Shoftim

The passuk states תמים תהיה עם ה’ אלוקיך. What does the wordתמים  mean? What lesson is the passuk teaching?

The Gemara brings Rabbah bar Bar Chana said: one cannot ask magicians or stargazers to tell you the future because it states תמים תהיה…. The Rashbam explains the passuk is teaching that a person needs to put his faith and trust in Hashem about all future occurrences. The Ramban adds that this is a miztvas aseh to dedicate our hearts to think and believe that Hashem is the one and only cause for what will be in the future and only He knows what indeed will happen. Even if one hears something said by a magician or stargazer it does not mean it will happen, because everything is from Shamayim. Hashem changes the settings and arrangements according to His will and it is dependent on our closeness to Hashem. The Ramban explains the word תמים means to be complete. This is as it statesשה תמים , a complete lamb without any blemish, and פרה אדומה תמימה, a complete red heifer. Onkelos translates תמים as שלים “be complete with the fear of Hashem” which is the mitzvah of being תמים with Hashem.

Rashi explains that the passuk means: go with Hashem בתמימות and anticipate what Hashem will cause to occur. Do not check into and question what the future will bring, rather whatever happens accept with תמימות, meaning without questioning. If you will do this, you will be with Hashem and be His portion. This is as the Sifrei brings תמים תהיה when you are תם, a simpleton, your portion is with Hashem. So too Dovid said ואני בתומי אלך פדני וחנני “and I went as a simpleton, without questioning, save me and favor me.” The Malbim explains that the Sifrei understands that the passuk is conditional, if you will be as a simpleton without questioning, then you will be with Hashem. According to the Sifrei the word תמים means a simpleton.

The Ramban counts תמים תהיה as one of the 613 mitzvos while the Rambam does not. The Ramban asks why the Rambam doesn’t count this as one of the mitzvos, and suggests that this is included in the general command of going in the ways of the Torah. The Malbim answers that the Rambam understood the passuk as the Sifrei, that it is not a command, but rather a condition. If you will be a תם, then you will be with Hashem.

May we always remember that Hashem is charge and the cause for all, and completely put our faith in Him to merit being with Hashem.