Rambam-What The Interchanging of the Four Elements Creates- Yisodei Hatorah perek 4 halacha 6

After discussing how the four elements change into each other continuously at the points where they interact, the Rambam now discusses what this creates and the underlying cause for this exchange. He says,

ושינוי זה יהיה בסביבת הגלגל ומסביבתו יתחברו ארבעתן ויהיה מהן שאר גולמי בני אדם ונפש חיה צמח ואבן ומתכת. והאל נותן לכל גולם וגולם צורה ראויה לו על ידי מלאך העשירי שהיא הצורה הנקראת אישים: 


"This change (that is discussed in depth in this post) occurs because of the rotation of the sphere. The rotation causes the four elements to come together and from this conglomeration other creations form such as man, animals, plants, stones, and metals. G-D gave to every one of these items a form that is proper for it through the tenth level of angels which are the form that are called the Ishim."

The Rambam here points out some very interesting ideas. First, he seemingly says that the natural rotation of the spheres causes the four elements to combine and create things on Earth. Then he goes further and says that even the form that each creature or object is given is done through an angel. Rambam is telling us that there is no direct presence or act by G-D. It seems like the Rambam holds that all of these things come about through nature and not a divine act.

However, a person might say that the Rambam is clearly saying that an angel was sent to create the final form of a man, animal, etc. This objection can be countered through what the Rambam says in The Guide for the Perplexed (II:6). He says over there,

"We have already stated above that the angels are incorporeal. This agrees with the opinion of Aristotle: there is only this difference in the names employed -- he uses the term 'Intelligences,' and we say instead 'angels.' His theory is that the Intelligences are intermediate beings between the Prime Cause and existing things, and that they effect the motion of the spheres, on which motion the existence of all things depends."

In the Guide the Rambam is clearly pointing out that the Angels cause the rotation of the spheres, however, it is that rotation that causes all life to ensue on Earth. Therefore, when we put our Mishna Torah together with the Guide we find that the Angels that cause the spheres to move and create existence on Earth are the Ishim. However, this creation seems to occur through "natural" means.

Rambam- Interchange Between the Four Elements- Yisodei Hatorah perek 4 halacha 5

The Rambam continues to discuss how the four elements in the world interact with each other. He says,

ארבעה יסודות האלו משתנים זה לזה תמיד בכל יום ובכל שעה מקצתן לא כל גופן. כיצד מקצת הארץ הקרובה מן המים משתנית ומתפוררת ונעשית מים. וכן מקצת המים הסמוכים לרוח משתנין ומתמסמסין והווין רוח. וכן הרוח מקצתו הסמוך לאש משתנה ומתחולל ונעשה אש. וכן האש מקצתה הסמוך לרוח מתחולל משתנה ומתכנס ונעשה רוח. וכן הרוח מקצתו הסמוך למים משתנה ומתכנס ונעשה מים. וכן המים מקצתו הסמוך לארץ משתנה ומתכנס ונעשה ארץ. ושינוי זה מעט מעט ולפי אורך הימים. ואין כל היסוד משתנה עד שיעשה כל המים רוח או כל הרוח אש שאי אפשר שיבטל אחד מן היסודות הארבעה. אלא מקצת ישתנה מאש לרוח ומקצת ישתנה מרוח לאש וכן בין כל אחד וחבירו ימצא השינוי בין ארבעתן וחוזרות חלילה לעולם: 


"The four elements continuously change into each other every day and hour, some do not completely change. How does this work? Some of the element of land that are close to the element of water change and crumble into the element of water. So too, some of the element of water that is close to the element of wind changes and shifts into the element of air. Also, some of the element of air that is close to the element of fire changes into the element of fire. Also, some of the element of fire that is close to the element of air changes into the element of air. Some of the element of air that is close to the element of water changes into water. Finally, some of the element of water that is close to the element of land turns into the element of land. These changes occur gradually and over many days. However, the elements will never change to the extent that every element of water will turn into air or every element of air will turn into fire since this is impossible that one of the four elements will cease to exist. Rather, some of the elements of fire will turn into air and some of air will turn into fire. And so between every element there will always be a continuous changing rotation between all the four elements."

