16. "When a man or a woman shall commit any sin that men commit..." (Bemidbar 5:6). Come and see that it is written: "Now Heber the Kenite, who was of the children of Hobab the father-in-law of Moses" (Shoftim 4:11). Heber the Kenite was from the great-grandchildren of Jethro, as it says, "And Saul said to the Kenite..." (I Shmuel 15:6). We have already explained why he was called Kenite. Another verse says, "The Kenite and the Kenizzites" (Beresheet 15:19). We learned that he made a nest (Heb. ken) in the desert like a bird to study the Torah. He left the city, took leave of Cain and split away from that nation, MEANING FROM THE MIDIANITES to whom he originally belonged. Then he adhered to the Holy One, blessed be He, AND THEREFORE, he separated from Cain.
17. Happy is the person who merits the Torah, to follow and adhere to his ways. When a person follows the ways of the Torah, he draws upon himself a holy supernal spirit, as it says: "Until a spirit be poured upon us from on high" (Yeshayah 32:15). When a person diverts his ways FROM THE TORAH he draws upon himself a spirit from the Other Side, which is the unclean side. That defiled side awakens from the side of the hole of the great abyss, wherein lie the wicked spirits that harm people and are called the world's destroyers that originate in Cain.
18. Jethro was originally a priest to idols and he served that side. He drew upon himself a spirit of that side. Therefore he was also called the Kenite later, since he separated from Cain and adhered to the Holy One, blessed be He. Whoever bonds to the Holy One, blessed be He, and performs the commandments of the Torah, it is as if he upholds the worlds, the world above and the world below. This was already explained, as it is written: "And do them" (Vayikra 26:3).
19. Anyone who transgresses the commandments of the Torah, he, as it were, makes a flaw above and impairs below, becomes flawed and impairs all worlds. This is similar to the seafarers on a ship, when a fool among them stands up and wishes to punch a hole IN THE BOAT. HIS NEIGHBOR ASKS HIM: WHY ARE YOU DRILLING AND HE ANSWERS: WHY ARE YOU CONCERNED, I AM DRILLING ONLY UNDER MY OWN SPOT. HE REPLIES: BECAUSE WE'LL BOTH DROWN IN THE BOAT TOGETHER.
20. Therefore, "when a man or a woman shall commit...that man (Heb. adam)..." is REFERRING TO ADAM, AS IT IS WRITTEN: "But they like Adam have transgressed the covenant" (Hoshea 6:7). Adam transgressed one command in the Torah, and he caused death to himself and he caused to the whole world a blemish above and a blemish below. That sin is still impending until the Holy One, blessed be He, will restore the world to its original state, when that flaw will disappear from the world. It is written: "He will destroy death forever; and Hashem Elohim will wipe away tears from all faces..." (Yeshayah 25:8). Therefore, IT IS WRITTEN HERE: "Shall commit any sin that Adam commit," with "Adam" REFERRING TO the first man.
21. "To do trespass against Hashem" (Bemidbar 5:6), because whoever abandons Mercy and draws on Judgment causes a flaw. Therefore, the Merciful One should redeem us from the wicked of this world and from their damage, as many righteous pass away because of them, on top of what they caused to happen above and below.