ישעיהו, פרק ל״ג, פסוק ט״ו

After confronting the terrifying reality of divine judgment, a pressing question emerges: who can endure and dwell in absolute security? The holy spirit responds by sketching a portrait of human perfection, detailing the character of the truly righteous. This ideal figure is identified as King Hezekiah, the future Messiah, or, more broadly, any righteous person living in Jerusalem [מלבי״ם, רד״ק, אברבנאל].

This perfection is built across three distinct levels of human experience: action, speech, and thought [אברבנאל]. The righteous individual walks a path defined entirely by good deeds [רד״ק, אבן עזרא]. Their communication is strictly honest and truthful. Internally, they harbor a deep disgust for financial gain rooted in extortion or the exploitation of others. This standard is particularly striking when applied to a king, who constantly requires vast funds to maintain an army and a royal court, yet absolutely refuses to take money that is not lawfully his [רד״ק, מצודת ציון].

The rejection of corruption extends into a visceral physical reaction against bribery. Rather than merely declining a bribe, the righteous person aggressively shakes their hands free of it. If someone attempts to place illicit money into their hands, they violently shake it off so that the coins fall to the ground [שד״ל, מצודת ציון]. This standard is uncompromising; a judge or king adhering to this level of integrity will refuse even a temporary gift, or a bribe offered merely to secure a truthful, innocent verdict [רד״ק, מלבי״ם].

Beyond physical actions, absolute righteousness requires strict guardianship over the senses. The righteous person actively blocks their ears to avoid hearing any incitement or advice that could lead to bloodshed [מצודת דוד, שד״ל]. For a ruler, this translates to a refusal to entertain gossip or slander about potential rebels, ensuring that no one is executed without a thorough and honest legal investigation [רד״ק, מלבי״ם]. Similarly, they shut their eyes to avoid looking at anything forbidden. This deliberate blindness serves to block the evil inclination, which uses sight to tempt humanity with the world's material pleasures [חומת אנך, מלבי״ם]. The sheer sight of wicked people or evil deeds is so repulsive to them that they actively flee from witnessing it [רד״ק, שד״ל].

An alternative approach unifies these physical reactions—shaking the hands, blocking the ears, and shutting the eyes—by applying them entirely to the singular issue of judicial bribery, outlining three distinct methods of corruption [אברבנאל]. In the first scenario, a physical bribe is offered, prompting the judge to shake his hands and throw the money away. In the second, a verbal promise of payment is made, causing the judge to seal his ears against the illicit offer. Finally, if someone attempts to offer a bribe from a distance using subtle hand gestures or visual hints, the judge tightly shuts his eyes, refusing to even acknowledge the corrupt signal.