LEV1121 … if one does not repent from his evil ways on the day of misfortune, and if when painfully reminded he does not return to the One who has reprimanded him [he knows that his distress is the outcome of his sins, but he is still not motivated enough to complete his repentance (Zeh Hasha'ar)], his sin will be compounded, and his punishment will increase twofold (he will be punished for the actual sin he has committed and also for not heeding the signs that Hashem has sent him--consequently, it is twofold). For observe -- if one is punished by a king for sinning against him and he does not learn his lesson, the king will increase his punishment and bear down upon him heavily. Similarly, the pesukim state [this verse], "If despite these you do not listen to Me, I will further afflict you," and (Iyov 36:13), "Those who flatter their [own] hearts (I.e., sinners who give into their heart's desire) incur wrath, for they do not beseech [Him] when He afflicts them." If he fails to realize and to contemplate that the hardships that have befallen him are due to his own sins [he knows that he is sinning, but believes that his misfortune is a chance occurrence and not the result of his sinning (Zeh Hasha'ar)], but rather says, as the Pelishtim said (I Shmuel 6:9): "It was not His hand that struck us; it was all by chance that this occurred to us" -- by doing so he incurs Hashem's wrath upon himself. The transgression of this class of sinners is greater than that of the previous class [Those of the previous class have simply not aroused themselves to repentance; the sinners in the second group, however, deny Divine providence and, as such cannot be aroused to repentance in their present state of mind.] For this reason it states first, regarding the prior class, "I will further afflict you," and only subsequently does the pasuk state regarding the second class mentioned (Vayikra 26:21), "If you walk with Me in a random way [I.e., You do not see Hashem's providence in your affliction, as punishment for your sins, but attribute it to random chance.] and refuse to listen to Me, I will then further bring upon you seven plagues corresponding to your sins" -- because the sin of each successive class referred to in this portion of the Torah is more severe than that of the preceding one. Following this the pasuk states (ibid., 23–24) "If with these you will not be chastened before Me, and you walk with Me in a random way, I, too, will walk with you in randomness." Following this the pasuk states (ibid., 27-28), "If despite this you do not listen to Me, and you walk with Me in a random way, I will then walk with you in a fury of randomness" (The sin of each succeeding class of sinners becomes progressively more severe, and therefore, the Divine response becomes progressively harsher.). The meaning of "you walk with Me in a random way" is that you will say, "This all happened to us as a chance occurrence."