order of justice at creation and continued to maintain it through righteous rule. This just order was rooted in the character of God, activated by divine will, and expressed in divine action. Thus order did not operate mechanically on its own, nor were humans through their behavior and language automatically rewarded or punished. While the sages’ understanding of order accommodated the doctrine of retributive justice, they did not separate its operation from the free will and activity of God. For
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