Chasidut do Wyjścia 19:23
וַיֹּ֤אמֶר מֹשֶׁה֙ אֶל־יְהוָ֔ה לֹא־יוּכַ֣ל הָעָ֔ם לַעֲלֹ֖ת אֶל־הַ֣ר סִינָ֑י כִּֽי־אַתָּ֞ה הַעֵדֹ֤תָה בָּ֙נוּ֙ לֵאמֹ֔ר הַגְבֵּ֥ל אֶת־הָהָ֖ר וְקִדַּשְׁתּֽוֹ׃
I rzekł Mojżesz do Wiekuistego: "Nie może lud wstąpić na górę Synai, gdyż Ty przestrzegłeś nas mówiąc: odgranicz górę, a poświęć ją."
Kedushat Levi
Exodus 19,21. “Hashem said to Moses: ‘descend and warn the people lest they break through towards G’d, etc.’” Exodus 19,23: “Moses said to G’d: ‘the people cannot ascend the mountain, etc.” 19,24: G’d said to
[The reader will no doubt have noted when reflecting on this dialogue between G’d and Moses that for Moses to –so to speak- countermand G’d’s instruction to him- sounds mind-boggling. Ed.]
Rashi’s commentary on verse 24, based on the Mechilta, focuses on the word מזרזין, the urgency of repeating warnings in order for these warnings not to be ignored.
It appears to me that Moses had full faith in G’d’s words,-not as it would appear at first glance- and seeing that he did, he immediately carried out G’d’s instructions and descended. At the same time, Moses took it for granted that just as it would not occur to him to question G’d’s instructions, so it would not occur to any member of the Jewish people to do so either. G’d corrected him by explaining that not only must a warning be issued prior to a prohibition, but it must be repeated at the time when there is evidence that the prohibition is about to be ignored. Moses was too humble to believe that seeing that he had merited to converse with G’d on a “mouth to mouth” bases repeatedly, that this had been possible only because his level of faith in G’d was high above that of the average Israelite. Whereas the average Israelite did have great moments of religious inspiration from time to time, Moses was on that level on a 24/7 basis. Hence he was able to say to G’d: “seeing that You have warned us once we cannot possibly entertain the thought of ascending the mountain.” (verse 23) When Gd repeated the instructions to Moses to descend forthwith and to warn the people again this was a great compliment to Moses, not an expression of G’d’s displeasure for Moses not having carried out instructions.
[The reader will no doubt have noted when reflecting on this dialogue between G’d and Moses that for Moses to –so to speak- countermand G’d’s instruction to him- sounds mind-boggling. Ed.]
Rashi’s commentary on verse 24, based on the Mechilta, focuses on the word מזרזין, the urgency of repeating warnings in order for these warnings not to be ignored.
It appears to me that Moses had full faith in G’d’s words,-not as it would appear at first glance- and seeing that he did, he immediately carried out G’d’s instructions and descended. At the same time, Moses took it for granted that just as it would not occur to him to question G’d’s instructions, so it would not occur to any member of the Jewish people to do so either. G’d corrected him by explaining that not only must a warning be issued prior to a prohibition, but it must be repeated at the time when there is evidence that the prohibition is about to be ignored. Moses was too humble to believe that seeing that he had merited to converse with G’d on a “mouth to mouth” bases repeatedly, that this had been possible only because his level of faith in G’d was high above that of the average Israelite. Whereas the average Israelite did have great moments of religious inspiration from time to time, Moses was on that level on a 24/7 basis. Hence he was able to say to G’d: “seeing that You have warned us once we cannot possibly entertain the thought of ascending the mountain.” (verse 23) When Gd repeated the instructions to Moses to descend forthwith and to warn the people again this was a great compliment to Moses, not an expression of G’d’s displeasure for Moses not having carried out instructions.
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