Rabbi Simlai Reduces the 613 Commandments Down to One

Another interpretation of (Psalms 97:7): "Bow down to Him, all you gods." The nations of the world say to their gods: Come, let us bow down before the Holy One, blessed be He, for you have led us astray. Immediately (Isaiah 2:18), "And the idols shall utterly pass away." And the Holy One, blessed be He, brings the nations of the world down to Gehinnom. Therefore it is said (Psalms 97:7), "Let all who serve images be put to shame," and so forth. (Zechariah 13:8) "And it shall come to pass throughout all the land, says the LORD, that two parts in it shall be cut off and perish, but the third shall remain in it." These are Israel, who are a third of the world, the children of three patriarchs. Another interpretation of "but the third shall remain in it": that they will only settle in their land in the third redemption. The first redemption is the redemption from Egypt; the second is the redemption of Ezra; the third has no interruption. Rabbi Simlai said: Six hundred and thirteen commandments were spoken to Moses at Sinai. David came and established them upon eleven, as it is said (Psalms 15:1-2), "LORD, who shall sojourn in Your tent?... He who walks blamelessly," and so forth, until (Psalms 15:5), "He who does these things shall never be moved." Isaiah came and established them upon six, as it is said (Isaiah 33:15), "He who walks in righteousness, and speaks uprightly, who despises the gain of oppressions, who shakes his hands free from holding a bribe, [who stops his ears from hearing of bloodshed,] who shuts his eyes from looking upon evil." And it is written after it (Isaiah 33:16), "He shall dwell on the heights; the strongholds of the rocks shall be his refuge; his bread shall be given him, his water shall be sure." Micah came and established them upon three, as it is said (Micah 6:8), "He has told you, O man, what is good, and what the LORD requires of you: only to do justice, and to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God." Amos came and established them upon two, as it is said (Amos 5:4), "For thus says the LORD... Seek Me and live." Habakkuk came and established them upon one, as it is said (Habakkuk 2:4), "But the righteous shall live by his faithfulness."