וְעַתָּ֛ה חַלּוּ־נָ֥א פְנֵי־אֵ֖ל וִֽיחָנֵ֑נוּ מִיֶּדְכֶם֙ הָ֣יְתָה זֹּ֔את הֲיִשָּׂ֤א מִכֶּם֙ פָּנִ֔ים אָמַ֖ר יְהוָ֥ה צְבָאֽוֹת׃
만군의 여호와가 이르노라 너희는 나 하나님께 은혜를 구하기를 우리를 긍휼히 여기소서 하여 보라 너희가 이같이 행하였으니 내가 너희 중 하나인들 받겠느냐
Midrash Tanchuma Buber
Another interpretation (of Ps. 77:11 [10]): THIS IS MY ENTREATY (rt.: HLT).57So does R. Alexandri understand HLWTI, not as WEAKNESS. R. Alexandri said: All these things which came upon us happened because we did not entreat (rt.: HLH) the Holy One, and this word (ENTREATY) can only be a word for prayer. It is so used (in Mal. 1:9): AND NOW ENTREAT (rt.: HLT) THE FAVOR OF GOD! (Ps. 77:8 [7]:) WILL THE LORD FOREVER REJECT AND NEVER AGAIN BE FAVORABLE? In the past, when Moses was angry with Israel, the Holy One would placate him. Thus it is stated (in Exod. 33:11): <THE LORD WOULD SPEAK UNTO MOSES FACE TO FACE AS ONE SPEAKS UNTO HIS FRIEND. > THEN HE WOULD RETURN UNTO THE CAMP….
Shemot Rabbah
Another matter, “Moses implored [vayḥal],” Rabbi Yehuda, Rabbi Neḥemya, and the Rabbis, Rabbi Yehuda says: Moses became ill [ḥala] when they performed that act. Rabbi Neḥemya says: What is “Moses implored”? It is that he gave God a gift of sorts.9Moses’ prayer was like a gift that he gave God in order to assuage His fury (see Etz Yosef). This expression is nothing other than an expression that means gift, just as it says: “The daughter of Tyre will come seeking your favor [yeḥalu] with gifts…” (Psalms 45:13). Likewise, “Now, please implore [ḥalu] God…” (Malachi 1:9). The Rabbis say: What is “Moses implored”? He transformed the bitter into sweet, and vayḥal is an expression of sweetening [ḥilui]. How so? Rabbi Berekhya said in the name of Rabbi Ḥiya bar Ada of Yafo, in the name of Rabbi Shmuel bar Naḥman: When Israel came to Mara, what is written there? “They came to Mara [and could not drink water from Mara, as it was bitter]” (Exodus 15:23). Moses began ruminating: This water, why was it created? What benefit does the world have from it? It is preferable that it would not have been created. The Holy One blessed be He knew what he was ruminating. The Holy One blessed be He said to him: ‘Do not say so. Is it not My handiwork? Is there any item in the world that was not created with a purpose? Rather, I will teach you what you should say. Say this: Transform the bitter into sweet.’
From where is it derived that the Holy One blessed be He taught him to say this? See what is written: “He cried out to the Lord, and the Lord showed him [vayorehu] a tree” (Exodus 15:25). “He showed him [vayarehu]” is not written here, but rather, vayorehu; vayorehu is nothing other than an expression of instruction, as it is stated: “He instructed me [vayoreni] and said to me” (Proverbs 4:4), and it is written: “He gave him the ability to instruct [ulhorot]” (Exodus 35:34). The matter was a tradition known to Moses, but he had not employed it. Why did he ultimately employ it? When Israel came to the wilderness and God sought to annihilate them, Moses said to Him: ‘Master of the universe, do You seek to eliminate Israel and annihilate them from the world? Did You not say to me in Mara: Pray and say: Transform the bitter into sweet? Now, too, sweeten [ḥali] the bitterness of Israel and heal them.’ That is, “Moses implored [vayḥal].” Rabbi Avin said in the name of Rabbi Levi bar Perata: In the days of Moses, there was someone to sweeten our bitterness; that is, “Moses implored [vayḥal].” However, in the days of Daniel, there was no one to sweeten the bitterness, as it is stated: “We did not implore [ḥilinu] the Lord our God” (Daniel 9:13).
