Pirkei DeRabbi Eliezer 41:4

יְרִידָה שִׁשִּׁית שֶׁיָּרַד לְסִינַי, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר: ״וַיֵּרֶד ה' עַל הַר סִינַי״ וְכוּ'. בְּשִׁשָּׁה בְּסִיוָן נִגְלָה עַל יִשְׂרָאֵל הַקָּדוֹשׁ בָּרוּךְ הוּא, וּבִמְקוֹמוֹ נִגְלָה עַל הַר סִינַי, וְנִפְתְּחוּ הַשָּׁמַיִם, וְנִכְנַס רֹאשׁ הָהָר בְּתוֹךְ הַשָּׁמַיִם, וְהָעֲרָפֶל מְכַסֶּה אֶת הָהָר, וְהַקָּדוֹשׁ בָּרוּךְ הוּא יוֹשֵׁב עַל כִּסְאוֹ וְרַגְלָיו עוֹמְדוֹת עַל הָעֲרָפֶל, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר: ״וַיֵּט שָׁמַיִם וַיֵּרַד וַעֲרָפֶל תַּחַת רַגְלָיו״. THE REVELATION ON SINAI
THE sixth descent was when He came down on Sinai, as it is said, "And the Lord came down upon Mount Sinai" (Ex. 19:20). On the sixth of Sivan the Holy One, blessed be He, was revealed unto Israel on Sinai, and from His place was He revealed (on) Mount Sinai, and the heavens were opened, || and the summit of the mountain entered into the heavens. Thick darkness covered the mountain, and the Holy One, blessed be He, sat upon His throne, and His feet stood on the thick darkness, as it is said, "He bowed the heavens also, and came down; and thick darkness was under his feet" (2 Sam. 22:10).

