Commento su Esodo 34:3

ואיש לא יעלה עמך AND NO MAN SHALL GO UP WITH THEE — Because the first tablets were given amidst great noises and alarms and a vast assembly the “evil eye” had power over them (they did not endure) — there is no finer quality than to be unostentatious! (Midrash Tanchuma 3:9:31).

AND NO MAN SHALL COME UP WITH THEE. None of the elders of Israel at all should go up with you, as they had done at the first Tablets of the Law.⁵⁰¹Above, 24:9.

ואיש לא יעלה עמך, “and no man may ascend with you.” Unlike the first time around, this time the elders were no to accompany Moses even part of the way.

ואיש לא יעלה עמך, “and no one is to ascend together with you.” This wording caused our sages (Tanchuma Ki Tissa 34) to say that the second set of tablets was given to the people without fanfare, in relative secrecy. It is meant to teach you the power of the evil eye. The evil eye is potent even in matters which are being orchestrated by a miracle of G’d. This is why they wound up being broken. The second set never were broken because the evil eye did not have something to focus on.

Because the first ones were with great uproar. . . בתשואות means raising the voice.

V. 3. ואיש לא יעלה וגו׳. Mehr noch als bei der Erteilung der ersten Tafeln tritt jetzt, nach dem bewiesenen Abfall des Volkes, das Gesetz völlig von außen an das Volk hinan. Es ist Mosche, der das Gesetz aufs neue erhält, um damit an das Volk hinanzutreten, und der ihm die Stätte im Volke zu erringen hat (siehe Kap. 34, 10). Darum erscheint der Gottesberg jetzt in noch größerer, ja in völliger Isoliertheit. Nur Gott und Mosche sind gegenwärtig.

ואיש לא יעלה עמך, “and no one is to ascend with you.” On the first occasion after the revelation on Mount Sinai G-d’s instructions had been that before ascending the Mountain, Aaron Nadav and Avihu and the seventy elders were to accompany him part of the way. (Exodus 24,1) On this occasion the elders were too ashamed and kept their distance, on account of the people still being in a state of disgrace.

NEITHER LET ANY MAN BE SEEN THROUGHOUT ALL THE MOUNT — even at the foot of the mountain, where Israel had stood at first [during the Revelation].

וגם איש אל ירא בכל ההר, and also no man is to be seen in the entire area around the Mountain.” Even at the base of the Mountain, unlike the first time when the Israelites had stood at the base of the Mountain.

NEITHER LET THE FLOCKS NOR HERDS FEED BEFORE THAT MOUNT — in front of it. For at [the giving of] the first Tablets they had been warned only, no hand shall touch it [i.e., the mountain] … whether it be beast or man,⁵⁰²Ibid., 19:13. and now they were still under that admonition, for the Glory was always on the mountain until the last Tablets of the Law were given. However, at the giving of these Tablets He was now more stringent than at the first Revelation [in requiring that none of the elders accompany Moses]. The reason for all this was that at the first Tablets the Revelation was for all Israel, whereas this one was only for Moses, because of his merit and his prayer, and the Glory revealed on the mountain for [the giving of] the last Tablets would be greater than that of the first ones.

גם הצאן והבקר אל ירעו אל מול ההר ההוא, “neither sheep no cattle are to graze opposite that Mountain.” On the occasion of Moses’ first ascent the warning had only been not to touch this area by hand on pain of death. The reason why so many new restrictions had been added was to make plain to the people that there had been a change in their status. On the first occasion Moses, as their representative, went up to the Mountain to receive the first Tablets after the people had been considered fit to witness the revelation. They were all on a spiritual “high.” This time only Moses remained on such a level, and G’d wanted them to realize that it was only because Moses was highly regarded by Him, and this is why his prayer would be welcome. Seeing that the glory of G’d had remained hovering above the Mountain all this time, unworthy people would be highly at risk if they ventured too near.