Why Moses Comforted Israel After Hearing the Curses

Midrash Tanchuma Buber, Nitzavim 2:1

Curated by Arthur·Translated by Maggid (Beta)·

[You are standing today (Deuteronomy 29:9).] Hezekiah the son of Rabbi Hiyya said: Why was this section placed next to the section of the curses? Because when Israel heard a hundred curses less two in this section, apart from the forty-nine that were uttered in the Torah of the Priests (i.e., in Leviticus), immediately their faces turned pale, and they said: "Who is able to withstand these?" Immediately Moses called them, and he was appeasing them with words.

Themes

CovenantMosesHopeKabbalahHumor

Biblical References

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Legends of the JewsThe Israelites Faced a Crisis of Leadership After the ExodusLoyalty to a leader you trust, versus the allure of the familiar. That's exactly where the Israelites found themselves in this little-known story about Moses. TTargum JonathanThe Sapphire Tablets and God's Throne of FireThe Targum Jonathan on (Deuteronomy 4) transforms the Sinai revelation into something far more vivid than the Hebrew original. Where the Bible says God spoke frMidrash AggadahWhy Moses Swore an Oath to Jethro and Named ZipporahWhen the verse says Moses "was content" to dwell with Jethro, the sages hear more than contentment in the word va-yo'el. They hear an oath. Just as Jacob bound Midrash TanchumaWhat Secret Did He Reveal to Those Who Feared HimAnd I will make my covenant between Me and thee (Gen. 17:2). Scripture says elsewhere in allusion to this verse: The secret of the Lord is with them that fear HMidrash TanchumaWhy Did Jethro Compel Him to Take an OathAnd Moses was content to dwell (Exod. 2:21). The word content (vayo’el) is used with reference to an oath, as in the case of Saul: And he adjured (vayo’el) the Midrash TanchumaThen the Lord Spoke Unto Moses Saying(Numb. 20:7-8:) “Then the Lord spoke unto Moses saying, ‘Take the rod... and you shall provide the congregation and their cattle with water.” From here it is sh