Midrasch zu Divrej Hajamim I 23:17

Two tablets of stone (Deuteronomy 10:1): Corresponding to a groom and bride; corresponding to two ushers/benefactors; corresponding to heaven and earth; corresponding to two scribes; corresponding to two Torahs, the written Torah and the oral Torah; corresponding to two worlds, this world and the world to come, as it is stated, "two tablets". Rabbi Chanina said, "It is written 'tablets,' that neither was bigger than the other, but rather both of them were equal; and the carving of both was as one (at the same time)." Another interpretation: "Tablets (luchot) of stone," that anyone who does not make his life (lechayav) like this stone, does not merit words of Torah. Another interpretation: "Tablets of stone," because the majority of the deaths prescribed in the Torah are by stoning. Another interpretation: "Tablets of stone," in the merit of Yaakov, of whom it is stated (Genesis 49:24), "from there, the shepherd, the stone of Israel." Another interpretation: "Tablets of stone," in the merit of the Temple, as it is stated (Isaiah 28:16), "Behold, I will found in Zion stone." And Reish Lakish says, "In the merit of Moshe who was called a stone, as it is stated (Daniel 2:34), 'as a stone was hewed out [...].'" "Like the first ones" (Deuteronomy 10:1). As the first ones were given with a voice of voices, so were the second ones. As the first ones were given with six hundred thousand, so were the second ones. But behold, it is written (Exodus 34:3), "And no one may go up with you." But rather, the Holy Blessed One brought out six hundred thousand from Moshe our teacher at that time. As so is it written in the Book of Chronicles (I Chronicles 23:17), "The sons of Rechavya were very numerous (literally, above)." And our rabbis expounded, "Above six hundred thousand." "And come up to Me on the mountain; and make an ark of wood" (Deuteronomy 10:1). But Moshe did not do this, but rather he made an ark of wood, and afterwards went up the mountain and took the tablets, as it is stated (Deuteronomy 10:3-4), "I made an ark of acacia wood [...] and I went up the mountain [...]. And He wrote on the tablets."

25 Moses said to Him (in vss. 14, 15), “Now they have heard that You, O Lord, are in the midst of this people. If then You slay this people like one man.” So the nations of the world would not say, “The gods of Canaan are stronger than the gods of Egypt; the gods of Egypt are false, but those of Canaan are of land watered by rain (i.e., of Ba'al).” (Numb. 14:14, 16) “They will say unto the inhabitants of this land […] Because he was not able (yekholet),” i.e., because He did not have the means to supply enough food, He brought them out to have them die in the desert. Now the word, yekholet can only refer to food, since it is stated (in I Kings 5:25 [11]), “and Solomon gave Hiram twenty thousand measures of wheat as food (makkolet) for his household.” Another interpretation: Lest the nations of the world think of You as cruel. That is to say: When the generation of the flood came, He destroyed them. And similarly, when the generation of the dispersion came, and when the Sodomites came, and when the Egyptians came, He destroyed them And also in the case of these whom He has called (in Exod. 4:22), “My first-born son,” He is destroying (mekhalleh) them! He is like that Lilith (keLilit). When she does not find anything else, she turns on children. So (in Numb. 14:16), “Because the Lord was not able.” Moses said, “Sovereign of the world, (according to vs. 14) ‘[that…] You […], o Lord, are seen face to face (literally: eye to eye).’” What is the meaning of “[that...] are seen eye to eye ('YN B'YN)?”⁴⁵Similarly Deut. R. 5:13. R. [Simeon ben] Laqish said, “See, the scales are balanced (rt.: 'YN).” “You say (in Numb. 14:12), “’I will smite them with pestilence’; but I am saying (in vs. 19), ‘Please pardon.’ We shall see whose utterance will stand.” It is so stated (in Numb. 14:20), “Then the Lord said, ‘I have pardoned them as you asked.’” But nevertheless, the decree of the Holy One which he had uttered to Moses (in Numb. 14:12), “then I will make you into a nation that is greater,” that decree was not repealed. He raised up from him sixty myriads, as stated (in I Chron. 23:17), “but the sons of Rehabiah were very numerous.” And in the world to come the Holy One shall gather them. Thus it is stated (in Is. 49:12), “Look! These are coming from afar. And look! These are from the north and from the sea (i.e., from the west), and these from the land of Sinim.” Moreover, the exiles shall come with them, also the tribes who are located beyond the River Sambatyon⁴⁶Gk.: Sabbatikos (“Sabbatical”). See Targum Pseudo-Jonathan, Exod. 34:10; ySanh. 10:6 or 5 (29c); Gen. R. 73:6; Lam. R. 2:5 (9); PR 31:10; above, Gen. 10:17, it was beyond, or on an island in, this legendary river that at least some of the ten tribes were exiled. See also Tanh., Exod. 9:33; Gen. R. 11:5, PR 23:8; according to which the river carried stones in its current during the whole week but rested on the Sabbath. See also Pliny, HN 31:18 (24); Sanh. 65b. Cf. Josephus, BJ 7:5:1 (96–99), according to whom the Sabbath was the only day on which the river flowed. and beyond the hills of darkness.⁴⁷Cf. Ezek. 34:12. They shall be gathered and come to Jerusalem. Isaiah said (in Is. 49:9), “Saying to the prisoners, ‘Go forth,’” i.e., to those who are located beyond the Sambatyon. (Ibid., cont.,) “To those who are in darkness, ‘Show yourselves,’”⁴⁸higgalu. the verb can also mean “be exiled. these are those who are located beyond the cloud of darkness. (Ibid., cont.,) “They shall pasture along the roads, and in all the heights shall be their pasture,” these are those who are located in Daphne of Antioch.⁴⁹According to ySanh. 10:6 or 5 (29c) the exiles were divided into three parts: one beyond the Sambatyon River, one to Daphne at Antioch, and one into a cloud cover. At that time they shall be redeemed and come to Zion with gladness, as stated (in Is. 51:11), “So let those ransomed by the Lord return [and come to Zion with exaltation, with joy everlasting upon their heads. Let them attain joy and gladness; may sorrow and sighing flee].”