Another matter: “They shall take Me a gift” – that is what is written: “You ascended on high; you took captives; [you acquired gifts among men; even the deviant, for the Lord God to dwell there]” (Psalms 68:19);2Although this verse is generally interpreted as being addressed to God, the midrash here interprets it as being addressed to Moses. all your greatness was only from On High. “You ascended On High” – “Moses ascended to God” (Exodus 19:3), “and Moses approached the thick cloud” (Exodus 20:18).
“You took captives” – a king, when his armies are taken captive, he is troubled. Would you say the same is true here? The verse states: “You acquired” (Psalms 68:19) – when a person sells, he is distressed. The verse states: “Gifts among men” (Psalms 68:19) – this is what He said to them: ‘I ascribe in your regard as though I gave it to you as a gift.’3Thus, although the verse describes Moses as though he did battle with the angels and took the Torah by force, as one takes a captive, or acquired it as in an acquisition, and a person who had lost something important in one of these ways would be distressed, God is described as happy with Moses bringing the Torah to earth.
“Even the deviant” (Psalms 68:19) – the Holy One blessed be He said to Moses: ‘What are the idolaters saying? That I will not return to be with [Israel] because they engaged in idol worship, as it is stated: “They have quickly deviated” (Deuteronomy 9:12). Even if they are deviant, I will not forsake them, and I will reside with them,’ as it is stated: “Even the deviant, for the Lord God to dwell” (Psalms 68:19).