Difference between revisions of "The Decalogue: Direct From Hashem or Via Moshe/2/he"
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<point><b>מעבר מגוף ראשון לגוף שלישי</b> – עמדה זו היתה מסכימה עם השקפתו של אבן עזרא כי המעבר מגוף ראשון לגוף שלישי אינו משמעותי, שכן זהו מעבר נפוץ בתנ"ך. </point> | <point><b>מעבר מגוף ראשון לגוף שלישי</b> – עמדה זו היתה מסכימה עם השקפתו של אבן עזרא כי המעבר מגוף ראשון לגוף שלישי אינו משמעותי, שכן זהו מעבר נפוץ בתנ"ך. </point> | ||
</opinion> | </opinion> | ||
| − | <opinion> | + | <opinion>א-לוהים דיבר אל העם ישירות |
| − | <p> | + | <p>על פי עמדה זו, א-לוהים דיבר אל העם עצמו, והעם, ולא משה, היה קהל היעד של הדברות כולן.</p> |
<mekorot> | <mekorot> | ||
| − | <multilink><a href="Josephus3-5-4" data-aht="source"> | + | <p><multilink><a href="Josephus3-5-4" data-aht="source">יוספוס</a>,<a href="Josephus3-5-4" data-aht="source">פלביוס, קדמוניות היהודים ג׳:ה׳:ד׳</a><a href="Josephus" data-aht="parshan">אודות יוספוס</a></multilink>  חז"ל ב<multilink><a href="SHSRabbah1-2" data-aht="source">שיר השירים רבה</a> <a href="SHSRabbah1-2" data-aht="source">א׳:ב׳:ב׳</a><a href="Shir HaShirim Rabbah" data-aht="parshan">אודות שיר השירים רבה</a></multilink>ו<multilink><a href="PesiktaRabbati22" data-aht="source">פסיקתא רבתי</a><a href="PesiktaRabbati22" data-aht="source">כ״ב</a><a href="Pesikta Rabbati" data-aht="parshan">אודות פסיקתא רבתי</a></multilink>, <multilink><a href="TanchumaBuberYitro17" data-aht="source">תנחומא (בובר)</a><a href="TanchumaBuberYitro17" data-aht="source">יתרו יז</a><a href="Tanchuma" data-aht="parshan">אודות הTanchuma</a></multilink>, <multilink><a href="Kuzari1-87" data-aht="source">ר' יהודה הלוי</a>, <multilink data-aht="<a href="RashbamShemot19-19" data-aht="source">שמות י״ט:י״ט</a><a href="RashbamShemot20-15" data-aht="source">שמות כ׳:ט״ו</a><a href="R. Shemuel b. Meir (Rashbam)" data-aht="parshan">אודות ר' שמואל בן מאיר</a>"><a href="RashbamShemot19-19" data-aht="source">רשב"ם</a>, <multilink data-aht="<a href="IbnEzraLongCommentaryShemot19-9" data-aht="source">שמות פירוש שני י״ט:ט׳</a><a href="IbnEzraLongCommentaryShemot19-19" data-aht="source">שמות פירוש שני י״ט:י״ט</a><a href="IbnEzraShemotLong20-1" data-aht="source">שמות פירוש שני כ׳:א׳</a><a href="IbnEzraDevarim5-5" data-aht="source">דברים ה׳:ה׳</a><a href="R. Avraham ibn Ezra" data-aht="parshan">אודות ר' אברהם אבן עזרא</a>"><a href="IbnEzraLongCommentaryShemot19-9" data-aht="source">אבן עזרא</a>,</multilink> </multilink> <multilink data-aht="<a href="RalbagShemot19-8" data-aht="source">שמות ביאור המילות י״ט:ח׳-ט׳</a><a href="RalbagShemot20-15" data-aht="source">שמות ביאור המילות כ׳:ט״ו</a><a href="RalbagDevarim5-5" data-aht="source">דברים ה׳:ה׳</a><a href="R. Levi b. Gershom (Ralbag, Gersonides)" data-aht="parshan">אודות ר' לוי בן גרשום</a>"><a href="RalbagShemot19-8" data-aht="source">רלב"ג</a>, <multilink data-aht="<a href="AbarbanelShemot19Q13" data-aht="source">שמות י״ט-כ׳, שאלות י״ג-י״ד</a><a href="AbarbanelShemot19-9" data-aht="source">שמות י״ט:ט׳</a><a href="AbarbanelShemot19-19" data-aht="source">שמות י״ט:י״ט</a><a href="AbarbanelShemot19-20-22" data-aht="source">שמות י״ט:כ׳-כ״ב</a><a href="AbarbanelShemot19" data-aht="source">שמות י״ט:כ״ג</a><a href="AbarbanelShemot20" data-aht="source">שמות כ׳</a><a href="R. Yitzchak Abarbanel" data-aht="parshan">אודות ר' יצחק אברבנאל</a>"><a href="AbarbanelShemot19Q13" data-aht="source">אברבנאל</a>,</multilink> </multilink> <multilink data-aht="<a href="ShadalShemot19-9" data-aht="source">שמות י״ט:ט׳</a><a href="ShadalShemot19-19" data-aht="source">שמות י״ט:י״ט</a><a href="ShadalShemot19-24" data-aht="source">שמות י״ט:כ״ד</a><a href="ShadalShemot20-1" data-aht="source">שמות כ׳:א׳</a><a href="R. Shemuel David Luzzatto (Shadal)" data-aht="parshan">אודות ר' שמואל דוד לוצאטו</a>"><a href="ShadalShemot19-9" data-aht="source">שד"ל</a>.</multilink><a href="Kuzari1-87" data-aht="source">א׳:פ״ז</a><a href="R. Yehuda HaLevi" data-aht="parshan">אודות ר' יהודה הלוי</a></multilink></p> |
