Another matter: Rabbi Simon said: When the Holy One blessed be He said to Moses that he should review the Torah, he did not seek to rebuke them for what they had done.14Moses was going to review the Torah with the Israelites, but he did not intend to rebuke them. Rabbi Simon said: To what is the matter comparable? To a disciple who was walking with his teacher and saw a glowing ember. He thought it was a gem.
He took it and was burned. Days later, he was walking with his teacher and he saw a gem. He believed it was a glowing ember and he was afraid to touch it. His teacher said to him: ‘Take it, it is a gem.’
So, Moses said: ‘Because I said to them: “Hear, now, defiant ones” (Numbers 20:10), I received my punishment because of them;15Moses was punished by not be able to enter the Land of Israel; see Numbers 20:10–12. will I now come to rebuke them?’ The Holy One blessed be He said to Moses: ‘Fear not.’