Commentary for Exodus 31:12

ויאמר ה׳ אל משה, G'd said to Moses, etc. We have to examine why the Torah changed here to using the word ויאמר when describing G'd as speaking to Moses whereas all the time He was described as וידבר, speaking in a stern voice. I have seen a comment by our sages in the Mechilta according to which the term ויאמר ה׳ indicates that G'd did not speak to Moses through an intermediary, i.e. angel, but directly. If so, we must still analyse what change had occurred since 31,1 where G'd was still reported as speaking through an intermediary, i.e. וידבר ה׳ אל משה לאמר. Not only that, but why did the author of the Mechilta wait until here to give us this information? This should have been explained when we find that G'd was speaking to Moses as וידבר ה׳ the first time this occurs. [The author suggests an answer based on a variant text of the Mechilta not at my disposal. Ed.]

(Exodus 30:11) "And the L rd spoke to Moses": Not through an interpreter, and not through an angel, and not through a messenger.

V. 12. ויאמר, es wird hiermit kein neues Gesetz eingeführt. Das Schabbatgesetz war bereits gegeben, es erhält hier neue, erläuternde Seiten und insbesondere in Beziehung zu dem vorangehenden gebotenen Werke des Heiligtumbaues. Darum wohl heißt es: ויאמר ד׳ וגו׳ und nicht wie bei sonstigen bleibenden Gesetzaussprüchen gewöhnlich: וידבר. In Beziehung auf das gebotene Werk des Heiligtumbaues erläuterte Gott, wie es in dieser Hinsicht mit dem Schabbat gehalten werden sollte.