נהר דינורThe River of Fire

nehar dinurIn Gamatria ↗

Fear of sin trembles even over the mitzvah done well.

There are two kinds of fear, which are really three. Fear of punishment is easy, since everyone loves himself, and it is the fear of the unlearned. Awe of God's exaltation, holding back from sin for His honor, comes only from understanding. Fear of sin is a branch of that awe. Awe comes in the moment of prayer or temptation; fear of sin is constant, a worry that some trace of wrong has crept into one's deeds. 'Happy is the one who fears always' (Proverbs 28:14). Even the angels tremble: the river of fire flows from the sweat of the holy beasts (Chagigah 13b). This fear also looks back. Bava ben Buta brought a doubtful guilt-offering every day. Moses and Aaron worried they had misused the anointing oil. After his war, Abraham feared he had killed one righteous man.

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