Another matter: “The Lord spoke to Moses in the wilderness of Sinai” – it was called six names: The mountain of God, Mount Bashan, Mount Gavnunim, Mount Moriah11From the continuation of the midrash it is clear that Mount Ḥamad should appear in the text rather than Mount Moriah., Mount Ḥorev, Mount Sinai. The mountain of God, because God sat there in judgment, as it is stated: “These are the ordinances [mishpatim]” (Exodus 21:1).12Mishpat can also mean judgment.
Mount Bashan, as the Holy One blessed be He came there [ba sham]. Mount Gavnunim, the mountain that disqualified all the mountains, just as it says: “Or a hunchback [giben] or a dwarf [.… shall not approach to sacrifice the offerings of the Lord]” (Leviticus 21:20–21). Mount Ḥamad, because the Holy One blessed be He desired [ḥamad] to abide there, as it is stated: “The mountain that God desired for His abode” (Psalms 68:17).
Mount Ḥorev, because a sword [ḥerev] was wielded upon it, as it is stated: “The adulterer and the adulteress shall be put to death” (Leviticus 20:10); the murderer shall be put to death” (Numbers 35:16).13Verses 17–18 contain this command as well. Mount Sinai, where the nations of the world became hated [nisne’u] to the Holy One blessed be He, and he issued a death sentence against them, as it is stated: “The nations will be entirely destroyed [ḥarov yeḥeravu]” (Isaiah 60:12).
Rabbi Abba bar Kahana said in the name of Rabbi Yoḥanan: The nations will be destroyed from Ḥorev, as they received their death sentence.