How could Moshe say that Hashem did not tell him whom He will send, seeing as Hashem specifically told him - in 23:20 - that he would send a Mal'ach?
Rashi: This did not satisfy Moshe, since he wanted Hashem Himself to continue leading the people. 1
Ramban #1: Hashem did not divulge the name of the Mal'ach, whether it was the same Mal'ach as the one He specified in Mishpatim or not. 2
Ramban #2 (in Pasuk 14, according to Kabalah): He was asking for two things: a. that Hashem should continue communicating with the Name Havayah. 3 b. that Hashem would lead them directly 4 'Face to Face'. 5
Seforno and Oznayim la'Torah: On the one hand, Hashem had instructed him 6 to lead the people to Eretz Yisrael, whilst on the other, He had informed him 7 that a Mal'ach would fight the seven nations, without saying who would accompany them in the desert until they entered Eretz Yisrael. 8
Moshav Zekenim #1: Having said that He had retracted from the evil and that Moshe had found favor in His eyes, Hashem had not given him a satisfying answer to his question.
Hadar Zekenim #1 (in Pasuk 5): In Pasuk 5 Hashem said "ve'Ed'ah Mah E'eseh lach" (I will decide whether or not to go with you"), and He had not yet informed him what He had decided.
Da'as Zekenim and Hadar Zekenim #2: Hashem only said S'tam that He would send an angel. But every person has angels who accompany him 9 Even Eliezer, Avraham's slave, had an angel! And he wanted to know what benefit Hashem would do for him, now that he had found favor in His eyes?
Hadar Zekenim #3 (in Pasuk 14, citing Seifer ha'Gan) and Da'as Zekenim (in Pasuk 15): Because he thought that, since Yisrael removed their ornaments through Hashem's command, perhaps He Himself would now go with them. Moreove, since Hashem said "Yedaticha" - He ought to tell him who is going with them.
Moshav Zekenim #2 (in Pasuk 17): What he meant was that Hashem did not inform him with which Midos He would lead them - with Chanun, or with Erech Apayim ...
Moshav Zekenim #3 (in Pasuk 17): He meant that Hashem had only informed him who would go in front of Yisrael, but not who would go with them.
Moshav Zekenim #4 (in Pasuk 17, citing the Ri): Moshe asked a. that Hashem Himself should go in front of them, and b. that He should teach him how to Daven, so that, in the event that Yisrael sin, they will Daven and be answered. 10
See Ramban's objection to this explanation.
Whose name is synonymous with the Name of Hashem, refer to 23:21:3:2 & 23:21:3:23 3
. (See also Ramban DH 've'Atah Amarta ... ', and Ba'al ha'Turim, 32:34.)
"As He promised him at the beginning of Va'eira (Ramban).
Via His Midah of Goodness, and not with the Midas ha'Din - via a Mal'ach (Ramban). Refer to 33:13:1:5*
Like a Father to a son, which explains why he added "u'Re'ei ki Amcha ha'Goy ha'Zeh" (Ramban).
In 33:1.
In 33:2.
Insinuating that it would be neither Hashem nor a Mal'ach - like the Pasuk in Zecharyah, 11:9 (Seforno). Refer to 33:12:3:2.
Da'as Zekenim and Hadar Zekenim: As the Pasuk writes in Tehilim, 91:11 "Ki Mal'achav Yetzaveh lach ... "!
See Oznayim la'Torah DH 'Tishlach Imim'.
What are the connotations of the word "Re'ei"?
Rashi: 'Take note of what You told me... '
Seforno: 'Take notice and don't hide Your Face from me in this matter!'
What is the connection between the second half of the Pasuk and the first half?
Rashi: Hence the Pasuk concludes "ve'Atah Amarta Yeda'ticha be'Shem ... "; 1 and it was on account of his favored status that he saw fit to make such a request of Hashem on behalf of the people.
Seforno: However, since Hashem had promised Moshe "Yeda'ticha be'Shem ... ", it was clearly not His intention to abandon Yisrael - but to appoint him as the Mal'ach who would lead the people to Eretz Yisrael. 2
When did Moshe say this?
Moshav Zekenim citing the Rosh: It was when he ascended on Tamuz 19. The Torah did not need to say that Moshe ascended, for it is known that as long as [Hashem's] honor was on Har Sinai, the Dibur (speaking with Him) was there.
