Another matter, “who is like the wise man” – this is Israel, in whose regard it is written: “It is a particularly wise and understanding people” (Deuteronomy 4:6). “And who knows the meaning of a matter” – as they knew how to expound the Torah, forty-nine interpretations for ritual purity and a corresponding number for ritual impurity.5They could analyze from all angles a question regarding ritual purity, such that they could provide forty-nine rationales for each side of the argument.
You find that when the Israelites stood at Mount Sinai and said: “We will perform and we will hearken” (Exodus 24:7), the aura of the supernal Divine Presence was placed upon them. When they sinned,6With the sin of the Golden Calf. they became the enemies of the Holy One blessed be He, as it is written: “And the boldness of his face is changed.”7The word changed [yeshuneh] is interpreted here to mean hated [yesuneh].
The Holy One blessed be He, too, changed matters for them, as it is written: “Indeed, you will die like man” (Psalms 82:7).8By contrast to the status they had before the sin: “I had said: You are divine, like celestial beings, all of you” (Psalms 82:6), but now they will die.