Midrasch zu Schemot 19:8

Rabbi Yoḥanan interpreted the verse as regarding the Israelites when they ascended Mount Sinai.⁸³Rabbi Yoḥanan interpreted the verse “let him kiss me with the kisses of his mouth” as referring to when the Israelites arrived at Mount Sinai before the giving of the Torah. [This is analogous] to a king who sought to take a wife, well-born and of distinguished lineage. He sent a messenger to her, who spoke to her [and proposed marriage]. She said: ‘I am not worthy to be even his maidservant;⁸⁴This means she is agreeing to marry him. however, I wish to hear it from his mouth.’ When that messenger returned to the king his face was glad, but his conversation was not comprehensible to the king.⁸⁵The messenger was glad that the woman had agreed to marry the king, but embarrassed to report that hearing the king’s proposal only from the messenger was insufficient for her, and therefore he did not clearly communicate her response. The king, who was clever, said: From the fact that his face is glad, apparently she accepted, but his conversation is not comprehensible to me, so apparently she said: I want to hear it from his mouth. So too, Israel is the well-born woman, the messenger is Moses, the king is the Holy One blessed be He. At that moment: “Moses returned the statement of the people to the Lord” (Exodus 19:8). Why, then, does the [next] verse state: “Moses related the statement of the people to the Lord” (Exodus 19:9)? Because it is stated: “Behold, I am coming to you in a thickness of cloud, so that the people will hear while I speak with you, and they will believe also in you forever. Moses related the statement of the people to the Lord” (Exodus 19:9).⁸⁶In this verse God indicated that He would not speak directly to the people, but rather He would speak to Moses, and Moses would speak to the people. [Moses] said to Him: ‘This is what they demanded.’⁸⁷Moses told God that the people wanted Him to speak directly to them. He said to [Moses]: ‘Does one listen to a baby [and give him] everything he asks?’ Rabbi Pinḥas [said] in the name of Rabbi Levi: The proverb says: One who was bitten by a snake, a rope frightens him. So too, Moses said: ‘Yesterday,⁸⁸When God appeared to him at the burning bush. because I said to Him: “But they will not believe me (Exodus 4:1),” I received my just deserts through them; now what can I do for them?’⁸⁹Moses had been punished previously for indicating to God that he thought they would not believe God had spoken to him. Therefore he was fearful of relaying their request for God to speak directly to them.
Rabbi Shimon ben Yoḥai taught: This is what they demanded: They said: ‘We wish to see the glory of our King.’ Rabbi Pinḥas [said] in the name of Rabbi Levi: It was revealed before the Holy One blessed be He that Israel is destined to exchange His glory for that of another, as it is stated: “They exchanged their glory” (Psalms 106:20). [God agreed to speak to them] so that they would not say: ‘Had He shown us His glory and His greatness, we would have believed in Him. Now that He did not show us His glory and His greatness, we do not believe in Him.’ [This is] to uphold what is stated: “Do not enter into judgment with your servant, [for no living man will be justified before You]” (Psalms 143:2).

The Holy One, blessed be He, said that there is no ailment that does not have its cure; and the cure and drug for every ailment have been predetermined. If you desire your body to be free of pain, devote yourself to the Torah, for it is a healing balm to the entire body. We know that it is a cure for the head, since it is said: She will give to thy head a chaplet of grace (Prov. 1:9); for the heart, as it is said: Write them upon the table of thy heart (ibid. 3:3); for the neck, since it is written: And chains about thy neck (ibid. 1:9); for the hands, as it is said: And it shall be for a sign unto thee upon thy hand (Exod. 13:9); for the navel, for it is written: It shall be health to thy navel (Prov. 3:8); and for all of the bones of the body, as it is said: And marrow to thy bones (ibid.). R. Joshua the son of Levi declared: The Holy One, blessed be He, demonstrated this when he gave the law. Prior to the departure of the Israelites from Egypt, some of them had been injured as a result of the hazardous labor they performed with mud and straw. Stones from the buildings had fallen upon them, breaking their hands and mutilating their legs. The Holy One, blessed be He, said: It is not right that I should give my law to imperfect men. What did He do then? He instructed His angels to descend and heal them. Whence do we know that none of them were blind? It is said: And all the people perceived the thunderings (Exod. 20:15). How do we know that there were no deaf ones among them? It is written: We will hear (ibid. 24:7). Whence do we know that there were none among them without hands? They said: We will do (ibid.). How do we know that there were none with crippled legs among them? It is written: And they stood at the nether part of the mount (ibid. 19:17). R. Judah the son of Simon said: Because they were as new, the Holy One, blessed be He, called that month “master of renewal.”¹²The giving of the Law, which took place in the third month renewed Israel both spiritually and physically. Whence do we know this? We know it from what is written about this matter in the section In the third month.

We are taught: And Moses returned the words of the people unto the Lord (Ex. 19, 8.). It is also written (Ib. ib. ib.) And Moses communicated the words of the people unto the Lord. "What did the Holy One, praised be He! say unto Moses? What did Moses say unto Israel? What answer did Israel make unto Moses? And what reply did Moses bring unto God? 'It was all concerning the setting of the boundary for the people (how far to approach Mt. Sinai).' This is according to the opinion of R. Jose b. Juda; but Rabbi says: 'God at first explained the punishment [for those who transgress the Torah], as it is written (Ib. ib. ib.) And Moses returned, etc., i.e., words which chasten the mind of man [threats of punishment]. And finally he explained its rewards; as it is written (Ib. ib. ib.) And Moses returned, etc., i.e., words which draw (attract) the heart of man like a lecture.' Some say: 'At first He explained to them its rewards, for it is written. And Moses returned; Yashab (returned) alludes to words which may quiet the mind of man; then He explained to them its punishment, for it is written (Vayaged) And Moses told, i.e., words (of warning against punishment) which are as hard (distasteful) to man as worm-wood.'" Come and learn! From the following Baraitha: "The sixth, in the sixth day of the month and on the sixth day of the week." This is in contradiction to the opinion of the Rabbis [who say that it was on the seventh day of the month]. This Baraitha is also in accordance with the opinion of R. Jose [the Rabbis however, disagree with it]. What is meant by The sixth? Raba said: "The sixth of their encampment," and R. Acha b. Jacob said: (Ib. b) "The sixth day of their journey." And they differ regarding the Sabbath for which Israel was commanded in Marah; for it is written (Deu. 5, 12.) Keep the Sabbath day to sanctify it, as the Lord, thy God, hath commanded thee. And R. Juda in the name of Rab said: As He commanded thee in Marah." R. Acha is of the opinion that in Marah the Israelites were instructed on the principal laws of the Sabbath, but not concerning the Sabbatical-walking limits; but Raba is of the opinion that Israel was also instructed concerning the Sabbatical walking limits."