Face-to-face

Sources

פנים אל פנים, as opposed to נופל וגלוי עינים, (Numbers 24,4) as Bileam described his visions which came to him only when he had lost control over his own senses.

Sforno on Exodus 33:11:1

WHOM THE ETERNAL KNEW FACE TO FACE. “[This means] that Moses’ heart was familiar with Him and he spoke with Him whenever he wished, as it is stated, and now I will go up unto the Eternal; Stay ye, that I may hear what the Eternal will command concerning you.” This is Rashi’s language. But it is not correct, for in that case [if the verse extols Moses’ familiarity with G-d] it should have said, “who knew the Eternal face to face.” Rather, this is similar to the expressions: and I know thee by name; Yet Thou hast said: I know thee by name…

Ramban on Deuteronomy 34:10:1

פנים בפנים, not in a nocturnal vision when you were asleep.

Sforno on Deuteronomy 5:4:1

According to a Midrashic approach (Shemot Rabbah 29,2) G’d told the people that the fact that they had experienced a variety of manifestations of Him must not mislead them. The fact is that sometimes G’d appeared to them in the guise of a young man, a warrior (Exodus 15,3), and other times as an old man (Hoseah 12,11), a sage, sometimes they perceived Him as seated, whereas other times as standing up. At Mount Sinai they perceived Him as an old man seated, dispensing the Torah. The words פנים בפנים then mean: ”I have spoken to you revealing many different facets of Myself.”

Rabbeinu Bahya, Devarim 5:4:2

Word to word did the Lord speak with you at the mountain from the midst of the fire.

Targum Jonathan on Deuteronomy 5:4

Relatedראו גם

Parashat Ki Tisa

Sheetsדפי מקורות

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