The Words of Torah as a Two-Edged Sword

Rabbi Avun opened: "Have I not written for you noble things in counsels and knowledge?" (Proverbs 22:20). Bar Hutta said: "in counsels and knowledge," threefold [shelishim], He tripled them. Rabbi Eleazar said: Let the words of Torah not be in your eyes like an old edict, but let them be in your eyes like a new edict that everyone runs to read, as it is written, "This day the LORD your God commands you to do" (Deuteronomy 26:16). Rabbi Samuel son of Nachman said: "noble ones [shelishim]" means mighty men, as it says, "and captains [shelishim] over all of it" (Exodus 14:7). Rabbi Samuel son of Nachman said: The words of Torah are compared to weapons. Just as this weapon endures for its owner, so the words of Torah endure for one who toils in them to their full measure. What is the reason? "The high praises of God are in their throat, and a two-edged sword in their hand" (Psalms 149:6). Rabbi Judah and Rabbi Nehemiah and the rabbis. Rabbi Judah said: "a two-edged sword [pifiyyot]" means "a mouth of mouths" [peh-piyyot], two Torahs, the Written Torah and the Oral Torah. And Rabbi Nehemiah said: "a sword of mouths" means a sword that eats from its two sides and grants life in this world and in the world to come. And the rabbis said: "For they were officers of the sanctuary and officers of God" (1 Chronicles 24:5), decreeing upon the upper beings and they do it, upon the lower beings and they do it. Rabbi Acha said: The words of Torah are mighty to exact punishment from one who does not toil in them to their full measure. Rabbi Avun said: The words of Torah are compared to spiced wine. Just as this spiced wine has in it wine, has in it honey, has in it pepper, so the words of Torah have in them wine, "for your love is better than wine" (Song of Songs 1:2); have in them honey, "and sweeter than honey" (Psalms 19:11); have in them pepper, "Your word is exceedingly pure" (Psalms 119:140).