What the Single Word Command Teaches the Generations

"And you shall command." We have learned that the command takes effect at once, at the time of the deed. From where do we know it applies for all generations? Scripture teaches, saying (Leviticus 24:2-3), "Command the children of Israel that they bring to you pure olive oil... outside the veil of the testimony." From this we have learned that the command applies both at once and for the generations. From this command we may derive a rule for all the commands in the Torah. Rabbi Yishmael used to say, "Since the commands were stated in the Torah without specification, and Scripture spelled out for you in one of them that it applies not only at once at the time of the deed but also for the generations, so too I spell out for all the commands in the Torah that they apply both at the time of the deed and for the generations." Rabbi Yehuda ben Beteira says, "The word 'command' everywhere means only urging on, as it is said, 'And command Joshua and strengthen him,' and so forth." According to our method we have learned that one strengthens only those already strong and urges on only those already eager. Rabbi Shimon ben Yochai says, "The word 'command' everywhere means only loss of purse [a matter that costs money], as it is said (Leviticus 24:2), 'Command the children of Israel that they bring to you pure olive oil,' 'Command the children of Israel that they send out from the camp,' (Numbers 35:2) 'Command the children of Israel that they give to the Levites,' (Numbers 28:2) 'Command the children of Israel: my offering, my food.' Thus the word 'command' everywhere means only loss of purse, except for one, 'When you come into the land,' which is to urge them on regarding the division of the land." Rabbi [Yehuda the Prince] says, "The word 'command' everywhere means only a warning, as it is said, 'And the LORD God commanded the man... and from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil you shall not eat.'"