Kabbalah Library

170. “And you shall teach them diligently to your children, and shall speak of them.” “And you shall teach them diligently,” as it is written, “And your arrows are sharp” [“sharp” has the same root as “teach”], since a person must teach his sons words of Torah like a sword that is sharp on both its sides, so as to install in him sharpness and joy of Torah, and his heart will not be in folly. “And shall speak of them,” for anything in the Torah has its own way. “And shall speak of them”? Should it not have said, “And you shall speak of them?” However, one must lead himself with them and conduct himself so he does not deviate to the right or to the left.

171. “When you sit in your house,” to conduct himself in his home in an upright manner, and in a manner of correction, so his household may learn from him. He should deal with them with calm and joy, and should not cast excessive fear within his home, and all his actions should be in a manner of correction.

“When you walk on the road,” to be conducted in words of Torah and correct himself with them properly, and lead himself in the way of Torah, as Jacob behaved on the road, with three things: for a gift, for a prayer, and for war. “For a prayer,” he should pray to his master. But words of Torah are more important than prayer.

172. “When you lie down,” to conduct himself with fear of his master, with sanctity, with humility, so he is not audacious before his master. “And when you rise up,” to praise his lord for returning his soul, since he was in several iniquities before his master, and the Creator dealt mercifully with him and returned his soul to his body. “And you shall bind them as a sign on your hand,” on your weak hand, the left hand, which is duller and weaker than the right. It is said in the Book of Legend, “Your hand,” on the hand of Koh, Malchut, who is called Koh.