Another matter, “Moses implored [vayḥal],” what is this? Rabbi Berekhya said in the name of Rabbi Ḥelbo, in the name of Rabbi Yitzḥak: He dissolved the vow of his Maker. How so? When Israel crafted the calf, Moses rose to placate God, so He would pardon them.
God said: ‘But I already took an oath: “One who sacrifices to gods shall be destroyed” (Exodus 22:19), and an oath that emerged from My mouth, I do not recant.’ Moses said: ‘Master of the universe, did You not give me [the laws of] nullification of vows, and You said: “If a man takes a vow to the Lord, or takes an oath to impose a prohibition upon himself, he shall not profane [yaḥel] his word”? (Numbers 30:3).
He does not profane it, but a Sage may pardon [moḥel] his vow when he requests it. Any elder who issues rulings, who wants others to accept his ruling, must first fulfill it himself. You commanded me regarding the nullification of vows, it is only right that You nullify Your vow, as You commanded me to nullify for others.’ Immediately, he wrapped himself in his cloak and sat as an elder, and the Holy One blessed be He, may his name be blessed, was standing like one who requests nullification of his vow.
Likewise, it says: “I sat on the mountain” (Deuteronomy 9:9).10The verse is usually translate “I remained [va’eshev] on the mountain” but a more literal translation is “I sat on the mountain.” Is it possible that Moses was sitting, and God, may His name be blessed, was standing? Rabbi Derusai said: [God] crafted him a special chair like the chair of the scholars who enter before the sovereign; they appear to be standing but are actually sitting.
Here too, it is sitting that appears like standing. That is, “I sat on the mountain.” Another matter, “I sat on the mountain,” is there sitting above? You find that all of them are standing, as it is stated: “Seraphs standing above Him” (Isaiah 6:2); likewise, “when they stood their wings would slacken” (Ezekiel 1:24); and likewise, “I approached one of those standing” (Daniel 7:16).
Likewise, even Moses would stand when he ascended on high, as it is stated: “I stood on the mountain” (Deuteronomy 10:10), and it is written: “I was standing between the Lord and you” (Deuteronomy 5:5). No one sits there other than the Holy One blessed be He, as it is stated: “I saw the Lord sitting on His throne” (II Chronicles 18:18); yet he says: “I sat on the mountain”? What is this? Rav Huna bar Aḥa said: He sat to dissolve the vow of his Maker.
What did he say to Him? A difficult matter. Rabbi Yoḥanan said: The difficult matter he said to Him was: ‘Do You regret it?’11If the individual who made a vow regrets it, the rabbi may nullify it. Although it is difficult to speak of God as experiencing regret, that is what Moses asked Him.
He said: ‘I regret the evil that I said I would perform against My people.’ At that moment, Moses said: ‘It is dissolved for You, it is dissolved for You. There is no vow here and there is no oath here.’ That is, “Moses implored [vayḥal]” – that he nullified the vow of his Maker, just as it says: “He shall not profane [yaḥel] his word’ (Numbers 30:3).
Rabbi Shimon ben Lakish said: That is why he is called man of God, to say that he dissolved a vow for God.12Just as a man can dissolve his wife’s vow, Moses dissolved God’s vow. Likewise, “Moses implored [vayḥal].”