תּלמוד אויף שמות 32:10

"Now therefore let Me alone, that My wrath may wax hot against them and that I may consume them ; and I will make of thee a great nation" etc. (Exod. xxxii. 10). R. Abbahu said : Were it not explicitly written, it would be impossible to say it ; for this teaches that Moses caught hold of the Holy One, blessed be He, like a man who takes hold of his neighbour by his garment, and said before Him, "Lord of the universe ! I will not let Thee alone until Thou forgivest and pardonest them."

"I will make of thee a great nation" etc. R. Eleazar said : Moses spake before the Holy One, blessed be He, "Lord of the universe ! If a stool with three legs cannot stand before Thee in the time of Thy wrath, how much less a stool with but one leg !