Mount Sinai is one of those places. But did you know its name wasn’t always Sinai?
Rabbi Elazar of Modein tells us in Pirkei DeRabbi Eliezer that from the very beginning, since the heavens and the earth were formed, this mountain was called Horeb. It only became known as Sinai after a rather dramatic event. Remember when Moses encountered God in the burning bush? Well, that bush, in Hebrew, is a s'neh. And because of that word s'neh, the mountain became known as Sinai. But, Rabbi Elazar emphasizes, Sinai and Horeb are the same place. How do we know the Israelites received the Torah at Horeb, if we're calling it that? Deuteronomy 4:10 reminds us: "The day that thou stoodest before the Lord thy God in Horeb."
So, picture this: It's the eve of Sabbath, and the Israelites are gathered at Mount Sinai, ready to receive the Torah. Men are separate, women are separate, a scene of anticipation hangs in the air. And then, God speaks to Moses, asking him to first address the daughters of Israel.
Why the women first? Rabbi Phineas, also in Pirkei DeRabbi Eliezer, offers a fascinating insight: Because "the way of men is to follow the opinion of women." It's a striking statement about influence and the subtle power dynamics within the community. The Torah itself hints at this, doesn't it? In Exodus 19:3, we read, "Thus shalt thou say to the house of Jacob…" and these, Rabbi Phineas explains, are the women. “And tell the children of Israel” – these are the men.
Imagine the scene. Moses approaches the women, conveying God’s question: Do they wish to receive the Torah? And in a powerful moment of unity, they respond with one voice: "All that the Lord hath spoken we will do, and be obedient!" (Exodus 24:7). It's a resounding affirmation, a commitment that echoes through the generations. The Psalmist captures this sentiment beautifully in Psalm 87:7: "They that sing as well as they that dance (shall say), All my fountains are in thee." A complete offering of self, expressed in word and deed.
So, next time you hear the name Sinai, remember Horeb. Remember the burning bush, the question posed to the women, and that unified "we will do, and be obedient." It’s a story about origins, influence, and the profound commitment that binds us to something greater than ourselves. What does "All that the Lord has spoken we will do, and be obedient" mean to you?