<b>And they went three days in the wilderness, and found no water (Exod. 15:22).</b> Some say that the water they had taken with them, from between the rocks, was exhausted by that time. Why does the Scripture say <i>and found no water</i>? Because there was no water even in their water containers, as is said in the verse: <i>And the nobles send their lads for water; they come to the pits, and find no water; they are ashamed and confounded, and cover their heads</i> (Jer. 14:3). Those who interpret the words of the Torah metaphorically hold that they had abstained from studying the Torah, which is compared to water, as it is written: <i>Ho, everyone that thirsteth, come ye for water</i> (Isa. 55:1).

Because they were without water for <i>three days</i>, the prophets and the elders ordained that the Torah was to be read on three days each week. It is read on the Sabbath, but not on the day following; it is read on the second day of the week, but not on the third and fourth days; and it is read on the fifth day, but not on the sixth day. Hence, three successive days do not pass without the reading of the Torah.

<i>And He said: “If thou wilt diligently hearken to the voice of the Lord thy God”</i> (Exod. 15:26). Because of this verse they said: The man who hearkens to God’s word in time will hearken at other times as well, but if he ignores it at one time, he will do likewise at other times. Scripture teaches this in the verses <i>And it shall come to pass, if ye diligently hearken</i> (Jer. 17:24), and <i>It shall be, too, if thou shalt forget</i> (Deut. 8:19). How is that? If a man desires to hear only that which is to his advantage, he will hear that which is not to his advantage as well; and if he wishes to forget when it is to his advantage to do so, he will forget even when it is not to his advantage to do so. The power to choose is given to man. <i>If it concerneth the scorners, He scorneth them, but unto the humble He giveth grace</i> (Prov. 3:34). If a man hearkens to one command, he will be caused to hearken to many; but if he desires to forget even one commandment, he will be caused to forget many. Therefore it is written: <i>If thou shalt begin to forget, thou wilt in time forget</i>. Others reach this conclusion from the verse <i>If thou at all take thy neighbor’s garment to pledge</i> (Exod. 22:25); that is, if you should seize one garment as a pledge, you will ultimately take many pledges because of it.