Another matter, “Moses implored,” what is “Lord, why is Your wrath enflamed against Your people?” (Exodus 32:11). Rabbi Yehuda and Rabbi Neḥemya, Rabbi Yehuda says: To what is this matter comparable? To a king who had a member of his household whom he placed in charge of all that was his. That member of the household went and lent people by means of guarantors.
He lent fifty gold pieces to this one, a hundred to that one, and two hundred to that one. The borrowers fled. Sometime later the king heard and he was unhappy. He said to him: ‘Did I put you in charge of what was mine in order to lose it?’
The member of the household said to him: ‘I lent, and it is my responsibility that they pay. I am restoring all of it to you. So and so is guarantor, and has one hundred gold pieces in his possession, and in the possession of so and so there are fifty.’ So too, Moses said to the Holy One blessed be He: ‘Why are You angry?
Is it not because of Your Torah? It is my responsibility, I and my colleagues will fulfill it; Aaron and his sons will fulfill it, Joshua and Caleb will fulfill it, Yair and Makhir will fulfill it, the righteous will fulfill it, and I will fulfill it.’ That is, “why is Your wrath enflamed against your people?” Rabbi Neḥemya said: When Israel performed that act, Moses rose to placate God.
He said: ‘Master of the universe, they assisted You and You are angry at them? The calf that they crafted will assist You; you will cause the sun to shine, and it, the moon; You, the stars, it the constellations; You will cause the dew to fall, it will cause the wind to blow; You will cause the rain to fall, and it will cause plants to grow.’ The Holy One blessed be He said: ‘You, too, are mistaken like them; it lacks substance!’
He said to Him: ‘If so, why are you angry at Your children?’ That is, “why is Your wrath enflamed against your people?”16Why do You appear to be jealous due to an object that has no power? Alternatively, since they crafted it thinking it would be useful, they are not deserving of punishment.