This idea is very congruent with how some elements exist. On the surface of water there is always a certain amount of H2O elements that are in the solid state of water and there are a certain amount of H2O elements that are in the vapor state. This is how chemistry would describe them. It is fascinating that the Rambam might have understood science in this way.

I think an underlying theme to this halacha might have to do with humbleness. The point is that the highest of all the elements is fire. However, even the highest of all the elements changes back into air. THis air ten can eventually turn into water. Finally, the water then turns into land. Thus, after a long period, the element of fire can turn into the element of land, this element goes from the highest level to the lowest level. That can teach us a great lesson, never be too comfortable in your status because even the elements of the world, which are stable, eventually change. Also, it teaches us that even those people in the lowest levels can rise up and overcome whatever is standing in their way.

Rambam-The Decomposition of materials- Yisodei Hatorah perek 4 halacha 4

The Rambam discusses the decomposition of man as well as other materials. He says,

הואיל וכל הנפסד יפרד ליסודות אלו למה נאמר לאדם ואל עפר תשוב. לפי שרוב בנינו מן העפר. ולא כל הנפסד כשיפסד מיד יחזור לארבעה היסודות. אלא יפסד ויחזור לדבר אחר ודבר אחר לדבר אחר וסוף הדברים יחזור ליסודות ונמצאו כל הדברים חוזרין חלילה: 


"Everything that decomposes decomposes into these four elements. Therefore, why does it say that man will return to the dust? The reason is because the element that makes up the majority of a man is dust (Genesis 3:19). However, not everything that decomposes goes back to the four elements immediately, rather it decomposes and turns into something else and that turns into another thing and eventually it reverts back to the four elements. Everything has this process and it is never ending."

So the Rambam seems to be telling us a simple fact, all things decompose. However, this superficial reading of the Rambam misses the point. If we notice, the Rambam brings in the pasuk that talks about man returning to the Earth as dust. Why does he need to point out this fact if he is just telling us that all things decompose and describes the process?

It must be that the Rambam is coming to teach us a valuable idea that we can learn from this natural process. The fact that everything decomposes shows us that there is a process to life. Man grows from being an infant into a man and then slowly starts to regress and eventually that ends with death. After death the body goes through several more decompositions that, in the end, leave man as just bones. This process divulges a great deal about man in general. Man is not the ultimate being, but rather there is a higher power that causes man and everything else to return to the base elements from which this world is made.

Rambam- All Things Decompose, A Valuable Lesson- Yisodei Hatorah perek 4 halacha 3

The Rambam goes on to discuss the decomposition of objects. The focus here is that they will return to the four basic elements. He says,

וכל המחובר מארבעה יסודות אלו הוא נפרד בסוף. יש שהוא נפרד לאחר ימים אחדים. ויש שהוא נפרד לאחר שנים רבות. וכל שנתחבר מהם אי אפשר שלא יפרד להן. אפילו הזהב והאודם אי אפשר שלא יפסד ויחזור ליסודותיו. וישוב מקצתו לאש. ומקצתו למים. ומקצתו לרוח. ומקצתו לארץ:


"Everything that is composed of these four integral elements, they will eventually decompose back into them. There are those [objects] that it will take a short time to decompose and there are those [objects] that it will take many years for them to decompose. However, everything will eventually decompose back into the basic elements. Even gold and rubies will decompose and return to their basic elements. Some objects will return to either fire, water, wind or earth."