רַבִּי טַרְפוֹן אוֹמֵר: זָרַח הַקָּדוֹשׁ בָּרוּךְ הוּא וּבָא מֵהַר סִינַי וְנִגְלָה עַל בְּנֵי עֵשָׂו, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר: ״וַיֹּאמַר ה' מִסִּינַי בָּא וְזָרַח מִשֵּׂעִיר לָמוֹ״, וְאֵין שֵׂעִיר אֶלָּא בְּנֵי עֵשָׂו שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר: ״וַיֵּשֶׁב עֵשָׂו בְּהַר שֵׂעִיר״. אָמַר לָהֶם הַקָּדוֹשׁ בָּרוּךְ הוּא: מְקַבְּלִים אַתֶּם עֲלֵיכֶם אֶת הַתּוֹרָה? אָמְרוּ לוֹ: וּמַה כָּתוּב בָּהּ? אָמַר לָהֶם: ״לֹא תִּרְצַח״. אָמְרוּ לוֹ: אֵין אָנוּ יְכוֹלִין לַעֲזֹב אֶת הַדָּבָר שֶׁבֵּרַךְ יִצְחָק אֶת עֵשָׂו שֶׁאָמַר לוֹ: ״וְעַל חַרְבְּךָ תִחְיֶה״. וּמִשָּׁם חָזַר וְנִגְלָה עַל בְּנֵי יִשְׁמָעֵאל שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר: ״הוֹפִיעַ מֵהַר פָּארָן״, וְאֵין פָּארָן אֶלָּא בְּנֵי יִשְׁמָעֵאל שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר: ״בְּמִדְבַּר פָּארָן״. אָמַר לָהֶם הַקָּדוֹשׁ בָּרוּךְ הוּא: מְקַבְּלִים אַתֶּם אֶת הַתּוֹרָה? אָמְרוּ לוֹ: וּמַה כָּתוּב בָּהּ? אָמַר לָהֶם: ״לֹא תִּגְנֹב״. אָמְרוּ לוֹ: אֵין אָנוּ יְכוֹלִין לַעֲזֹב אֶת הַדָּבָר שֶׁעָשׂוּ אֲבוֹתֵינוּ שֶׁגָּנְבוּ אֶת יוֹסֵף וְהוֹרִידוּהוּ לְמִצְרַיִם שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר: ״כִּי גֻנֹּב גֻּנַּבְתִּי מֵאֶרֶץ הָעִבְרִים״. וּמִשָּׁם שָׁלַח מַלְאָכִים לְכָל אֻמּוֹת הָעוֹלָם. אָמַר לָהֶם: אַתֶּם מְקַבְּלִים עֲלֵיכֶם אֶת הַתּוֹרָה? אָמְרוּ לוֹ: וּמַה כְּתִיב בָּהּ? אָמַר לָהֶם: ״לֹא יִהְיֶה לְךָ אֱלֹהִים אֲחֵרִים עַל פָּנָי״. אָמְרוּ לוֹ: אָנוּ רוֹאִין שֶׁאֵין אָנוּ יְכוֹלִין לְהַנִּיחַ דַּת אֲבוֹתֵינוּ שֶׁעָבְדוּ אֶת הָאֱלִילִים, אֶלָּא תֵּן תּוֹרָתְךָ לְעַמְּךָ שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר: ״ה' עֹז לְעַמּוֹ יִתֵּן, ה' יְבָרֵךְ אֶת עַמּוֹ בַשָּׁלוֹם״. וּמִשָּׁם חָזַר וְנִגְלָה עַל בְּנֵי יִשְׂרָאֵל שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר: ״וְאָתָא מֵרִבְבֹת קֹדֶשׁ״, וְאֵין רִבְבוֹת אֶלָּא יִשְׂרָאֵל שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר: ״וּבְנֻחֹה יֹאמַר שׁוּבָה ה' רִבְבוֹת אַלְפֵי יִשְׂרָאֵל״, וְעִמּוֹ אַלְפֵי שִׁנְאָן וְרֶכֶב רִבּוֹתַיִם מַלְאֲכֵי קֹדֶשׁ, וִימִינוֹ אוֹחֶזֶת אֶת הַתּוֹרָה שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר: ״מִימִינוֹ אֵשׁ דָּת לָמוֹ״. Rabbi Ṭarphon said: The Holy One, blessed be He, rose and came from Mount Sinai and was revealed unto the sons of Esau, as it is said, "And he said, The Lord came from Sinai, and rose from Seir unto them" (Deut. 33:2). And "Seir" means only the sons of Esau, as it is said, "And Esau dwelt in Mount Seir" (Gen. 36:8). The Holy One, blessed be He, said to them: Will ye accept for yourselves the Torah? They said to Him: What is written therein? He answered them: It is written therein, "Thou shalt do no murder" (Ex. 20:13). They replied to Him: We are unable to abandon the blessing with which Isaac blessed Esau, for he said to him, "By thy sword shalt thou live" (Gen. 27:40). Thence He turned and was revealed unto the children of Ishmael, as it is said, "He shined forth from Mount Paran" (Deut. 33:2). "Paran" means only the sons of Ishmael, as it is said, "And he dwelt in the wilderness of Paran" (Gen. 21:21). The Holy One, blessed be He, said to them: Will ye accept for yourselves the Torah? They said to Him: What is written therein? He answered them: "Thou shalt not steal" (Ex. 20:15) is written therein. They said to Him: We are not able to abandon the usage which our fathers observed, for they brought Joseph down into Egypt, as it is said, "For indeed I was stolen away out of the land of the Hebrews" (Gen. 40:15). Thence He sent || messengers to all the nations of the world. He said unto them: Will ye receive for yourselves the Torah? They said to Him: What is written therein? He said to them: "Thou shalt have no other gods before me" (Ex. 20:3). They said to Him: We have no delight in the Torah, therefore let Him give His Torah to His people, as it is said, "The Lord will give strength unto his people; the Lord will bless his people with peace" (Ps. 29:11). Thence He returned and was revealed unto the children of Israel, as it is said, "And he came from the ten thousands of holy ones" (Deut. 33:2). The expression "ten thousands" means the children of Israel, as it is said, "And when it rested, he said, Return, O Lord, unto the ten thousands of the thousands of Israel" (Num. 10:36). With Him were thousands twice-told of chariots, even twenty thousand of holy angels, and His right hand was holding the Torah, as it is said, "At his right hand was a fiery law unto them" (Deut. 33:2).