From where is it derived that the Holy One blessed be He taught him to say this? See what is written: “He cried out to the Lord, and the Lord showed him [vayorehu] a tree” (Exodus 15:25). “He showed him [vayarehu]” is not written here, but rather, vayorehu; vayorehu is nothing other than an expression of instruction, as it is stated: “He instructed me [vayoreni] and said to me” (Proverbs 4:4), and it is written: “He gave him the ability to instruct [ulhorot]” (Exodus 35:34). The matter was a tradition known to Moses, but he had not employed it. Why did he ultimately employ it? When Israel came to the wilderness and God sought to annihilate them, Moses said to Him: ‘Master of the universe, do You seek to eliminate Israel and annihilate them from the world? Did You not say to me in Mara: Pray and say: Transform the bitter into sweet? Now, too, sweeten [ḥali] the bitterness of Israel and heal them.’ That is, “Moses implored [vayḥal].” Rabbi Avin said in the name of Rabbi Levi bar Perata: In the days of Moses, there was someone to sweeten our bitterness; that is, “Moses implored [vayḥal].” However, in the days of Daniel, there was no one to sweeten the bitterness, as it is stated: “We did not implore [ḥilinu] the Lord our God” (Daniel 9:13).
Shemot Rabbah
What is written above? “The children of Israel were stripped of their ornament” (Exodus 33:6). Rabbi Ḥanin of Tzippori said: This is the crown that He placed on their heads, as it is stated: “And a crown of splendor upon your head” (Ezekiel 16:12). Rabbi Shimon ben Yoḥai says: It is weapons with which He girded them. Rabbi Simi said: Royal purple garments, as it is stated: “[I clothed you in embroidery…] I decked you with ornaments” (Ezekiel 16:10–11). Likewise, it says: “You have exalted the Lord today…The Lord has exalted you [he’emirkha] today” (Deuteronomy 26:17–18).2The term imra in Aramaic refers to wool, and therefore this verse can be rendered “The Lord has clothed you today.”
At that time, Moses became angry at them, took his tent, and left, as it is stated: “Moses would take the tent [and pitch it outside the camp]” (Exodus 33:7). Rabbi Yehuda ben Rabbi [Yehuda HaNasi] said: See the honor that the Holy One blessed be He accorded to Moses; He forsook the upper worlds and came to Moses. The ministering angels would come to recite their hymn before Him, but He was with Moses. Likewise, the sun, the moon, and the stars came to prostrate themselves to Him and to receive permission to go out and illuminate the world, as were they not to receive permission and prostrate themselves, they would not go out, as it is stated: “The host of the heaven prostrate themselves to You” (Nehemiah 9:6). They asked the celestial creatures: ‘Where is the Throne of Glory?’ They said to them: ‘Go to Moses.’ From where is it derived that it is so? As it is stated: “It was, that anyone who sought the Lord [would go out to the Tent of Meeting]” (Exodus 33:7). “Who sought Moses” is not written here, but rather “who sought the Lord.”
What is written there? “The Lord would speak to Moses face to face” (Exodus 33:11). The Holy One blessed be He said to him: ‘Did I not stipulate with you that when you are angry, I will placate you,3A more literal translation of this phrase is: When your face is angry, My face will placate your face. and when I am angry, you will placate Me? Relent and enter the camp,’ as it is stated: “The Lord would speak to Moses face to face.”
Another matter, “Moses said to the Lord: See, You say to me,” that is what is written: “I ponder the days of old, the years of long ago” (Psalms 77:6). The congregation of Israel said before the Holy One blessed be He: ‘Master of the universe, I am sitting and calculating after how many years You redeemed us from Egypt, and I then say after how many years You redeemed us from Babylonia, and I calculate and say: How many years have I experienced with Greece.’4The redemptions from Egypt and Babylonia came much more quickly than the redemption from Greece and the empires that followed, including Rome. This redemption has yet to occur. That is why it says: “I ponder the days of old.”
“Then I said: This is my prayer [ḥaloti hi]” (Psalms 77:11). Rabbi Shimon ben Lakish said: If these are illnesses [ḥola’im], they can be cured, but if they are not illnesses,5But rather, it is due to a “change in the right of the Most High” (Psalms 77:11), meaning that God is not merely angry at Israel but has permanently rejected Israel, there is nothing I can do. I do not know what to do. That is why it is stated: Ḥaloti hi. Rabbi Alexandri said: All these matters befell us because we did not implore before the Holy One blessed be He, and ḥaloti is nothing other than an expression of prayer, just as it says: “Now, please, implore [ḥalu] God and He will be gracious to us” (Malachi 1:9). “Has God forgotten to be gracious?” (Psalms 77:10). Have You forgotten that You said: “I will be gracious to whom I will be gracious”? (Exodus 33:19). “Has He forsaken [afes] His kindness forever?” (Psalms 77:9). In the Greek language, afes is forsaken. That is why it is stated: “Has He forsaken [afes] His kindness forever?”
