Rabbi Aḥa ben Elyashiv said: Inscriptions [ḥukim] that bring a person to life in the World to Come. That is what is written: “It will be that he that is left in Zion and he that remains in Jerusalem shall be called holy, everyone that is written for life in Jerusalem” (Isaiah 4:3). This is one who engages in Torah, which is the tree of life, as it is stated: “It is a tree of life” (Proverbs 3:18).
It is taught in the name of Rabbi Elazar: The sword and the book were given intertwined from Heaven. The Holy One blessed be He said to them: ‘If you observe what is written in this book, you will be saved from the sword, and if not, ultimately, it will kill you.’ Where is there an indication of these matters? As it is stated: “He banished the man; [He stationed the cherubs east of the Garden of Eden, and the blade of the ever-turning sword], to guard the path of the tree of life” (Genesis 3:24).
“The path,” this is proper conduct, and then, “the tree of life,” this is Torah.7The ever-turning sword guards the path of the tree of life, indicating that whoever does not act in accordance with “the path of the tree of life” is subject to the sword. The code of conduct required at first was simply proper conduct, alluded to in the term “the path,” and after the giving of the Torah it was acting in accordance with the Torah, alluded to in the phrase “the tree of life.”
It is taught in the name of Rabbi Shimon ben Yoḥai: The loaf and the rod were given intertwined from Heaven. He said to them: ‘If you observe the Torah, here is a loaf to eat, and if not, here is a rod to be stricken with.’ Where is there an indication of this matter? “If you are willing and heed, you will eat the goodness of the land.
But if you refuse and are defiant, you will be devoured by the sword [ḥerev te’ukelu]” (Isaiah 1:19–20); you will eat carobs [ḥaruvin tokhelu].8The opposite of eating the goodness of the land is not being devoured by sword, but rather, famine. Therefore, it is expounded to mean that they would eat carobs, which were generally used as animal feed. Rabbi Aḥa said: When Israel needs the carob, they repent.
Rabbi Akiva said: Poverty is as becoming for the daughter of Jacob as a red strap on the head of a white horse.9Poverty is good for the Jewish people because it motivates them to repent.