Torah Given Only When Israel Became One in Peace

Pesikta DeRav Kahana 12:14

Curated by Arthur·Told by Maggid·

This is what Scripture says, "Her ways are ways of pleasantness, and all her paths are peace" (Proverbs 3:17). "Her ways are ways of pleasantness." The Holy One, blessed be He, sought to give His Torah to Israel at the time when Israel went out from Egypt, but they were quarreling with one another, and they were saying, "Let us appoint a leader and return to Egypt" (Numbers 14:4). What is written? "And they journeyed from Succoth and camped at Etham" (Exodus 13:20). They were journeying in strife and camping in strife. He did not act until they came to Rephidim, and they all became equal and were made into a single band, as it says, "And they journeyed from Rephidim and came to the wilderness of Sinai" (Exodus 19:2). And from where do we know that they all became equal and were made one band? Because it is not written here "and Israel camped there" [plural], but rather "and Israel camped there [singular] opposite the mountain" (Exodus 19:2). The Holy One, blessed be He, said: the whole Torah is peace; to whom shall I give it? To a nation that holds fast to peace, as it is written, "and all her paths are peace" (Proverbs 3:17).

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