</mekorot> | </mekorot> | ||
| − | <point><b> | + | <point><b>מטרת ההתגלות בסיני</b><ul> |
<li>This position highlights the goal of teaching the nation to believe in Hashem, as per the verse in Devarim, "אַתָּה הָרְאֵתָ לָדַעַת כִּי ה' הוּא הָאֱלֹהִים"‎.<fn>Shemot 19:9 seems to contradict this, explicitly stating that the goal was to establish faith in Moshe.  Ibn Ezra agrees that this, too, was accomplished when the nation learned that speaking to God does not automatically result in death, and that it was thus possible that Moshe had all along been communicating with Hashem. Ralbag and Abarbanel, in contrast, suggest that instilling faith in Moshe was only part of an original plan (where Hashem thought He would speak to Moshe and not directly to the nation) but that plan was then rejected.  See below for elaboration.</fn>  Divine revelation to a mass audience was a unique event in world history and constitutes one of the strongest proofs of God's existence and the Torah's Divine origin.<fn>Cf. R. Yehuda HaLevi who makes a similar argument, though he emphasizes that the Divine revelation to the masses proved to the nation that humans have the ability to prophesy, leading them to believe in both Moshe and other future prophets.</fn></li> | <li>This position highlights the goal of teaching the nation to believe in Hashem, as per the verse in Devarim, "אַתָּה הָרְאֵתָ לָדַעַת כִּי ה' הוּא הָאֱלֹהִים"‎.<fn>Shemot 19:9 seems to contradict this, explicitly stating that the goal was to establish faith in Moshe.  Ibn Ezra agrees that this, too, was accomplished when the nation learned that speaking to God does not automatically result in death, and that it was thus possible that Moshe had all along been communicating with Hashem. Ralbag and Abarbanel, in contrast, suggest that instilling faith in Moshe was only part of an original plan (where Hashem thought He would speak to Moshe and not directly to the nation) but that plan was then rejected.  See below for elaboration.</fn>  Divine revelation to a mass audience was a unique event in world history and constitutes one of the strongest proofs of God's existence and the Torah's Divine origin.<fn>Cf. R. Yehuda HaLevi who makes a similar argument, though he emphasizes that the Divine revelation to the masses proved to the nation that humans have the ability to prophesy, leading them to believe in both Moshe and other future prophets.</fn></li> | ||
<li>According to Shadal, there may have been a dual purpose of instilling belief in both Hashem and Moshe. By hearing Hashem speak to Moshe before the actual revelation (see below), 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 Hashem and Moshe. By hearing Hashem speak to Moshe before the actual revelation (see below), the nation recognized his prophetic stature, and by hearing Hashem on their own during revelation, they came to believe in God.</li> | ||
</ul></point> | </ul></point> | ||
| − | <point><b> | + | <point><b>נבואה להמונים</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> |