מִכָּאן אַתָּה לָמֵד שֶׁדִּבְרֵי תוֹרָה כְּגַחֲלֵי אֵשׁ, וְנִתַּן לָהֶם בִּלְשׁוֹן חִבָּה וּבִלְשׁוֹן שְׁבוּעָה. בִּלְשׁוֹן חִבָּה שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר: ״שְׂמֹאלוֹ תַּחַת לְרֹאשִׁי״. בִּלְשׁוֹן שְׁבוּעָה שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר: ״נִשְׁבַּע ה' בִּימִינוֹ וּבִזְרוֹעַ עֻזּוֹ״. וְאֵין יְמִינוֹ אֶלָּא שְׁבוּעָה, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר: ״נִשְׁבַּע ה' בִּימִינוֹ״. Hence thou mayest learn that the words of the Torah are like coals of fire. Why was it "at his right hand"? Whence do we know (that it was given to them) with expression of love? Because it is said, "The Lord hath sworn by his right hand, and by the arm of his strength" (Isa. 62:8).

רַבִּי אֶלְעָזָר הַמּוֹדָעִי אוֹמֵר: מִיּוֹם שֶׁנִּבְרְאוּ שָׁמַיִם וָאָרֶץ נִקְרָא שֵׁם הָהָר חוֹרֵב, וּכְשֶׁנִּגְלָה הַקָּדוֹשׁ בָּרוּךְ הוּא עַל מֹשֶׁה מִתּוֹךְ הַסְּנֶה, עַל שֵׁם הַסְּנֶה נִקְרָא הַר סִינַי, וְהוּא חוֹרֵב. וּמִנַּיִן שֶׁקִּבְּלוּ יִשְׂרָאֵל הַתּוֹרָה בְּהַר חוֹרֵב? שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר: ״יוֹם אֲשֶׁר עָמַדְתָּ לִפְנֵי ה' אֱלֹהֶיךָ בְּחֹרֵב״. Rabbi Elazar of Modein said: From the day when the heavens and the earth were created, the name of the mountain was Horeb. When the Holy One, blessed be He, was revealed unto Moses out of the thorn-bush, because of the word for the thorn-bush (S'neh) it was called Sinai (Sinai), and that is Horeb. And whence do we know that Israel accepted the Torah at Mount Horeb? Because it is said, "The day that thou stoodest before the Lord thy God in Horeb" (Deut. 4:10).

רַבִּי פִּנְחָס אוֹמֵר: עֶרֶב שַׁבָּת עָמְדוּ יִשְׂרָאֵל בְּהַר סִינַי, עוֹרְכִין הָאֲנָשִׁים לְבַד וְהַנָּשִׁים לְבַד. אָמַר לוֹ הַקָּדוֹשׁ בָּרוּךְ הוּא לְמֹשֶׁה: ״לֵךְ אֱמוֹר לָהֶן לִבְנוֹת יִשְׂרָאֵל אִם רוֹצוֹת הֵן לְקַבֵּל אֶת הַתּוֹרָה״. וְלָמָּה שָׁאֲלוּ לַנָּשִׁים? לְפִי שֶׁדַּרְכָּן שֶׁל אֲנָשִׁים הוֹלְכִין אַחֲרֵי דַעְתָּן שֶׁל נָשִׁים, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר: ״כֹּה תֹאמַר לְבֵית יַעֲקֹב״ – אֵלּוּ הַנָּשִׁים, ״וְתַגֵּד לִבְנֵי יִשְׂרָאֵל״ – אֵלּוּ הָאֲנָשִׁים. וְעָנוּ כֻלָּם בְּפֶה אֶחָד וְאָמְרוּ: ״כֹּל אֲשֶׁר דִּבֶּר ה' נַעֲשֶׂה וְנִשְׁמָע״. ״וְשָׁרִים כְּחוֹלְלִים כָּל מַעְיָנַי בָּךְ״. Rabbi Phineas said: On the eve of Sabbath the Israelites stood at Mount Sinai, arranged with the men apart and the women apart. The Holy One, blessed be He, said to Moses: Go, speak to the daughters of Israel, (asking them) whether they wish to receive the Torah. Why were the women asked (first)? Because the way of men is to follow the opinion of women, as it is said, "Thus shalt thou say to the house of Jacob" (Ex. 19:3); these are the women. "And tell the children of Israel" (ibid.); these are the men. They all replied (as) with one mouth, and they said: "All that the Lord hath spoken we will do, and be obedient" (Ex. 24:7). (The Scripture also says,) "They that sing as well as they that dance (shall say), All my fountains are in thee" (Ps. 87:7).

