שמות רבה כ״חShemot Rabbah 28

Section 1א׳

וּמשֶׁה עָלָה אֶל הָאֱלֹהִים, הֲדָא הוּא דִכְתִיב (תהלים סח, יט): עָלִיתָ לַמָּרוֹם שָׁבִיתָ שֶׁבִי, מַהוּ עָלִיתָ, נִתְעֲלֵיתָ, נִתְגַּשַׁשְׁתָּ עִם הַמַּלְאָכִים שֶׁל מַעְלָה. דָּבָר אַחֵר, עָלִיתָ לַמָּרוֹם, שֶׁלֹא שָׁלְטָה בְּרִיָה מִלְּמַעְלָן כְּשֵׁם שֶׁשָּׁלַט משֶׁה. אָמַר רַבִּי בֶּרֶכְיָה הַלּוּחוֹת הָיוּ אָרְכָּן שִׁשָּׁה טְפָחִים, כִּבְיָכוֹל הָיוּ בְּיַד מִי שֶׁאָמַר וְהָיָה הָעוֹלָם שְׁנֵי טְפָחִים וּבְיָדוֹ שֶׁל משֶׁה שְׁנֵי טְפָחִים וּשְׁנֵי טְפָחִים הָיוּ מַפְרִישִׁין בֵּין יַד לְיַד. דָּבָר אַחֵר, עָלִיתָ לַמָּרוֹם שָׁבִיתָ שֶׁבִי, בְּנֹהַג שֶׁבָּעוֹלָם הַנִּכְנָס לִמְדִינָה נוֹטֵל דָּבָר שֶׁאֵין עֵין בְּנֵי הַמְדִינָה עָלָיו, וּמשֶׁה עָלָה לַמָּרוֹם וְנָטַל אֶת הַתּוֹרָה שֶׁהָיוּ הַכֹּל נוֹשְׂאִין עֵינֵיהֶם עָלֶיהָ, הֱוֵי: עָלִיתָ לַמָּרוֹם שָׁבִיתָ שֶׁבִי, יָכוֹל מִפְּנֵי שֶׁשָּׁבָה אוֹתָהּ נְטָלָהּ חִנָּם, תַּלְמוּד לוֹמַר (תהלים סח, יט): לָקַחְתָּ מַתָּנוֹת בָּאָדָם, בִּלְקִיחָה נִתְּנָה לוֹ. יָכוֹל יְהֵא חַיָּב לִתֵּן לוֹ דָּמִים, תַּלְמוּד לוֹמַר מַתָּנוֹת, בְּמַתָּנָה נִתְּנָה לוֹ. בְּאוֹתָהּ שָׁעָה בִּקְּשׁוּ מַלְאֲכֵי הַשָּׁרֵת לִפְגֹעַ בְּמשֶׁה, עָשָׂה בּוֹ הַקָּדוֹשׁ בָּרוּךְ הוּא קְלַסְטֵירִין שֶׁל פָּנָיו שֶׁל משֶׁה דּוֹמֶה לְאַבְרָהָם, אָמַר לָהֶם הַקָּדוֹשׁ בָּרוּךְ הוּא אִי אַתֶּם מִתְבַּיְשִׁין הֵימֶנּוּ לֹא זֶהוּ שֶׁיְּרַדְתֶּם אֶצְלוֹ וַאֲכַלְתֶּם בְּתוֹךְ בֵּיתוֹ, אָמַר הַקָּדוֹשׁ בָּרוּךְ הוּא לְמשֶׁה לֹא נִתְּנָה לְךָ תּוֹרָה אֶלָּא בִּזְכוּת אַבְרָהָם, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר: לָקַחְתָּ מַתָּנוֹת בָּאָדָם, וְאֵין אָדָם הָאָמוּר כָּאן אֶלָּא אַבְרָהָם, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר (יהושע יד, טו): הָאָדָם הַגָּדוֹל בָּעֲנָקִים, הֱוֵי: וּמשֶׁה עָלָה אֶל הָאֱלֹהִים.

“Moses ascended to God. The Lord called to him from the mountain, saying: So you shall say to the house of Jacob and tell to the children of Israel” (Exodus 19:3). “Moses ascended to God” – that is what is written: “You ascended on high; you took captives” (Psalms 68:19). What is “ascended”? You were exalted. You struggled with angels on high. Another matter: “You ascended on high” – that there was no creature who prevailed on high like Moses prevailed. Rabbi Berekhya said: The length of the tablets was six handbreadths. As it were, there were two handbreadths in the hand of the One who spoke and the world came into being, two handbreadths in the hand of Moses, and two handbreadths separated between the two hands. Another matter: “You ascended on high; you took captives” – the way of the world is that one who enters a province takes an item to which the residents of the province do not direct their attention, but Moses ascended on high and took the Torah, to which everyone directed their attention. That is, “you ascended on high; you took captives.” Is it, perhaps, that because he took it captive he took it for free? The verse states: “You received gifts among men” (Psalms 68:19) – it was given to him as an acquisition. Was he, perhaps, obligated to give Him money? The verse states: “gifts”; it was given to him as a gift. At that moment, the ministering angels sought to harm Moses. The Holy One blessed be He made the image of Moses’s face similar to Abraham. The Holy One blessed be He said to them: ‘Are you not ashamed before him? Is he not that one to whom you descended and ate in his house?’ The Holy One blessed be He said to Moses: ‘The Torah was given to you due only to the merit of Abraham,’ as it is stated: “You received gifts among men [adam]” (Psalms 68:19). The adam stated here is no one other than Abraham, as it is stated: “The greatest man [adam] among the Anakim” (Joshua 14:15). That is, “Moses ascended to God.”