| − | <point><b> | + | <point><b>תפקידו של משה</b> – According to these sources, Moshe did not play any significant role during the revelation. He, like the rest of the nation, simply listened to Hashem.  According to Abarbanel and Shadal, even physically, Moshe was positioned amidst the people and not higher up on the mountain.<fn>This follows the approach found in <a href="ShemotRabbah28-3" data-aht="source">Shemot Rabbah</a>.</fn></point> |
<point><b>"פָּנִים בְּפָנִים"</b> – These commentators understand the phrase "פָּנִים בְּפָנִים" to refer to a direct, unmediated encounter.  R. Levi in the Tanchuma describes the experience as one in which each member of the nation felt as if Hashem was speaking to them personally.</point> | <point><b>"פָּנִים בְּפָנִים"</b> – These commentators understand the phrase "פָּנִים בְּפָנִים" to refer to a direct, unmediated encounter.  R. Levi in the Tanchuma describes the experience as one in which each member of the nation felt as if Hashem was speaking to them personally.</point> | ||
<point><b>"אָנֹכִי עֹמֵד בֵּין ה' וּבֵינֵיכֶם"</b> – According to most of these commentators, these words refer to the mediating role that Moshe assumed after receiving the Decalogue, when giving over the rest of the commandments.<fn>Ibn Ezra and Abarbanel say this explicitly.  According to them, the phrase "בָּעֵת הַהִוא" (at that time) does not refer to the immediate period spoken of in the verse (the giving of the Decalogue) but rather some point afterwards.  See <a href="Literary:Chronological and Thematic Order" data-aht="page">Chronological and Thematic Order</a> for a discussion of the term's usage in Tanakh.<br/>The Sages and Ralbag are more ambiguous.  They do not say explicitly that the words refer to relaying the other commandments, only that Moshe is referring to the conversation in which the people confess their fear and request that Moshe speak with them rather than Hashem.</fn> Alternatively, this position could posit, as does <a href="RambanDevarim5-5" data-aht="source">Ramban</a>, that this refers to Moshe's role before the Decalogue when he acted as a go-between to relay all of Hashem's instructions to prepare the nation.</point> | <point><b>"אָנֹכִי עֹמֵד בֵּין ה' וּבֵינֵיכֶם"</b> – According to most of these commentators, these words refer to the mediating role that Moshe assumed after receiving the Decalogue, when giving over the rest of the commandments.<fn>Ibn Ezra and Abarbanel say this explicitly.  According to them, the phrase "בָּעֵת הַהִוא" (at that time) does not refer to the immediate period spoken of in the verse (the giving of the Decalogue) but rather some point afterwards.  See <a href="Literary:Chronological and Thematic Order" data-aht="page">Chronological and Thematic Order</a> for a discussion of the term's usage in Tanakh.<br/>The Sages and Ralbag are more ambiguous.  They do not say explicitly that the words refer to relaying the other commandments, only that Moshe is referring to the conversation in which the people confess their fear and request that Moshe speak with them rather than Hashem.</fn> Alternatively, this position could posit, as does <a href="RambanDevarim5-5" data-aht="source">Ramban</a>, that this refers to Moshe's role before the Decalogue when he acted as a go-between to relay all of Hashem's instructions to prepare the nation.</point> | ||
| Line 90: | Line 90: | ||
