In addition to the affirmative command obligating a farmer to leave the corner of his field (“Pe’a”) for the poor, the Torah also formulates a separate command forbidding harvesting the entire field, without leaving a portion for the poor (“Lo Techaleh Pe’at Sadecha” – Vayikra 19:9). As we discussed in regard to the affirmative command (Misva #216), the Torah does not assign a minimum required amount which must be left for the poor. One satisfies his Torah obligation by leaving even a very small portion of his produce. However, the Sages enacted that one should leave at least one-sixtieth of the produce for the poor. As the Torah requires Pe’a as both an affirmative command and a prohibition, this prohibition falls under the category of “Lav Ha’nitak La’aseh” – a violation which can be rectified. If one violated the prohibition by harvesting the entire field, he can rectify his violation and thus avoid the punishment of Malkut by giving a portion of the harvested produce to the poor. As long as the produce is still extant, the violator is not liable to Malkut, because he can correct his wrongdoing by giving the required portion from the harvested produce.