The Mountain Smoking and Torah Compared to Fire

"And Mount Sinai was wholly in smoke" (Exodus 19:18). One might think only the holy place; Scripture says "wholly," not only the holy place. Because of what? "Because the LORD descended upon it in fire." Scripture tells that the fire licked the firmament and came down upon Mount Sinai and became like a heart of fire, to give a sign by it. And so it says, "as when fire kindles the brushwood, the fire makes water boil, to make Your name known to Your adversaries" (Isaiah 64:1). "In fire." This tells that words of Torah were likened to fire. Just as fire is life to the world, so words of Torah are life to the world. Just as with fire, if a person draws too near he is burned, and if he keeps far from it he is chilled, so too with a word of Torah: if a person draws too near he is burned, and if he keeps far from it he is chilled. This is what we learned: "Be warmed by the light of the sages, but be careful of their coals lest you be burned." Just as fire, the small kindles the great and the great kindles the small, so too a word of Torah: the small learns from the great and the great learns from the small. Everyone who handles fire in this world merits and handles it in the world to come. Another interpretation: Everyone who accepts upon himself words of Torah, which were likened to fire, the yoke of the kingdoms, which were likened to fire, is removed from him. And everyone who casts off from himself the yoke of Torah, which was likened to fire, is given the yoke of the kingdom, which was likened to fire. And so it says, "And I will set My face against them; from the fire they came out, and the fire shall consume them" (Ezekiel 15:7). Just as with fire, the people who labor at it are recognized among the creatures, so too disciples of the wise are recognized by their speech and their walk and their garb in the marketplace. "And its smoke went up like the smoke of a furnace." Just as this furnace tests the jars, some come out fit for wine, some come out fit for oil, and some come out cracked, so too words of Torah test people. And so it says, "The word of the LORD is refined" (Psalms 18:31). Thus the commandments were given only to refine through them the minds of the creatures. "Like the smoke of a furnace." One might think actually like the smoke of a furnace; Scripture says, "and the mountain burned with fire" (Deuteronomy 4:11). Why then does it say "like a furnace"? To let the ear hear what it is able to hear. Similarly you say, "and behold, the glory of the God of Israel came from the way of the east, and His voice was like the sound of many waters" (Ezekiel 43:2). Is it possible that His creatures are like Him? Rather, to let the ear hear what it is able to hear. Similarly, "the LORD strong and mighty, the LORD mighty in battle" (Psalms 24:8). Similarly, "a lion has roared, who will not fear?" (Amos 3:8). Similarly, "My teaching shall drop as the rain" (Deuteronomy 32:2). Is it possible the rains are greater than the Torah, that He compares it to them? Rather, to let the ear hear what it is able to hear. "And the whole mountain trembled greatly." It shuddered. And so it says, "Why do you look askance, you mountains of peaks?" (Psalms 68:17). "The mountain which God desired for His dwelling"—this is Sinai. "Indeed the LORD will dwell there forever"—this is the eternal house [the Temple].