God's Voice

The first utterance went forth, and the heavens trembled, and the seas and the rivers fled, and the mountains and the hills tottered, and all the trees bowed down, and the dead who were in Sheol came to life and stood upon their feet, as it is said, "but with him who stands here with us this day" (Deuteronomy 29:14). And all those destined to be created until the end of all the generations stood there with them, as it is said, "and also with him who is not here" (Deuteronomy 29:14). And the Israelites who were alive fell upon their faces and died. And a second utterance went forth, and they came to life and stood upon their feet and said to Moses: "Moses, we are not able to hear the voice of the Holy One, blessed be He, any longer, lest we die there just as we died," as it is said, "And they said to Moses: Speak you with us, and we will hear; but let not God speak with us, lest we die" (Exodus 20:16). And now, why should we die just as we died? And the Holy One, blessed be He, heard their voice, and it was pleasing to Him, and He sent Michael and Gabriel, and they took hold of the two hands of Moses against his will and brought him near to the thick darkness, as it is said, "And Moses drew near to the thick darkness where God was" (Exodus 20:18).