The Voice Between the Cherubim That Spoke to Moses Alone

And why was it said? Because it says, "and the LORD spoke to him from the Tent of Meeting" (Leviticus 1:1) according to its plain sense; therefore the verse teaches, "and I will meet with you there and I will speak with you." One cannot say "from the Tent of Meeting," for it already says "from above the cover"; and one cannot say "from above the cover," for it already says "from the Tent of Meeting." How can both verses stand? This is a principle in the Torah: two verses set against one another that contradict each other shall stand in their place until a third verse comes and decides between them. What does the verse teach? "And when Moses came into the Tent of Meeting" (Numbers 7:89). This tells that Moses would enter and stand in the Tent, and a voice would descend from the highest heavens to between the two cherubim, and he would hear the voice speaking from within. Rabbi Judah ben Beteira says: there are thirteen limitations by which Aaron was excluded from all the divine speakings in the Torah, and these are they: "And when Moses came into the Tent of Meeting to speak with Him" (Numbers 7:89); "and he heard the voice speaking to him"; "and He spoke to him"; "and I will meet with you there and I will speak with you from above the cover"; "where I will meet with you there to speak with you there" (Exodus 29:42); "on the day He commanded the children of Israel" (Leviticus 7:38); "which shall be commanded"; "all that I shall command you"; one in Egypt and one at Sinai; and one in the Tent of Meeting (Numbers 3:1). These are the thirteen limitations by which Aaron was excluded from all of them.