Rabbi Levi said in the name of Rabbi Ḥama ben Rabbi Ḥanina: [They are called] statutes [ḥukim] because they are engraved [ḥakukim] [in order to defeat] the evil inclination. That is what is written: “Woe the engravers of evil inscriptions” (Isaiah 10:1). Rabbi Levi said: This is analogous to a place of desolation that is troubled by bands of robbers. What did the king do?
He deployed a royal garrison to protect it. So, the Holy One blessed be He said: ‘Torah is called stone and evil inclination is called stone.’ Torah is called stone, as it is stated: “I will give you the stone tablets and the Torah and the mitzva” (Exodus 24:12). The evil inclination is called stone, as it is written: “I will remove the heart of stone from your flesh” (Ezekiel 36:26). The Torah is stone, the evil inclination is stone; let the stone protect from the stone.