133 Torah Book & Portion, Book of Deuteronomy, Va'etchanan (Deuteronomy 3:23–7:11), Source Book Keys, GATES DEUTERONOMY | 6:16 test — DEUT291 "You must not test Hashem, your God" [thi... DEUT291 "You must not test Hashem, your God" [this verse]. We have herein been admonished that a person should not say, "Let me test through charitable work [this does not include giving ten percent of one's gain to charity, where one is allowed to test Hashem; see below] whether Hashem will make me successful" or "Let me determine through proper deeds whether He will enrich me with silver and gold." A good person [I.e., Whose only desire is to fulfill the will of Hashem (Sha'arei Teshuvah Hamevo'ar)] will not weaken [in his service of Hashem, even] if, after having labored with wisdom, knowledge, and proper deeds [I.e., Following the way of Hashem (Sha'arei Teshuvah Hameforash)] he still has not been successful in acquiring wealth or any of the other physical benefits [of life]. Our Sages, z"l, said (Ta'anis 9a) that only concerning the mitzvah of tithes is it permissible to test Hashem, as the pasuk says (Malachi 3:10), "Bring all the tithes to the store house, that there may be food in My house, and test me now with this." [Rabbeinu Yonah in his Sefer HaYir'ah expands this dispensation to include tithing all one's gainful wealth, and does not limit it only to the tithing of produce (ma'asros). Share Print Source KeyGATESVerse6:16Keyword(s)testSource Page(s)205 Switch article DEUTERONOMY | 6:16 test — DEUT292 Do not excessively test a true prophet. I... Previous Article DEUTERONOMY | 6:16 try — DEUT293 ... a person should not expose himself to... Next Article