Pisqa’ 5¹

1

“HASHEM our God spoke to us on Horeb, saying” (Dt.1:6)—

Moses said to them:

Not on my own do I speak to you!

Rather, words from the mouth of the Holy One do I speak to you!²

“You have become great since sitting at this mountain!” (Dt.1:6)—

Moses said to them:

You profit from lingering at this mountain!

You made for yourselves the Dwelling (Ex.25:1ff.);

you made for yourselves the Table (Ex.25:25-30);

you made for yourselves the Lamp (Ex.25:31-40).

2

Another word:

You benefit from lingering at this mountain!

You accepted upon yourselves the Torah (Ex.24:3-4);

you appointed over yourselves seventy elders (Ex.18:13-27);

you appointed over yourselves chieftains

of thousands, of hundreds, of fifties,

and chieftains of tens (Dt.1:15).

See how beneficial it is for you

to linger at this mountain!

3

Another word:

You are harmed from lingering at this mountain!

“Start out and make your way” (Dt.1:7)—

because idleness is harmful!

1. H:31; JN1:31
2. Cf. Pisqa’ 9:1, 19:1, 25.3.