<li><b>Before the Decalogue</b> – Shadal asserts that this refers to the nation hearing Hashem's conversation with Moshe <i>before</i> the Decalogue.</li> | <li><b>Before the Decalogue</b> – Shadal asserts that this refers to the nation hearing Hashem's conversation with Moshe <i>before</i> the Decalogue.</li> | ||
</ul></point> | </ul></point> | ||
| − | <point><b> | + | <point><b>"דַּבֵּר אַתָּה עִמָּנוּ וְנִשְׁמָעָה" – פחד העם</b> – According to these sources, this scene is found in its chronological place and only occurred after Hashem finished relaying the entire Decalogue.  According to Rashbam, Ibn Ezra, and Ralbag, were it not for this fear, Hashem would have relayed all 613 commandments to the people directly.<fn>Hashem's reaction to the fear, "הֵיטִיבוּ כׇּל אֲשֶׁר דִּבֵּרוּ... לֵךְ אֱמֹר לָהֶם שׁוּבוּ לָכֶם לְאׇהֳלֵיכֶם וְאַתָּה פֹּה עֲמֹד עִמָּדִי וַאֲדַבְּרָה אֵלֶיךָ אֵת כׇּל הַמִּצְוָה וְהַחֻקִּים וְהַמִּשְׁפָּטִים אֲשֶׁר תְּלַמְּדֵם" would support this supposition.  Hashem is apparently telling Moshe that he agrees with the nation, and that the <i>new</i> plan is that he should ascend the mountain to hear the rest of the laws.</fn></point> |
<point><b>"כִּי יְרֵאתֶם מִפְּנֵי הָאֵשׁ וְלֹא עֲלִיתֶם בָּהָר"</b><ul> | <point><b>"כִּי יְרֵאתֶם מִפְּנֵי הָאֵשׁ וְלֹא עֲלִיתֶם בָּהָר"</b><ul> | ||
<li>According to Ibn Ezra, Moshe is saying that the nation feared the fire, despite the fact that they did not go up the mountain.</li> | <li>According to Ibn Ezra, Moshe is saying that the nation feared the fire, despite the fact that they did not go up the mountain.</li> | ||
| Line 100: | Line 100: | ||
<li><b>During</b> <b>the Decalogue</b> – <a href="MekhiltaBachodesh4" data-aht="source">R. Eliezer</a> 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.<fn>Thus, when Moshe spoke and gave the "go-ahead", Hashem replied with the ten commandments.</fn></li> | <li><b>During</b> <b>the Decalogue</b> – <a href="MekhiltaBachodesh4" data-aht="source">R. Eliezer</a> 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.<fn>Thus, when Moshe spoke and gave the "go-ahead", Hashem replied with the ten commandments.</fn></li> | ||
</ul></point> | </ul></point> | ||
| − | <point><b> | + | <point><b>מעבר מגוף ראשון לגוף שלישי</b> – Ibn Ezra explains that it is common for the text to switch between first and third person, and he points to toher examples of this.<fn>See also Abarbanel who brings a whole list of verses as further proofs.</fn> Ibn Ezra also explains the specific location of the switch, pointing out that after the nation accepted Hashem as their God in the first two commandments, He could then refer to Himself as the Israelites' God in third person.</point> |
</opinion> | </opinion> | ||
</category> | </category> | ||
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R. Hamnuna in <multilink><a href="BavliMakkot23b" data-aht="source">Bavli Makkot</a><a href="BavliMakkot23b" data-aht="source">Makkot 23b-24a</a><a href="Bavli" data-aht="parshan">About the Bavli</a></multilink>, R. Yishmael in <multilink><a href="BavliHorayot8a" data-aht="source">Bavli Horayot</a><a href="BavliHorayot8a" data-aht="source">Horayot 23b-24a</a><a href="Bavli" data-aht="parshan">About the Bavli</a></multilink>, R. Yehoshua in <multilink><a href="SHSRabbah1-2" data-aht="source">Shir HaShirim Rabbah</a><a href="SHSRabbah1-2" data-aht="source">1:2</a><a href="Shir HaShirim Rabbah" data-aht="parshan">About Shir HaShirim Rabbah</a></multilink>, <multilink><a href="PsJShemot20-2" data-aht="source">Targum Pseudo-Jonathan</a><a href="PsJShemot20-2" data-aht="source">Shemot 20:2</a><a href="Targum