Comentario sobre Exodo 34:31

הנשאים בעדה THE PRINCES IN THE CONGREGATION — is the same as the more usual expression נשיאי העדה, the princes of the congregation.

VA’YEDABEIR MOSHEH’ (AND MOSES SPOKE) TO THEM. “This whole section denotes a [continuing] present action [thus making the sense of the verbs: ‘and Moses used to speak…’ ‘and they used to come near…’]. 32. AND AFTERWARDS ALL THE CHILDREN OF ISRAEL CAME NIGH. After Moses had taught the elders, he would again teach the section or the specific law to the Israelites.” All this is Rashi’s language. But it is not so [that this section describes a continuing occurrence — whenever Moses spoke to Israel]. Rather, Scripture is stating that when all Israel went forth to meet him [upon his descent from the mountain with the second Tablets], they saw the beams of glory streaming from his face, and they were afraid to come nigh him⁵⁵²Verse 30. and stepped backwards. Perhaps they thought that the Glory of G-d was there, or that the angels of Him on high were with him, and they feared lest the Eternal break forth upon them.⁵⁵³Above, 19:22. Then Moses called unto them; and Aaron and all the princes, who walked before them returned unto him,⁵⁵⁴Verse 31. and Moses spoke to them words of peace,⁵⁵⁵Esther 9:30. and told them the tidings of the forgiveness of their sin and of the Tablets he brought down. And afterwards when all the children of Israel saw that he was speaking with the princes of the congregation, they all came near to him, and then he commanded them all that the Eternal had spoken with him in Mount Sinai,⁵⁵⁶Verse 32. these being the second Ten Commandments that He gave him, and all that was said to him from the beginning of, Observe thou that which I am commanding thee this day,⁵⁵⁷Above, Verse 11. to the end of the section; for he told them that G-d had commanded him to make a covenant with them after the tenor of these words.⁵⁵⁸Ibid., Verse 27. Scripture, however, shortened the account and narrated the matter in general terms. Then Scripture says that when Moses had done speaking with them the whole subject mentioned, he put a veil upon his face,⁵⁵⁹Verse 33. for he understood that upon his return [from the mountain] the skin of his face sent forth beams,⁵⁶⁰Verse 29. or perhaps they told it to him. Finally, after having told the account of the events of that day, Scripture states, But when Moses went in before the Eternal etc.⁵⁶¹Verse 34. It is this part of Scripture that represents the continuing action, meaning that so did Moses conduct himself with them all the days.⁵⁶²But not, as Rashi put it, that this whole section (from Verses 31 to 35) represents a frequentative action. According to Ramban this applies only to Verses 34-35.
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וידבר משה אליהם, “and Moses would speak to them.” Rashi explains that this is phrased in the present tense, as was the entire episode.

In the present (ongoing) tense. . . [How does Rashi know this? The answer is:] Since nothing specific was spoken here, it must refer to what God spoke to Moshe on Mount Sinai — which is the message of God to Israel. I.e., Moshe is to teach them the whole Torah. Perforce, this entire subject is in the present (ongoing) tense. Moshe would call them every day and teach the Torah and mitzvos to the leaders and then to all Yisrael, as explained further on. This continued even after the mishkon was erected.

ויקרא אליהם משה, “Moses called out to them.” When the people heard his voice they realised that he was not an angel.

וידבר משה אלהם AND MOSES SPOKE TO THEM the message of the Almighty. This whole section (i. e. all the verbs in it) denotes frequentative action (thus וידבר means “Moses used to say”, ויקרא meant “He used to call”, נגשו means “they used to come near” etc).

וישובו אליו “they turned back to face him.” From this verse it is clear that initially they had turned their back on him out of fear.

וידבר משה אליהם, Moses spoke to them. They noticed that no harm had come to them from his speaking to them.