These are the laws that I have placed before them. (21:1)
Sefer Yismach Yisroel explains this pasuk by quoting the explanation of his father (Rav Yechiel of Alexander zy”a, on the Mishnah (Avos 4:8) that says: “Do not judge by yourself because there is only One who can judge by Himself.” He explains this in the name of the Ohr Hameir to mean that if someone judges his friend unfavorably and, therefore, takes revenge against him and to harm hims, he should realize that he is not only judging his friend, as he cannot know what type of offspring his friend will have. Perhaps he will have good children and by harming him, you are harming his children as well. Therefore, the only One who can judge people is Hashem, as He can see into the future and know what future generations will look like.
Therefore, before one decides that his friend deserves to be harmed, he must take into account that he will also be harming that man’s family members. This is in accordance with Rav Bunim of Peshischa’s explanation of the verse (Tehillim 19:10): “The judgments of Hashem are truth and righteousness together.” This means that Hashem does not judge a person until He determines that the punishment will be fair and righteous for that person’s family members as well.
Rav Yechiel uses this concept to explain the verse (1 Shmuel 14:45) that states: “And the nation redeemed Yonason and he did not die.” This means that the nation did not deserve the pain of having Yonason die. Therefore, in their merit, he was redeemed and allowed to live. This also explains the verse (Tehillim 55:19): “He redeemed my soul with peace from the battle that came upon me, because of the many people who were with me.” In the merit of the public, who did not deserve to be punished, one’s soul can be redeemed.
So too, the pasuk that starts this week’s Parshah is warning a judge to bear in mind that his judgment will affect the public. It says that the judgments are placed “before them”, meaning “before the public”, as they must be taken into consideration.
We can learn from his words that there is a great benefit to have many friends and loved ones. If one has many people who care about him, he can be saved from punishment, as they will be hurt if he is punished and they do not deserve to be punished.