Section 2ב׳

וַיִּקְרָא אֵלָיו ה' מִן הָהָר לֵאמֹר, בִּזְכוּת הָהָר, וְאֵין הָהָר אֶלָּא אָבוֹת, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר (מיכה ו, ב): שִׁמְעוּ הָרִים אֶת רִיב ה'. וּמשֶׁה עָלָה אֶל הָאֱלֹהִים, עָלָה בֶּעָנָן וְיָרַד בֶּעָנָן וּזְכוּת אָבוֹת עוֹלָה וְיוֹרֶדֶת עִמּוֹ. כֹּה תֹאמַר לְבֵית יַעֲקֹב, אֵלּוּ הַנָּשִׁים, אָמַר לוֹ אֱמֹר לָהֶם רָאשֵׁי דְבָרִים שֶׁהֵם יְכוֹלוֹת לִשְׁמֹעַ, וְתַגֵּיד לִבְנֵי יִשְׂרָאֵל, אֵלּוּ הָאֲנָשִׁים, אָמַר לוֹ אֱמֹר לָהֶם דִּקְדּוּקֵי דְּבָרִים שֶׁהֵם יְכוֹלִים לִשְׁמֹעַ. דָּבָר אַחֵר, לָמָּה לַנָּשִׁים תְּחִלָּה, שֶׁהֵן מִזְדָּרְזוֹת בְּמִצְווֹת. דָּבָר אַחֵר, כְּדֵי שֶׁיְהוּ מַנְהִיגוֹת אֶת בְּנֵיהֶן לַתּוֹרָה. אָמַר רַבִּי תַּחְלִיפָא דְּקֵיסָרִין, אָמַר הַקָּדוֹשׁ בָּרוּךְ הוּא כְּשֶׁבָּרָאתִי אֶת הָעוֹלָם, לֹא צִוִּיתִי אֶלָּא לְאָדָם הָרִאשׁוֹן, וְאַחַר כָּךְ נִצְטַוֵּית חַוָּה וְעָבְרָה וְקִלְקְלָה אֶת הָעוֹלָם, עַכְשָׁיו אִם אֵינִי קוֹרֵא לַנָּשִׁים תְּחִלָּה, הֵן מְבַטְּלוֹת אֶת הַתּוֹרָה, לְכָךְ נֶאֱמַר: כֹּה תֹאמַר לְבֵית יַעֲקֹב. וְרַבִּי יוֹחָנָן אָמַר: כֹּה תֹאמַר לְבֵית יַעֲקֹב, אֵלּוּ סַנְהֶדְּרִין, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר (ישעיה ב, ה): בֵּית יַעֲקֹב לְכוּ וְנֵלְכָה בְּאוֹר ה'. וַיְדַבֵּר אֱלֹהִים אֵת כָּל הַדְּבָרִים הָאֵלֶּה לֵאמֹר, בְּטַכְסִיס שֶׁל מְלָכִים נָהַג הַקָּדוֹשׁ בָּרוּךְ הוּא עִם יִשְׂרָאֵל, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר (שיר השירים ד, ח): אִתִּי מִלְּבָנוֹן כַּלָּה, לָמָּה כָּךְ בִּזְכוּת שֶׁאָמְרוּ (שמות כד, ז): נַעֲשֶׂה וְנִשְׁמָע.

“The Lord called to him from the mountain, saying” – due to the merit of the mountain. The mountain is nothing other than the patriarchs, as it is stated: “Listen, mountains, to the Lord’s quarrel” (Micah 6:2). “Moses ascended to God” – he ascended in a cloud, and the merit of the patriarchs ascended and descended with him. “So you shall say to the house of Jacob” – these are the women. He said to him: ‘Say to them the major principles, which they are capable of understanding.’ “And tell to the children of Israel” – these are the men. He said to him: ‘Say to them the fine points, which they are capable of understanding.’ Another matter: Why to the women first? Because they have alacrity regarding mitzvot. Alternatively, so they will guide their children to Torah. Rabbi Taḥlifa of Caesarea said: The Holy One blessed be He said: When I created the world, I commanded only Adam the first man, and thereafter Eve was commanded and she corrupted the world. Now, if I do not summon the women first, they will nullify the Torah. That is why it is stated: “So you shall say to the house of Jacob.” Rabbi Yoḥanan said: “So you shall say to the house of Jacob” – these are the Sanhedrin, as it is stated: “House of Jacob, come, let us walk by the light of the Lord” (Isaiah 2:5). “God spoke all these matters, saying” (Exodus 20:1). “God spoke all these matters, saying” – the Holy One blessed be He conducted Himself vis-à-vis Israel with protocols of royalty, as it is stated: “With me, from Lebanon, my bride” (Song of Songs 4:8). Why was it so? Due to the merit of their saying: “[All that the Lord has spoken] we will perform and we will heed” (Exodus 24:7).

