Souls Bound to Worldly Action
ובמדרש מה כו' שיבא כו' אשר כבר עשוהו כו'.
“And in the Midrash: ‘What… that he will come… that which they have already done…’”
The Sefat Emet cites a Midrash interpreting phrases referring to acts that were already performed on a spiritual level before they manifested below.
שדורש על שלמה ע"ה ועל מרע"ה.
“Which is expounded about Solomon, peace be upon him, and about Moses, our teacher.”
The Midrash applies this principle to two towering figures—Solomon and Moses.
ביאור הענין שהם השיגו בכוחם מעלה יתירה עד שהיו רחוקים מבחי' העשי' שבעוה"ז.
“The explanation is that through their own strength they attained such an exalted level that they became distant from the realm of action in this world.”
Moses and Solomon reached spiritual heights so elevated that practical worldly action no longer matched their personal spiritual state.
ובלי ספק לפי השגתם היטב אשר דברו.
“And without a doubt, according to their lofty perception, what they expressed was entirely correct.”
From their elevated vantage point, their intentions and judgments were fully true.
אבל הש"י ברא אותם בעוה"ז.
“But the Holy One, blessed be He, created them in this world.”
Nevertheless, God placed them specifically within the earthly realm.
והי' להם בע"כ שייכות לבחי' העשי'.
“And they necessarily had a connection to the realm of action.”
Because they lived in this world, they could not escape the obligation of action.
וזה הי' העיכוב שלא נתקיים מחשבתם וז"ש כבר עשוהו.
“And this was the obstacle that prevented their intention from being fulfilled, and this is what is meant by ‘they have already done it.’”
Their spiritual intentions could not manifest because the earthly dimension—already established—required a different mode of fulfillment.
ואין רחוק להבין דבר זה.
“And it is not difficult to understand this matter.”
The concept is accessible if one reflects on the human condition.
כי הרי אנו רואין בעוה"ז נשכח מלב הרשעים אשר כח נשמתם בא מלמעלה.
“For we see in this world that the wicked forget, even though the power of their soul comes from above.”
Even those who act wickedly possess a soul from on high, yet they forget its source.
מכ"ש שמן הצדיק נשכח שיש לו חלק בגשמיות.
“All the more so that the righteous may forget that they have any share in physicality.”
The righteous can become so spiritually refined that they overlook their necessary connection to the material world.
כי אמת עיקר האדם הוא חלק אלקי.
“For in truth, the essence of a person is a divine portion.”
The soul’s divine nature can overshadow awareness of the body.
והגוף הוא רק מלבוש.
“And the body is only a garment.”
The physical form merely houses the soul.
כמ"ש בספרים הקדושים.
“As is written in the holy books.”
A well‑known mystical teaching affirms this point.
ולפמ"ש לעיל פי' אשר כבר עשוהו כאן במשה.
“And according to what was explained above, the phrase ‘which they have already done’ here refers to Moses.”
The Sefat Emet applies the Midrashic phrase directly to Moses’ spiritual situation.
שהי' לו לידע כי מדרגתו בא ע"י הקדמת תיקון המעשים שנעשה ע"י אבות כמ"ש חבל כו'.
“For he needed to know that his level came through the prior rectification of deeds performed by the Patriarchs, as it is written: ‘The cord…’”
Moses’ greatness rested on the foundational actions of the forefathers, whose deeds prepared the spiritual ground for him.
Summary: The Sefat Emet explains that Moses and Solomon reached spiritual heights that distanced them from worldly action, yet God placed them in a world requiring action. Their intentions could not fully manifest because the physical realm—already formed by prior deeds, especially those of the Patriarchs—set the necessary framework for their mission.