▁differ ing ▁terms ▁mean ▁that ▁one ▁can ▁in cur ▁li ability ▁for ▁des iring ▁in ▁and ▁of ▁itself ▁and ▁for ▁cov eting ▁in ▁and ▁of ▁itself . ▁ ▁Rab bi ▁I sh ma el ▁interpreted ▁the ▁words ▁" all ▁the ▁people ▁perce ived ▁the ▁th under ings , ▁and ▁the ▁light nings , ▁and ▁the ▁voice ▁of ▁the ▁horn " ▁in ▁ ▁( 2 0 : 1 5 ▁in ▁the ▁N J PS ) ▁to ▁mean ▁that ▁the ▁people ▁saw ▁what ▁could ▁be ▁seen ▁and ▁heard ▁what ▁could ▁be ▁heard . ▁But ▁Rab bi ▁Ak iva ▁said ▁that ▁they ▁saw ▁and ▁heard ▁what ▁was ▁perce iv able , ▁and ▁they ▁saw ▁the ▁fier y ▁word ▁of ▁God ▁strike ▁the ▁table ts . ▁ ▁The ▁Gem ara ▁taught ▁that ▁ ▁( 2 0 : 1 7 ▁in ▁the ▁N J PS ) ▁sets ▁forth ▁one ▁of ▁the ▁three ▁most ▁distingu ishing ▁virt ues ▁of ▁the ▁Jewish ▁People . ▁The ▁Gem ara ▁taught ▁that ▁David ▁told ▁the ▁Gib e on ites ▁that ▁the ▁Israel ites ▁are ▁distinguished ▁by ▁three ▁characteristics : ▁They ▁are ▁merc iful , ▁bash ful , ▁and ▁bene vol ent . ▁They ▁are ▁merc iful , ▁for ▁ ▁says ▁that ▁God ▁would ▁" show ▁you ▁( the ▁Israel ites ) ▁mer cy , ▁and ▁have ▁comp ass ion ▁upon ▁you , ▁and ▁multiply ▁you ." ▁They ▁are ▁bash ful , ▁for ▁ ▁( 2 0 : 1 7 ▁in ▁the ▁N J PS ) ▁says ▁" that ▁God ' s ▁fear ▁may