Another matter, “write for yourself” – all the righteous came to the Holy One blessed be He with craftiness.20They began with a minor request and gradually moved to a major request. Regarding Abraham, it is written: “How fair are your steps in sandals…the handiwork of a craftsman” (Song of Songs 7:2). He came with craft: “Abraham approached, [and he said: Will You destroy even the righteous with the wicked?]” (Genesis 18:23).
Likewise, David says: “I acknowledged my sin to You; [I did not hide my iniquity]” (Psalms 32:5). Initially he presented it as one sin and one iniquity, but ultimately he said: “[I said: I will confess my transgressions to the Lord] and You forgave the iniquity of my sin, Selah” (Psalms 32:5).21After he was forgiven for one sin and one iniquity, he admitted to multiple transgressions. Likewise, Moses maligned Israel, as it is stated: “Please; this people has sinned a great sin” (Exodus 32:31).
When the angels of destruction saw that he was maligning them, they said: ‘We will not need to be involved in maligning. As long as this one is maligning they will fall by his hand, and their patriarchs will not confront us [saying]: Why are you maligning our children.’ The angels of destruction departed. When Moses saw that they had departed, he said to the Holy One blessed be He: “Now, if You will bear their sin…” (Exodus 32:32).
He said before the Holy One blessed be He: ‘The entire Torah that You gave is [addressed] to me: “The Lord spoke to Moses, saying,”; “speak to the children of Israel”; “command the children of Israel”; “say to the children of Israel.” If they are eradicated, what will I do with Your Torah?’22How will I fulfill these commands to communicate the Torah to Israel? That is why he said: “And if not, please erase me from Your book that You have written” (Exodus 32:32).
Another matter, Moses said before the Holy One blessed be He: ‘Why are You angry at them? Not that they engaged in idol worship, for You did not command them.’ The Holy One blessed be He said to him: ‘Did I not say in the second commandment: “You shall not have [other gods before Me]”?’ (Exodus 20:3). He said before Him: ‘You did not command them, You commanded me.23The term “you” in the verse “you [lekha] shall not have other gods” is written in the singular.
Did You perhaps say to them: You [lakhem]24Plural. shall not have? You commanded me. If I engage in idol worship, “please erase me from Your book.”’ When the Holy One blessed be He saw that he was giving his life on their behalf, He said: ‘For your sake I am giving them the Torah,’ as it is stated: “Write for yourself these matters.”
Another matter, “write for yourself” – the ministering angels began saying before the Holy One blessed be He: ‘Are You giving Moses license to write whatever he wishes, such that he will say to Israel: I gave you the Torah; it is I who wrote and gave it to you?’ The Holy One blessed be He said to them: ‘Heaven forfend that Moses would do such a thing. And even if he were to do so, he is trustworthy,’25Even if he were to write something that God did not tell him to write, he would write only something that would accord with the will of God (Rabbi David Luria). as it is stated: “Not so My servant Moses, in all My house he is trustworthy” (Numbers 12:7).