What Moses Saw That Made Him Bow to the Ground

Yalkut Shimoni on Torah 400:1

Curated by Arthur·Told by Maggid·

"And Moses hastened and bowed his head toward the earth and prostrated himself" (Exodus 34:8). What did he see? Rabbi Chanina ben Gamliel says: He saw "slow to anger." The Rabbis say: He saw "truth." It was taught in a baraita according to the one who says he saw "slow to anger": When Moses ascended on high, he found the Holy One, blessed be He, sitting and writing "slow to anger." Moses said before Him: Master of the universe, [is this only] for the righteous? He said to him: Even for the wicked. Moses said to Him: Let the wicked perish! He said to him: Now you will see that you yourself will have need of this. When Israel sinned in the wilderness, He said to him [Moses]: Did you not say, only for the righteous? Moses said before Him: Master of the universe, did You not say to me, even for the wicked? And this is what is written, "And now, let the power of the Lord be great" (Numbers 14:17). And this is what is written, "Your testimonies are very faithful" (Psalms 93:5), and adjacent to it, "A prayer of Moses" (Psalms 90:1, by the standard ordering). Learn from this that he saw "slow to anger."

Themes

MosesDivine CompassionForgiveness

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