Бамидбар 17:13 Мидраш: Aggadat Bereshit, Ein Yaakov (Glick Edition), Midrash Tanchuma & Bamidbar Rabbah

[2] Another thing about: "I will express the anger of the Lord." As it is written, "for I was ashamed to ask the king for soldiers and horsemen" (Ezra 8:22). The nations of the world said to Israel, "You say, 'I will be angry with the Lord,' but it is written, 'Who can withstand his indignation? Who can endure his fierce anger? His wrath is poured out like fire; the rocks are shattered before him'" (Nahum 1:6). Who can withstand His anger? No one can withstand His messengers, but you can withstand His anger. The sea was His messenger, yet generations of people stood against it, as it is written, "You who made the sea and its waves roar" (Amos 5:8). The flood was His messenger, but it did not prevail against the generation of the flood, as it is written, "He wiped out all living things" (Genesis 7:23). Fire and brimstone were His messengers, but they did not prevail against the people of Sodom, as it is written, "The Lord caused sulfur and fire to rain down" (Genesis 19:24). The locust was His messenger, but Pharaoh could not withstand it, as it is written, "The locusts came up" (Exodus 10:14). The stars were His messengers, but Sisera could not withstand them, as it is written, "The stars fought from heaven" (Judges 5:20). The angel was His messenger, but Sennacherib could not withstand him, as it is written, "And the angel of the Lord went out" (2 Kings 19:35).If no one can withstand His messengers and yet you can withstand His anger, why do you say, "I will carry the Lord's anger"? The Israelites said to themselves, "Why can't we withstand His anger when our messengers have prevailed against His?" But the answer is, the sea was the Lord's messenger, and yet it split for Moses and the Israelites to cross on dry land, as it is written, "The Israelites went on dry ground" (Exodus 14:29).And so the sea saw and fled (Psalms 114:3), the Jordan did not dry up for Joshua, as it is written "When all the nation had finished crossing the Jordan, the Lord said to Joshua, 'Choose twelve men from among the people, one from each tribe, and tell them to take up twelve stones from the middle of the Jordan, from right where the priests are standing, and carry them over with you and put them down at the place where you stay tonight'" (Joshua 4:1-3). The angel sent to Jacob could not defeat him, as it is said "He struggled with the angel and overcame him" (Hosea 12:4). The sun and moon did not stand still for Joshua, as it is written "So the sun stood still, and the moon stopped, till the nation avenged itself on its enemies, as it is written in the Book of Jashar. The sun stopped in the middle of the sky and delayed going down about a full day" (Joshua 10:13). The angel sent to Aaron did not stop him, as it is said "He stood between the living and the dead" (Numbers 17:13), just as our messengers have triumphed over his messenger. Similarly, Phinehas subdued his anger, as it is said "Phinehas son of Eleazar, the son of Aaron, the priest, has turned my anger away" (Numbers 25:11). Therefore, it is said "I will carry the Lord's wrath" (Psalms 77:10). And why can we withstand his anger? Because it comes upon us with mercy, as it is said "I will carry the Lord's wrath" and it is written "The Lord, the compassionate and gracious God" (Exodus 34:6). The sea did not stand up to His rebuke, as it is said "He rebukes the sea and dries it up" (Nahum 1:4), and likewise in the days of Jonah, the sea was angry but stood still, as it is said "The sea was calmed and quiet" (Jonah 1:15). But as for me, because he comes upon me with mercy, I can accept His anger, and therefore it is said "I will carry the Lord's wrath".

R. Joshua b. Levi said also: "When Moses ascended to heaven, the ministering angels said unto the Holy One, praised be He! 'Sovereign of the universe, what has one born of a woman to do among us?' 'He has come to receive the Torah,' was the Divine answer. 'What!' said they unto Him. 'Art Thou about to bestow upon frail man that cherished treasure which has been with Thee for nine hundred and seventy-four generations before the world was created? What is mortal man that Thou art mindful of him, and the son of the earth that Thou thus visiteth him? O God, our Lord, is not Thy name already sufficiently exalted in the earth? Confer Thy glory upon the heavens! (Ps. 8, 2-5).' The Holy One, praised be He! then called upon Moses to refute their objection. Whereupon Moses thus pleaded, 'Sovereign of the universe, I fear lest they consume me with the fiery breath of their mouths.' Thereupon God told Moses to take hold of the throne of His Divine Majesty: as it is said (Job 26, 9.) He lays hold of the face of His throne and spreads His cloud over him. Concerning this R. Nachum said: 'This is intended to inform us that the Almighty spread the brightness of the Shechina, and beclouded Moses with encouragement.' Moses then said unto Him: 'Sovereign of the universe, what is written in the Torah which you are about to give me.' 'I am the Lord, thy God, who brought you forth out of Egypt' (Ex. 20, 2), was the reply. Moses then said to the angels: "Did you go to Egypt and serve Pharaoh? Of what use can the Torah be to you? Further, what else is written in it? Thou shalt not have other Gods before me (Ib. ib. 3). Are you living among nations who are worshipping idols [that you need this]? Furthermore, what else is written in it? Remember the Sabbath and keep it holy (Ib. ib. 8). Are you doing any work that you need rest? Again what is written there? Honor thy father and thy mother (Ib. ib. 12). Have you a father and a mother? And again, what is written in it? Thou shalt not murder, thou shall not commit adultery, thou, shalt not steal (Ib. ib. 13). Does jealousy exist among you? Does an evil impulse exist among you?' The angels at once confessed that the Holy One, praised be He! was right, for it is written (Pr. 8, 10.) O Lord, how excellent is Thy name in all the earth, and no longer is written Confer Thy glory upon the heavens. Soon after this, every one of them became so befriended with Moses, that each of them disclosed to him some useful secrets, for it is said (Ib. 68, 19.) Thou hast ascended unto Heaven; thou captured the spoils; thou hast received gifts because they have contemptuously called thee, man, i.e., because they called you man hast thou taken presents as a reward. And even the Angel of Death revealed something to him, for it is written (Num. 17, 13) And he (Aaron) put on the incense and made atonement for the people, and it is said (Ib.) And he stood between the dead and the living. If the Angel of Death did not disclose this secret unto Moses, how did he know [so that he could tell Aaron that such a thing would stop the plague]?"

Just as one reaps row by row, so the plague acted upon the people (in rotation). Thereupon Aaron took as Moses spoke and ran into the midst of the assembly; and behold, the plague was begun (Num. 7:12). He found the angel standing among them and afflicting them. Aaron confronted him and would not permit him to continue. He forced him to stand idly among the dead. He said to Aaron: “Let me go that I may complete my task.” Aaron replied: “Moses sent me, and the Holy One, blessed be He, sent you, and both Moses and the Holy One, blessed be He, are in the Tent of Testimony; let us go to them.” The angel refused to go, and so Aaron seized him by his loins and dragged him in, as it is said: And Aaron returned unto Moses unto the door of the Tent of Meeting, and the plague was stayed (Num. 17:15).