Where the LORD Spoke to Moses and to Him Alone

Rabbi Yose the Galilean says: In three places it is stated in the Torah that there was speech to Moses, in the land of Egypt, at Mount Sinai, and in the Tent of Meeting. Regarding the land of Egypt, what does it say? "On the day the LORD spoke to Moses" (in the land of Egypt) excluded Aaron from the words spoken in the land of Egypt. Regarding Mount Sinai, what does it say? "And these are the generations of Aaron and Moses on the day the LORD spoke with Moses at Mount Sinai" (Numbers 3:1) excluded Aaron from the words spoken at Mount Sinai. Regarding the Tent of Meeting, what does it say? "And He called to Moses" excluded Aaron from the words spoken in the Tent of Meeting. Rabbi Eliezer says: Behold it says, "And there I will meet with the children of Israel, and it shall be sanctified by My glory" (Exodus 29:43). I am destined to meet with them and to be sanctified among them. When was this? On the eighth day, as it is said, "And all the people saw, and they shouted, and they fell on their faces" (Leviticus 9:24). Or does it speak only to grant a meeting for the divine speech? Scripture teaches, "And I will meet with you," the meeting was with you and not with all Israel. I would exclude Israel, who were not fit to ascend the mountain, but not exclude the elders, who were fit to ascend the mountain. I would exclude the elders, who did not appear in the speech with Moses, but not exclude the sons of Aaron, who appeared in the speech with Moses. I would exclude the sons of Aaron, who were not met in the speech with Moses, but not exclude Aaron, who was met in the speech with Moses. Scripture teaches, "Which I will meet with you there" (Exodus 25:22), the meeting was with you and not with all of them. Or shall I exclude them from the meeting but not exclude them from the words spoken? Scripture teaches, "And I will speak with you" (Exodus 25:22). I would exclude Israel but not the elders, exclude the elders but not the sons of Aaron, exclude the sons of Aaron but not Aaron himself. Scripture teaches, "to speak to you", the speech was with you and not with all of them. One might think they did not hear the speech but did hear the voice. Scripture teaches, "a voice to him." I would exclude Israel but not the elders, the elders but not the sons of Aaron, the sons of Aaron but not Aaron himself. Scripture teaches, "a voice to him." I would exclude all of them but not exclude the ministering angels, since not one of them may enter his place until he is called. Scripture teaches, "a voice to him, a voice to him", Moses heard the voice and none of them heard the voice. "From the Tent of Meeting", this teaches that the voice was cut off and did not go outside the Tent. One might think it was because the voice was low. Scripture teaches, "And he heard the voice" (Numbers 7:89). There is no need for Scripture to say "the voice" except to refer to "the voice" that is explained in the Writings, as it is said, "The voice of the LORD is in power, the voice of the LORD is in majesty, the voice of the LORD breaks cedars, and the LORD shattered the cedars of Lebanon, the voice of the LORD hews flames of fire" (Psalms 29:4-7). If so, why is it said, "from the Tent of Meeting"? Rather, it teaches that the voice was cut off and did not go outside the Tent of Meeting. Similarly you say, "And the sound of the wings of the cherubim was heard as far as the outer court." One might think it was because the voice was low. Scripture teaches, "like the voice of the Almighty when He speaks." If so, why is it said, "as far as the outer court"? Rather, once it reached the outer court it was cut off. "From the Tent of Meeting." One might think from the whole house. Scripture teaches, "from above the cover" (Numbers 7:89). One might think from above the entire cover. Scripture teaches, "from between the two cherubim" (Numbers 7:89), the words of Rabbi Akiva. Rabbi Shimon ben Azzai said: I am not as one refuting the words of my teacher but as one adding to his words. And the glory of which it is said, "Do I not fill the heavens and the earth?" (Jeremiah 23:24), see how dear Israel are, that for this they caused this abundant glory, as it were, to compress itself to speak from above the cover, from between the two cherubim.