Pseudo-Jonathan" data-aht="parshan">About Targum Pseudo-Jonathan</a></multilink>, R. Yehoshua b. Levi in <multilink><a href="PesiktaRabbati22" data-aht="source">Pesikta Rabbati</a><a href="PesiktaRabbati22" data-aht="source">22</a><a href="Pesikta Rabbati" data-aht="parshan">About Pesikta Rabbati</a></multilink>, <multilink><a href="RashiShemot19-19" data-aht="source">Rashi</a><a href="RashiShemot19-19" data-aht="source">Shemot 19:19</a><a href="RashiShemot20-1" data-aht="source">Shemot 20:1</a><a href="R. Shelomo Yitzchaki (Rashi)" data-aht="parshan">About R. Shelomo Yitzchaki</a></multilink>, <multilink><a href="RYBSShemot20-1" data-aht="source">R. Yosef Kara</a><a href="RYBSShemot20-1" data-aht="source">cited by R. Yosef Bekhor Shor Shemot 20:1</a><a href="R. Yosef Kara" data-aht="parshan">About R. Yosef Kara</a></multilink>, <multilink><a href="RYBSDevarim5-4" data-aht="source">R. Yosef Bekhor Shor</a><a href="RYBSShemot20-1" data-aht="source">Shemot 20:1</a><a href="RYBSDevarim5-4" data-aht="source">Devarim 5:4-5</a><a href="R. Yosef Bekhor Shor" data-aht="parshan">About R. Yosef Bekhor Shor</a></multilink><fn>This is how he explains the encounter in his comments on Devarim 5. In Shemot 20, though, he first suggests that the nation heard all ten commandments from Hashem and only afterwards brings the opinion that there were two stages.</fn> | R. Hamnuna in <multilink><a href="BavliMakkot23b" data-aht="source">Bavli Makkot</a><a href="BavliMakkot23b" data-aht="source">Makkot 23b-24a</a><a href="Bavli" data-aht="parshan">About the Bavli</a></multilink>, R. Yishmael in <multilink><a href="BavliHorayot8a" data-aht="source">Bavli Horayot</a><a href="BavliHorayot8a" data-aht="source">Horayot 23b-24a</a><a href="Bavli" data-aht="parshan">About the Bavli</a></multilink>, R. Yehoshua in <multilink><a href="SHSRabbah1-2" data-aht="source">Shir HaShirim Rabbah</a><a href="SHSRabbah1-2" data-aht="source">1:2</a><a href="Shir HaShirim Rabbah" data-aht="parshan">About Shir HaShirim Rabbah</a></multilink>, <multilink><a href="PsJShemot20-2" data-aht="source">Targum Pseudo-Jonathan</a><a href="PsJShemot20-2" data-aht="source">Shemot 20:2</a><a href="Targum Pseudo-Jonathan" data-aht="parshan">About Targum Pseudo-Jonathan</a></multilink>, R. Yehoshua b. Levi in <multilink><a href="PesiktaRabbati22" data-aht="source">Pesikta Rabbati</a><a href="PesiktaRabbati22" data-aht="source">22</a><a href="Pesikta Rabbati" data-aht="parshan">About Pesikta Rabbati</a></multilink>, <multilink><a href="RashiShemot19-19" data-aht="source">Rashi</a><a href="RashiShemot19-19" data-aht="source">Shemot 19:19</a><a href="RashiShemot20-1" data-aht="source">Shemot 20:1</a><a href="R. Shelomo Yitzchaki (Rashi)" data-aht="parshan">About R. Shelomo Yitzchaki</a></multilink>, <multilink><a href="RYBSShemot20-1" data-aht="source">R. Yosef Kara</a><a href="RYBSShemot20-1" data-aht="source">cited by R. Yosef Bekhor Shor Shemot 20:1</a><a href="R. Yosef Kara" data-aht="parshan">About R. Yosef Kara</a></multilink>, <multilink><a href="RYBSDevarim5-4" data-aht="source">R. Yosef Bekhor Shor</a><a href="RYBSShemot20-1" data-aht="source">Shemot 20:1</a><a href="RYBSDevarim5-4" data-aht="source">Devarim 5:4-5</a><a href="R. Yosef Bekhor Shor" data-aht="parshan">About R. Yosef Bekhor Shor</a></multilink><fn>This is how he explains the encounter in his comments on Devarim 5. In Shemot 20, though, he first suggests that the nation heard all ten commandments from Hashem and only afterwards brings the opinion that there were two stages.</fn> | ||
