If a lion is outside, why does only the Atzel say so?
Rashi: It is an excuse why he cannot learn Torah. Devarim Rabah (Nitzavim) - They tell an Atzel, go to another city to learn Torah! He says, "Ari Bein ha'Rechovos" (26:13; I fear lest there is a lion on the road). They tell him, there is a Chacham in your city (go to learn from him)! He says, "Ari va'Chutz." They tell him, the Chacham is close to you - go learn from him! He says, "b'Soch ha'Rechovos Eratze'ach." They tell him, he is in the house! He says, if I go, I will find the door locked; I will need to return. They tell him, the door is open - "ha'Deles Tisov Al Tzirah" (26:14)! In the end, he does not know what to answer. He says, whether the door is open or locked, I want to sleep a bit more - "Ad Masai Atzel Tishkav" (6:9).
R. Yonah #1: The verse informs that bad Midos make intellect stray. He seeks reasons to be drawn after desires. An Atzel finds a claim to be drawn after laziness. He fears what no one else fears.
R. Yonah #2: The verse informs that laziness comes from a fearful heart 1 . Similarly, Zerizus is an offshoot of Gevurah. This is correct.
Mesilas Yesharim (Perek 9): Fear does not cause him to be lazy. Rather, laziness causes him to fear!
Why does it mention va'Chutz and b'Soch ha'Rechovos?
Malbim #1: Chutz is in back of the houses. It is not Reshus ha'Rabim; only Bnei ha'Chatzer use the area. Rechov is a market place where people of the city gather. Normally, there are evil Chayos in forests far from civilization, and there are bandits on the road. However, in the city, even b'Chutzos and all the more so in the Rechovos, there are not bandits, and all the more so no evil Chayos. The Atzel, amidst laziness to leave his house, his imagination imagines that b'Chutz, where not many people are found, there are evil Chayos, and in ha'Rechovos there are murderers, even though there are not Chayos due to fear of the Rabim. He finds an excuse not to leave his house.
Malbim #2: This is a Mashal for not engaging in Torah and Chachmah. If they tell him to engage ba'Chutz, in investigations and Chachmah outside of Torah, he says that there is a lion - "Shuchah Amukah Fi Zaros" (14) - he fears lest he fall in denial. If they tell him to go in the Rechov, to learn what many learn, he fears 'murder', that he will not understand what he learns. All this is from his laziness.
If there really is a lion outside, is it proper to go to learn?
Orchos Tzadikim (Sha'ar ha'Da'agah): Yes. He should think, most people go and they are not harmed. Also he should not refrain due to fear; Sheluchei Mitzvah are not harmed (Pesachim 8b). All one's worries he should intend l'Shem Shamayim.
