You Broke Them, You Replace Them

A legal teaching: A person of Israel who betroths a woman, who must pay the fee for writing the betrothal document? Thus the sages taught: One writes documents of betrothal and marriage only with the consent of both, and the groom pays the fee. This is what Scripture means by "a time to cast away stones" (Ecclesiastes 3:5), this is Moses, "and Moses cast the tablets from his hand" (Exodus 32:19); "and a time to gather stones," there came a time when he restored them to Israel, as it is said, "Carve for yourself." And this is what Scripture means by "Do not be hasty in your spirit to be angry" (Ecclesiastes 7:9). And who was it who became angry? This is Moses, as it is written, "And Moses' anger burned and he cast the tablets from his hand." The Holy One, blessed be He, said to him: Moses, you vented your wrath upon the tablets of the covenant; do you ask that I vent My wrath, when you see that the world could not endure even for an hour? He said to him: And what is there for me to do for you, to lay an accusation upon you? You broke them and you replace them, carve for yourself. It is written, "And he shall restore the deposit that was entrusted with him" (Leviticus 5:23). The Holy One, blessed be He, said to him: The tablets were not deposited in your hand. "And be ready by the morning" (Exodus 34:2). "And I will write upon the tablets" (Exodus 34:1), and it is written, "And the tablets were the work of God" (Exodus 32:16). They drew a parable. To what is the matter comparable? To a king of flesh and blood who betrothed a woman, and he went and brought the scribe, the ink, the quill, the document, and the witnesses. When she went astray, she must bring everything; it is enough for her that the king gives her the writing and a token by his own hand. You broke them; you replace them.