“Speak to the children of Israel” – Rabbi Yudan in the name of Rabbi Yishmael bar Naḥman: This is analogous to a king who had an inner garment. He would command his servant, saying to him: Fold it, shake it out, and pay close attention to it.’ His servant said to him: ‘My lord the king, of all the inner garments that you have,12The king would wear several layers of clothing. you command me only regarding this one.’
He said to him: ‘It is because I wear it directly on my body.’ So too, Moses said to the Holy One blessed be He: ‘Master of the universe, of the seventy imperial nations that You have in Your world, You command me regarding only Israel: “Command the children of Israel” (Numbers 28:2), “speak to the children of Israel” (Exodus 14:2), “say to the children of Israel”’ (Exodus 33:5). He said to him: ‘It is because they are attached to Me.’
That is what is written: “For just as the belt cleaves to the waist of a man, [so I have attached to Me the entire house of Israel and the entire house of Judah]” (Jeremiah 13:11). Rabbi Avin said: This is analogous to a king who had a royal garment. He would command his servant, saying to him: ‘Pay close attention to it, fold it, and shake it out.’ His servant said to him: ‘My lord the king, of all the royal garments that you have, you command me only regarding this one.’
He said to him: ‘It is the one that I wore on the day of my coronation.’ So too, Moses said before the Holy One blessed be He: ‘Master of the universe, of the seventy imperial nations that You have in Your world, You command me regarding only Israel: “Command the children of Israel,” “say to the children of Israel.”’ He said to him: ‘It is they who crowned Me first at the sea and said to Me: “The Lord will reign for ever and ever”’ (Exodus 15:18).
Rabbi Berekhya said: This is analogous to an elder who had a kerchief.13The elder, the senior scholar in his community, would wear a special kerchief or hood. He would command his disciple, saying to him: ‘Fold it, and shake it out.’ His [disciple] said to him: ‘My lord the king,14Some suggest that the text should read: ‘My lord, the elder’ (Maharip). of all the kerchiefs that you have, you command me only regarding this one.’
He said to him: ‘It is the one that I wore when I was appointed elder.’ So too, Moses said before the Holy One blessed be He: ‘Master of the universe, of the seventy imperial nations that You have in Your world, You command me regarding only Israel.’ He said to him: ‘It is because they accepted My kingdom upon them at Sinai and said: “Everything that the Lord has spoken we will perform and we will heed”’ (Exodus 24:7).
Rabbi Yudan said: Come and see how much the Holy One blessed be He loved Israel, as He mentioned them five times in a single verse, as it is stated: “I have given the Levites, given [to Aaron and to his sons from among the children of Israel, to perform the service of the children of Israel in the Tent of Meeting, and to atone for the children of Israel, and there shall not be a stroke against the children of Israel, when the children of Israel approach the Sanctuary]” (Numbers 8:19).