Chapter Previewהַקְדָּמָה
In this chapter, the Rambam takes on a major question that troubles many Yidden when they learn the Torah and the Nevi'im: how do we understand those pesukim that seem to say Hashem forces a person to do bad or good, which would chalilah take away our free will? The Rambam promises to lay down a great and fundamental yesod of our emunah to clear up these difficult pesukim once and for all. He begins by explaining how Hashem runs the world with true justice, bringing retribution on a sinner in this world, in the next world, or both, depending on the sin, and how Teshuvah acts as a shield to protect a person from these punishments.
We then learn a deep and sobering concept in the ways of Hashem's judgment: sometimes, when a person chooses to commit very great or numerous sins willfully and consciously, the True Judge decrees that his punishment in this world is that the gates of Teshuvah are locked before him. The Rambam brings proofs from Pharaoh, Sichon, the Canaanites, and the Yidden in the times of Eliyahu Hanavi to show that they all started sinning on their own free will, and only afterward did Hashem harden their hearts as a punishment, preventing them from repenting so they would receive their full retribution. We also learn how the tefillos of Dovid Hamelech and the other nevi'im fit into this, as they begged Hashem not to let their sins block them from the path of truth, and how Hashem sends us prophets to guide us back to Him.
All introductions, summaries, and contextual notes are the editor's commentary and are not part of the original text.אַלע הַקְדָּמוֹת, סִכּוּמִים, און הערות זענען דעם רעדאַקטאָר'ס באַמערקונגען און זענען נישט קיין טייל פונעם אָריגינעלן טעקסט.
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הַבְּחִירָה הַחָפְשִׁית וְעוֹנֶשׁ הַחוֹטֵא בָּעוֹלָם הַזֶּה וּבָעוֹלָם הַבָּאHalacha 1 · Free Will and the Divine System of Retribution in This World and the Next
פְּסוּקִיםVersesהַרְבֵּהmanyיֵשׁthere areבַּתּוֹרָהin the Torahוּבְדִבְרֵיand in the words ofנְבִיאִיםprophetsשֶׁהֵןthat theyנִרְאִיןappearכְּסוֹתְרִיןas contradictingעִקָּרprincipleזֶהthisוְנִכְשָׁלִיןand stumbleבָּהֶןthrough themרֹבmost ofהָאָדָםthe peopleוְיַעֲלֶהand it arisesעַלuponדַּעְתָּןtheir mindמֵהֶןfrom themשֶׁהַקָּדוֹשׁthat the Holy OneבָּרוּךְblessedהוּאHeהוּאHeגּוֹזֵרdecreesעַלuponהָאָדָםthe personלַעֲשׂוֹתto doרָעָהevilאוֹorטוֹבָהgoodוְשֶׁאֵיןand that notלִבּוֹhis heartשֶׁלofאָדָםa personמָסוּרis handed overלוֹto himלְהַטּוֹתוֹto direct itלְכָלto allאֲשֶׁרthatיִרְצֶה.he desiresוַהֲרֵיand beholdאֲנִיIמְבָאֵרexplainעִקָּרa