Moses Drew Near to the Thick Darkness Where God Was

Mekhilta DeRabbi Shimon Ben Yochai 20:18

Curated by Arthur·Told by Maggid·

"And the people stood at a distance" (Exodus 20:18). Why do I need this? Has it not already been said, "and they stood at a distance" (Exodus 20:15)? Rather, it teaches that Israel would go back twelve mil and return twelve mil for each and every word. "And Moses drew near to the thick darkness" (Exodus 20:18). One might think to the inner darkness, or to the outer darkness; Scripture teaches "where God was." Say from now on that there were two walls of thick darkness, and Moses would walk between them until he reached the inner thick darkness. And so Solomon says, "the LORD has said that He would dwell in thick darkness" (1 Kings 8:12). From here they said: All the prophets prophesied only from behind a glass that does not shine, but Moses our teacher from behind a single glass that shines.

Themes

MosesProphecyRevelation

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