That which the verse said: “Hear and listen, do not be haughty [tigbahu]…” (Jeremiah 13:15) – what is “hear and listen”? Rabbi Tanḥuma said: The Holy One blessed be He said: ‘Hear the words of the Torah and do not speak haughtily.’ “For the Lord has spoken” (Jeremiah 13:15) – where did He speak? “Anyone haughty of heart is an abomination to the Lord” (Proverbs 16:5).
Another matter, “hear” the words of the Torah and do not lift [tagbia] your ears to avoid hearing the Torah. “For the Lord has spoken” – where did He speak? “One who removes his ear from hearing Torah, even his prayer is an abomination” (Proverbs 28:9). Another matter, “hear” the words of the Torah, “listen” to the words of the Torah.
What is “do not be haughty [tigbahu]”? Do not cause goodness to be ascend [tigbehu] so that it does not come into the world.2Do not sin and thereby prevent goodness from coming to the world. “For the Lord has spoken” – where did He speak? “If you are willing and heed, the goodness of the land you will eat.
But if you refuse and are defiant, you will be devoured by the sword, as the mouth of the Lord has spoken” (Isaiah 1:19–20). What is, “if you are willing and heed…”? Rabbi Elazar said: The sword and the [Torah] scroll descended intertwined from Heaven. [God] said to them: ‘If you perform what is written in this scroll, you will be delivered from this sword. If you do not perform it, you will be killed with this sword.’
Another matter, “if you are willing and heed…” – Rabbi Levi said: To what is the matter comparable? To a slave whose master said to him: ‘Here is a gold chain, and if [you do] not [act in accordance with my will], here are iron shackles.’ So, the Holy One blessed be He said to Israel: ‘If you perform My will, here is goodness and blessing. If not, here is the curse. There are two paths before you: “See, I place before you today a blessing and a curse.”’