principleגָּדוֹלgreatשֶׁמִּמֶּנּוּthat from itתֵּדַעyou will knowפֵּרוּשׁthe explanation ofכָּלallאוֹתָןthoseהַפְּסוּקִים.the versesבִּזְמַןAt a timeשֶׁאָדָםthat a personאֶחָדoneאוֹorאַנְשֵׁיthe people ofמְדִינָהa provinceחוֹטְאִיםsinוְעוֹשֶׂהand doesהַחוֹטֵאthe sinnerחֵטְאa sinשֶׁעוֹשֶׂהthat he doesמִדַּעְתּוֹfrom his own mindוּבִרְצוֹנוֹand with his willכְּמוֹlikeשֶׁהוֹדַעְנוּthat we made knownרָאוּיit is properלְהִפָּרַעto exact punishmentמִמֶּנּוּfrom himוְהַקָּדוֹשׁand the Holy OneבָּרוּךְblessedהוּאHeיוֹדֵעַknowsאֵיךְhowיִפָּרַע.He will punishיֵשׁThere isחֵטְאa sinשֶׁהַדִּיןthat the judgmentנוֹתֵןgivesשֶׁנִּפְרָעִיםthat they exact punishmentמִמֶּנּוּfrom himעַלforחֶטְאוֹhis sinבָּעוֹלָםin the worldהַזֶּהthisבְּגוּפוֹin his bodyאוֹorבְּמָמוֹנוֹin his moneyאוֹorבְּבָנָיוwith his childrenהַקְּטַנִּיםthe small onesשֶׁבָּנָיוfor his childrenשֶׁלofאָדָםa personהַקְּטַנִּיםthe small onesשֶׁאֵיןwho do notבָּהֶםhave in themדַּעַתunderstandingוְלֹאand notהִגִּיעוּdid they reachלִכְלַלthe category ofמִצְווֹתmitzvotכְּקִנְיָנוֹlike his possessionהֵןthey areוּכְתִיבand it is writtenדבריםDevarimכד24טז16"אִישׁA manבְּחֶטְאוֹfor his sinיָמוּת"shall dieעַדuntilשֶׁיֵּעָשֶׂהthat he becomesאִישׁ.a manוְיֵשׁAnd there isחֵטְאa sinשֶׁהַדִּיןthat the judgmentנוֹתֵןgivesשֶׁנִּפְרָעִיןthat they exact punishmentמִמֶּנּוּfrom himלָעוֹלָםfor the worldהַבָּאthe comingוְאֵיןand there is notלָעוֹבֵרto the transgressorעָלָיוof itשׁוּםanyנֵזֶקdamageבָּעוֹלָםin the worldהַזֶּה.thisוְיֵשׁAnd there isחֵטְאa sinשֶׁנִּפְרָעִיןthat they exact punishmentמִמֶּנּוּfrom himבָּעוֹלָםin the worldהַזֶּהthisוְלָעוֹלָםand for the worldהַבָּא:the coming
The Rambam explains that despite verses that seem to imply predestination, man has absolute free will, and Hashem punishes sinners in this world, the next world, or both, according to His perfect justice.
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כֹּחָהּ שֶׁל תְּשׁוּבָה לְהָגֵן מִן הַפֻּרְעָנוּתHalacha 2 · The Power of Teshuvah to Shield Against Retribution
בַּמֶּהIn whatדְּבָרִיםwordsאֲמוּרִיםare saidבִּזְמַןin a timeשֶׁלֹּאthat notעָשָׂהhe didתְּשׁוּבָהteshuvahאֲבָלbutאִםifעָשָׂהhe didתְּשׁוּבָהteshuvahהַתְּשׁוּבָהthe teshuvahכִּתְרִיסis like a shieldלִפְנֵיbeforeהַפֻּרְעָנוּת.the retributionוּכְשֵׁםand just asשֶׁהָאָדָםthat a personחוֹטֵאsinsמִדַּעְתּוֹof his own knowledgeוּבִרְצוֹנוֹand with his willכָּךְsoהוּאheעוֹשֶׂהdoesתְּשׁוּבָהteshuvahמִדַּעְתּוֹof his own knowledgeוּבִרְצוֹנוֹ:and with his will
This halacha explains that teshuvah serves as a shield against punishment, and that just as sin is committed willfully, repentance must also be a willful act.
