Sifra Bechukotai Section 1

¹1) (Vayikra 26:3) ("If in My statutes you walk, and My mitzvoth you keep to do them,") "If in My statutes you walk … (Vayikra 26:4) then I shall give your rains in their proper times, etc.": We are hereby taught that the Holy One Blessed be He yearns that Israel toil in Torah. And thus is it written (Tehillim 81:14-15) "Would that My people heeded Me, that Israel walked in My ways! In an instant I would humble their foes and against their oppressors turn My hand!" (Isaiah 18:19) "Would that you heeded My mitzvoth — then your peace would be like a river and your righteousness like the waves of the sea. And your seed would be like the sand and the issue of your loins like its innards. Its name would not be cut off and blotted out before Me!" And (Devarim 5:26) "Who would grant that this their heart would be in them to fear Me and to keep all My mitzvoth all the days, so that it be good for them and for their children forever" — whence we learn that the Holy One Blessed be He yearns that they toil in Torah. ²2) "If in My statutes you walk": I would think that these are the mitzvoth. But in "and My mitzvoth you keep, to do them," mitzvoth are already stated. How, then, am I to understand "If in My statutes you walk"? — that you toil in Torah. And thus is it written (Vayikra 26:14) "And if you do not hearken to Me." I might think that these (words) are (spoken of) the mitzvoth. But in (Vayikra 26:14) "and do not do all of these mitzvoth," mitzvoth are already stated. How, then, am I to understand "If you do not hearken to Me"? — to toil. ³3) Similarly, it is written (Shemoth 20:8) "Remember the day of Sabbath to sanctify it." I might think, ("remember") in your heart. But in (Devarim 5:12) "Observe (the Sabbath day to keep it holy") observance in the heart is already stated. How, then, am I to understand "Remember"? That you repeat it with your mouth. Similarly, (Devarim 9:7) "Remember, do not forget, your having angered the L–rd in the desert." I might think ("remember") in your heart. But in "do not forget," heart-forgetfulness is already stated. How, then, am I to understand "Remember"? That you repeat it with your mouth. Similarly, (Devarim 24:9) "Remember what the L–rd your G d did to Miriam." I might think, ("remember") in your heart. But in (Devarim 24:8) "Be heedful of the plague-spot of leprosy to heed it exceedingly and to do," heart-forgetfulness is already stated. How, then, am I to understand "Remember"? That you repeat it with your mouth. Similarly, (Devarim 25:17) "Remember what Amalek did to you." I might think, ("remember") in your heart. But in (Devarim 25:19) "Do not forget," heart-forgetfulness is already stated. How, then, am I to understand "Remember"? That you repeat it with your mouth. ⁴4) Similarly, (Vayikra 26:32) "And I will make desolate the land." I might think, ("desolate") of man. But in (Vayikra 26:31) "And I will lay waste your cities," man is already stated. How, then, am I to understand "And I will make desolate the land"? Of passersby. Similarly, "and I will make desolate your sanctuaries." I might think ("desolate") of offerings. But in (Vayikra 26:31) "and I will not smell your sweet savors," offerings are already stated. How, then, am I to understand "and I will make desolate your sanctuaries"? Of troops (of festival pilgrims). ⁵5) "If in My statutes you walk, and My mitzvoth you keep, to do them": (Scripture speaks of) one who learns in order to do, and not of one who learns in order not to do. For if one learns in order not to do, it is better had he not been created.