A Kingdom of Priests and a People Set Apart for the LORD

"And you shall be unto Me" (Exodus 19:6) - as it were, I set up no ruler and place no governor over you except Myself. And so it says, "Behold, He that keeps Israel shall neither slumber nor sleep" (Psalms 121:4). "A kingdom of priests" - I will not crown any of the nations of the world over you. And so it says, "My dove, my undefiled, is but one" (Song of Songs 6:9). Rabbi Eliezer the son of Rabbi Yose the Galilean says: How do you know that every single one of Israel is destined to have children as numerous as those who came out of Egypt? As it is said, "Instead of your fathers shall be your children" (Psalms 45:17). If "children," one might think wretched and bent over; therefore Scripture says, "you shall make them princes." If "princes," one might think mere merchants; therefore Scripture says "a kingdom." If a king, one might think one who goes out and conquers; therefore Scripture says "priests," men at leisure, in the sense of what is said, "and the sons of David were priests" (2 Samuel 8:18). From here they said: Israel was fit to eat of the holy offerings before they made the calf; once they made the calf, these were taken from them and given to the priests, as it is said, "Israel is a scattered sheep" (Jeremiah 50:17). They are compared to a sheep: just as with a sheep, when one of its limbs is struck all the others feel it, so too with Israel - when one of them is killed, all of them grieve. But the idolaters are not so; rather, if one of them is killed, all rejoice in his downfall. "And a holy nation" - He called them a holy nation, as it is said, "And who is like Your people Israel, one nation in the earth" (1 Chronicles 17:21). "Holy" means consecrated, separated from idolaters and their abominations. "These are the words" - that you shall not subtract and shall not add. "That you shall speak to the children of Israel" - in this order. "And Moses came and called for the elders of the people" (Exodus 19:7) - this teaches that Moses showed honor to the elders. "And he set before them" - he enlightened their eyes. "All these words" - first matter first, last matter last. "That the LORD commanded him" - it was said to the women as well. "And all the people answered together and said" (Exodus 19:8) - they did not answer with flattery, nor did they each take the cue from one another; rather they all set themselves with one heart and said, "All that the LORD has spoken we will do." "And Moses returned the words of the people" - and did Moses need to report back? Rather, Scripture comes to teach you that one should not say: since the One who sent me knows, there is no need to report back.