by Joy Scott, Am Haskalah Congregant
In Torah Parsha, TETZAVEH, we read the intricate details, described by God, to attire Aaron and his sons in an elaborate fashion, with specific emblems on both their arms, and breastplates representing the twelve tribes of Israel. The beginning of this week’s Parsha (KI TISA) continues with directions from God to Moses, for accessories to be placed both inside and outside the ‘Tent of Meeting’. To aid Moses to implement the final instructions, God recruits experts, “with the talent of all manner of craftsmanship” (1). In effect, a washstand made of copper, filled with water was required outside the Sanctuary, to provide the Kohanim a means of washing before entering the Holy Tent. Also, fragrant spices were to be mixed with a ‘perfumed content’, to be spread within, “so that they become the holy of holies; whatever touches them, shall also become holy” (2).
Moses was on top of the mountain, listening to God’s directions, for a prolonged period of time. The Israelites had become accustomed to observing God’s miracles, and the plagues He imposed on the Pharaoh and the Egyptians. They watched as Moses split the Red Sea, so that the Israelites landed on dry land, while the Pharaoh and the Egyptians, who were following them, with their horses in the waters, drowned in the waters of the Red Sea. The Israelites heard God’s voice, as they stood at the bottom of Mount Sinai, to hear the ‘Ten Commandments’.
In effect, the Israelites were completely dependent upon Moses; and, the instructions, which he gave them, directly as he heard them from God. When Moses did not return from the mountain for a prolonged period of time, the Israelites felt dejected. They felt alone in this strange and foreign desert, without any direction, as to how to model their lives. Their fear of the loss of Moses, their leader, as well as God’s Presence in their lives spread into a frenzy of apprehension.
They approached Aaron, Moses’ brother, begging him to allow them to make gods, “that will go before us, because both Moses and God has abandoned us.” (3). Aaron, unlike his brother, had never heard the Word of God directly. He truly believed that that he was not granted either the power or the strength to oppose the demands of this rebellious group of Israelites.
Aaron conceded to this mutinous group. He told them to strip the gold earrings from their wives and daughters, and to bring any gold pieces, which they might have within their tents. Aaron accumulated all the gold; attained an engraving tool; and, fashioned a ‘molten’ calf. The renegades said: “These are your god’s, O Israel, who have brought you up from the land of Egypt” (4). On the next day, they declared a festival; and, the people sat down to eat, drink, and be merry.
Finally, Moses arrived from the top of the mountain, carrying the two tablets of the ‘Ten Commandments’. As Moses heard the voices singing and laughing, his anger was aroused. He flung the two tablets, shattering them at the bottom of the mountain. He took the golden calf, melted it upon the surface of water, and gave it to every Israelite to drink.
Aaron pointed out to Moses the men most responsible for this blasphemy. All 3,000 of them were killed, each with a knife, killing the man standing next to him, regardless of whether the man was his brother, father, son or other relation.
Moses returned to the top of the Mountain, and told God of everything which took place during his absence; as well as how he handled the situation, when he returned. God was furious that such a sacrilege could have happened. This sin was particularly iniquitous because one of the major tents of the ‘Ten Commandments’ is ‘You shall have no other Gods before Me’. God’s first reaction was to annihilate the entire nation of Israelites.
Moses used a very cogent and logical argument to change the Will of God: “Why should the Egyptians claim that you brought the Israelites out of Egypt, with evil intent to destroy them from the face of the earth?” (5). He convinced God to reconsider his first impulse. Then God proclaimed that, although Moses would never see His Face, he would always feel his Presence. Then the Lord granted Moses a vision of the ‘thirteen attributes of His Mercy: “The Eternal! (1) The Eternal! (2) a God (3) Compassionate (4) Gracious (5) Slow to Anger (6) Abounding in Kindness (7) Abounding in Faithfulness (8) Extending Kindness to the Thousandth Generation (9) Forgiving Iniquity (10) Forgiving Transgression (11) Forgiving Sin (12) Cleansing of the Souls (13)” (6).
Moses was on the Mountain for forty days and forty nights. He came down from the Mountain with a new set of tablets, on which the Ten Commandments were again inscribed.
The face of Moses, when he returned was radiant. To this day, it is not known whether his sense of glory was because he saved the Israelites from God’s wrath; was exposed to God’s ‘Thirteen Attributes’; or, because he, and not God inscribed the words on the second set of the ‘Ten Commandments’. We may never discover the true source of the beaming light projected from the face of Moses. We only know that Moses believed that he had achieved a true and holy intimacy with God.
FOOTNOTES:
(1) Exodus (31:33)
(2) Exodus (30:29)
(3) Exodus (32:1)
(4) Exodus (32:4)
(5) Exodus (32:12)
(6) Exodus (34: 6-9)