“Will the Lord abandon forever? Will He never again find favor?” (Psalms 77:8). Initially, when Moses would become angry at Israel, the Holy One blessed be He would placate him; when the Holy One blessed be He would become angry at Israel, Moses would placate Him, as it is stated: “The Lord would speak to Moses face to face.” The Holy One blessed be He said: ‘Can two faces pour boiling water?6Boiling water would be tempered with cold water so that it could be drunk. If two people were each to add boiling water, the drink would be too hot. Similarly, God said to Moses, if you and I are both angry at Israel, that is a recipe for disaster. Did I not say: When I will be angry, you placate Me, and when you will be angry, I will placate you?’ He said before Him: ‘Master of the universe, was it not You who became angry at them first?’ He said to him: ‘Go and reconcile yourself with them, return to the camp.’ Rav Aḥa said: At that moment, Moses found the opportunity to speak before the Holy One blessed be He. He said to Him: ‘See, You are unable to remove Your love from them even for a moment,’7Even when You are angry at them, You are telling me to reconcile with them so that I can placate You. as it is stated: “Moses said to the Lord: See, You say to me.”
At that time, Moses became angry at them, took his tent, and left, as it is stated: “Moses would take the tent [and pitch it outside the camp]” (Exodus 33:7). Rabbi Yehuda ben Rabbi [Yehuda HaNasi] said: See the honor that the Holy One blessed be He accorded to Moses; He forsook the upper worlds and came to Moses. The ministering angels would come to recite their hymn before Him, but He was with Moses. Likewise, the sun, the moon, and the stars came to prostrate themselves to Him and to receive permission to go out and illuminate the world, as were they not to receive permission and prostrate themselves, they would not go out, as it is stated: “The host of the heaven prostrate themselves to You” (Nehemiah 9:6). They asked the celestial creatures: ‘Where is the Throne of Glory?’ They said to them: ‘Go to Moses.’ From where is it derived that it is so? As it is stated: “It was, that anyone who sought the Lord [would go out to the Tent of Meeting]” (Exodus 33:7). “Who sought Moses” is not written here, but rather “who sought the Lord.”
What is written there? “The Lord would speak to Moses face to face” (Exodus 33:11). The Holy One blessed be He said to him: ‘Did I not stipulate with you that when you are angry, I will placate you,3A more literal translation of this phrase is: When your face is angry, My face will placate your face. and when I am angry, you will placate Me? Relent and enter the camp,’ as it is stated: “The Lord would speak to Moses face to face.”
Another matter, “Moses said to the Lord: See, You say to me,” that is what is written: “I ponder the days of old, the years of long ago” (Psalms 77:6). The congregation of Israel said before the Holy One blessed be He: ‘Master of the universe, I am sitting and calculating after how many years You redeemed us from Egypt, and I then say after how many years You redeemed us from Babylonia, and I calculate and say: How many years have I experienced with Greece.’4The redemptions from Egypt and Babylonia came much more quickly than the redemption from Greece and the empires that followed, including Rome. This redemption has yet to occur. That is why it says: “I ponder the days of old.”
“Then I said: This is my prayer [ḥaloti hi]” (Psalms 77:11). Rabbi Shimon ben Lakish said: If these are illnesses [ḥola’im], they can be cured, but if they are not illnesses,5But rather, it is due to a “change in the right of the Most High” (Psalms 77:11), meaning that God is not merely angry at Israel but has permanently rejected Israel, there is nothing I can do. I do not know what to do. That is why it is stated: Ḥaloti hi. Rabbi Alexandri said: All these matters befell us because we did not implore before the Holy One blessed be He, and ḥaloti is nothing other than an expression of prayer, just as it says: “Now, please, implore [ḥalu] God and He will be gracious to us” (Malachi 1:9). “Has God forgotten to be gracious?” (Psalms 77:10). Have You forgotten that You said: “I will be gracious to whom I will be gracious”? (Exodus 33:19). “Has He forsaken [afes] His kindness forever?” (Psalms 77:9). In the Greek language, afes is forsaken. That is why it is stated: “Has He forsaken [afes] His kindness forever?”
“Will the Lord abandon forever? Will He never again find favor?” (Psalms 77:8). Initially, when Moses would become angry at Israel, the Holy One blessed be He would placate him; when the Holy One blessed be He would become angry at Israel, Moses would placate Him, as it is stated: “The Lord would speak to Moses face to face.” The Holy One blessed be He said: ‘Can two faces pour boiling water?6Boiling water would be tempered with cold water so that it could be drunk. If two people were each to add boiling water, the drink would be too hot. Similarly, God said to Moses, if you and I are both angry at Israel, that is a recipe for disaster. Did I not say: When I will be angry, you placate Me, and when you will be angry, I will placate you?’ He said before Him: ‘Master of the universe, was it not You who became angry at them first?’ He said to him: ‘Go and reconcile yourself with them, return to the camp.’ Rav Aḥa said: At that moment, Moses found the opportunity to speak before the Holy One blessed be He. He said to Him: ‘See, You are unable to remove Your love from them even for a moment,’7Even when You are angry at them, You are telling me to reconcile with them so that I can placate You. as it is stated: “Moses said to the Lord: See, You say to me.”