Sefer HaChinuch—builds on this idea and applies it to many mitzvot, which he explains are “for the good of Hashem’s creations.” Hashem created us and, therefore, cares about our welfare and knows what contributes to it. This is why He commanded us to recite brachot (which facilitate His blessings to us) (430) and confess sins (which helps us distance ourselves from them) (364), prohibited sacrificing kodshim outside of the Mikdash (which reinforces murderous tendencies) (186) and repeated important prohibitions (so we would know to be cautious about their fulfillment) (362).
Wise Advice
The Rambam also emphasizes the benefits mitzvot offer. Appreciative of their salubrity, the Rambam (Temurah 4:13) describes mitzvot as “advice” from the “great advisor” meant to help us improve ourselves. Though mitzvot are commandments incumbent upon us to observe, the Rambam portrays them as Hashem’s “advice” because the path they chart is also the best way to live.
Interestingly, the Rambam characterizes all mitzvot, even chukim (mitzvot whose reasons are unknown to us), as advice. One might have understood chukim differently. Though it is natural to see mishpatim (mitzvot whose reasons are known) as meant for our benefit, chukim could be seen as merely a way of showing our commitment to Hashem’s will. The Rambam felt otherwise. Though we do not know how or why Hashem mandated chukim, we believe they also benefit us.
This is why the Torah mentions “chukim” first in the (aforementioned) pasuk that characterizes mitzvot as facilitating life: “U’shmartem et chukotai vet mishpatai asher yaaseh otam haadam vachai bahem,” (Vayikra 18:5). We might have assumed that only “mishpatim” facilitate a better life. By putting “chukim” first, the pasuk emphasizes that “chukim” do so as well.
The Rambam (Moreh Nevuchim 3:31) proves this point from the Torah’s assertion that other nations will see our “chukim and mishpatim” as “wise,” “bright” and “just,” and, therefore, us Jews as a “wise and bright” people (Devarim 4:6–8). The pasuk mentions “chukim” specifically to teach us that they, too, have deep meaning and contribute to our growth.
In Pirkei Avot (2:1), Rebbe Yehudah HaNasi encourages us to consider the cost-benefit ratio of mitzvah fulfillment. Moshe Rabbeinu’s words add an essential dimension to this consideration: mitzvah observance offers not only heavenly rewards but also worldly benefits.
May appreciating this inspire us to passionately pursue mitzvot fulfillment.
Rav Reuven Taragin is the dean of overseas students at Yeshivat Hakotel and the educational director of World Mizrachi and the RZA. His new book, “Essentials of Judaism,” can be purchased at rabbireuventaragin.com.
