What are the connotations of "Vay'chal Moshe"?
Rashi (in B?rachos, 55a) and Targum Onkelos: It is an expression of prayer and request.
R. Bachye #2 (according to Kabalah): It means that Moshe drew the beginning (Binah) to the end (Da?as). 3
Hadar Zekenim: It means that Moshe Davened to the point that he became sick 4 (or 5 - until he prevailed upon Hashem to pardon Yisrael 6 - Rashi).
Targum Yonasan: It means that Moshe was gripped by convulsions.
B'rachos #1, 32a: It means that Moshe Davened 'ad she'Achzaso Achilu' (until his bones became inflamed). 7
B'rachos #2, 32a: It means that - based on a Gezeirah Shavah "Vay'chal", "Lo Yachel" - Moshe Davened until he annuled Hashem's Neder (that He would destroy Yisrael). 8 .
B'rachos #3, 32a: Moshe Davened to the point of Mesiras Nefesh - when he said, in Pasuk 32 "ve'Im Ayin, Mecheini Na mi'Sif'rcha". 9
B'rachos #4, 32a: It means that with his Tefilah, Moshe caused the Midas ha'Rachamim to rest on Yisrael. 10
B'rachos #5, 32a: Moshe said to Hashem 'Ribono shel Olam, it is Chulin (profane) for You to do this thing. 11
B'rachos #30b: It teaches us that one should wait between one Tefilah and another the time it takes 'she'Techolel Da'ato alav' - which is the time it takes to walk four Amos. 12
R. Bachye: From the Lashon ?Chalu Na P?nei Keil? (Malachi 1:9). Presumably this is from the same root as ?Techinah? ? b earing in mind that ?Lamed? amd ?Nun? are interchangable.
R. Bachye: As in 20:5 ?Vesamti Ani es Panai? and in Tehilim 34:17 ?P?nei Hashem be?Osei Ra?.
R. Bachye: From the Lashon ?Techilah?
From the Lashon 'Choleh'.
These are two interpretations of the Gemara in B?rachos 32a.
From the Lashon ?Chalu Na P?nei Keil? (Malachi 1:9). Refer to answer #2.
See Torah Temimah, note 19.
See Torah Temimah, note 21.
Torah Temimah: It is Lashon of resting, as in 'Yachulu B'rachos al Roshcha'.
To kill the Tzadikim together with the Resha'im - as Avraham said about S'dom. See Torah Temimah, note 24..
See Torah Temmah citing B'rachos, Ibid. and note 16-18.
"Vay'chal Moshe es P?nei Hashem Elokav?. What are the implications of the word ?Elokav? ? a term that we do not find in connection with Moshe anywhere else?
R. Bachye: It implies that (at that moment) Hashem was not the G-d of Yisrael. 1
R. Bachye: And by the same token, Hashem said to Moshe earlier ? in Pasuk 7 ? Lech Reid ki Shiches Amcha!? because (at that moment) they were not His people.
What did Moshe mean when he asked Hashem "Lamah Hashem Yechereh Apcha be'Amecha"? Was the reason not obvious?
Rashi #1: It is understandable that a person is jealous of someone of the same standing 1 as oneself, but not of someone who is inferior. 2
Rashi #2: He argued that Hashem had never commanded the people not to serve idols, only him 3
Ramban #1 and R. Bachye (both citing Sh?mos Rabah): He was actually excusing Yisrael for the sin of the Golden Calf. 4
Ramban #2: Moshe was asking Hashem why He was judging Yisrael with the Midas ha'Din, bearing in mind that He had taken them out of Egypt with the Midas Rachamim, directing the Midas ha'Din against the Egyptians. 5
Ramban #3 (in Devarim and R. Bachye: It is synonymous with the Pasuk 6 in Devarim 9:16 ?Hashem Elokim Al Tashcheis Amcha ve?Nachalasecha!? 7
Seforno, Riva #1, and Moshav Zekenim #2 [citing R. Yehudah ha'Chasid): He was asking Hashem why He was angry with those who had not sinned (who had not worshipped the Eigel - Moshav Zekenim #2, citing R. Yehudah ha'Chasid).
Riva #2 and Moshav Zekenim #1: He was asking Hashem why He was angry with His people (Yisrael), seeing as it was the Eirev Rav who made the calf. 8
Rosh #1: Moshe was asking Hashem why, after performing so many miracles for them, He would kill them just becausa of one sin '?
Rosh #2 (in Pasuk 13): Moshe was asking Hashem that, if they had violated the beginning of the Dibur - "Lo Yih'yeh l'cha...", was that a reason for Him to nullify the end of the Dibur - "ve'Oseh Chesed la'Alafim"?
Rashi: A Chacham of a Chacham, a Gibor of a Gibor .
This is difficult to comprehend, since Hashem was zealous for His desecrated Kavod, not of the Golden Calf.
This answere is synomymous with answer #3.
In any event, it was not a question but a Tefilah, part of which he Davened now, and part, after he descended and atoned for them and ascended Har Sinai the second time. See Ramban.
Why did Moshe add the words " ... Amcha asher Hotzeisa me'Eretz Mitzrayim."
Ramban and R. Bachye (both citing Midrash Rabah): ?Ribono shel Olam?, Moshe was saying to Hakadosh-Baruch-Hu, ?Did you You not take them out of Egypt, where they were all idolaters? No wonder that they made the Eigel!?
