Why God Commanded Moses to Carve the Second Tablets

Another interpretation of (Psalms 78:1): "Give ear, my people, to my Torah." This is what Scripture says (Proverbs 16:23): "The heart of a wise man instructs his mouth, etc." When Israel sins, they are withheld from all good; and when they are meritorious, good is added to them. And so you find: when they did that deed (of the golden calf), all good was withheld from them, as it is said (Exodus 32:19): "And it came to pass, as soon as he drew near to the camp, that he saw the calf, etc." And when Moses sought mercy for them, the Holy One, blessed be He, said to him: Moses, I created the world only for the sake of the Torah, as it is said (Isaiah 51:16): "And I have put My words in your mouth, etc." And they have exchanged My glory for the likeness of an ox, and you have shattered the tablets. So how shall the world stand without Torah? He said to Him: What shall I do? He said to him (Deuteronomy 10:1): "Carve for yourself two tablets of stone like the first ones." Therefore it is written (Proverbs 16:23): "The heart of a wise man instructs his mouth, etc." For this reason, when Asaph arose, he mentioned above (Psalms 77:21): "You led Your people like a flock by the hand of Moses and Aaron," and afterward (Psalms 78:1): "A Maskil of Asaph."