This idea, on the surface seems like it is just dealing with scientific facts. However, if we look deeper, a very integral part of Judaism can be unveiled. The Rambam introduces us to the idea of decomposition by simply stating that everything decomposes that is made of the four basic elements. Everything, according to the Rambam, on Earth is made of the four basic elements. Therefore, the Rambam is telling us that everything on Earth will decompose. This idea, might only be teaching us a scientific idea and nothing really important to spirituality.

The next part of the Rambam says that some objects decompose fast and others decompose slowly. This already has two types of lessons. The first lesson is strictly scientific, that there are different speeds of decomposition. However, it also begins to tell us a significant ideas. Some things remain on the Earth a long time, but others are very temporary. Nevertheless, both end up in the same place, broken up into their base elements and no longer extant.

The next part of the Rambam is completely a mussar (lesson) type of idea. The Rambam tells us that even gold and rubies decompose. The only reason to single these two objects out is to show the vanity and pointlessness that is involved with these objects. Man always chases after gold and rubies, but for what reason? Rambam is telling us that even these seemingly important objects are, in the end, worthless.

I think this Rambam is coming to teach us that mankind can not be so obsessed with corporeal things. It is nice to live a long and wonderful life, however, we have to realize that everything on earth is fleeting. This is why Rambam explains to us that everything will end up decomposing and no longer be extant. The only thing that will remain is that which is not made from the four elements and that is the soul, or as Rambam calls it, the active intellect. This is what man should focus on and really care about.

Rambam-Makeup of All Bodies Under the Heavens-Yisodei Hatorah perek 4 halacha 2

The Rambam discusses the makeup of the different physical objects. The four elements combined can create many different natural features and bodies with diverse characteristics. He says,

דרך האש והרוח להיות מהלכם ממטה מטבור הארץ למעלה כלפי הרקיע. ודרך המים והארץ להיות מהלכם מתחת הרקיע למטה עד לאמצע שאמצע הרקיע הוא המטה שאין למטה ממנו. ואין הילוכם לא בדעתם ולא בחפצם אלא מנהג שנקבע בהן וטבע שנטבע בהן. טבע האש חם ויבש והוא קל מכולם. והרוח חם ולח. והמים קרים ולחים. והארץ יבשה וקרה. והיא כבידה מכולם והמים קלים ממנה לפיכך נמצאים למעלה על הארץ. והרוח קל מן המים לפיכך הוא מרחף על פני המים. והאש קל מן הרוח. ומפני שהם יסודות לכל גופים שתחת הרקיע ימצא כל גוף וגוף מאדם ובהמה וחיה ועוף ודג וצמח ומתכת ואבן גולמו מחובר מאש ורוח ומים ועפר. וארבעתן יתערבו ביחד וישתנו כל אחד מהם בעת העירוב עד שימצא המחובר מארבעתן אינו דומה לאחד מהן כשהוא לבדו. ואין במעורב מהן אפילו חלק אחד שהוא אש בפני עצמו או מים בפני עצמן או ארץ בפני עצמה או רוח בפני עצמה אלא הכל נשתנו ונעשו גוף אחד. וכל גוף וגוף המחובר מארבעתן ימצא בו קור וחום לח ויבש כאחד. אבל יש מהם גופים שיהיה בהם חזקה מיסוד האש כמו בעלי נפש חיה. לפיכך יראה בהם החום יתר. ויש מהן גופין שיהיה בהן חזקה מיסוד הארץ כמו האבנים. לפיכך יראה בהם היובש הרבה. ויש מהן גופין שיהיה בהן חזקה מיסוד המים. לפיכך יראה בהם הלח יתר. ועל הדרך הזה ימצא גוף חם יתר מגוף אחר חם. וגוף יבש יתר מגוף אחר יבש. וכן ימצאו גופים שיראה בהן הקור בלבד. וגופים יראה בהן הלח בלבד. וגופים יראה בהן הקור והיובש כאחד בשוה. או הקור והלח כאחד בשוה. או החום והיובש כאחד בשוה. או החום והלח כאחד בשוה. לפי רוב היסוד שהיה בעיקר התערובת יראה מעשה אותו היסוד וטבעו בגוף המעורב: 