</mekorot> | </mekorot> | ||
| − | <point><b> | + | <point><b>תפקידו של משה</b> – Moshe acted as an intermediary for the last eight commandments, relaying them to the nation in Hashem's stead.</point> |
<point><b>Why the split?</b> According to these sources, the original plan was for Hashem to say the entire Decalogue directly to the nation.  After Hashem relayed the second commandment, though, the nation became frightened and requested that Moshe mediate.</point> | <point><b>Why the split?</b> According to these sources, the original plan was for Hashem to say the entire Decalogue directly to the nation.  After Hashem relayed the second commandment, though, the nation became frightened and requested that Moshe mediate.</point> | ||
<point><b>"פָּנִים בְּפָנִים"</b> – This phrase describes the first part of the encounter, when the nation heard and understood the first two commandments directly from Hashem.</point> | <point><b>"פָּנִים בְּפָנִים"</b> – This phrase describes the first part of the encounter, when the nation heard and understood the first two commandments directly from Hashem.</point> | ||
<point><b>"אָנֹכִי עֹמֵד בֵּין ה' וּבֵינֵיכֶם"</b> – This clause refers to the second part of the experience when Moshe served as an intermediary to deliver the final eight commandments.</point> | <point><b>"אָנֹכִי עֹמֵד בֵּין ה' וּבֵינֵיכֶם"</b> – This clause refers to the second part of the experience when Moshe served as an intermediary to deliver the final eight commandments.</point> | ||
| − | <point><b> | + | <point><b>"דַּבֵּר אַתָּה עִמָּנוּ וְנִשְׁמָעָה" – פחד העם</b> – According to these sources, this episode took place in the middle of the Decalogue, between the second and third commandments.  It is recorded out of order so as not to interrupt the flow of the story and to keep the Decalogue in one continuous list.  R. Yosef Bekhor Shor adds that had it not been for their fear, the nation might have heard all the commandments in this manner.  Alternatively, Hashem had never planned on relaying more than these commandments regardless of the nation's fears.<fn>It should be noted that, in this aspect, this position is much more similar to the approach above that has the nation hear all ten commandments, than to Ramban below.  In contrast to Ramban, both these positions assume that at some point Hashem's original plan changed due to the nation's fear, disagreeing only regarding at which point the nation was fearful (after the second or tenth commandment).  In selecting between the possibilities, one position is motivated by the switch in speaker and the other by the placement of the scene depicting the fear.</fn></point> |
<point><b>"כִּי יְרֵאתֶם מִפְּנֵי הָאֵשׁ וְלֹא עֲלִיתֶם בָּהָר"</b> – This verse seems to imply that, were it not for their fears, the people would have ascended the mountain.  This poses a difficulty for this approach which maintains that the people expressed their fears midway through the Decalogue, as at that point it was prohibited from ascending the mountain regardless of whether they were afraid.  Thus, this approach might need to explain, as Ibn Ezra above, that Moshe is saying that despite the fact that they did not ascend the mountain, they were still in fear.<fn>R"Y Bekhor Shor, in contrast, posits that Moshe is referring to a future ascent of the mountain, to hear the rest of the commandments.</fn></point> | <point><b>"כִּי יְרֵאתֶם מִפְּנֵי הָאֵשׁ וְלֹא עֲלִיתֶם בָּהָר"</b> – This verse seems to imply that, were it not for their fears, the people would have ascended the mountain.  