Parshas Yisro contains the most
important event in the history of the world, the giving of the Torah to Bnei
Yisrael. Without this gift, Chazal teach us the purpose of Creation would have
been unfulfilled, leading to the destruction of the world. But a careful
reading of the pesukim reveals a confusing lead up to Matan Torah.
Perek 19, the perek preceding Matan
Torah, consists of a back and forth between Hashem, Moshe, and Bnei Yisrael, with
Hashem providing instructions for the nation to Moshe, his giving over the
message, and Bnei Yisrael responding positively to the instructions. One of
Hashem’s main directives was that no one should come close to Har Sinai at the
time of Matan Torah. The first time he mentions this to Moshe is in Pasuk 12,
and then again in Pasuk 21. After hearing this directive for the second time,
Moshe responds in the way any normal person would. “וַיֹּ֤אמֶר
משֶׁה֙ אֶל־יְהֹוָ֔ה לֹֽא־יוּכַ֣ל הָעָ֔ם לַֽעֲלֹ֖ת אֶל־הַ֣ר סִינָ֑י
כִּֽי־אַתָּ֞ה הַֽעֵדֹ֤תָה בָּ֨נוּ֙ לֵאמֹ֔ר הַגְבֵּ֥ל אֶת־הָהָ֖ר וְקִדַּשְׁתּֽוֹ” “And
Moshe said to Hashem, the people cannot ascend Mount Sinai, for You warned us
saying, ‘Set boundaries for the mountain and sanctify it” (Shemos 19:23).
The problem with this response is obvious; while it might be ok to tell your
friend after he repeats himself that you’ve already heard it, this is God we’re
dealing with. Of course He knows He warned the people already! Shouldn’t Moshe
assume He had a good reason for wanting to repeat it?
The first answer to
this question shows us how the Torah teaches us life lessons. Besides for telling
us the mitzvos, the actions Hashem commands us to do or not do, the Torah also
tells us how to live life, how to act even when we are not commanded to do a
certain action. Here is an example of the Torah teaching us how to prepare an
individual for a big task. If there is a certain restriction or important
detail for him to know, warn him about it well in advance, but then don’t rely
just on that instance. Follow it up right before the task begins with another
warning.
The second instance in
pasuk 21 is Hashem doing just that. The reason for Moshe’s response, explains
the Gur Aryeh, is because he was not aware this warning meant that Matan Torah
was imminent. Therefore, he was confused why Hashem would need to remind Bnei Yisrael
right now; which is why Hashem follows this up in Pasuk 24 by telling Moshe to
go down, and come right back up with Aharon for the giving of the Torah.
The Rishonim give a
different, interesting answer. Moshe had been given the directive to insure
that the Bnei Yisrael not come close to the mountain, and he was confident that
he and the other prominent members of the nation could enforce this. Therefore,
when Hashem told him again to be careful about this, he questioned why it was
necessary. Wouldn’t he be there to warn them? Hashem surprises him with His
answer in the next pasuk. “לֶךְ־רֵ֔ד וְעָלִ֥יתָ אַתָּ֖ה
וְאַֽהֲרֹ֣ן עִמָּ֑ךְ” “Go, descend, and then you shall
ascend, and Aharon with you” (ibid: 24). Moshe wouldn’t be down with the
people, because he would be up on the mountain with Hashem!
Shabbat Shalom!
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