רַבִּי חֲנִינָא אוֹמֵר: בַּחֹדֶשׁ הַשְּׁלִישִׁי הַיּוֹם כָּפוּל בַּלַּיְלָה, וַיִּישְׁנוּ יִשְׂרָאֵל עַד שְׁתֵּי שָׁעוֹת בַּיּוֹם, שֶׁשֵּׁנַת יוֹם הָעֲצֶרֶת עֲרֵבָה וְהַלַּיְלָה קְצָרָה. וַיֵּצֵא מֹשֶׁה וּבָא לְמַחֲנֵה יִשְׂרָאֵל, וְהָיָה מְעוֹרֵר יִשְׂרָאֵל מִשְּׁנָתָם וְאָמַר לָהֶם: ״עִמְדוּ מִשְּׁנַתְכֶם, שֶׁהֲרֵי אֱלֹהֵיכֶם מְבַקֵּשׁ לִיתֵּן לָכֶם אֶת הַתּוֹרָה. כְּבָר הֶחָתָן מְבַקֵּשׁ לְהָבִיא אֶת הַכַּלָּה לְהַכְנִיס לַחֻפָּה כְּדֵי לִיתֵּן לָכֶם אֶת הַתּוֹרָה. בָּאָה הַשָּׁעָה״, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר: ״וַיּוֹצֵא מֹשֶׁה אֶת הָעָם״ וְכוּ'. וְאַף הַקָּדוֹשׁ בָּרוּךְ הוּא יָצָא לִקְרָאתָן כְּחָתָן הַיּוֹצֵא לִקְרַאת כַּלָּה, כֵּן הַקָּדוֹשׁ בָּרוּךְ הוּא יָצָא לִקְרָאתָן לִיתֵּן לָהֶם אֶת הַתּוֹרָה, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר: ״ה' בְּצֵאתְךָ מִשֵּׂעִיר״ וְכוּ'. Rabbi Chanina said: || In the third month the day is double the night, and the Israelites slept until two hours of the day, for sleep on the day of the (feast of) 'Azereth is pleasant, the night being short. And Moses went forth and came to the camp of the Israelites, and he aroused the Israelites from their sleep, saying to them: Arise ye from your sleep, for behold, your God desires to give the Torah to you. Already the bridegroom wishes to lead the bride and to enter the bridal chamber. The hour has come for giving you the Torah, as it is said, "And Moses brought forth the people out of the camp to meet God" (Ex. 19:17). And the Holy One, blessed be He, also went forth to meet them; like a bridegroom who goes forth to meet the bride, so the Holy One, blessed be He, went forth to meet them to give them the Torah, as it is said, "O God, when thou wentest forth before thy people" (Ps. 68:7).

