Difference between revisions of "The Decalogue: Direct From Hashem or Via Moshe/2/en"
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<li>According to Shadal, there may have been a dual purpose of instilling belief in both Moshe and Hashem.  By hearing Hashem speak to Moshe before the actual revelation, the nation recognized his prophetic stature, and by hearing Hashem on their own during revelation, they came to believe in God.</li> | <li>According to Shadal, there may have been a dual purpose of instilling belief in both Moshe and Hashem.  By hearing Hashem speak to Moshe before the actual revelation, the nation recognized his prophetic stature, and by hearing Hashem on their own during revelation, they came to believe in God.</li> | ||
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− | <point><b>Prophecy for the | + | <point><b>Prophecy for the masses</b> – This approach assumes that anyone can prophesy, even without extended preparation.  Nonetheless, most of these commentators do limit the level of prophecy of the people. Thus, R. Yose b. R. Chanina in the Tanchuma says that each person grasped Hashem's word according to his own capabilities, while Ralbag and Abarbanel emphasize how the nation could only experience Revelation via their physical senses, hearing a concrete (rather than mental) voice.<fn>Ralbag points out that this was in contrast to Moshe who heard the Decalogue "prophetically", using his mental facilities.</fn></point> |
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<point><b>"בַּעֲבוּר יִשְׁמַע הָעָם בְּדַבְּרִי עִמָּךְ"</b> – This verse is difficult for these sources since they maintain that the original plan was not to speak to Moshe, but rather directly to the nation.  They could explain that this refers to the nation listening to Hashem's earlier conversation, when He instructs Moshe before the Decalogue.</point> | <point><b>"בַּעֲבוּר יִשְׁמַע הָעָם בְּדַבְּרִי עִמָּךְ"</b> – This verse is difficult for these sources since they maintain that the original plan was not to speak to Moshe, but rather directly to the nation.  They could explain that this refers to the nation listening to Hashem's earlier conversation, when He instructs Moshe before the Decalogue.</point> | ||
<point><b>Purpose of Sinaitic revelation</b> – This position could posit that the revelation was aimed at instilling belief in Hashem, rather than Moshe as prophet.  It was only a concession to the people's fear that led Moshe to play any part at all.</point> | <point><b>Purpose of Sinaitic revelation</b> – This position could posit that the revelation was aimed at instilling belief in Hashem, rather than Moshe as prophet.  It was only a concession to the people's fear that led Moshe to play any part at all.</point> | ||
− | <point><b>Prophecy for the | + | <point><b>Prophecy for the masses</b> – These commentators assume that Hashem sometimes grants prophetic powers to the uninitiated.</point> |
</opinion> | </opinion> | ||
<opinion>Voice but No Words | <opinion>Voice but No Words | ||
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<point><b>"בַּעֲבוּר יִשְׁמַע הָעָם בְּדַבְּרִי עִמָּךְ"</b> – According to Ramban, this refers to the Decalogue. Hashem tells Moshe that when the nation experiences prophecy and hears Hashem speak, they will finally recognize that it is Hashem who regularly speaks with Moshe.  This will lead them to believe in both.</point> | <point><b>"בַּעֲבוּר יִשְׁמַע הָעָם בְּדַבְּרִי עִמָּךְ"</b> – According to Ramban, this refers to the Decalogue. Hashem tells Moshe that when the nation experiences prophecy and hears Hashem speak, they will finally recognize that it is Hashem who regularly speaks with Moshe.  This will lead them to believe in both.</point> | ||
<point><b>Purpose of Sinaitic revelation</b> – Revelation had a dual purpose, to instill belief in both Hashem and Moshe as His prophet.  The latter was necessary since it was to be Moshe's job to give over the rest of the commandments.</point> | <point><b>Purpose of Sinaitic revelation</b> – Revelation had a dual purpose, to instill belief in both Hashem and Moshe as His prophet.  The latter was necessary since it was to be Moshe's job to give over the rest of the commandments.</point> | ||
− | <point><b>Prophecy for the | + | <point><b>Prophecy for the masses</b> – This approach assumes that even without lengthy preparation one can prophesy if Hashem so chooses.</point> |
</opinion> | </opinion> | ||
</category> | </category> |
Version as of 11:23, 26 May 2019
The Decalogue: Direct From Hashem or Via Moshe?
