Another matter, “a flourishing olive tree,” see how words of Torah illuminate for a person when he engages in them, but anyone who does not engage and does not know, stumbles. This is analogous to one who is standing in the darkness; if he attempts to walk, he encounters a stone and stumbles over it, or he encounters a sewage pit, falls in, and bangs his face on the ground. Why? Because he does not have a lamp in his hand.
So too, a layman who does not have words of Torah which him encounters a transgression, stumbles, and dies, as the Divine Spirit cries out: “He will die for lack of admonishment” (Proverbs 5:23), and admonishment is nothing other than Torah, as it is stated: “Hold fast to admonition, do not let go; [safeguard it, as it is your life]” (Proverbs 4:13).4This is an allusion to Torah, which is also called “your life” (Deuteronomy 30:20 with Targum Yonatan).
Why does he die? Because he does not know Torah and he goes and sins, as it is stated: “The way of the wicked is like blackness; they do not know on what they stumble” (Proverbs 4:19). But those who engage in Torah, they illuminate everywhere. This is analogous to one who is standing in blackness with a lamp in his hand; he sees a stone and he does not stumble, he sees a sewage pit, but does not fall.
Why? Because he has a lamp in his hand, as it is stated: “Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light for my path” (Psalms 119:105). Likewise, “If you run, you will not stumble,” (Proverbs 4:12). Likewise, “The soul of man is the lamp of the Lord” (Proverbs 20:27).
The Holy One blessed be He said: ‘Let My lamp be in your hand and your lamp in My hand.’ What is the lamp of the Holy One blessed be He? It is the Torah, as it is stated: “For the mitzva is a lamp, the Torah is light” (Proverbs 6:23). What is “for the mitzva is a lamp”?
It is that anyone who fulfills a mitzva is as though he kindles a lamp before the Holy One blessed be He, and sustains his soul, which is called a lamp, as it is stated: “The soul of man is the lamp of the Lord.” What is “Torah is light”? Many times a person desires in his heart to fulfill a mitzva, and the evil inclination that is within him says: ‘What is in it for you to fulfill a mitzva and lose your property?
Instead of giving to others, give to your children.’ The good inclination says to him: ‘Give it for a mitzva.’ See what is written: “For the mitzva is a lamp” – just as this lamp, when it is kindled, even thousands upon thousands of wax and tallow candles are kindled from it, its light remains undiminished. So, anyone who gives for a mitzva does not lose his property. That is why it says: “For the mitzva is a lamp, the Torah is light.”