The Bird's Nest and the 613 Commandments in Tanchuma

"When you come upon a bird's nest [along the way…], you shall surely send away the mother" (Deuteronomy 22:6-7). This is what Scripture says: "More than all that you guard, keep your heart, [for from it flow the issues of life]" (Proverbs 4:23). Rabbi Abba said: There are two hundred and forty-eight positive commandments in the Torah, corresponding to the limbs that are in a person, for each and every limb cries out to the person and says, "Perform a commandment through me, that we may live by its merit and you may lengthen your days." And there are three hundred and sixty-five negative commandments, like the number of the days of the sun, for each day the sun rises until it sets, saying and crying out to the person, "I decree upon you, by the One who has brought your days to this day, do not commit this transgression through me, and do not tilt me and the whole world to the scale of guilt." Behold, there are six hundred and thirteen commandments. And with each and every commandment its reward is mentioned, such as honoring father and mother, and sending away from the nest—length of days. And there is a commandment whose reward is children, such as Sarah, who hosted the guests, and the Shunammite, who received Elisha. And there is a transgression that requires stoning, burning, slaying, and strangulation. And there is none lighter among all the commandments than sending away from the nest. And what is its reward? "That it may go well with you and you may lengthen your days." A parable: to what is the matter comparable? To a king who brought laborers into his field to plant it, and did not reveal to them the reward for their planting. In the evening, whoever planted one tree, he gave him one gold coin. They all began to wonder [and say], "If this one, who planted only a light and lowly tree, [received] one gold coin, we who have planted much—how much the more so!" And if the reward of sending away from the nest [is length of days], the reward of a commandment that involves loss of money and toil and the preserving of one's life—how much the more so! Therefore the Holy One, blessed be He, did not explain the reward of the commandments that are in the Torah, so that Israel would perform them of their own accord, in order to increase the reward, for thus we have learned: "Do not be like servants who serve the master [in order to receive a reward]." [Therefore it is written: "More than all that you guard, keep your heart, for from it flow the issues of life" (Proverbs 4:23).]