"Execute judgment in the morning"

Synopsis

We learn that the laws were instituted after the Ten Utterances because the earth can survive only with law; consequently the world was created with law, and so it survives. Rabbi Aba talks about "execute judgment in the morning," saying that it means to judge before the judge has a chance to eat or drink, so he will render a truthful verdict. Rabbi Yehuda says that the institutions of the King are those mentioned in "who exercise faithful love, justice, and righteousness, in the earth."

Creation Earth Judgment Ten Torah

517. Rabbi Yosi said, why did the Holy One, blessed be He, see fit to place the chapters of laws, MEANING THE PORTION OF JUDGMENTS, after the Ten Utterances? HE ANSWERS, We have learned that from the aspect of Gvurah Torah was given to Yisrael. As a result, it is important to establish harmony among them, THROUGH LOWER AND JUDGMENT, in order that the Torah be the guardian from all sides. Rabbi Aba said on behalf of Rabbi Yitzchak, the earth can survive only with law; without law, the world cannot survive, so consequently the world was created with law and so it survives.

517. תָּאנָא, אָמַר ר' יוֹסִי, מַאי קָא חָמָא קוּדְשָׁא בְּרִיךְ הוּא, לְמֵיהַב דִּינִין לְיִשְׂרָאֵל, בָּתַר עֲשַׂר אֲמִירָן. אֶלָּא הָכִי תָּנֵינָן, מִסִּטְרָא דִּגְבוּרָה, אִתְיְיהִיבַת אוֹרַיְיתָא לְיִשְׂרָאֵל. בְּגִינֵי כַּךְ, בָּעָא לְמֵיתַן שְׁלָמָא בֵּינַיְיהוּ, בְּגִין דְּאוֹרַיְיתָא תְּהֵא נְטִירָא מִכָּל סִטְרוֹי. דְּאָמַר רַבִּי אַבָּא אָמַר רַבִּי יִצְחָק, לֵית עָלְמָא מִתְקַיְּימָא, אֶלָּא עַל דִּינָא, דְּאִלְמָלֵא דִּינָא, לָא מִתְקַיְּימָא. וּבג"כ עָלְמָא בְּדִינָא אִתְבְּרֵי, וְאִתְקַיַּים.

Blood Earth Food Jeremiah Judges Judgment Love Morning

518. Rabbi Aba taught, it is written, "Execute judgment in the morning" (Yirmeyah 21:12). HE ASKS, Why only in the morning and not all day? HE ANSWERS, "Morning" MEANS, to judge before the judges has a chance to eat or drink, for we know that one who judges after consuming food or drink does not render a truthful verdict, as it is written, "You shall not eat anything with the blood" (Vayikra 19:26). What is meant "with the blood?" It is a warning to judges that they not eat before judging, for one who judges a case after food and drink is considered to cause the loss of blood of the individual and to give it to another, as he is literally transferring blood to another, THROUGH THE MEANS OF FALSE JUDGMENT. If this holds true in monetary matters, then how much more so in capital matters. Judges must be careful to judge only before food or drink is consumed. So that is why it is written, "Execute judgment in the morning" and it writes "that I am Hashem who exercise faithful love, justice, and righteousness, in the earth: for in these things I delight, says Hashem" (Yirmeyah 9:23).

518. תָּאנָא, ר' אַבָּא, כְּתִיב דִּינוּ לַבֹּקֶר מִשְׁפָּט. וְכִי לַבֹּקֶר, וְלָאו בְּכָל יוֹמָא. אֶלָּא לַבֹּקֶר, עַד לָא יֵיכְלוּן דַּיָּינִין, וְלָא יִשְׁתּוּן, דְּכָל מַאן דְּדָאִין דִּינָא בָּתַר דְּאָכַל וְשָׁתָה, לָאו דִּינָא דִּקְשׁוֹט הוּא, דִּכְתִּיב לֹא תֹאכְלוּ עַל הַדָּם. מַאי עַל הַדָּם. אַזְהָרָה לְדַיָּינֵי, דְּלָא יֵיכְלוּן עַד דְּדַיְינֵי דִּינָא, דְּכָל מַאן דְּדָאִין דִּינָא בָּתַר דְּאָכִיל וְשָתֵי, כְּאִלּוּ חִיֵּיב דָּמָא דְּחַבְרֵיהּ לְאַחֲרָא, דְּהָא דָּמֵיהּ מַמָּשׁ יָהִיב לְאַחֲרָא. הַאי בְּמָמוֹנָא, כ"ש בְּדִינֵי נַפְשׁוֹת, דְּבָעוּ דַּיָּינֵי לְאִסְתַּמְּרָא, דְּלָא לְמֵידָן דִּינָא אֶלָּא קֹדֶם דְּאַכְלוּ וְשָׁתוּ, וְעַל דָּא כְּתִיב דִּינוּ לַבֹּקֶר מִשְׁפָּט וּכְתִיב, אֲנִי יְיָ' עוֹשֶׂה חֶסֶד וּמִשְׁפָּט וּצְדָקָה בָּאָרֶץ כִּי בְאֵלֶּה חָפַצְתִּי נְאֻם יְיָ.'

Earth Judgment Love Mercy Throne

519. Rabbi Yehuda said, He who falsifies judgment, is false to the institutions of the King. What are the institutions of the King? They are those of which we learned, "who exercise faithful love, justice, and righteousness, in the earth" and further "for in these things I delight, says Hashem." And all these, FAITHFUL LOVE, JUSTICE, AND RIGHTEOUSNESS, are intertwined. Rabbi Yosi said, these are the institutions of the throne, DENOTING MALCHUT, as it is written, "Righteousness and Justice are the foundation of Your throne" (Tehilim 89:15), and, "And in mercy a throne was established" (Yeshayah 16:5).

519. תַּנְיָא, אָמַר ר' יְהוּדָה, מַאן דִּמְשַׁקֵּר בְּדִינָא, מְשַׁקֵּר בְּתִקּוּנֵי מַלְכָּא. מַאן תִּקּוּנֵי מַלְכָּא. אִינּוּן דְּאִתְּמַר, דִּכְתִּיב עוֹשֶׂה חֶסֶד מִשְׁפָּט וּצְדָקָה בָּאָרֶץ. וּכְתִיב כִּי בְאֵלֶּה חָפַצְתִּי נְאֻם יְיָ.' וְכֹלָּא הַאי בְּהַאי תַּלְיָא. ר' יוֹסִי אָמַר, אִלֵּין אִינּוּן תִּקּוּנֵי כֻּרְסְיָיא, דִּכְתִּיב צֶדֶק וּמִשְׁפָּט מְכוֹן כִּסְאֶךָ. וּכְתִיב וְהוּכַן בַּחֶסֶד כִּסֵּא.