רַבִּי יְהוֹשֻׁעַ בֶּן קָרְחָה אוֹמֵר: מֹשֶׁה הָיוּ רַגְלָיו עוֹמְדוֹת בָּהָר וְכֻלּוֹ בְּתוֹךְ הַשָּׁמַיִם, כְּאֹהֶל דְּנִדָּה שֶׁהִיא פְּרוּסָה וּבְנֵי אָדָם עוֹמְדִין בְּתוֹכָהּ וְרַגְלֵיהֶם עוֹמְדוֹת בָּאָרֶץ וְכֻלָּם בְּתוֹךְ הָאֹהֶל. כָּךְ מֹשֶׁה הָיוּ רַגְלָיו עוֹמְדוֹת בָּהָר וְכֻלּוֹ בְּתוֹךְ הַשָּׁמַיִם, צוֹפֶה וּמַבִּיט כָּל מַה שֶּׁיֵּשׁ בַּשָּׁמַיִם. וְהַקָּדוֹשׁ בָּרוּךְ הוּא מְדַבֵּר עִמּוֹ כְּאָדָם שֶׁהוּא מְדַבֵּר עִם חֲבֵרוֹ, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר: ״וְדִבֶּר ה' אֶל מֹשֶׁה פָּנִים אֶל פָּנִים״. אָמַר לוֹ הַקָּדוֹשׁ בָּרוּךְ הוּא: ״לֵךְ וְקִדַּשְׁתָּ אֶת הָעָם הַזֶּה הַיּוֹם וּמָחָר״. וְכִי מַה הָיְתָה קְדֻשָּׁתָן שֶׁל יִשְׂרָאֵל בַּמִּדְבָּר? אֶלָּא עַל טֻמְאַת תַּשְׁמִישׁ הַמִּטָּה. Rabbi Joshua ben Ḳorchah said: The feet of Moses stood on the mount, and all (his body) was in the midst of the heaven, like a tent which is spread out, and the children of men stand inside it, but their feet stand on the earth, and all of them are inside the tent; so was it with Moses, his feet stood on the mountain, and all his (body) was in the heavens, beholding and seeing everything that is in the heavens. The Holy One, blessed be He, was speaking with him like a man who || is conversing with his companion, as it is said, "And the Lord spake unto Moses face to face" (Ex. 33:11). The Holy One, blessed be He, said to Moses: Go and sanctify the Israelites for two days, as it is said, "And the Lord said unto Moses, Go unto the people, and sanctify them to-day and to-morrow" (Ex. 19:10). What then was the sanctity of Israel in the wilderness? There were no uncircumcised people in their midst; the manna descended from heaven for them; they drank water out of the Well; clouds of glory surrounded them. What then was the sanctity of Israel in the wilderness? It refers to their avoidance of sexual intercourse.

דָּן מֹשֶׁה בֵּינוֹ לְבֵין עַצְמוֹ, אָמַר: ״יֵלֵךְ אָדָם אֵצֶל אִשְׁתּוֹ וְנִמְצְאוּ מְעַכְּבִין מִלְּקַבֵּל אֶת הַתּוֹרָה״. מֶה עָשָׂה? הוֹסִיף לָהֶם יוֹם אֶחָד מִדַּעְתּוֹ, שֶׁאִם יֵלֵךְ אָדָם מִיִּשְׂרָאֵל אֵצֶל אִשְׁתּוֹ וְנִמְצְאוּ טְהוֹרִים שְׁנֵי יָמִים. לְפִיכָךְ הוֹסִיף לָהֶם יוֹם אֶחָד מִדַּעְתּוֹ. Moses argued with himself. Moses said: A man of Israel may have gone to his wife, and they will be found to be prevented from receiving the Torah. What did he do? He added one day (more) for them on his own account, so that if a man of Israel went to his wife they would be found to be clean for two (complete) days; therefore he added one day for them on his own account.

אָמַר לוֹ הַקָּדוֹשׁ בָּרוּךְ הוּא: ״מֹשֶׁה, כַּמָּה נְפָשׁוֹת בְּנֵי אָדָם הָיוּ בָּאוֹת מִיִּשְׂרָאֵל בְּאוֹתָהּ הַלַּיְלָה? אֶלָּא מַה שֶּׁעָשִׂיתָ עָשׂוּי״. וְהוֹדָה לוֹ הַקָּדוֹשׁ בָּרוּךְ הוּא. The Holy One, blessed be He, said to him: Moses! How many souls of the children of men would have come forth from Israel in that night? What thou hast done has been (rightly) accomplished. The Holy One, blessed be He, approved his action.

