Daily Rambam (1) Hilchos Yesodei Hatorah – Chapter 2: The Commandments to Love and Fear G-d And How to Achieve (Monday, 29th Shevat)

Hilchos Yesodei haTorah – Chapter 2

1. The Commandments to Love and Fear G-d

• There is a positive commandment to love G-d.
• There is a positive commandment to fear (awe) G-d.
• These are derived from “You shall love G-d…” and “Fear G-d…”

2. How to Attain Love and Fear of G-d

The path to both love and fear is through contemplation:

Love arises when:

• A person reflects on G-d’s wondrous deeds, creations, and unbounded wisdom.
• This reflection generates:
  • Longing
  • Praise
  • Desire to know G-d
  • A yearning of the soul for closeness to Him.

Fear arises when:

• A person continues contemplating and recognizes:
  • Their own smallness and frailty
  • G-d’s infinite greatness and perfect knowledge
• This causes:
  • Awe
  • Humility
  • A recognition of human limitation before Divine perfection.

Purpose of this chapter

Rambam states he will explain fundamental concepts of creation so that thoughtful people can use them as stepping‑stones toward love of G-d, as taught by the Sages:
“Through this, you will come to know the One who spoke and the world came into being.”

3. The Three Categories of Created Beings

Rambam classifies all creation into three types:

1. Beings with matter and form that constantly change

Examples:

• Humans
• Animals
• Plants
• Metals

Characteristics:

• They come into existence and pass out of existence.
• Their forms and bodies change.

1. Beings with matter and form, but fixed and unchanging

Examples:

• The heavenly spheres
• The stars

Characteristics:

• Their matter and form are unlike earthly matter/form.
• They do not change bodies or forms.

1. Beings with form but no matter (purely spiritual)

Examples:

• Angels

Characteristics:

• No bodies
• No physical attributes
• They are separate, pure forms.

4. Prophetic Descriptions of Angels

When the prophets saw angels described as:

• fiery
• winged
• humanlike

These are visions and metaphors, not literal descriptions. Just as G-d is called “a consuming fire” metaphorically, angelic imagery is symbolic.

5. What Differentiates One Angel from Another

Since angels have no bodies:

• They differ only in level, rank, and degree of existence.
• Each angel exists because of the influence of the one above it.
• All exist because of G-d’s influence.

Scripture hints at this hierarchy: “Above the high one is a watcher, and higher ones above them.”

6. “Higher” and “Lower” Are Not Spatial Terms

• Angels are not physically stacked.
• “Higher” refers to:
  • Greater intellectual clarity
  • Greater existential refinement
  • More influence

Just like one sage is “higher” than another in wisdom.

7. The Ten Levels (Names) of Angels

Rambam lists ten ranks, from highest to lowest:

1. Chayot
2. Ofanim
3. Erelim
4. Chashmalim
5. Seraphim
6. Malachim
7. Elokim
8. Sons of Elokim
9. Keruvim
10. Ishim

Lowest level — “Ishim”

• These are angels who communicate with prophets.
• Their level is closest to human intellectual capacity.

8. Angels’ Knowledge of G-d

• All angels are alive.
• All know G-d with immense knowledge, each according to its level.
• Even the highest angels cannot know G-d as He truly is.
• Each level comprehends more than the level below it.
• Even the lowest angel knows more about G-d than humans can achieve while embodied.

9. All Existence Depends on G-d

• Everything (from the highest angel to the tiniest insect) exists because of G-d’s truth.
• Because He knows Himself completely, He knows all created beings.
• Nothing is hidden from Him.

10. G-d’s Knowledge Is One with His Essence

This is a profound philosophical principle:

• G-d does not possess knowledge as something separate from Himself.
• Unlike humans, whose knowledge and being are distinct, G-d is His knowledge.
• If G-d’s knowledge were separate from Him, this would imply multiple G-ds — which is impossible.
• Therefore:
  • G-d is the Knower
  • G-d is the Subject Known
  • G-d is the Knowledge

All are absolutely one.

Human beings cannot fully grasp this unity; it is beyond human comprehension.

11. These Ideas Are Only a Small Introduction

• Everything taught so far is only a tiny introduction to the discipline called “Ma’aseh Merkavah” (“the Workings of the Divine Chariot”).
• It represents the deepest metaphysical foundations of Torah.

12. Teaching These Secrets Is Restricted

• These teachings may be shared only with a single worthy student at a time.
• One must provide only the core principles, allowing the student to develop understanding on their own.
• These ideas are extremely deep; most people cannot grasp them.
• The Sages said:
  • “These matters shall be for you alone.”
  • “Honey and milk under your tongue” — meaning: keep them private.

Summary of Chapter 2

This chapter explains:

• The command to love and fear G-d
• The method to awaken love and fear through contemplation
• The structure of creation
• The nature, ranks, and knowledge of angels
• G-d’s absolute unity and the uniqueness of His knowledge
• The profound depth and restricted transmission of metaphysical knowledge