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Moses and God
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Moses said to יהוה, “See, You say to me, ‘Lead this people forward,’ but You have not made known to me whom You will send with me. Further, You have said, ‘I have singled you out by name, and you have, indeed, gained My favor.’ Now, if I have truly gained Your favor, pray let me know Your ways, that I may know You and continue in Your favor. Consider, too, that this nation is Your people.”
Exodus 33:12-13
God spoke to Moses and said to him, “I am יהוה.
Exodus 6:2
and continued, “I am the God of your father’s [house]—the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob.” And Moses hid his face, for he was afraid to look at God.
Exodus 3:6
But יהוה was wrathful with me on your account and would not listen to me. יהוה said to me, “Enough! Never speak to Me of this matter again!
Deuteronomy 3:26
And Moses said to יהוה, “Why have You dealt ill with Your servant, and why have I not enjoyed Your favor, that You have laid the burden of all this people upon me? Did I produce all these people, did I engender them, that You should say to me, ‘Carry them in your bosom as a caregiver carries an infant,’ to the land that You have promised on oath to their fathers? Where am I to get meat to give to all this people, when they whine before me and say, ‘Give us meat to eat!’ I cannot carry all this people by myself, for it is too much for me…
Numbers 11:11-15
Then Moses returned to יהוה and said, “O my lord, why did You bring harm upon this people? Why did You send me? Ever since I came to Pharaoh to speak in Your name, he has dealt worse with this people; and still You have not delivered Your people.” Then יהוה said to Moses, “You shall soon see what I will do to Pharaoh: he shall let them go because of a greater might; indeed, because of a greater might he shall drive them from his land.”
Exodus 5:22-6:1
But Moses said, “The people who are with me number six hundred thousand foot soldiers; yet You say, ‘I will give them enough meat to eat for a whole month.’ Could enough flocks and herds be slaughtered to suffice them? Or could all the fish of the sea be gathered for them to suffice them?” And יהוה answered Moses, “Is there a limit to יהוה’s power? You shall soon see whether what I have said happens to you or not!”
Numbers 11:21-23
“Moses said to God: 'Who am I, that I should go to Pharaoh, and that I should take the children of Israel out of Egypt?’” (Exodus 3:11)
“Moses said to God: Who am I [
anokhi
]?” Rabbi Yehoshua ben Levi said: This is analogous to a king who married off his daughter and committed to give her one province and gentlewoman as a maidservant, and he gave her a Kushite maidservant. His son-in-law said: ‘Didn’t you commit to give me a gentlewoman as a maidservant?’ So, Moses said before the Holy One blessed be He: ‘Master of the universe, when Jacob descended to Egypt…
Shemot Rabbah 3:4
Another interpretation: “God spoke to Moses” – Rabbi Meir said: This is analogous to a flesh and blood king who was marrying off his daughter. He summoned a villager to serve as an intermediary between them [the king and his prospective son-in-law’s family]. He [the villager] began speaking presumptuously with him [the king]. The king said: ‘Who caused you to be so arrogant? Surely it was me, who appointed you intermediary.’ Likewise, the Holy One blessed be He said to Moses: ‘Who caused you to speak these words? It was I, who elevated you…
Shemot Rabbah 6:3
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)…
Shemot Rabbah 45:2
“It would be that when Moses would go out to the tent, each man would rise and each would stand at his tent's entrance; they would gaze after Moses, until he went into the tent” (Exodus 33:8).
