mezuzot; stones

In consequence [of what is related in the Scriptures], you must conclude that there were three sets of stones: one which Moses caused to be erected in the land of Moab, as it is said: "Beyond Jordan, in the land of Moab, began Moses to declare etc.," and elsewhere it states: "Thou shalt write upon the stones all the words of this law very plainly." And the inference is drawn from the use of the analogous word. The second set was that which Joshua caused to be erected in the midst of the Jordan, as it is said: "And Joshua set up twelve stones in the midst of Jordan." The third set was that which he caused to be erected in Gilgal, as it is said: "And those twelve stones which they took."

Our Rabbis taught: How did the Israelites inscribe the Torah? — R. Judah says: They inscribed it upon the stones, as it is stated: 'Thou shalt write upon the stones all the words of this law etc.' After that they plastered them over with plaster. R. Simeon said to him, According to your explanation, how did the nations of that period learn the Torah! He replied to him, The Holy One, blessed be He, endowed them with exceptional intelligence; and they sent their scribes who peeled off the plaster and carried away [a copy of the inscription]. On that account was the verdict sealed against them [to descend] to the pit of destruction, because it was their duty to learn [Torah] but they failed to do so. R. Simeon says: They inscribed it upon the plaster and wrote below, "That they teach you not to do after all [their abominations]." Hence you learn that if they turn in penitence they would be accepted.

The stones corresponded [in number] to the names of the sons of Israel: twelve, corresponding to their names; engraved like seals, each with its name, for the twelve tribes.

"and you shall not go out, a man from the door of his house: We are hereby taught that once permission has been given to "the destroyer" to destroy, he does not distinguish between the righteous and the wicked. As it is written (Isaiah 26:20) "Go, My people, enter your chambers and close your door behind you. Hide but a little moment, until the wrath passes," and (Ezekiel 21:8) "Behold, I am (coming) upon you, and I will draw My sword from its sheath, and I will cut of from you (both) righteous and wicked." And it is written (Exodus 33:22) "And it shall be, when My glory passes by … and I shall cover you with My palm until I have passed." Variantly: (Exodus 12:22) "And you, do not go out, a man from the door of his house until morning" — to teach you that when you take to the road, enter (the house) in "ki tov" (i.e., in the morning) and leave in "ki tov" (from Genesis 1:4 "And G d saw the light ki tov" ("that it was good"). And thus do you find with the forefathers, that they deported themselves with circumspection (in this regard), viz.: (Genesis 22:3) "And Abraham arose early in the morning," (Ibid. 28:18) "And Jacob arose early in the morning," (Exodus 34:4) "And Moses arose early in the morning," (I Samuel 15:12) "And Samuel arose early in the morning to meet Saul." Now does this not follow a fortiori, viz.: If the fathers and the prophets, who were on the way to do the will of Him who spoke and brought the world into being, conducted themselves with such circumspection, how much more so (should) others (do so)! And thus is it written (of this natural order) ((Psalms 104:20-21) "You bring on darkness and it becomes night. In it stir all the beasts of the forest. The lions roar for prey, etc." (28) "You give it (food) to them and they gather it in, etc." — (22) "When the sun rises, they return" (to their lairs) — after which (23) "Man goes out to his work, to his labor, until the evening." (Exodus 12:23) "And the L rd will pass through to smite Egypt": as a king, who passes from place to place. "and he will see the blood": (see above on 12:13). "and the L rd will skip over the blood": Now does this not follow a fortiori, viz.: If of the blood (on the door) of the Pesach of Egypt, the less "formidable," which obtains only for a circumscribed time, and which did not obtain (both) in the daytime and at night, (but only at night), and which does not obtain for future generations, it is written (Ibid.) "and He will not permit the destroyer, etc.", then (the mitzvah of) mezuzah, the more formidable, containing (in Scripture) ten citations (of the name of the L rd), and which obtains (both) in the daytime and at night, and which obtains for all generations, how much more so should He not permit the destroyer, etc."! But why is this not the case? Our sins have prevented it. As it is written (Isaiah 59:2) "But your transgressions have separated between you and your G d, and your sins have hidden His face from you against hearing."