Aggada -- Translations into English; Bible. Old Testament -- Legends; Jewish legends; Midrash -- Translations into English
He then came to a host of Angels of Terror that surround the Throne of
Glory, and are the strongest and mightiest among the angels. These now
wished to scorch Moses with their fiery breath, but God spread His
radiance of splendor over Moses, and said to him: "Hold on tight to the
Throne of My Glory, and answer them." [247] For as soon as the angels
became aware of Moses in heaven, they said to God: "What does he who is
born of woman here?" And God's answer was as follows: "He has come to
receive the Torah." They furthermore said: "O Lord, content Thyself
with the celestial beings, let them have the Torah, what wouldst Thou
with the dwellers of the dust?" Moses hereupon answered the angels: "It
is written in the Torah: 'I am the Eternal, thy Lord, that have led
thee out of the land of Egypt and out of the house of bondage.' Were ye
perchance enslaved in Egypt and then delivered, that ye are in need of
the Torah? It is further written in the Torah: 'Thou shalt have no
other gods.' Are there perchance idolaters among ye, that ye are in
need of the Torah? It is written: 'Thou shalt not utter the name of the
Eternal, thy God, in vain,' Are there perchance business negotiations
among ye, that ye are in need of the Torah to teach you the proper form
of invocation? It is written: 'Remember to keep the Sabbath holy.' Is
there perchance any work among you, that ye are in need of the Torah?
It is written: 'Honor thy father and thy mother.' Have ye perchance
parents, that ye are in need of the Torah? It is written: 'Thou shalt
not kill.' Are there perchance murderers among ye, that ye are in need
of the Torah? It is written: 'Thou shalt not commit adultery.' Are
there perchance women among ye, that ye are in need of the Torah? It is
written: 'Thou shalt not steal.' Is there perchance money in heaven,
that ye are need of the Torah? It is written: 'Thou shalt not bear
false witness against thy neighbor.' Is there perchance any false
witness among ye, that ye are in need of the Torah? It is written:
'Covet not the house of thy neighbor.' Are there perchance houses,
fields, or vineyards among ye, that ye are in need of the Torah?" The
angels hereupon relinquished their opposition to the delivering of the
Torah into the hands of Israel, and acknowledged that God was right to
reveal it to mankind, saying: "Eternal, our Lord, how excellent is Thy
name in all the earth! Who hast set Thy glory upon the heavens."
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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