Where Moses Got the Rays of Glory on His Face

Midrash Tanchuma Buber, Ki Tisa 20:2

Curated by Arthur·Translated by Maggid (Beta)·

(Exodus 34:29:) "And it came to pass, when Moses came down... from the mountain, [and Moses did not know that the skin of his face was radiant]." From where did Moses take the rays of glory? Our masters say: From the cave, as it is stated (Exodus 33:22): "And it shall come to pass, when My glory passes by, [I will put you in the cleft of the rock]." Rabbi Berekhyah said: From the tablets. He said: Their length was six handbreadths and their width was three handbreadths, and Moses was holding on to two handbreadths and the Holy One to two handbreadths, with a space of two handbreadths in the middle; from there Moses took the rays of glory. Rabbi Yehudah bar Nehemiah says: When Moses was writing the Torah, a little [ink] remained on the pen, and he passed it over his head, and from there the rays of glory were made for him. "And Moses did not know that [the skin of his face] was radiant (karan)." All the glory that he took was from the [extra] reward, but the principal (keren) remains, as it is stated (Habakkuk 3:4): "Rays from His hand belong to Him." And when the righteous take their reward in the world to come, he too will take his reward. From where [do we know this]? For thus the prophet explains and says (Isaiah 40:10): "Behold, the Lord God comes in might, and His arm rules for Him; behold, His reward is with Him, and His recompense before Him."

Themes

MosesWorld To Come

Biblical References

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