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מְנִיעַת הַתְּשׁוּבָה כְּעוֹנֶשׁ עַל חֲטָאִים חֲמוּרִיםHalacha 3 · Withholding Repentance as a Punishment for Severe Sins
וְאֶפְשָׁרAnd it is possibleשֶׁיֶּחְטָאthat will sinאָדָםa personחֵטְאa sinגָּדוֹלgreatאוֹorחֲטָאִיםsinsרַבִּיםmanyעַדuntilשֶׁיִּתֵּןthat will giveהַדִּיןthe judgmentלִפְנֵיbeforeדַּיַןthe Judge ofהָאֱמֶתthe Truthשֶׁיְּהֵאthat should beהַפֵּרָעוֹןthe retributionמִזֶּהfrom thisהַחוֹטֵאsinnerעַלforחֲטָאִיםsinsאֵלּוּtheseשֶׁעָשָׂהthat he didבִּרְצוֹנוֹby his willוּמִדַּעְתּוֹand with his knowledgeשֶׁמּוֹנְעִיןthat they withholdמִמֶּנּוּfrom himהַתְּשׁוּבָהthe repentanceוְאֵיןand notמַנִּיחִיןthey allowלוֹhimרְשׁוּתpermissionלָשׁוּבto repentמֵרִשְׁעוֹfrom his wickednessכְּדֵיin orderשֶׁיָּמוּתthat he will dieוְיֹאבַדand perishבְּחֶטְאוֹin his sinשֶׁעָשָׂה.that he didהוּאit isשֶׁהַקָּדוֹשׁthat the Holy Oneבָּרוּךְblessedהוּאis Heאָמַרsaidעַלbyיְדֵיthe hand ofיְשַׁעְיָהוּYeshayahuישעיהYeshayahuו6י10"הַשְׁמֵן"Make fatלֵבthe heart ofהָעָםpeopleהַזֶּה"this"וְגוֹ'.etc.וְכֵןand soהוּאHeאוֹמֵרsaysדה"בDivrei HaYamim IIלו36טז16"וַיִּהְיוּ"And they wereמַלְעִבִיםmockingבְּמַלְאֲכֵיthe messengers ofהָאֱלֹהִיםGodוּבוֹזִיםand despisingדְּבָרָיוHis wordsוּמִתַּעְתְּעִיםand scoffingבִּנְבִאָיוat His prophetsעַדuntilעֲלוֹתthe rising ofחֲמַתthe wrath ofה'Hashemבְּעַמּוֹagainst His peopleעַדuntilלְאֵיןthere was noמַרְפֵּא".remedy"כְּלוֹמַרmeaning to sayחָטְאוּthey sinnedבִּרְצוֹנָםby their willוְהִרְבּוּand they multipliedלִפְשֹׁעַto transgressעַדuntilשֶׁנִּתְחַיְּבוּthey became obligatedלִמְנֹעַto withholdמֵהֶןfrom themהַתְּשׁוּבָהthe repentanceשֶׁהִיאwhich isהַמַּרְפֵּא.the remedyלְפִיכָךְthereforeכָּתוּבit is writtenבַּתּוֹרָהin the TorahשמותShemosד4כא21"וַאֲנִי"And Iאֲחַזֵּקwill strengthenאַקְשֶׁהwill hardenאֶת—לֵבthe heart ofפַּרְעֹה".Pharaoh"לְפִיbecauseשֶׁחָטָאthat he sinnedמֵעַצְמוֹfrom himselfתְּחִלָּהinitiallyוְהֵרֵעַand did evilלְיִשְׂרָאֵלto Yisraelהַגָּרִיםwho were dwellingבְּאַרְצוֹin his landשֶׁנֶּאֱמַרas it is saidשמותShemosא1י10"הָבָה"Comeנִתְחַכְּמָהlet us deal wiselyלוֹ".with him"נָתַןgaveהַדִּיןthe judgmentלִמְנֹעַto withholdהַתְּשׁוּבָהthe repentanceמִמֶּנּוּfrom himעַדuntilשֶׁנִּפְרַעretribution was exactedמִמֶּנּוּ.from himלְפִיכָךְthereforeחִזֵּקhardenedהַקָּדוֹשׁthe Holy Oneבָּרוּךְblessedהוּאis Heאֶת—לִבּוֹ.his heartוְלָמָּהand whyהָיָהwasשׁוֹלֵחַsendingלוֹto himבְּיַדby the hand ofמשֶׁהMosheוְאוֹמֵרand sayingשְׁלַחsendוַעֲשֵׂהand doתְּשׁוּבָהrepentanceוּכְבָרand alreadyאָמַרsaidלוֹto himהַקָּדוֹשׁthe Holy Oneבָּרוּךְblessedהוּאis Heאֵיןnotאַתָּהyouמְשַׁלֵּחַare sendingשֶׁנֶּאֱמַרas it is saidשמותShemosט9ל30"וְאַתָּה"And youוַעֲבָדֶיךָand your servantsיָדַעְתִּי"I know"וְגוֹ'etc.