Exegetical Approaches
Overview
The Torah's contrasting portraits of Hashem's revelation to the nation lead commentators to varying understandings of what the nation grasped directly from Hashem and what they understood only via Moshe. On one end of the spectrum, Rambam and R. D"Z Hoffmann focus on the verses which present Moshe as an intermediary, asserting that the people heard only the voice of Hashem, but could not distinguish His words. Moshe, thus, acted as translator for all ten.
On the other end of the spectrum, many commentators look at the depiction of the episode as a "face to face" encounter. They, thus, maintain that the nation understood all ten commandments directly from Hashem. While Ibn Ezra and others assume that Hashem conversed directly with the people, R. Saadia, in contrast, suggests that the nation only listened in on Hashem's conversation with Moshe.
A middle ground is charted by Rashi, Ramban, and others, who attempt to harmonize the various portraits by positing that there was a split in the commandments. The nation only understood the first two from Hashem, but needed Moshe to explain the final eight.
Understood None
The nation heard only the voice of Hashem, but understood none of His words, thus requiring Moshe's mediation between the people and Hashem throughout the entire Decalogue. Commentators disagree whether the sound was directed at the nation or they merely overheard the sounds of the Divine conversation with Moshe.
Overheard Voice
The people listened as Hashem communicated the Decalogue to Moshe, but they only heard the Divine voice and could not decipher His words.
Heard Voice Directly
Hashem spoke to the people directly, but due to their distance, they could make out only a voice and not distinct words.
Understood All Ten
The nation understood the entire Decalogue from Hashem. This position subdivides regarding whether Hashem's words were aimed at the people or Moshe.
Overheard Words
Hashem's spoke to Moshe only, but He intended that the nation would listen in on this conversation.
Heard Words Directly
Hashem spoke directly to the people themselves, and they, not Moshe, were His target audience for the entire Decalogue.
- Spoke to all – According to Ibn Ezra, this verse does not insinuate that Hashem was to speak to Moshe alone, but only that when Hashem did speak to him (along with everyone else), his prophetic stature would be verified. The nation had doubted Moshe's prophecy, believing that if Hashem speaks to a person, he cannot live afterwards. Thus, Hashem tells Moshe that when the nation sees Him speaking to Moshe during the giving of the Decalogue, they will finally recognize that their preconception was false.
- Change of plan - According to Ralbag and Abarbanel, Hashem originally told Moshe that He would speak to him alone and the nation would overhear, leading them to believe in Moshe's prophecy. Moshe then clarified to Hashem that the nation preferred to not have a mediator, but rather desired a direct face to face encounter. As a result, Hashem acquiesced and changed the original plan.23
- Before the Decalogue – Shadal asserts that this refers to the nation hearing Hashem's conversation with Moshe before the Decalogue.
- According to Ibn Ezra, Moshe is saying that the nation feared from the fire, despite the fact that they did not go up the mountain.
- This position could also maintain that the original plan (had the nation not been overcome by fear) was to ascend the mountain after the giving of the Decalogue and to hear the rest of the 613 commandments from perhaps an even closer vantage point and at a higher spiritual level.25
- Before the Decalogue – According to Ibn Ezra, Abarbanel, and Shadal,26 this refers to the conversation between Moshe and Hashem before the giving of the Decalogue and, as such, provides no information regarding how Hashem delivered the commandments.27
- Before and during – Ralbag maintains that the verse refers to Hashem's words both before and during the Decalogue.28 The mention of Moshe speaking refers only to the earlier conversation, but the fact that Hashem spoke "בְקוֹל" can refer to both.29
- During the Decalogue – R. Eliezer suggests that that the verse refers to the Decalogue but is simply saying that before Hashem spoke to the nation, He waited for Moshe to tell Him that they were ready.30
- This position highlights the goal of teaching the nation to believe in Hashem. As Moshe says in Sefer Devarim, after hearing Hashem directly, "אַתָּה הָרְאֵתָ לָדַעַת כִּי ה' הוּא הָאֱלֹהִים".32
- According to Shadal, there may have been a dual purpose of instilling belief in both Moshe and Hashem. By hearing Hashem speak to Moshe before the actual revelation, the nation recognized his prophetic stature, and by hearing Hashem on their own during revelation, they came to believe in God.
Understood Only Two
The nation understood only two commandments directly from Hashem. The commentators disagree as to how the nation received the other eight:
Eight From Moshe
Due to the nation's fear, Hashem stopped speaking to them and instead spoke only to Moshe, who then relayed the final eight commandments to the nation.
Voice but No Words
Hashem communicated also the other eight commandments to the nation, but in these they discerned only His voice and needed Moshe as an interpreter.