“If fire shall go out and find thorns, and consume sheaves or standing grain, or the field, the one who lit the fire shall surely pay.” (Shemos 22:5)
Parshas Mishpatim, teaches many laws of damages between people and property. In this case, a fellow wanted to clear thorns and brush from his property, so he lit a fire. However, the fire got out of hand, ignited other thorns outside his property, and led to a destructive force that damaged another’s field. Because of this, he is liable.
The verse seems rather specific, though, in specifying that thorns were the catalysts for the fire. Why couldn’t the fire simply go out and “find” sheaves or grain? Why does the Torah postulate it was thorns which brought about the fire?
It’s possible to explain that though the person wasn’t derelict in lighting the fire close to another field or grain, he was cavalier about the presence of the thorns, which have little to no value, but are prime sources of kindling. He should have been more careful. Especially since dry thorns are quick to light, this should have been on his mind.
The Ohr HaChaim sees in this reference an allusion to the wicked people in the world, who are thorns in the sides of others, and their wickedness is inflammatory. We must awaken from our slumbers and see the dangers of these people, and avoid associating with them or getting caught up in their evil behavior. And this is not the first time thorns and fire are juxtaposed together.
At the beginning of Sefer Shmos, when Hashem appears to Moshe, it is in a burning thornbush. Some say it’s because it is low and Hashem is with Klal Yisrael in its suffering. However, the Kli Yakar there says this is a reference to the wicked amongst the Jews.
Why, he asks, do the Jews suffer more than any other nation? Because of the internal detractors among us who constantly snap and find fault with each other. The hatred and jealousy of our people against ourselves, finding fault with others and acting wickedly, is the reason for our long, bitter exile. The crackling of the thorns burning in a fire are reminiscent of the sharp reports and staccato sounds of Jews fighting with each other.
In this case, the fellow who lit a fire was unworried about the thorns around his property. He overlooked them and didn’t consider them important. In the end, he was able to see how much damage they did to the good crops, alluding to the righteous people and the prosperity of Klal Yisrael.
Therefore, the Torah specifies that the fire found thorns and lit the sheaves on fire, destroying the fertile field, to draw our attention to the potential dangers of infighting and discord. A fire that harms someone else can easily get out of hand, so we must be ever on our guard to eradicate the thorns and prevent those small but painful intrusions from creating larger problems.
R’ Levi Yitzchak of Berditchov was renowned for his love of his fellow Jews. Even when he found a seeming shortcoming, he used his love of others to find good in it, and often made his way into the hearts of even the worst of sinners.
Once, a man approached him and said, “It says in the Shema that if we don’t listen to G-d’s words and fulfill his mitzvos, He will be angry with us, withhold the rain and destroy us. I am a sinner with no regret, yet I am successful, wealthy, and happy!”
R’ Levi Yitzchak replied, “My child, the only way you could have known that is if you had read the Shema. I can tell you that the reward for reciting Shema even once is so great that not even all the wealth in the world could compensate for it.”
©2025 – J. Gewirtz
