Midrasch zu Tehillim 82:7

Another matter, “who is like the wise man” – this is Israel, in whose regard it is written: “It is a particularly wise and understanding people” (Deuteronomy 4:6). “And who knows the meaning of a matter” – as they knew how to expound the Torah, forty-nine interpretations for ritual purity and a corresponding number for ritual impurity.⁵They could analyze from all angles a question regarding ritual purity, such that they could provide forty-nine rationales for each side of the argument. You find that when the Israelites stood at Mount Sinai and said: “We will perform and we will hearken” (Exodus 24:7), the aura of the supernal Divine Presence was placed upon them. When they sinned,⁶With the sin of the Golden Calf. they became the enemies of the Holy One blessed be He, as it is written: “And the boldness of his face is changed.”⁷The word changed [yeshuneh] is interpreted here to mean hated [yesuneh]. The Holy One blessed be He, too, changed matters for them, as it is written: “Indeed, you will die like man” (Psalms 82:7).⁸By contrast to the status they had before the sin: “I had said: You are divine, like celestial beings, all of you” (Psalms 82:6), but now they will die.

At that time, the Lord said to me, "Carve out two tablets of stone like the first ones" (Deuteronomy 10:1): This is what the verse stated (Jeremiah 2:20), "For long ago you broke your yoke, tore off your yoke-bands, and yousaid, 'I shall not pass.'" Which is the yoke? The yoke of the angel of death, as stated (Exodus 32:16), "The tablets were God’s work, and the writing was God’s writing, incised (charut) upon the tablets," [meaning] freedom (cherut) from the angel of death. And Rabbi Nechemiah says, "Freedom (cherut) from the exiles." And Rav said, "Freedom (cherut) from the afflictions, which were like the ministering angels, as it is stated (Psalms 82:6), 'I said that you were all powers and children of the Most High.'" But at the time that they did that act [of the golden calf], it is stated (Psalms 82:7), "Yet you will die like a mortal." "And you said, 'I shall not pass.'" Even subjugated, we do what we desire. [So] the Holy One, blessed be He, said to Moshe, "You are the hardest among them. Subjugate yourself first, as it is stated, 'Carve out two tablets of stone.'"

Graven upon the tablets (ibid.). What is meant by harut (“graven”)? R. Judah, R. Nehemiah, and the sages discussed it. R. Judah said it means freedom (herut)²⁴A play on the words harut (graven) and herut (freedom). from domination by foreign kingdoms. R. Nehemiah was of the opinion that it means freedom from the angel of death. While the sages contended that it means freedom from suffering. R. Eliezer the son of R. Yosé the Galilean stated: If the angel of death should come to the Holy One, blessed be He, and say: “You created me for naught in this world,” the Holy One, blessed be he would answer him: I have given you dominion over all the nations of the world except this one, to which I have granted freedom (herut) because of the tablets. How do we know that this is so? Because it is written: I said: Ye are godlike beings, and all of you sons of the Most High, but since you have behaved evilly you shall die like men (Ps. 82:6–7).