Leviticus 26: Torah! Torah! Torah!

“These are the chukim, mishpatim, and torahs that God gave between Himself and between the people of Israel on Mt. Sinai by the hand of Moshe” (verse 46).“אֵלֶּה הַחֻקִּים וְהַמִּשְׁפָּטִים וְהַתּוֹרֹת אֲשֶׁר נָתַן לַי יָ בֵּינוֹ וּבֵין בְּנֵי־יִשְׂרָאֵל בְּהַר סִינַי בְּיַד מֹשֶׁה.” (ויקרא כ״ו:מו)After the lengthy list of blessings and curses, the chapter ends with this verse. Scattered throughout these last few chapters of Leviticus, the Torah has mentioned chukim and mishpatim (e.g. Leviticus 18, 20, 24). There have also been references to Moshe receiving the rules on Mt. Sinai (e.g., Levitocus 7 and 25). This is the first time, however, that “torahs” are added to the list. What are these “torahs”? Most commentators explain that the plural of Torah here is meant to include both the written Torah and the oral law to explain that both were given on Mt. Sinai. A less Midrashic explanation is that these “torahs” refer to the lists of korbanot that were a feature of the early part of the book. The word “torah” is used to introduce most of the sections of korbanot (e.g. Leviticus 6:18, 7:1, 7:11, 11:46, etc.) This verse acts as a summary of the entire book and therefore includes references to all these types of ordinances listed in Leviticus. There is another important difference between this verse and the others. All the other instances are one directional. God decrees the mishpatim, the chukim, and the torahs. It is a one-way lesson from God through Moshe to the people. But in this verse God explains that these are all given between God and the people. Why the shift here? Perhaps God is trying to explain to the people that the list of curses and blessings is not a top-down ordinance. Instead, it is a pact between God and the people. If the people fail to follow these ordinances, God is bound to punish them. More importantly, though, if the people follow the mishpatim, chukim, and torahs, then God is bound to provide them with the blessings. This verse is meant to reassure the people that all they have to do is follow their side of the bargain and God will be bound to reward them.