Moses Bows for the Golden Calf and God Lifts the Guilt

Rabbi Yonatan opened: "And the mean man bows down, and the great man is brought low" (Isaiah 2:9). "And the mean man bows down" (va-yishah adam) [read here as: and man is bowed]: these are Israel, of whom it is written, "And you My flock, the flock of My pasture, are men" (Ezekiel 34:31). "And the great man is brought low": this is Moses, of whom it is written, "Now the man Moses was very humble" (Numbers 12:3). Moses said before the Holy One, blessed be He: "Master of the worlds, I know that Israel bowed down to the calf and I was brought low; yet do not forgive them?" (Isaiah 2:9) [reading the verse's "forgive them not" as Moses' plea]. He said to him: "I shall lift them up, when you take the sum [of the head of Israel]" (Exodus 30:12).