How God Tips the Scales Toward Kindness

Rabbi Yose son of Rabbi Chanina said: It is not written here "bearing iniquities" in the plural, but rather "bearing iniquity" (Exodus 34:7) in the singular. He snatches away one bond of debt from among the transgressions, so that the merits outweigh [the remaining sins]. Rabbi Elazar said: "And to You, Lord, belongs loving-kindness" (Psalms 62:13), and if a person has none [of his own], You give from Yours. This is the view of Rabbi Elazar, that He who is abundant in kindness tilts the balance toward kindness. Rav Huna in the name of Rabbi Abbahu said: The Holy One, blessed be He, has no forgetfulness before Him, yet for the sake of Israel He becomes one who forgets. What is the reason? "Bearing iniquity"—"bearing" is written [hinting that He lifts and removes it]. And so David says, "You have borne the iniquity of Your people, You have covered all their sin, Selah" (Psalms 85:3). "For you shall not bow down to another god" (Exodus 34:14)—this is written in remez 288. "And he will call you and you will eat of his sacrifice" (Exodus 34:15). It was taught in a baraita: Rabbi Shimon ben Elazar says: Jews outside the Land of Israel are idolaters in purity. How so? A gentile who made a feast for his son and invited all the Jews of the city—even though they eat and drink only their own food and their own attendant stands over them, Scripture reckons it to them as if they had eaten from the sacrifices of the dead, as it is said, "and he will call you and you will eat." One might think [the prohibition applies] only once he has eaten. If so, let the verse say only "and you will eat of his sacrifice." What does "and he will call you" add? It teaches: from the moment of the invitation. "You shall make for yourself no molten gods" (Exodus 34:17–18). Rabbi Elazar ben Azariah said: Whoever despises the festivals is as one who worships idols, as it is said, "You shall make for yourself no molten gods," and it is written immediately after, "The feast of unleavened bread you shall keep." "The feast of unleavened bread you shall keep" is written in remez 309. "And all your livestock you shall set apart as males" (Exodus 34:19).