The Torah of Black Fire on White Fire and the Bounds of the Mountain

Rabbi Shimon ben Lakish said: The Torah that was given to Moses - its parchment was of white fire, and it was written in black fire, and sealed with fire, and wrapped in fire, and while writing it He wiped the pen in His hair, and from there Moses took the radiance of the face. Rabbi Shmuel bar Nachman says: from the tablets Moses took the radiance of the face. When he saw that Israel had done that deed, he took them and broke them. The Holy One, blessed be He, said to him: when you arranged the tablets for Israel I gave you your reward, the radiance of the face, and now you have broken the tablets. Rabbi Yitzchak said: Our masters taught - the cask is broken, it is broken to the broker. The Holy One, blessed be He, said to him: you were the broker between Me and My children; you broke them, you replace them; whence? As it is said, "At that time the LORD said unto me, Hew you" (Deuteronomy 10:1). "And let them be ready for the third day" - whence do we know that a woman who emits semen on the third day is impure? As it is said, "And let them be ready for the third day." "And let them be ready for the third day" - this is the sixth day, on which the Torah was given, as it is said, "For on the third day the LORD will come down," and this is one of the ten descents in the Torah. "In the sight of all the people" - this teaches that if they had been lacking even one, they would not have been worthy to receive. Rabbi Yose says: even if there are two thousand and two myriads, they are worthy to receive, as it is said, "And when it rested he said, Return, O LORD, unto the ten thousands of the thousands of Israel" (Numbers 10:36). "And you shall set bounds for the people" (Exodus 19:12) - I might hear, to its east; therefore Scripture says "round about." "Saying" - that they were permitted to one another. "Take heed" - with a negative commandment. One might think he may not go up but may touch; therefore Scripture says, "or touch the border of it." One might think he may not go up nor touch, but may enter by means of a litter; therefore Scripture says, "or touch the border of it." "Whosoever touches the mount shall surely be put to death" - this is the punishment. "No hand shall touch it" (Exodus 19:13) - and not at Shiloh, nor at the Tent of Meeting, nor at the eternal House. Whence that it is by pushing down? Scripture says "thrown down." And whence that it is by stoning? Scripture says "stoned." And whence both by stoning and by pushing down? Scripture says "he shall surely be stoned or thrown down." And whence that if he died from the pushing down he has fulfilled it? Scripture says "or thrown down." And whence that even for the generations it is so? Scripture says "he shall surely be stoned or thrown down."