Why the Torah Was Given in the Open Wilderness

Another interpretation: Scripture compares their coming to the wilderness of Sinai to their journeying from Rephidim. Just as in their journeying from Rephidim they angered the Omnipresent and yet within a short while did repentance and were accepted, so too in their coming to the wilderness of Sinai they angered the Omnipresent and within a short while did repentance and were accepted. Rabbi Eliezer son of Rabbi Yose the Galilean says: Scripture states, "I answered you in the secret place of thunder" (Psalms 81:8). From the hour that I was answering you and shielding you and thundering against the whole world on your behalf, from that hour, when you called out in the secret place, I answered you openly and thundered against the whole world on your behalf. Rabbi Yehudah says: Scripture states, "And God saw the children of Israel" and so forth (Exodus 2:25). It was revealed and known before Him that they were destined to provoke and destined to spurn. Similarly Rabbi Eliezer son of Rabbi Yose the Galilean expounded: Scripture states, "In all their affliction He was afflicted" and so forth, "and He said, surely they are My people" and so forth (Isaiah 63:8-9). Was it not revealed before Him that they were destined to deal falsely? What does Scripture teach by saying "surely"? It was revealed before Him that they were destined to deal falsely. And what does Scripture teach by saying "and He became their savior"? Rather, He did not save them as people who were destined to provoke, but as people who were not destined ever to betray Him. And so it says, "They beguiled Him with their mouth and lied to Him with their tongue" (Psalms 78:36), and even so, "He, being merciful, atones iniquity" (Psalms 78:38). And it says, "Make the heart of this people fat" and so forth (Isaiah 6:10), "and it return"—that is, to do repentance—"and be healed" (Isaiah 6:10). "And they camped in the wilderness" (Exodus 19:2). For had the Torah been given in the land of Israel, they would have had cause to say to the nations of the world, "You have no portion in it." Rather, it was given in the wilderness, publicly and in an ownerless place: whoever wishes to receive it, let him come and receive it. One might think it was given at night; Scripture teaches, "And it came to pass on the third day, when it was morning" (Exodus 19:16). One might think it was given in silence; Scripture teaches, "And there were thunderings and lightnings." One might think they did not hear the voice; Scripture teaches, "The voice of the LORD is in power, the voice of the LORD is in majesty; the voice of the LORD breaks the cedars; the voice of the LORD hews out flames of fire; the voice of the LORD makes the wilderness tremble; the voice of the LORD makes the hinds to calve; the LORD sat enthroned at the Flood" (Psalms 29:4-11). Balaam said to all who stood upon him, "The LORD will give strength to His people"; they opened and said, "The LORD will bless His people with peace" (Psalms 29:11). Rabbi Yose says: "I have not spoken in secret, in a place of a land of darkness" (Isaiah 45:19)—not in a place of concealment and not in a place of gloom. "I said not to the seed of Jacob, seek Me in vain [tohu]"—I did not give it to them as something empty. And so it says, "I the LORD speak righteousness, I declare things that are upright" (Isaiah 45:19): before I gave the commandments I gave them in advance the reward for them, as it is said, "And it shall come to pass on the sixth day, that they shall prepare" and so forth (Exodus 16:5), and it is written, "And I will command My blessing upon you" (Leviticus 25:21). One might think only these; but has it not already been said, "And He gave them the lands of the nations" (Psalms 105:44)? For what reason? "That they might keep His statutes and observe His laws" (Psalms 105:45). Rabbi Eliezer son of Rabbi Yose the Galilean used to say: Scripture states, "He declares His word to Jacob, His statutes and His judgments to Israel; He has not done so for any nation" (Psalms 147:19-20). And what did these nations do that He did not wish to give them the Torah? "And as for judgments, they have not known them" (Psalms 147:20)—because they did not wish to receive it, as it is said, "God comes from Teman, and the Holy One from Mount Paran; His glory covers the heavens; before Him goes pestilence; He stood and measured the earth" (Habakkuk 3:3-6). "And Israel camped there opposite the mountain" (Exodus 19:2). Wherever Scripture says "and they journeyed and they camped," they journeyed in dissension and camped in dissension; but here they were all made equal in one heart, therefore it is said, "And Israel camped there opposite the mountain." "There"—this teaches that He said to them, "You will make a long stay there." And so we find that they were there twelve months less ten days. "Opposite the mountain"—to the east of the mountain; wherever you find "opposite," the face is to the east.