אָמַר לוֹ הַקָּדוֹשׁ בָּרוּךְ הוּא לְמֹשֶׁה: ״רֵד אֶל הַמַּחֲנֶה וְאַחַר כָּךְ אֲנִי מַשְׁמִיעַ אֶת תּוֹרָתִי״. ״רֵד הָעֵד בָּעָם״. מֹשֶׁה הָיָה רוֹצֶה לִהְיוֹת שָׁם, אָמַר לוֹ: ״כְּבָר הֵעִידֹתִי בָּעָם״. אָמַר לוֹ: ״לֵךְ וּקְרָא לְרַבְּךָ״. יָרַד מֹשֶׁה אֶל הַמַּחֲנֶה לִקְרַאת אַהֲרֹן, וְהַקָּדוֹשׁ בָּרוּךְ הוּא מַשְׁמִיעַ תּוֹרָתוֹ לְעַמּוֹ, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר: ״וַיֵּרֶד מֹשֶׁה אֶל הָעָם״ וְכוּ'. מַה כְּתִיב אַחֲרָיו? ״וַיְדַבֵּר אֱלֹהִים אֵת כָּל הַדְּבָרִים הָאֵלֶּה: אָנֹכִי ה' אֱלֹהֶיךָ״. (The Holy One, blessed be He, said:) Let Moses descend to the camp, and afterwards will I cause My Torah to be proclaimed. He said to him: "Go down, charge the people" (Ex. 19:21). Moses was wishing to be || there, and he said to Him: I have already charged the people. He said to him: Go, and call thy Rabbi. Moses descended to the camp to call Aaron, and the Holy One, blessed be He, proclaimed His Torah unto His people, as it is said, "So Moses went down unto the people, and told them" (Ex. 19:25). What is written after this? "And God spake all these words, saying, I, the Lord, am (to be) thy God, who brought thee out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of bondage" (Ex. 20:1, 2).

יָצָא קוֹל רִאשׁוֹן וְהַשָּׁמַיִם רָעֲשׁוּ, וְהַיַּמִּים וְהַנְּהָרוֹת בָּרְחוּ, וְהֶהָרִים וְהַגְּבָעוֹת הִתְמוֹטְטוּ, וְכָל הָאִילָנוֹת כָּרְעוּ, וְהַמֵּתִים שֶׁבַּשְּׁאוֹל חָיוּ וְעָמְדוּ עַל רַגְלֵיהֶם, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר: ״כִּי אֶת אֲשֶׁר יֶשְׁנוֹ פֹּה עִמָּנוּ עֹמֵד הַיּוֹם״. וְכָל הָעֲתִידִים לְהִבָּרְאוֹת עַד סוֹף כָּל הַדּוֹרוֹת שָׁם עָמְדוּ עִמָּהֶם, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר: ״וְאֵת אֲשֶׁר אֵינֶנּוּ פֹּה״. וְיִשְׂרָאֵל שֶׁהָיוּ חַיִּים נָפְלוּ עַל פְּנֵיהֶם וָמֵתוּ. The voice of the first (commandment) went forth, and the heavens and earth quaked thereat, and the waters and rivers fled, and the mountains and hills were moved, and all the trees fell prostrate, and the dead who were in Sheol revived, and stood on their feet till the end of all the generations, as it is said, "But with him that standeth here with us this day" (Deut. 29:15), and those (also) who in the future will be created, until the end of all the generations, there they stood with them at Mount Sinai, as it is said, "And also with him that is not here with us this day" (ibid.). The Israelites who were alive (then) fell upon their faces and died.

וַיָּצָא קוֹל שֵׁנִי וְחָיוּ וְעָמְדוּ עַל רַגְלֵיהֶם וְאָמְרוּ לְמֹשֶׁה: ״מֹשֶׁה, אֵין אָנוּ לִשְׁמֹעַ קוֹלוֹ שֶׁל הַקָּדוֹשׁ בָּרוּךְ הוּא עוֹד וּמַתְנוּ שָׁם כְּשֵׁם שֶׁמַּתְנוּ״, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר: ״וַיֹּאמְרוּ אֶל מֹשֶׁה דַּבֵּר אַתָּה עִמָּנוּ וְנִשְׁמָעָה וְאַל יְדַבֵּר עִמָּנוּ אֱלֹהִים פֶּן נָמוּת״. וְעַתָּה לָמָּה נָמוּת כְּשֵׁם שֶׁמַּתְנוּ? וְשָׁמַע הַקָּדוֹשׁ בָּרוּךְ הוּא אֶת קוֹלָן וְעָרַב עָלָיו, וְשָׁלַח מִיכָאֵל וְגַבְרִיאֵל, וְאָחֲזוּ בִּשְׁתֵּי יָדָיו שֶׁל מֹשֶׁה שֶׁלֹּא בִּרְצוֹנוֹ וְהִגִּישׁוּהוּ אֶל הָעֲרָפֶל, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר: ״וּמֹשֶׁה נִגַּשׁ אֶל הָעֲרָפֶל אֲשֶׁר שָׁם הָאֱלֹהִים״. The voice of the second (commandment) went forth, and they were quickened, and they stood upon their feet and said to Moses: Moses, our teacher! We are unable to hear any more the voice of the Holy One, blessed be He, for we shall die even as we died (just now), as it is said, "And they said unto Moses, Speak thou with us, and we will hear: but let not God speak with us, lest we die" (Ex. 20:19). And now, why should we die as we died (just now)? The Holy One, blessed be He, heard the voice of Israel, and it was pleasing to Him, and He sent for Michael || and Gabriel, and they took hold of the two hands of Moses against his will, and they brought him near unto the thick darkness, as it is said, "And Moses drew near unto the thick darkness where God was" (Ex. 20:21).

