The Crowns Of Israel

"And they stood at the foot of the mountain" (Exodus 19:17). Rav Avdimi bar Hama bar Hasa said: This teaches that the Holy One, blessed be He, overturned the mountain upon them like a tub, and said to them: If you accept the Torah, good; and if not, there will be your burial place. Rabbi Simai expounded: When Israel gave precedence to "we will do" over "we will hear," six hundred thousand ministering angels came, and to each and every one of Israel they tied two crowns, one corresponding to "we will do" and one corresponding to "we will hear." And once Israel sinned, one million two hundred thousand angels of destruction descended and removed them, as it is said: "And the children of Israel stripped themselves of their ornaments at Mount Horeb" (Exodus 33:6). Reish Lakish said: In the future the Holy One, blessed be He, is destined to return them to us, as it is said: "And the ransomed of the LORD shall return, and come to Zion with singing, and everlasting joy upon their heads" (Isaiah 35:10) - the joy that is from of old shall be upon their heads. Rabbi Elazar said: When Israel gave precedence to "we will do" over "we will hear," a Divine Voice went forth and said to them: Who revealed to My children this secret that the ministering angels make use of? As it is written: "Bless the LORD, you His angels, mighty in strength, that fulfill His word, hearkening to the voice of His word" (Psalms 103:20) - first "that fulfill" [doing], and afterward "hearkening."