שמותShemosט9טז16"וְאוּלָם"And indeedבַּעֲבוּרfor the sake ofזֹאתthisהֶעֱמַדְתִּיךָ".I have kept you standing"כְּדֵיin orderלְהוֹדִיעַto make knownלְבָאֵיto those who enterהָעוֹלָםthe worldשֶׁבִּזְמַןthat at a timeשֶׁמּוֹנֵעַthat withholdsהַקָּדוֹשׁthe Holy Oneבָּרוּךְblessedהוּאis Heהַתְּשׁוּבָהthe repentanceלַחוֹטֵאfrom the sinnerאֵינוֹhe is notיָכוֹלableלָשׁוּבto repentאֶלָּאbutיָמוּתhe will dieבְּרִשְׁעוֹin his wickednessשֶׁעָשָׂהthat he didבִּתְחִלָּהat firstבִּרְצוֹנוֹ.by his willוְכֵןand soסִיחוֹןSichonלְפִיaccording toעֲוֹנוֹתsinsשֶׁהָיוּthat wereלוֹto himנִתְחַיֵּבhe became obligatedלְמָנְעוֹto withhold himמִןfromהַתְּשׁוּבָהthe repentanceשֶׁנֶּאֱמַרas it is saidדבריםDevarimב2ל30"כִּי"Forהִקְשָׁהhardenedה'Hashemאֱלֹהֶיךָyour Godאֶת—רוּחוֹhis spiritוְאִמֵּץand made obstinateאֶת—לְבָבוֹ".his heart"וְכֵןand soהַכְּנַעֲנִיםthe Canaanitesלְפִיaccording toתּוֹעֲבוֹתֵיהֶןtheir abominationsמָנַעwithheldמֵהֶןfrom themהַתְּשׁוּבָהthe repentanceעַדuntilשֶׁעָשׂוּthat they madeמִלְחָמָהwarעִםwithיִשְׂרָאֵל.Yisraelשֶׁנֶּאֱמַרas it is saidיהושעYehoshuaיא11כ20"כִּי"Forמֵאֵתfromה'Hashemהָיְתָהit wasלְחַזֵּקto strengthenאֶת—לִבָּםtheir heartלִקְרַאתto meetהַמִּלְחָמָהthe warעִםwithיִשְׂרָאֵלYisraelלְמַעַןin orderהַחֲרִימָם".to utterly destroy them"וְכֵןand soיִשְׂרָאֵלYisraelבִּימֵיin the days ofאֵלִיָּהוּEliyahuלְפִיbecauseשֶׁהִרְבּוּthat they multipliedלִפְשֹׁעַto transgressמָנַעwithheldמֵאוֹתָןfrom thoseהַמַּרְבִּיםwho multipliedלִפְשֹׁעַto transgressתְּשׁוּבָהrepentanceשֶׁנֶּאֱמַרas it is saidמלכיםMelachimאIיח18לז37"וְאַתָּה"And Youהֲסִבֹּתָhave turnedאֶת—לִבָּםtheir heartאֲחֹרַנִּית"backward"כְּלוֹמַרmeaning to sayמָנַעְתָּYou withheldמֵהֶןfrom themהַתְּשׁוּבָה.the repentanceנִמְצֵאתָit is foundאוֹמֵרsayingשֶׁלֹּאthat notגָּזַרdecreedהָאֵלthe AlmightyעַלuponפַּרְעֹהPharaohלְהָרַעto do evilלְיִשְׂרָאֵל.to Yisraelוְלֹאand notעַלuponסִיחוֹןSichonלַחֲטֹאto sinבְּאַרְצוֹ.in his landוְלֹאand notעַלuponהַכְּנַעֲנִיםthe Canaanitesלְהַתְעִיב.to act abominablyוְלֹאand notעַלuponיִשְׂרָאֵלYisraelלַעֲבֹדto worshipעֲבוֹדָהworshipזָרָה.foreignאֶלָּאbutכֻּלָּןall of themחָטְאוּsinnedמֵעַצְמָןfrom themselvesוְכֻלָּןand all of themנִתְחַיְּבוּbecame obligatedלִמְנֹעַto withholdמֵהֶןfrom themהַתְּשׁוּבָה:the repentance
The Rambam explains that a person can commit sins so severe that the Divine judgment deprives them of the opportunity to repent as a form of punishment.
