Page 37 - HaMizrachi YmYm 2020 FLIPv3

Rabbi David Milston Rabbi Yitzchak Blau
THREE

אׂ ּ ש ִ ת אלֹ
ָ
The Severity of Vain and False Oaths

he prominence of many of Commandment. What makes these Secondly, Ibn Ezra notes the foolish-
the dibrot in our tradition, sins so problematic? ness of this crime. The adulterer and
Tsuch as Shabbat and honoring the thief procure pleasure in their sins
parents, means that others receive On a most basic level, oaths involve while the murderer and the bearer
less attention, for example the third the name of G-d and someone who of false witness avenge themselves
one: “You shall not take the name takes a vain or false oath demeans upon their enemies. What enjoyment
of the L-rd your G-d in vain; for the reverence required towards the is achieved by making vain or false
the L-rd will not hold him guiltless Master of the Universe. Two of our oaths? No overwhelming temptation
that takes His name in vain.” The classic Biblical commentators add
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Torah’s terminology here suggests more layers to this iniquity. Chiz- leads individuals to such sins but
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we should take this commandment kuni points out that whereas a thief rather a simple lack of care and con-
quite seriously. The unusual phrase can easily compensate for his crime cern regarding the substance of their
“ki lo yenakeh Hashem” attributes a by returning the stolen item, a person speech.
particular severity to the sin of vain who makes a vain oath cannot pay I imagine that acts of murder or
oaths. The Torah also relates to false back the victim. Although his point adultery, two death penalty crimes,
oaths as a significant transgression, is true, it would seem that many sins
referring to them as a chillul Hashem. resemble vain oaths in this regard and are more grievous than violations
“And you shall not swear by My name it remains unclear why this transgres- of lo tisa. At the same time, cer-
falsely so that you profane the name sion receives such harsh treatment. tain aspects of vain and false oaths
of your G-d: I am the L-rd.” 2 make them particularly problematic.
They cannot easily be undone, they
Our prophetic books further reveal Few people commit quickly turn into constant failings,
the severity of oaths. The people “” murder or adultery on and they do not emerge out of strong
of Yavesh Gilead are killed due to temptations.
their ignoring a communal oath to a daily basis but they
fight against the tribe of Binyamin. can take false or vain May attention to this dibra help us
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Shaul wanted to kill his son Yeho- grow more sensitive to the content
natan for violating an oath not to oaths all the time and mode of our speech.
eat until the battle with the Pelish-
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tim was finished. Shaul’s descen-
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dants are put to death because the Ibn Ezra mentions two more factors. 1 Shemot 20:7.
house of Shaul violated an old oath Few people commit murder or adul- 2 Vayikra 19:12.
from the time of Yehoshua not to tery on a daily basis but they can take 3 Shoftim 21.
harm the Gibeonites. 5 false or vain oaths all the time. Some- 4 Shmuel Alef 14.
one who has integrated oaths into his 5 Shmuel Bet 21.
Talmudic tradition adds further evi- regular discourse is likely to swear 6 Shavuot 21a.
dence. A sinner does not receive multiple times each day. Humorously, 7 Yoma 86a.
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lashes for verbal crimes (lav she’ain Ibn Ezra envisions rebuking some- 8 Commentary on Shemot 20:7.
bo ma’aseh) with a few solitary excep- one who constantly swears and that
tions, one of them being vain or false person responding with an oath in the 9 Commentary on Shemot 20:7.
oaths. Another Gemara states that name of G-d that he does not swear
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it is particularly difficult to achieve at all. Perhaps the ubiquity of this sin Rabbi Yitzchak Blau is a Rosh Yeshiva at
atonement for violation of this adds to its severity. Yeshivat Orayta

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