“The Lord said to Moses: I have seen this people and, behold, it is a stiff-necked people” (Exodus 32:9). “The Lord said to Moses: I have seen this people, [and behold, it is a stiff-necked people]” (Exodus 32:9) – what is, “behold, it is a stiff-necked people”? Rabbi Yehuda ben Polvaya said in the name of Rabbi Meir: They were deserving of being beheaded. Rav Yakim said: There are three impudent ones.
The most impudent among the beasts is the dog; among the birds, the rooster; and among the nations, Israel. Rabbi Yitzḥak bar Redifa said in the name of Rabbi Ami: You think that this is derogatory, but it is only in their praise: Either Jewish or hanged.35A Jew will not desert his faith even upon penalty of death. Rabbi Avin said: Even today, outside of the Land of Israel, they call Israel the stiff-necked nation.
Rav Naḥman said: Know that they are difficult. When the Holy One blessed be He came to give them the Torah, what is written in their regard? “It was on the third day, when it was morning, [there was thunder and lightning and a thick cloud upon the mountain, and the voice of a horn exceedingly loud; and all the people that were in the camp trembled]” (Exodus 19:16). The Holy One blessed be He said: I will show them all My miracles; if only it will be effective.
“Behold, it is a stiff-necked people. Now, let Me be and My wrath will be enflamed against them and I will destroy them” (Exodus 32:9–10) – was Moses restraining the Holy One blessed be He, that He says: “Let Me be”? Rather, to what is the matter comparable? It is to a king who became angry with his son.
He took him in to a chamber and began preparing to strike him. The king was shouting from the chamber: ‘Let me be so I may strike him!’ The [son’s] tutor was standing outside. The tutor said: The king and his son are inside the chamber.
Why is he saying: Let me be? It is because the king wishes that I will go and placate him regarding his son. That is why he is shouting: Let me be. So too, the Holy One blessed be He said to Moses: “Now let Me be.”
Moses said: It is because the Holy One blessed be He wants me to placate Him regarding Israel; that is why He is saying: “Now, let Me be.” Immediately he began asking for mercy for them. That is, “Moses implored the Lord his God” (Exodus 32:11).