Commentary for Deuteronomy 10:10
וְאָנֹכִ֞י עָמַ֣דְתִּי בָהָ֗ר כַּיָּמִים֙ הָרִ֣אשֹׁנִ֔ים אַרְבָּעִ֣ים י֔וֹם וְאַרְבָּעִ֖ים לָ֑יְלָה וַיִּשְׁמַ֨ע יְהוָ֜ה אֵלַ֗י גַּ֚ם בַּפַּ֣עַם הַהִ֔וא לֹא־אָבָ֥ה יְהוָ֖ה הַשְׁחִיתֶֽךָ׃
Now I stayed in the mount, as at the first time, forty days and forty nights; and the LORD hearkened unto me that time also; the LORD would not destroy thee.
Rashi on Deuteronomy
ואנכי עמדתי בהר AND I REMAINED ON THE MOUNT to receive the last (second) tablets. — Since it does not state above (v. 2) how long he remained on the mount at this last ascent, he begins again with it (with that incident).
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Ramban on Deuteronomy
AND I STAYED IN THE MOUNT. In the opinion of our Rabbis236Tanchuma, Ki Thisa 31. Moses is stating that he remained on the mountain when he ascended there with the [second] two Tablets in his hand, according to the first days of the first Tablets, forty days and forty nights, and the Eternal hearkened unto me that third time also237In Verse 10 before us. The third ascent of Moses was on the first of Ellul and culminated on the Day of Atonement when the Eternal passed by before him etc. (see text). See also, Vol. II, pp. 574-577 on the three ascents. [as] when the Eternal passed by before him, and proclaimed: ‘The Eternal, the Eternal, G-d, merciful, etc.,’238Exodus 34:6. and Moses requested of G-d, and pardon our iniquity and our sin, and take us for Thine inheritance,239Ibid., Verse 9. and He submitted and said [in Verse 11], Arise, go before the people, causing them to set forward, that they may go in and possess the Land. It is this which is stated, and all the people among which thou art shall see the work of the Eternal that I am about to do with thee, that it is tremendous.240Exodus 34:10.
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Rabbeinu Bahya
ואנכי עמדתי בהר כימים הראשונים ארבעים יום, “and I stood on the mountain just as during the earlier days, for forty days.” The Torah compared the last forty days to the first forty days; just as the people enjoyed G’d’s grace during Moses’ first sojourn on the mountain so they enjoyed His goodwill during these last 40 days that Moses spent on the mountain. This teaches that the second time Moses spent forty days on the mountain G’d was angry at the people. Moses had to keep praying for 40 days to overcome G’d’s anger on account of the sin of the golden calf.
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