This poses a difficulty for this approach which maintains that the people expressed their fears midway through the Decalogue, as at that point it was prohibited from ascending the mountain regardless of whether they were afraid.  Thus, this approach might need to explain, as Ibn Ezra above, that Moshe is saying that despite the fact that they did not ascend the mountain, they were still in fear.<fn>R"Y Bekhor Shor, in contrast, posits that Moshe is referring to a future ascent of the mountain, to hear the rest of the commandments.</fn></point> | ||
| − | <point><b> | + | <point><b>מעבר מגוף ראשון לגוף שלישי</b> – R. Yosef Kara adduces support for this approach from the fact that the Decalogue switches from first person to third person immediately after the second commandment.  If this is when Moshe began to speak, the third person references to Hashem make sense.</point> |
<point><b>"מֹשֶׁה יְדַבֵּר וְהָאֱלֹהִים יַעֲנֶנּוּ בְקוֹל"</b> – Rashi explains that when Moshe relayed the eight commandments, Hashem gave Moshe's voice extra strength so that he could be heard.<fn>Accordingly, the phrase "יַעֲנֶנּוּ בְקוֹל" means that Hashem amplified the volume of Moshe's words, and not that He responded to Moshe.</fn></point> | <point><b>"מֹשֶׁה יְדַבֵּר וְהָאֱלֹהִים יַעֲנֶנּוּ בְקוֹל"</b> – Rashi explains that when Moshe relayed the eight commandments, Hashem gave Moshe's voice extra strength so that he could be heard.<fn>Accordingly, the phrase "יַעֲנֶנּוּ בְקוֹל" means that Hashem amplified the volume of Moshe's words, and not that He responded to Moshe.</fn></point> | ||
<point><b>"וַיְדַבֵּר אֱלֹהִים אֵת כָּל הַדְּבָרִים"</b> – Ibn Ezra argues against this position from the word "כָּל" which suggests that there was no differentiation between the commandments.  Rashi explains that the verse comes to teach that, originally, Hashem said all ten commandments simultaneously and only afterwards distinguished each one.</point> | <point><b>"וַיְדַבֵּר אֱלֹהִים אֵת כָּל הַדְּבָרִים"</b> – Ibn Ezra argues against this position from the word "כָּל" which suggests that there was no differentiation between the commandments.  Rashi explains that the verse comes to teach that, originally, Hashem said all ten commandments simultaneously and only afterwards distinguished each one.</point> | ||
<point><b>"וַיְדַבֵּר אֱלֹהִים... לֵאמֹר"</b> – Rashi might suggest that the audience of Hashem's words is left ambiguous, because there were two different, consecutive, audiences for the different sections of the Decalogue.  Hashem first spoke to the nation and then to Moshe alone.</point> | <point><b>"וַיְדַבֵּר אֱלֹהִים... לֵאמֹר"</b> – Rashi might suggest that the audience of Hashem's words is left ambiguous, because there were two different, consecutive, audiences for the different sections of the Decalogue.  Hashem first spoke to the nation and then to Moshe alone.</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>"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> | + | <point><b>מטרת ההתגלות בסיני</b> – This position could posit that the revelation was aimed at instilling belief in Hashem, rather than in Moshe's prophecy.  It was only a concession to the people's fear that led Moshe to play any part at all.</point> |