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בַּקָּשַׁת הַצַּדִּיקִים לְסִיּוּעַ מִן הַשָּׁמַיִם לַעֲשׂוֹת רְצוֹנוֹHalacha 4 · The Request of the Righteous for Divine Assistance to Do God's Will
וּכְעִנְיָןAnd like the matter ofזֶהthisשׁוֹאֲלִיןaskהַצַּדִּיקִיםthe righteousוְהַנְּבִיאִיםand the prophetsבִּתְפִלָּתָםin their prayerמֵאֵתfromה'Hashemלְעָזְרָםto help themעַלuponהָאֱמֶת.the truthכְּמוֹlikeשֶׁאָמַרthat saidדָּוִדDovidתהיליםTehillimכז27יא11"הוֹרֵנִי"Teach meה'Hashemדַּרְכֶּךָ".Your way"כְּלוֹמַרmeaning to sayאַלdo notיִמְנָעוּנִיprevent meחֲטָאַיmy sinsדֶּרֶךְthe path ofהָאֱמֶתthe truthשֶׁמִּמֶּנָּהfrom whichאֵדַעI will knowדַּרְכְּךָYour wayוְיִחוּדand the oneness ofשְׁמֶךָ.Your nameוְכֵןand soזֶהthisשֶׁאָמַרthat saidתהיליםTehillimנא51יד14"וְרוּחַ"and a spirit ofנְדִיבָהmagnanimityתִסְמְכֵנִי"support me"כְּלוֹמַרmeaning to sayתַּנִּיחַlet restרוּחִיmy spiritלַעֲשׂוֹתto doחֶפְצְךָYour desireוְאַלand let notיִגְרְמוּcauseלִיto meחֲטָאַיmy sinsלְמָנְעֵנִיto prevent meמִתְּשׁוּבָהfrom repentanceאֶלָּאratherתִּהְיֶהlet beהָרְשׁוּתthe free willבְּיָדִיin my handעַדuntilשֶׁאֶחֱזֹרthat I returnוְאָבִיןand understandוְאֵדַעand knowדֶּרֶךְthe path ofהָאֱמֶת.the truthוְעַלand uponדֶּרֶךְthe path ofזוֹthisכָּלallהַדּוֹמֶהthat is similarלִפְסוּקִיםto versesאֵלּוּ:these
This halacha explains that the prayers of the righteous for guidance do not contradict free will, but rather ask that their sins not prevent them from choosing the path of truth.