"The nature of the fire and the wind is to travel from below the navel of the Earth to above, towards the heavens. The nature of the water and the land is to travel from underneath the heavens to below the middle, that the middle of the heavens is the lowest point so much so that there is nothing lower than it. These elements do not travel with knowledge or desire, rather they have a guidance that was set for them and a nature that was placed in them. The nature of fire is that it is hot and dry and it is the lightest of all elements. The wind is hot, but moist. Water is cold and wet. Finally, the land is dry, cold and is the heaviest of all the elements. The water is lighter than land and is therefore found above the land. The wind is lighter than the water and that is why it hovers above the water. Fire is lighter than even the wind. Since they are the foundations for all bodies that are under the heavens that they are found in every body from man, domesticated animals, wild beasts, birds, fish, plants, metals, stones of earth, they are all bound from fire, wind, water and dirt. These four are mixed together [for all these bodies]. All of these elements change when they are mixed to the point that the object that contains them mixed is much different than only one of them alone. Also, a mixture of all of them does not create an object that has a portion of it like fire by itself, water by itself, land by itself, or wind by itself, rather all the elements change and create a completely different body. Every body that is combined from all four elements will have within it cold, heat, moistness and dryness in one. However, some bodies, such as the bodies of wild animals, contain a greater proportion of fire is why they are warm. Some bodies, such as stones, will contain a greater proportion of earth, so they are very dry. On this path, we can see that there are bodies that are hotter than others and some bodies are drier than others. Similarly, one will find bodies which are exceedingly cold, bodies which are exceedingly wet, bodies which contain equal proportions of cold and dry, bodies that are equal parts cold and wet, some bodies that are equal parts hot and dry, or bodies that are equal parts hot and wet. The element in the majority will be the one that will give the resultant body its nature."

The Rambam here talks about the physical attributes of bodies found on Earth. The ideas that he brings out is that everything on Earth has a specific nature that must be followed. Water can not be hot and Fire can not be cold. These are just examples of the exactness of nature and its permanence. G-D made the world in a way that everything has its specific nature that the four elements combine to create.

This brings us to the basis for the Rambam's theology. He believes that nature is the driving force on Earth and perpetuates its existence. Unlike sages that were mystics, the Rambam did not believe in magic. This led him to believe that there were no special occurrences on the Earth, save outright miracles that G-D says He performed. The four elements are the most basic of all natural things and therefore need to be understood before even an elementary knowledge of the world is to be attained. This is why the Rambam emphasizes the four elements to such an extent that they have their own perek.

Rambam-Characteristics of the Four Elements- Yisodei Hatorah perek 3 halacha 11

The Rambam discusses the four elements and how they relate to the rest of the world. He says,

ארבעה גופות האלו אינם בעלי נפש ואינם יודעים ולא מכירים אלא כגופים מתים. ויש לכל אחד ואחד מהם מנהג שאינו יודעו ולא משיגו ואינו יכול לשנותו. וזה שאמר דוד הללו את ה' מן הארץ תנינים וכל תהומות אש וברד שלג וקיטור. וביאור ענין הדברים הללוהו בני אדם מגבורותיו שתראו באש ובברד ובשאר ברואים שתראו למטה מן הרקיע שגבורתם תמיד ניכרת לקטן ולגדול:


"These four elements do not posses souls, knowledge, and they do not recognize (G-D), rather they are like dead bodies. Each one of them has a nature that it does not know or understand and it can not change its (nature). This that David said, 'The monsters praise G-D from the earth along with all the deeps: fire, hail, snow and smoke.' The subject of this praise is that man should give G-D praise through seeing G-D's strength in the fire, hail, etc that man can see these things that are below the heavens and their strength is always recognizable from the smallest to the greatest."