| − | <point><b> | + | <point><b>נבואה להמונים</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>"פָּנִים בְּפָנִים"</b> – According to Ramban, the people heard the entire Decalogue "face to face", but only comprehended the first two commandments.</point> | <point><b>"פָּנִים בְּפָנִים"</b> – According to Ramban, the people heard the entire Decalogue "face to face", but only comprehended the first two commandments.</point> | ||
<point><b>"אָנֹכִי עֹמֵד בֵּין ה' וּבֵינֵיכֶם"</b> – This clause refers to Moshe's intermediary role during the second part of the encounter, when Moshe explained the final eight commandments.</point> | <point><b>"אָנֹכִי עֹמֵד בֵּין ה' וּבֵינֵיכֶם"</b> – This clause refers to Moshe's intermediary role during the second part of the encounter, when Moshe explained the final eight commandments.</point> | ||
| − | <point><b> | + | <point><b>מעבר מגוף ראשון לגוף שלישי</b> – To support the change of speaker, Ramban points to the fact that only the first two commandments speak of Hashem in first person.</point> |
<point><b>"וַיְדַבֵּר אֱלֹהִים אֵת כָּל הַדְּבָרִים"</b> – The word "כָּל" is what motivates Ramban to suggest that the nation actually heard all of the commandments (even if they did not comprehend all of them).</point> | <point><b>"וַיְדַבֵּר אֱלֹהִים אֵת כָּל הַדְּבָרִים"</b> – The word "כָּל" is what motivates Ramban to suggest that the nation actually heard all of the commandments (even if they did not comprehend all of them).</point> | ||
| − | <point><b> | + | <point><b>"דַּבֵּר אַתָּה עִמָּנוּ וְנִשְׁמָעָה" – פחד העם</b> – Ramban asserts that this took place before the Decalogue. Even before Hashem began to speak, the nation distanced themselves even further than required by the set boundary and requested that Moshe speak.<fn>Moshe managed to calm them enough that they stood their ground and listened.</fn>  Ramban maintains that the similar description in Devarim which speaks of the elders conveying their fears refers to a different episode, which transpired after the Decalogue.  Assuming that Hashem intended to transmit the rest of the Torah in the same manner, the elders asked Moshe that he instead be an intermediary.  Hashem agreed since He had never intended to do otherwise.</point> |
<point><b>"מֹשֶׁה יְדַבֵּר וְהָאֱלֹהִים יַעֲנֶנּוּ בְקוֹל"</b> – Ramban maintains that these words refer to Moshe and Hashem's conversation during the three days of preparations for the revelation.<fn>See Ibn Ezra and others above.  It is possible that he explains the verse in this manner, despite maintaining that Moshe did speak during the Decalogue, because the phrase assumes that Hashem responded to Moshe and not vice versa.</fn></point> | <point><b>"מֹשֶׁה יְדַבֵּר וְהָאֱלֹהִים יַעֲנֶנּוּ בְקוֹל"</b> – Ramban maintains that these words refer to Moshe and Hashem's conversation during the three days of preparations for the revelation.<fn>See Ibn Ezra and others above.  It is possible that he explains the verse in this manner, despite maintaining that Moshe did speak during the Decalogue, because the phrase assumes that Hashem responded to Moshe and not vice versa.</fn></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>"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> | + | <point><b>מטרת ההתגלות בסיני</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> | + | <point><b>נבואה להמונים</b> – This approach assumes that one can prophesy even without extensive preparation, if Hashem so chooses.</point> |
</opinion> | </opinion> | ||
</category> | </category> | ||
Version as of 02:04, 12 June 2019
Fatal 38: Unescaped '<' not allowed in attributes values
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