[נוֹגֵשׂ] אֵין כְּתִיב כָּאן אֶלָּא נִגַּשׁ, וּשְׁאָר כָּל הַדִּבְּרוֹת דִּבֵּר עִם פִּי מֹשֶׁה, וְעָלָיו הַכָּתוּב אוֹמֵר (משלי כה יג) ״כְּצִנַּת שֶׁלֶג בְּיוֹם קָצִיר״. It is only written here (in the text concerning) Moses (that) "he drew near." The rest of the commandments He spake through the mouth of Moses, and concerning him the text says, "As the cold of snow in the time of harvest, so is a faithful messenger to them that send him" (Prov. 25:13).

וַיְהִי כְּשָׁמְעֲכֶם אֶת קוֹל הַשּׁוֹפָר. וְלָמָּה הִשְׁמִיעַ הַקָּדוֹשׁ בָּרוּךְ הוּא קוֹלוֹ מִתּוֹךְ הַחֹשֶׁךְ וְלֹא מִתּוֹךְ הָאוֹר? מָשָׁל לְמָה הַדָּבָר דּוֹמֶה? לְמֶלֶךְ שֶׁהוּא מַשִּׂיא אֶת בְּנוֹ לְאִשָּׁה וְתוֹלֶה בְּחֻפַּת בְּנוֹ פַּרְכּוֹת שְׁחוֹרוֹת. אָמַר לָהֶם: יוֹדֵעַ אֲנִי שֶׁאֵין בְּנִי מַמְתִּין עִם זֹאת אֶלָּא אַרְבָּעִים יוֹם, שֶׁלֹּא תֹאמְרוּ לְמָחָר ״הַמֶּלֶךְ הָיָה אִסְטְרוֹלוֹגוֹס וְלֹא הָיָה יוֹדֵעַ מַה עָתִיד לַעֲשׂוֹת בְּנוֹ״. כָּךְ זֶה הַמֶּלֶךְ – מֶלֶךְ מַלְכֵי הַמְּלָכִים הַקָּדוֹשׁ בָּרוּךְ הוּא, וְהַבֵּן – אֵלּוּ יִשְׂרָאֵל, וְהַכַּלָּה – זוֹ הַתּוֹרָה. וְהָיָה הַקָּדוֹשׁ בָּרוּךְ הוּא יוֹדֵעַ שֶׁאֵין יִשְׂרָאֵל מַמְתִּינִין בַּדִּבְּרוֹת אֶלָּא אַרְבָּעִים יוֹם, לְפִיכָךְ הִשְׁמִיעַ קוֹלוֹ מִתּוֹךְ הַחֹשֶׁךְ וְלֹא מִתּוֹךְ הָאוֹר. לְכָךְ נֶאֱמַר: ״וַיְהִי כְּשָׁמְעֲכֶם אֶת הַקּוֹל״. And it came to pass, "When ye hear the sound of the trumpet" (2 Sam. 15:10). Why did the Holy One, blessed be He, cause His voice to be heard out of the midst of the darkness, and not out of the midst of the light? A parable: to what is the matter to be likened? To a king who was having his son married to a woman, and he suspended in the wedding chamber of his son black curtains, and not white curtains. He said to them: I know that my son will not remain with his wife except for forty days; so that on the morrow they should not say the king was an astrologer, but he did not know what would happen to his son. So with the King, who is the Holy One, blessed be He, and His son is Israel, and the bride is the Torah. The Holy One, blessed be He, knew that Israel would not remain (loyal) to the commandments except for forty days, therefore the Holy One, blessed be He, caused them to hear His voice out of the midst of darkness, and not out of the midst of light, therefore it is said, "And it came to pass, when ye heard the voice" (Deut. 5:28).