This Rambam does two things. First, it allows for a segway into the next perek where the Rambam delves into the four elements on a much deeper level. Secondly, the Rambam introduces us to the idea that man should look at nature around him and use that as a doorway to seeing the greatness of G-D. These elements that we are able to comprehend, namely the four elements that make up the world, allow man to be enthralled with the grandeur of G-D. The intricate details of how these four elements interact and co-exist reveal how great of a master planner G-D is. Also, the power of these four elements is astounding. The elements are the most readily available for man to see and that is why they are so useful for our goal of connecting to G-D.

Rambam- The Four Elements- Yisodei Hatorah perek 3 halacha 10

After discussing all of the Spheres of the Universe, the Rambam starts to focus on Earth. He says,


ברא האל למטה מגלגל הירח גולם אחד שאינו כגולם הגלגלים. וברא ארבע צורות לגולם זה ואינן כצורת הגלגלים ונקבע כל צורה וצורה במקצת גולם זה. צורה ראשונה צורת האש נתחברה במקצת גולם זה ונהיה משניהן גוף האש. וצורה שניה צורת הרוח נתחברה במקצתו ונהיה משניהן גוף הרוח. וצורה שלישית צורת המים נתחברה במקצתו ונהיה משניהם גוף המים. וצורה רביעית צורת הארץ נתחברה במקצתו ונהיה משניהם גוף הארץ. נמצא למטה מן הרקיע ארבעה גופין מוחלקין זה למעלה מזה וכל אחד ואחד מקיף את שלמטה ממנו מכל רוחותיו כמו גלגל. הגוף הראשון הסמוך לגלגל הירח הוא גוף האש. למטה ממנו גוף הרוח. למטה ממנו גוף המים. למטה ממנו גוף הארץ. ואין ביניהם מקום פנוי בלא גוף כלל:


"Below the Sphere of the moon, G-D created a shapeless mass that is not like any of the other Spheres. He also created four tzuras (forms) that this shapeless mass can manifest itself as. These tzuras are not like any of the other Spheres. Every tzura has a part of this shapeless mass. The first tzura is that of fire, that when the tzura of fire and part of this shapeless mass combine they create the physical manifestation of fire. The second tzura is wind, that when the tzura of wind and part of this shapeless mass combine they create the physical manifestation of wind. The third tzura is water, that when the tzura of water and part of this shapeless mass combine they form the physical manifestation of water. The fourth tzura is earth, that when the tzura of water and part of this shapeless mass combine they form the physical manifestation of earth.


We find that below the heavens there are four different physical manifestations that one is higher than the other (spiritually) and each one encompasses that which is lower than it in every direction, just like the Spheres. The physical manifestation that is closest to the Sphere of the moon is the physical manifestation of Fire. Just below that is the physical manifestation of Wind. Below this is the physical manifestation of Water. Finally, the lowest of all physical manifestations is Earth. There is no free space that is not occupied by one of these physical manifestations."

The Rambam here is describing what his society knew of science at the time. It is interesting to note that he says the Earth is made up of a shapeless mass and these four elements. We now know about the microscopic world and the periodical table of elements. These elements make up Fire, Wind, Water and Earth.

However, I do not think the Rambam is trying to give us a lesson in science, but rather a lesson in the meaning of the Torah. In The Guide for The Perplexed the Rambam explains how the Earth is made up of these four elements and the rest of the Universe is made up of a fifth element. He uses these ideas to explain the Torah and its meaning. However, right now I think the Rambam is trying to point out something much more significant to our every day lives. The point of describing every element is to tell us that man is composed of these elements. There is no worth to any of these elements in and of themselves, but rather through their unity to form man they become very significant. It is this makeup that allows man to have a physical body made of Earth and water, that breathes air and creates heat like fire. If one of these elements were missing then man could not exist. That is the uniqueness of our world, our ability to exist. Showing that it must be a creator that mixed all the right materials for our world to come into existence.