Midrash for Exodus 19:20

SUCCAH (Fol. 5) We have been taught in a Baraitha: R. Jose says: "Never did the Shechina come down below [on earth], and Moses and Elijah never ascended to heaven; for it is written (Ps. 115, 16) The heavens are the heavens of the Lord, but the earth hath He given to the children of man." Then, the Shechina, you contend, never came down below? Behold, it is written (Ex. 19, 20) And the Lord came down upon Mount Sinai. This was ten spans above the ground. But it is written (Zech. 14, 4) And his feet will stand on that day upon the mount of Zeithim (Olives). This was ten spans above the ground. Again, [let me ask], is it indeed a fact that neither Moses nor Elijah ever ascended to heaven? Behold, it is written (Ex. 19, 3) And Moses went up unto God? This means below ten spans. But it is written (II Kings 2, 11) And Elijah went up by a storm wind into heaven. This also means below ten spans. But it is written (Job 26, 9) He lays hold of the face of His throne and spreads His cloud over him; and R. Tanchtum said: "This means to teach us that the Almighty spread the brightness of the Shechina and enveloped Moses with encouragement." This also refers to below these ten spans. However, it is written, he (Moses) lays hold of the face of His throne [hence they were both together]. He brought down His throne close to ten spans, where Moses took hold of it.

… it is written there “Behold the heaven and the heaven of heavens cannot contain You…” (Melachim I 8:27) and here it is written “…the glory of the Lord filled the Tabernacle.” (Shemot 40:35) R’ Yehoshua of Sachnin said in the name of R’ Levi ‘to what is this likened? To an open cave at the edge of the sea. When the sea storms the cave is filled, but the sea is not reduced. So too, even though it is written that ‘the glory of the Lord filled the Tabernacle’ the upper and lower worlds did not lose anything of the brilliance of the glory of the Holy One, just as it is written “Do I not fill the heavens and the earth? says the Lord.” (Yirmiyahu 23:24) Therefore it is written here ‘And it was’. Just as the Divine Presence was here below at the beginning of the creation of the world but withdrew to above, now it returned to be below as it had been “And it was that on the day that Moses finished…” (Bamidbar 7:1) ... [Another explanation. “And it was that on the day that Moses finished erecting the Mishkan…” (Numbers 7:1)] R’ Simon said: at the time when the Holy One told Israel to erect the Tabernacle, He hinted that when the Tabernacle below is erected, the Tabernacle above is erected, as it says “And it was that on the day that Moses finished…” (ibid.) It does not say ‘erecting the Tabernacle’ but rather ‘erecting this (et) the Tabernacle.’ This refers to the Tabernacle above. The Holy One said: in this world, when the Tabernacle was erected, I commanded Aharon and his sons that they bless you. In the time to come I, in my glory, will bless you. So it is written “May the Lord bless you from Zion, He Who made heaven and earth.” (Psalms 134:3)

Another interpretation (of Gen. 28:12): AND BEHOLD, THE ANGELS OF GOD. This refers to Moses and Aaron, as stated (in Exod. 24:9): THEN THERE WENT UP MOSES AND AARON.²²The passage continues: NADAB, ABIHU, AND SEVENTY OF THE ELDERS OF ISRAEL. (Gen. 28:13:) AND BEHOLD, THE LORD STOOD UPON IT. (Exod. 19:20:) AND THE LORD CAME DOWN UPON MOUNT SINAI. (Gen. 12:13, cont.:) AND SAID: I AM THE LORD, THE GOD OF YOUR FATHER ABRAHAM AND THE GOD OF ISAAC. It is also stated on Sinai (in Exod. 20:1): I AM THE LORD YOUR GOD.