Hewers of wood- the definition

Hewers of wood- the definition

In the previous post, we noted that one who loses focus on Shechina while doing avoda, regardless of the specific Mitzva he is engaged in, is sorely lacking in development.

if we perform the commandments only with our limbs, we are like those who are engaged in digging in the ground, or hewing wood in the forest, without reflecting on the nature of those acts, or by whom they are commanded, or what is their object. We must not imagine that [in this way] we attain the highest perfection; on the contrary, we are then like those in reference to whom Scripture says, "you are near in their mouth, and far from their heart" (Jer. xii. 2).

Clearly, through the analogy of the "hewer of wood" Rambam seeks to ease us into understanding avoda through the Mitzva system. But who is this mysterious lowly "hewer" and what does his lack as a human being tell us about avoda through the Mitzva system?

"Hewer of wood" - the context

In a previous post on Shechina, we noted the paragraph of the "hewer" comes in a chapter about Shechina. If we focus on the paragraph before, also in part III Chapter LI, we will see who the hewer is. The framework in which the "hewer" is presented is that of the relationship to Shechina:

A king is in his palace, and all his subjects are partly in the country, and partly abroad. Of the former, some have their backs turned towards the king's palace, and their faces in another direction; and some are desirous and zealous to go to the palace, seeking "to inquire in his temple", and to minister before him, but have not yet seen even the face of the wall of the house.

As we noted in the post on Shechina, this notion of "place" is reflective of people's maturity in relationship to the Sovereign. The more "theoretically minded" people view the sovereign as a mind, they yearn to become instruments of the king"ministering" before the king part of the mindtrust of the kingdom. The more practically minded people view the king as an arbitrary power, as such they have no interest in changing their identities to be "ministering before the king" they are more interested in harnessing his policies to make money in their own daled amos.

The spectrum of subjects

In light of this we can identify a spectrum of subjects to the king. The spectrum corresonds to the mindfulness of the subject, apprehension of Shechina as the driving force in life and the determining factor in all decisions. One's place in the hierarchy of state corresponds to one's desire and ability as a mind to comprehend the "strategic plan" of the sovereign and serve as an instrument of execution. At the one extreme are the the subjects of the true king, Yehoshua whose entire identity is wrapped up in knowing Shechina plan through apprentecing to Moshe. Yehoshua had no interest in his "daled amos" per se. He lived to see the world through the wisdom of his master Moshe. As such Yehoshua would go anywhere to be before his master, in the palace functioning as his arms and legs in fighting Amalek or executing whatever else needed to be done. Yehoshua is a theoretical mind first and foremost and therefore seeks to function in that place and manner that maximizes his involvement with the Chochma plan for society-Shechina- as it is best known- ie through Moshe.There is no seperate "daled amos" of a Yehoshua hardly to speak of. Yehoshua sees a world with the potential to become in harmony with the strategic Shechina vision. Yitro is another example of this. In pursuit of the highest knowledge of the plan, the Daled amos of Midian had no meaning or pull whatsoever. He was of running to experience the Shechina as best known to Moshe in the desert.

At the other extreme are those who have nothing but their personal space, they have no sense of the strategic vision moving society to speak of. As opposed to seeking a relationship to the sovereign that maximizes access to the shechina vision and minimizes personal interests they are the opposite. The hewer of wood is not a mind seeeking to implement an understanding of "a plan" like Yehoshua. He has never had experience of a plan. He exists to implement purely physical tasks decided by an arbitrary master. In exchange for this simple minded relationship to the arbitrary power the hewer of wood is fed or given money to feed himself. He is the most absolute "menial worker'- strong back no mind. In opposition to Yehoshua the hewer is absolutely attached to his territory. He cannot conceive of life outside of his place, he cannot leave his Midian for anything.

So how is this hewer a good analogy to one who loses focus in Avodat Mitzvot?