Another matter, “Moses implored [vayḥal],” Rabbi Yehuda, Rabbi Neḥemya, and the Rabbis, Rabbi Yehuda says: Moses became ill [ḥala] when they performed that act. Rabbi Neḥemya says: What is “Moses implored”? It is that he gave God a gift of sorts.9Moses’ prayer was like a gift that he gave God in order to assuage His fury (see Etz Yosef). This expression is nothing other than an expression that means gift, just as it says: “The daughter of Tyre will come seeking your favor [yeḥalu] with gifts…” (Psalms 45:13).

Likewise, “Now, please implore [ḥalu] God…” (Malachi 1:9). The Rabbis say: What is “Moses implored”? He transformed the bitter into sweet, and vayḥal is an expression of sweetening [ḥilui]. How so?

Rabbi Berekhya said in the name of Rabbi Ḥiya bar Ada of Yafo, in the name of Rabbi Shmuel bar Naḥman: When Israel came to Mara, what is written there? “They came to Mara [and could not drink water from Mara, as it was bitter]” (Exodus 15:23). Moses began ruminating: This water, why was it created? What benefit does the world have from it?

It is preferable that it would not have been created. The Holy One blessed be He knew what he was ruminating. The Holy One blessed be He said to him: ‘Do not say so. Is it not My handiwork?

Is there any item in the world that was not created with a purpose? Rather, I will teach you what you should say. Say this: Transform the bitter into sweet.’ From where is it derived that the Holy One blessed be He taught him to say this?

See what is written: “He cried out to the Lord, and the Lord showed him [vayorehu] a tree” (Exodus 15:25). “He showed him [vayarehu]” is not written here, but rather, vayorehu; vayorehu is nothing other than an expression of instruction, as it is stated: “He instructed me [vayoreni] and said to me” (Proverbs 4:4), and it is written: “He gave him the ability to instruct [ulhorot]” (Exodus 35:34). The matter was a tradition known to Moses, but he had not employed it.

Why did he ultimately employ it? When Israel came to the wilderness and God sought to annihilate them, Moses said to Him: ‘Master of the universe, do You seek to eliminate Israel and annihilate them from the world? Did You not say to me in Mara: Pray and say: Transform the bitter into sweet? Now, too, sweeten [ḥali] the bitterness of Israel and heal them.’

That is, “Moses implored [vayḥal].” Rabbi Avin said in the name of Rabbi Levi bar Perata: In the days of Moses, there was someone to sweeten our bitterness; that is, “Moses implored [vayḥal].” However, in the days of Daniel, there was no one to sweeten the bitterness, as it is stated: “We did not implore [ḥilinu] the Lord our God” (Daniel 9:13).