Section 3ג׳

וַיָּשֶׁב משֶׁה אֶת דִּבְרֵי הָעָם אֶל ה', אוֹתָהּ שָׁעָה בִּקֵּשׁ הַקָּדוֹשׁ בָּרוּךְ הוּא לִתֵּן לָהֶם אֶת הַתּוֹרָה וּלְדַבֵּר עִמָּהֶם, וְהָיָה משֶׁה עוֹמֵד, אָמַר הַקָּדוֹשׁ בָּרוּךְ הוּא מָה אֶעֱשֶׂה מִפְּנֵי משֶׁה, אָמַר רַבִּי לֵוִי מָשָׁל לְמֶלֶךְ שֶׁבִּקֵּשׁ לַעֲשׂוֹת אוֹפִימְשְׁטָאטָא חוּץ מִדַּעְתּוֹ שֶׁל אִפַּרְכוֹס, אָמַר לוֹ עֲשֵׂה דָבָר פְּלוֹנִי, אָמַר לוֹ, כְּבָר נַעֲשֵׂית. שׁוּב אָמַר לוֹ, לֵךְ קְרָא לִפְלוֹנִי סִינְקְלִיטָקוֹס וְיָבֹא עִמְּךָ, עַד שֶׁהוּא הוֹלֵךְ עָשָׂה הַמֶּלֶךְ מַה שֶּׁבִּקֵּשׁ. כָּךְ בִּקֵּשׁ הַקָּדוֹשׁ בָּרוּךְ הוּא לִתֵּן עֶשֶׂר דִּבְּרוֹת, הָיָה משֶׁה עוֹמֵד מִצִּדּוֹ, אָמַר הַקָּדוֹשׁ בָּרוּךְ הוּא, אֲנִי גוֹלֶה לָהֶם אֶת הָרָקִיעַ וְאוֹמֵר (שמות כ, ב): אָנֹכִי ה' אֱלֹהֶיךָ. הֵם אוֹמְרִים, מִי אָמַר הַקָּדוֹשׁ בָּרוּךְ הוּא אוֹ משֶׁה, אֶלָּא יֵרֵד משֶׁה וְאַחַר כָּךְ אֲנִי אוֹמֵר: אָנֹכִי ה' אֱלֹהֶיךָ. כָּךְ אָמַר הַקָּדוֹשׁ בָּרוּךְ הוּא לְמשֶׁה (שמות יט, י): לֵךְ אֶל הָעָם וְקִדַּשְׁתָּם הַיּוֹם וּמָחָר וְכִבְּסוּ שִׂמְלֹתָם, אָמַר לוֹ כְּבָר הִקְדַּשְׁתִּים, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר (שמות יט, כג): כִּי אַתָּה הַעֵדֹתָה בָּנוּ לֵאמֹר וגו'. אָמַר לוֹ (שמות יט, כד): לֶךְ רֵד וְעָלִיתָ אַתָּה וְאַהֲרֹן עִמָּךְ, עַד שֶׁמּשֶׁה יוֹרֵד, נִגְלָה הַקָּדוֹשׁ בָּרוּךְ הוּא, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר (שמות יט, כה): וַיֵּרֶד משֶׁה אֶל הָעָם, מִיָּד (שמות כ, א): וַיְדַבֵּר אֱלֹהִים.

“Moses reported the statement of the people to the Lord” (Exodus 19:8) – at that moment, the Holy One blessed be He sought to give them the Torah and to speak with them, but Moses was standing [on the mountain]. The Holy One blessed be He said: What shall I do about Moses? Rabbi Levi said: This is analogous to a king who sought to issue a proclamation without the input of his chief official. He said to him: ‘Do such and such.’ He said to him: ‘It is already done.’ He then said to him: ‘Go and summon so-and-so the adviser and let him come with you.’ When he went, the king did what he sought to do. So too, the Holy One blessed be He sought to give the Ten Commandments. Moses was standing to His side. The Holy One blessed be He said: When I reveal the firmament to them and say: “I am the Lord your God” (Exodus 20:2), they will say: ‘Who spoke; was it the Holy One blessed be He or Moses?’ Rather, let Moses descend, and afterward I will say: “I am the Lord your God.” So, the Holy One blessed be He said to Moses: “Go to the people and sanctify them today and tomorrow, and they shall wash their garments” (Exodus 19:10). He said to Him: ‘I already sanctified them,’ as it is stated: “As you have warned us, saying: [Demarcate the mountain and sanctify it]” (Exodus 19:23). He said to him: “Go, descend, and you shall ascend and Aaron with you” (Exodus 19:24). When Moses descended, the Holy One blessed be He revealed Himself, as it is stated: “Moses descended to the people” (Exodus 19:25), [and] immediately, “God spoke.”