רַבִּי יְהוּדָה אוֹמֵר: אָדָם מְדַבֵּר עִם חֲבֵרוֹ מִתְרַגֵּשׁ קוֹלוֹ, אֲבָל אֵינוֹ רוֹאֶה מְאוֹרוֹ. וְיִשְׂרָאֵל שָׁמְעוּ קוֹלוֹ שֶׁל הַקָּדוֹשׁ בָּרוּךְ הוּא בְּהַר סִינַי וְרָאוּ אֶת הַקּוֹל יוֹצֵא מִפִּי הַגְּבוּרָה כִּבְרָקִים וְכִרְעָמִים, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר: ״וְכָל הָעָם רֹאִים אֶת הַקּוֹלֹת וְאֶת הַלַּפִּידִם וְאֵת קוֹל הַשֹּׁפָר״, ״וַיְהִי קוֹל הַשֹּׁפָר הוֹלֵךְ וְחָזֵק מְאֹד״ וְכוּ'. כָּל הַמִּצְווֹת שֶׁבַּתּוֹרָה תַּרְיַ״א, וּשְׁתַּיִם שֶׁדִּבֵּר הַקָּדוֹשׁ בָּרוּךְ הוּא. לְפִיכָךְ נִקְרֵאת תּוֹרָה, וְהַתּוֹרָה מִנְיָן תַּרְיַ״א בְּגִימַטְרִיָּא, וּשְׁתַּיִם שֶׁדִּבֵּר הַקָּדוֹשׁ בָּרוּךְ הוּא, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר: ״אַחַת דִּבֶּר אֱלֹהִים שְׁתַּיִם זוּ שָׁמָעְנוּ״. Rabbi Jehudah said: When a man speaks with his companion, he || hears the sound of his voice, but he does not see any light with it; the Israelites heard the voice of the Holy One, blessed be He, on Mount Sinai, and saw the voice going forth from the mouth of the Almighty in the lightning and the thunder, as it is said, "And all the people saw the thunderings and the lightnings" (Ex. 20:18). All the precepts which are in the Torah number 611, and two, which the Holy One, blessed be He, spake, as it is said, "God has spoken once, two have I heard thus" (Ps. 62:12).

רַבִּי פִּנְחָס אוֹמֵר: כָּל אוֹתוֹ הַדּוֹר שֶׁשָּׁמְעוּ קוֹלוֹ שֶׁל הַקָּדוֹשׁ בָּרוּךְ הוּא בְּהַר סִינַי זָכוּ לִהְיוֹת כְּמַלְאֲכֵי הַשָּׁרֵת, וְלֹא רָאוּ טִפַּת קֶרִי בְּחַיֵּיהֶם, וְלֹא מָשַׁל בָּהֶם כָּל מִינֵי כִּנִּים, וּבְמוֹתָם לֹא שָׁלְטָה בָּהֶם רִמָּה וְתוֹלֵעָה. אַשְׁרֵיהֶם בָּעוֹלָם הַזֶּה וְאַשְׁרֵיהֶם בָּעוֹלָם הַבָּא, וַעֲלֵיהֶם הַכָּתוּב אוֹמֵר: ״אַשְׁרֵי הָעָם שֶׁכָּכָה לּוֹ״. Rabbi Phineas said: All that generation who heard the voice of the Holy One, blessed be He, on Mount Sinai, were worthy to be like the ministering angels, so that insects had no power over them. They did not experience pollution in their lifetime, and at their death neither worm nor insect prevailed over them. Happy were they in this world and happy will they be in the world to come, and concerning them the Scripture says, "Happy is the people, that is in such a case" (Ps. 144:15).