“And observe My commandments, and perform them” – Rabbi Ḥama ben Rabbi Ḥanina said: If you observe the Torah, I ascribe it to you as though you instituted them.10The phrase vaasitem otam, generally translated “and perform them,” can also be translated “you have instituted them.” God ascribes it to a person as though he was responsible for composing the Torah. “And perform them [otam]” – Rabbi Ḥanina bar Pappa said: He said to them: ‘If you observe the Torah, I ascribe it to you as though you made yourselves.’11Otam is written without a vav, and expounded as though it said atem, you.
“And perform them” – Rabbi Ḥiyya taught: One who studies in order to perform, not one who studies in order not to perform.12One who studies Torah in order to observe the mitzvot is included in the blessings stated in the verses that follow, but not one who studies with no intention of observing the mitzvot. One who studies not to perform, it would be preferable for him had he not been created. Rabbi Yoḥanan said: One who studies not to perform, it would be preferable had his afterbirth overturned onto his face and he did not emerge to the air of the world.
Rabbi Aḥa said: One who studies in order to perform merits to receive the Divine Spirit. What is the source? “So that you will take care to act in accordance with everything that is written in it, as then your way will prosper, and then you will succeed [taskil]” (Joshua 1:8). Taskil is nothing other than the Divine Spirit, just as it says: “Maskil by Eitan the Ezrahite” (Psalms 89:1).