הל׳ ה
הַבְּחִירָה הַחָפְשִׁית וּנְבוּאוֹת עַל הָעָתִיד לָבוֹאHalacha 5 · Free Will and General Prophecies Regarding the Future
וּמַהוּAnd what isזֶהthisשֶׁאָמַרthat saidדָּוִדDovidתהיליםTehillimכה25ח8"טוֹב"Goodוְיָשָׁרand uprightה'Hashemעַלthereforeכֵּן·יוֹרֶהinstructsחַטָּאִיםsinnersבַּדָּרֶךְ"in the path"תהיליםTehillimכה25ט9"יַדְרֵךְ"He guidesעֲנָוִים"the humble"וְגוֹ'.etc.זֶהThisשֶׁשָּׁלַחis that He sentנְבִיאִיםprophetsלָהֶםto themמוֹדִיעִיםinformingדַּרְכֵיthe ways ofה'Hashemוּמַחְזִירִיןand returningאוֹתָןthemבִּתְשׁוּבָה.in repentanceוְעוֹדAnd furthermoreשֶׁנָּתַןthat He gaveבָּהֶםin themכֹּחַstrengthלִלְמֹדto learnוּלְהָבִין.and to understandשֶׁמִּדָּהfor attributeזוֹthisבְּכָלis in everyאָדָםmanשֶׁכָּלthat allזְמַןtimeשֶׁהוּאthat heנִמְשָׁךְis drawnבְּדַרְכֵיin the ways ofהַחָכְמָהwisdomוְהַצֶּדֶקand righteousnessמִתְאַוֶּהhe desiresלָהֶןthemוְרוֹדֵףand pursuesאוֹתָם.themוְהוּאAnd itמַהis whatשֶּׁאָמְרוּsaidרַבּוֹתֵינוּour Sagesזִכְרוֹנָםtheir memoryלִבְרָכָהfor blessingבָּאOne who comesלִטַּהֵרto purify himselfמְסַיְּעִיןthey assistאוֹתוֹhimכְּלוֹמַרmeaning to sayיִמְצָאhe will findעַצְמוֹhimselfנֶעֱזָרassistedעַלuponהַדָּבָר.the matterוַהֲלֹאAnd is it notכָּתוּבwrittenבַּתּוֹרָהin the TorahבראשיתBereishisטו15יג13"וַעֲבָדוּם"And they shall serve themוְעִנּוּand they shall afflictאֹתָם",them"הֲרֵיbeholdגָּזַרHe decreedעַלuponהַמִּצְרִיִּיםthe Egyptiansלַעֲשׂוֹתto doרַע.evilוּכְתִיבAnd it is writtenדבריםDevarimלא31טז16"וְקָם"And will ariseהָעָםthe nationהַזֶּהthisוְזָנָהand strayאַחֲרֵיafterאֱלֹהֵיthe gods ofנֵכַרthe foreigners ofהָאָרֶץ",the land"הֲרֵיbeholdגָּזַרHe decreedעַלuponיִשְׂרָאֵלYisraelלַעֲבֹדto serveעֲבוֹדָהworshipזָרָה.foreignוְלָמָּהAnd whyנִפְרַעdid He punishמֵהֶן.themלְפִיBecauseשֶׁלֹּאnotגָּזַרdid He decreeעַלuponאִישׁmanפְּלוֹנִיso-and-soהַיָּדוּעַthe knownשֶׁיִּהְיֶהthat he will beהוּאheהַזּוֹנֶהthe one who straysאֶלָּאunlessכָּלeveryאֶחָדoneוְאֶחָדand oneמֵאוֹתָןfrom thoseהַזּוֹנִיםwho strayedלַעֲבֹדto serveעֲבוֹדָהworshipזָרָהforeignאִלּוּifלֹאnotרָצָהhe wantedלַעֲבֹדto serveלֹאnotהָיָהwould he haveעוֹבֵד.servedוְלֹאAnd notהוֹדִיעוֹdid He inform himהַבּוֹרֵאthe Creatorאֶלָּאunlessמִנְהָגוֹthe customשֶׁלofעוֹלָם.the worldהָאBeholdלְמָהto whatזֶהthisדּוֹמֶהis comparableלְאוֹמֵרTo one who saysהָעָםthe nationהַזֶּהthisיִהְיֶהthere will beבָּהֶןamong themצַדִּיקִיםrighteousוּרְשָׁעִים.and wickedלֹאNotמִפְּנֵיbecause ofזֶהthisיֹאמַרwill sayהָרָשָׁעthe wickedכְּבָרalreadyנִגְזַרit was decreedעָלָיוupon himשֶׁיִּהְיֶהthat he will beרָשָׁעwickedמִפְּנֵיbecauseשֶׁהוֹדִיעַthat He informedלְמשֶׁהMosheשֶׁיִּהְיוּthat there will beרְשָׁעִיםwicked peopleבְּיִשְׂרָאֵל.in YisraelכָּעִנְיָןLike the matterשֶׁנֶּאֱמַרthat is saidדבריםDevarimטו15יא11"כִּי"Forלֹאnotיֶחְדַּלwill ceaseאֶבְיוֹןthe needyמִקֶּרֶבfrom the midst ofהָאָרֶץ".the land"וְכֵןAnd soהַמִּצְרִיִּיםthe Egyptiansכָּלeveryאֶחָדoneוְאֶחָדand oneמֵאוֹתָןfrom thoseהַמְּצֵרִיםwho oppressedוְהַמֵּרֵעִיםand who did evilלְיִשְׂרָאֵלto Yisraelאִלּוּifלֹאnotרָצָהhe wantedלְהָרַעto do evilלָהֶםto themהָרְשׁוּתthe permissionבְּיָדוֹ.was in his handשֶׁלֹּאfor notגָּזַרdid He decreeעַלuponאִישׁmanיָדוּעַknownאֶלָּאunlessהוֹדִיעוֹHe informed himשֶׁסּוֹףthat the end ofזַרְעוֹhis seedעָתִידis destinedלְהִשְׁתַּעְבֵּדto be enslavedבְּאֶרֶץin a landלֹאnotלָהֶם.theirsוּכְבָרAnd alreadyאָמַרְנוּwe have saidשֶׁאֵיןthat there is noכֹּחַstrengthבָּאָדָםin manלֵידַעto knowהֵיאַךְhowיֵדַעknowsהַקָּדוֹשׁthe Holy Oneבָּרוּךְblessedהוּאis Heדְּבָרִיםthingsהָעֲתִידִיןthat are destinedלִהְיוֹת:to be