“It would be that when Moses would go out to the tent, all the people would rise.” They would stand on each side and show him honor, as it is stated: “Each would stand at his tent's entrance and they would gaze after Moses” (Exodus 33:8). What would they say? Rabbi Yitzḥak said: Happy is the one who bore him with what she sees in him…
Shemot Rabbah 45:4
Moses said: On the Day of Atonement I will behold the glory of the Holy One, blessed be He, and I will make atonement for the iniquities of Israel. Moses spake before the Holy One, blessed be He: Sovereign of all the universe! "Shew me, I pray thee, thy glory" (Ex. 33:18). The Holy One, blessed be He, said to him: Moses! Thou art not able to see My glory lest thou die, as it is said, "For men shall not see me and live" (Ex. 33:20); but for the sake of the oath which I have sworn unto thee I will do thy will…
Pirkei DeRabbi Eliezer 46:10-12
Another matter, “then Moses…sang” – that is what is written: “Your lips drip nectar, [my bride]” (Song of Songs 4:11). Moses said to the Holy One blessed be He: ‘Master of the universe, with what I sinned before You, I laud You.’ Rabbi Levi bar Ḥiya said: This is analogous to a province that rebelled against the king. The king said to his duke: ‘Let us go and wage war against it.’ The duke said to him: ‘You are unable [to conquer it].’ The king was silent and went himself at night and conquered it. The duke knew, and he crafted a crown and brought it to the king…
Shemot Rabbah 23:3
"Make known to me Your ways, O Lord." Rabbi Berachiah said in the name of Rabbi Yochanan: "It is compared to a physician who had a disciple and taught him all types of healing except for a certain wound. The physician said to the disciple, 'You have taught me all types of healing except for this particular wound. Please teach it to me.' Similarly, Moses said to God, 'Make known to me Your ways.' And it says, 'He made known His ways to Moses' (Psalms 103:7) and 'Show me Your glory' (Exodus 33:18), meaning the way that You conduct the world."God replied to Moses, "You cannot comprehend My ways…
Midrash Tehillim 25:6
“I pleaded with the Lord” – this is what the verse said: “A poor person speaks with pleas, and a wealthy one responds harshly” (Proverbs 18:23). Rabbi Tanḥuma said: “A poor person speaks with pleas” – this is Moses, who came to his Creator with pleas. “And a wealthy one responds harshly” – the wealthy One of the world, namely the Holy One blessed be He. He answered him harshly, as it is stated: “Do not continue speaking to Me” (Deuteronomy 3:26).
Another matter: Rabbi Yoḥanan said: “A poor person speaks with pleas [
taḥanunim
]” (Proverbs 18:23) – these are the prophets of Israel…
Devarim Rabbah 2:4
“Moses returned to the Lord, and said: Lord, why have You harmed this people, why is it that You sent me?” (Exodus 5:22).
“Moses returned to the Lord, and said: Lord, why have You harmed this people?” – at that moment, Moses came and argued before the Holy One blessed be He. He said to Him: “Why have You harmed…” – what is: “Lord, why have You harmed”? According to the way of the world, when a flesh-and-blood person says to another: ‘Why are you doing so,’ [the latter] gets angry at him, yet Moses said to the Holy One blessed be He: “Why have You harmed this people”? Rather…
Shemot Rabbah 5:22-23
הודיעני נא את דרכיך, “please instruct me in Your ways.” Moses wished G-d to instruct Him of His attributes. Once he had been instructed in those, he would be able to determine if he wished for the Jewish people to be led by one or more of G-d’ attributes or by is essence. (B’chor Shor) ואדעך, “so that I will know You more intimately and be able to cleave to You more closely;” As result, I will be able to find favour in Your eyes.
Chizkuni, Exodus 33:13:1-2
(Numb. 20:12:) “But the Lord said to Moses and Aaron, ‘Because you did not trust in Me.’” Why was Aaron punished? The matter is comparable to a creditor who came to take the threshing floor of the borrower [as repayment, and] takes his and his neighbor’s. The borrower says to him, “If I am in debt, what is my poor neighbor’s sin?” So too did Moses say to the Holy One, blessed be He, “Master of the world, “I got angry, [but] what is Aaron’s sin?” Therefore the verse lauds [Aaron] (in Deuteronomy 33:8), “And of Levi he said…
Midrash Tanchuma, Chukat 10:1
"With a pious person, act piously; with an upright man, be upright; with a pure one, be pure; and with a crooked one, deal crookedly." (Psalms 18:26) Rabbi Judah interpreted the verse regarding Abraham: "When Abraham walked with God in piety, God walked with him in piety. When Abraham walked with God in innocence, God walked with him in innocence. And when Abraham walked with God in shrewdness, God walked with him in shrewdness." When did God walk with Abraham in piety? When Abraham said to Him, "O Lord God, what can You give me?" What is written afterwards? "This man shall not be your heir…
Midrash Tehillim 18:20
Rabbi Levi said: They were arrogant. Many women were sitting unmarried, waiting for them. What would they say? ‘Our father’s brother is king, our mother’s brother is a prince, our father is the High Priest, and we are the two deputy priests; what woman is worthy of us?’ Rabbi Menaḥama said in the name of Rabbi Yehoshua ben Neḥemya: “Fire devoured His young men, [and His virgins had no wedding celebration]” (Psalms 78:63). Why did fire devour His young men? Because “His virgins had no wedding celebration…
Vayikra Rabbah 20:10
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