Where Zealousness Is Desired
6. It is possible to clarify the above by first explaining why Rambam cites the principle that the mitzvos were given so that “live by fulfilling them, and not die because of them” regarding the Shabbos laws, not as part of the general principle that pikuach nefesh overrides the Shabbos prohibitions, but rather in reference to the specific law that “it is forbidden to hesitate before transgressing the Shabbos [laws] on behalf of a person who is dangerously ill.”
On the surface, the source for this concept in the Talmud does not mention the prohibition against hesitating, but instead speaks about the general concept that a danger to life overrides the Shabbos prohibitions even when it is only questionable that one will, in fact, save a Jew’s life.
Commentaries explain that the source for the law stated by Rambam that it is forbidden to hesitate before violating a prohibition to save a life is a second Talmudic passage, “One who acts zealously is praiseworthy and one who poses questions [whether he may do so] is as if he shed blood.” However, Rambam does not use this or similar wording – in contrast to the Shulchan Aruch which does. (True, Rambam does use similar wording – “One who hurries to save [a person’s] life is praiseworthy” – but only later, in a separate halachah.) However, in this source, Rambam states the concept as a prohibition, “It is forbidden to hesitate.” Clarification is necessary why Rambam deviates from the wording used by the Talmud.