The Rambam explains that general prophecies about future events do not compromise the free will of any specific individual.
Chapter Summaryסִכּוּם
The Rambam explains that while every person has the free will to choose good or bad and to do Teshuvah, a sinner can commit such severe or repeated sins that the True Judge punishes him by withholding the opportunity for Teshuvah, causing him to die in his wickedness. This explains why Hashem hardened the hearts of Pharaoh, Sichon, and the Canaanites, and why He turned the hearts of the people backward in the days of Eliyahu—not because He decreed they should sin from the start, but as a punishment for the terrible sins they chose to commit on their own initiative. Because of this, the righteous and the prophets, like Dovid Hamelech, constantly pray to Hashem to support them and not let their sins block them from the path of truth, while Hashem in His goodness sends prophets to teach and guide sinners back to the right path.
לְמַעֲשֶׂהWhat To Take Home
My dear talmid, we often think of Teshuvah as a safety net that will always be there, waiting for us whenever we finally decide to get around to it. But the Rambam here reveals a sobering, shaking truth about how the spiritual world works: the freedom to choose is a gift, and like any gift, it can be lost. When a person willfully and repeatedly hardens their own heart against the truth, there comes a point where Heaven says, "You wanted to close the door? Now, the door is closed." The ultimate punishment for sin is not always a physical blow; sometimes, it is the loss of the desire and the ability to change. Pharaoh and Sichon were not born wicked, but by their own choices, they locked themselves in a prison of their own making.
This is not meant to bring us to despair, chas v'shalom, but to wake us up to the preciousness of the present moment. Every single time you feel a small awakening in your heart, a sudden desire to daven with more kavanah, a urge to stop yourself from speaking lashon hara, or a pull to learn one more mishnah, that is a direct gift from Hashem. It is a door opening. If you ignore it, the next time it will be harder to hear. But if you seize it, you create a vessel for even more help from Shamayim. As Chazal teach us, "One who comes to purify himself is assisted."
This is why Dovid HaMelech cried out in Tehillim, "And let a willing spirit support me." He was davening that his past mistakes should not block his path to growth, begging Hashem to keep his heart open and soft. We must have the same yiras Shamayim. Do not wait for tomorrow, and do not assume your heart will always be this open. When the spark of inspiration is there, you must act on it immediately.
Today, the very moment you feel a slight inner push to do the right thing or to pull back from a temptation, do not hesitate for even a second, act on that holy impulse immediately to keep your heart open and receptive to Hashem.