God Goes Out Like a Bridegroom and Holds the Mountain Overhead

"And Moses brought the people out to meet God" (Exodus 19:17). Rabbi Yose ben Yudan used to say: It says, "The LORD came from Sinai" (Deuteronomy 33:2). Upon Sinai He was revealed. But I say: From Sinai He came to receive His children with joy. They told a parable: to what may this be compared? To a bridegroom who goes out to meet the bride. From the honor of the one who goes out you learn the honor of the one who comes in. Therefore it says, "And Moses brought the people out to meet God." "And they stood at the foot of the mountain." They pressed close together. Concerning them it is explained in the Writings, "My dove in the clefts of the rock, in the secret place of the cliff" (Song of Songs 2:14). Rabbi Elazar says: This thing is said only concerning the Sea. "Show me your appearance" (there), as it says, "Stand still and see the salvation of the LORD" (Exodus 14:13). "Let me hear your voice" (there), as it says, "and the children of Israel cried out to the LORD" (Exodus 14:10). "For your voice is sweet" (there), "and their cry went up to God" (Exodus 2:23). "And your appearance is comely" (there), "and the people believed" (Exodus 4:31). Rabbi Akiva says: This thing is said only before Mount Sinai. "Show me your appearance," as it says, "And Moses rose early in the morning and built an altar at the foot of the mountain" (Exodus 24:4). "Let me hear your voice," as it says, "And all the people answered together and said, all that the LORD has spoken we will do and we will obey" (Exodus 24:7). "For your voice is sweet," "they have well said all that they have spoken" (Deuteronomy 5:25). "And your appearance is comely," in the Tent of Meeting, "and all the congregation drew near and stood before the LORD" (Leviticus 9:5). Others say: This thing is said only concerning the generations to come. "My dove in the clefts of the rock," as it says, "upon the circle of the earth" (Isaiah 40:22). "In the secret place of the cliff"—these are Israel, who dwell beside the distress of the kingdoms until their time comes. "Show me your appearance"—this is deed. "Let me hear your voice"—this is study. "For your voice is sweet and your appearance is comely"—to make known to you how many levels lie between study and deed. And they were already counted in the upper chamber of the house of Aris: which is greater, study or deed? Rabbi Tarfon said: deed is greater. Rabbi Akiva said: study is greater. They all answered and said: study is greater, for study leads to deed, but deed does not lead to study. Another interpretation: "And they stood at the foot of the mountain." This teaches that the Holy One, blessed be He, held the mountain over them like a tub and said, "If you accept the Torah upon yourselves, good; and if not, here shall be your burial." At that hour they all cried out in weeping and poured out their hearts like water in repentance, and said, "All that the LORD has spoken we will do and we will obey" (Exodus 24:7). The Holy One, blessed be He, said, "I require guarantors." "Behold, let heaven and earth guarantee us." He said to them, "They are occupied." They said, "Our children shall guarantee us." He said, "These indeed are good guarantors." And so it says, "Out of the mouth of babes and sucklings You have founded strength" (Psalms 8:3). And it says, "And you have forgotten the Torah of your God; I also will forget your children" (Hosea 4:6).