How Moses Rebuked Both God and Israel After the Calf

Another interpretation: What is the meaning of "after Me" (acharai)? The Holy One, blessed be He, said, as it were: one who rebuked Me on behalf of Israel and rebuked Israel on My behalf. To Israel he said, "You have sinned a great sin"; to the Holy One, blessed be He, he said, "Why, O LORD, does Your anger burn?" What is the meaning of "why"? Rabbi Yitzchak said: at the hour when Israel did that deed, He sought to destroy their enemies (a euphemism for Israel). Moses said, "This calf is good to assist You." The Holy One, blessed be He, said to him, "How does it assist Me?" Moses said to Him, "You bring down rains and it brings down dews; You bring forth the winds and it brings forth the clouds." He said to him, "Moses, you too err concerning the calf!" Moses said, "Master of the universe, if so, why, O LORD, does Your anger burn against Your people?" — yet to Israel He says, "You have sinned a great sin." To what may the matter be compared? To a king who grew angry at his wife and drove her out and put her out of his house. When the groomsmen heard, they went to the king and said to him, "Is this how a man treats his wife? What did she do to you?" Then they went to her and said, "How long will you keep provoking him? This is your first time, this is your second time." So too Moses, when he went to the Holy One, blessed be He, said before Him, "Why, O LORD, does Your anger burn against Your people? Are they not Your children?" And when he went to Israel, he said to them, "How long will you keep provoking Him? This is your first time, this is your second time."