What is the significance of the thick cloud (which was synonymous with "Arafel" mentioned later)? Why did it have to be thick?
Rashbam: So that Moshe and the people should not look at the Shechinah.
Seforno: From Matan Torah and onwards, Moshe prophesied by means of 'Ispaklaryah ha'Me'irah' (a clear vision), at this point, he had not yet attained that level, and he still prophesied only via a thick cloud.
Oznayim la'Torah: Had Yisrael not requested to 'see their King', Hashem would have appeared to Moshe in a regular cloud - so that he would prophecy with 'Ispaklaryah ha'Me'irah' (a clear vision). But since Yisrael wanted to share in the vision, He had to appear in a thick cloud, so that Yisrael should not see what they were not allowed to see.
What is the connection between the second phrase - "Ba'avur Yishma ha'Am be'Dabri imach" and the first one - "Hinei Anochi Ba eilecha be'Av he'Anan"?
Nedarim, 35a: None! This Pasuk is in fact, divided into three Pesukim. "Hinei Anochi Ba ... " is a Pasuk on its own; "Ba'avur Yishma ha'Am ... " is connected to the following phrase "ve'Gam b'cha Ya'aminu Le'olam", 1 which means in a nutshell that Yisrael will hear when Hashem speaks to Yisrael so that they will believe in Moshe forever as well in Hashem. 2 And "Vayaged Moshe es Divrei ha'Am el Hashem" is a third Pasuk. 3
Why was it important for Yisrael to hear when Hashem spoke to Moshe?
Ramban #1 (citing Ibn Ezra): It was to dispel the doubts of some of the people 1 that there was such a thing as prophecy. 2
Ramban #2: When they heard Hashem speaking to Moshe, they became themselves prophets.
Seforno: Since Yisrael witnessed firsthand that Hashem spoke to Moshe 'Face to Face', with all his faculties intact, they would believe that this was the level of Moshe Rabeinu's prophesies. 3
Oznayim la'Torah: To dispel their doubts as to whether Moshe had transmitted Hashem's words accurately. 4
As the Pasuk states in Devarim, 4:21 (Ibn Ezra).
See Ramban, who maintains that Yisrael never doubted the institution of prophecy (Refer also to 19:9:3:1***).
Because up until now, the Avos, Moshe, Aharon and Miriam had prophesied by means of a vision or a dream, through the medium of an angel, and the people doubted that one could possibly prophecy whilst still in possession of all one's faculties. Now they knew that one can and that Moshe did (Seforno). This placed Moshe on a higher level than all the other prophets, negating the possibility of any other prophet ever overriding his prophesies (Seforno). Refer also to 19:9:3:2***
Refer to 19:8:1.1:1.
What are the implications of the word "ve'Gam b'cha Ya'aminu Le'olam".
Rashi and Ramban #2 (citing the Mechilta): It was a promise that Yisrael would always have faith, not only in Moshe, but also in all the prophets 1 that would follow him. 2
Ramban #1: Yisrael had now seen with their own eyes how Hashem had spoken directly to Moshe. 3 Consequently, they would now be convinced that Moshe Rabeinu's level of prophecy was superior to that of all subsequent prophets. 4
The question arises however, that on a number of occasions, the people did not believe the prophesies of Yirmiyah ha'Navi.
Nevertheless, Moshe was greater than all the prophets (See Rashi in Sh'mos 33:12 and refer to 19:9:2:2**). This supports the opinion of the Ibn Ezra. Refer to 19:9:2:2 (Ramban).
Thereby enabling them to refute any prophecy that negated that of Moshe (Refer also to 19:9:2:2**).
See also Bamidbar 12:6-8 and Devarim, 5:21 (Ramban).
What did Moshe tell Hashem? When did he tell it to them?
Rashi: He told Him the people's response to Hashem's intention (to speak to Moshe), that they want to hear Hashem's words directly from Him, and not from Moshe. 1 He told Him this on the following morning (the fourth day - Thursday, the fourth of Sivan). 2
Da'as Zekenim (in Pasuk 8) and Riva: He reported the people's response in Pasuk 8 ("Kol Asher Diber Hashem Na'aseh"). 3
Shabbos 87a #1 (acccording to R. Yossi bar Yehudah): Hashem told Moshe the Mitzvah of fencing off the mountain (in Pasuk 12). Moshe then told the people, and reported their response to Hashem. 4
Shabbos 87a #2 (according to Rebbi): Hashem had told Moshe the punishments [for transgressing Torah] - "Vayashev Moshe" (matters that are 'Meshavev' - revive) the heart. Later, He told him its reward - "Vayaged Moshe" (matters that draw the heart like Agadah). 5
Moshav Zekenim (citing R. Yeshayah): Hashem told Moshe 'I will come to you in a cloud, so that the people will hear and fear Me, and believe that you are My prophet and servant,' to which Moshe recalled what Yisrael said earlier - 'They already fear You and believe that I am a faithful prophet". 6
Oznayim la'Torah: He told Hashem that the people have accepted Hashem's response to their request to see Him (contained in the first half of the Passuk). 7
Since one cannot compare hearing from the Shali'ach to hearing from the king himself (Rashi).
Seforno: When Yisrael answered "Kol asher Diber Hashem Na'aseh" (in Pasuk 8), Moshe reported this verbatim to Hashem, and it was only after Hashem had explained to him in detail why He wanted him to act as the medium between Himself and Yisrael (Refer to 19:9:2:2) that he repeated their statement, because he thought that the people were afraid that his prophecy came via an angel, and that an angel does not have the authority to overlook their sins (See also Rashi, Sh'mos 23:20). So he repeated their response in that light.
Moshe wanted to say this before (Pasuk 8 - "va'Yashev Moshe es Divrei ha'Am..."), but Hashem told him to wait until He tells him [that He will speak to Moshe]. Hadar Zekenim (in Pasuk 8, citing Seifer ha'Gan): Moshe was afraid to speak before Hashem, because it is not correct for a Talmid to speak before his Rebbi. Moshav Zekenim: The protocol is that a Shali'ach does not report to the king until the king calls him. After Hashem spoke to Moshe, Moshe told Him the people's words.
Riva: Moshe told the people that night; they answered that they accept Mitzvas Hagbalah and Moshe reported thisir response to Hashem the following morning.
The Torah does not record their response (PF). Another version in the Gemara explains that first Hashem told Moshe the reward - "va'Yashev Moshe" (matters that are revive one's mind), and later, the punishment - "va'Yaged Moshe" (words that are harsh ke'Gidin - bitter vegetables - Rashi there).
As the Torah wrote in Beshalach 14:31 "va'Yir'u ha'Am es Hashem va'Ya'aminu ba'Hashem u've'Moshe Avdo".
And the Torah does not mention Moshe's words to the people and their response because of their doubts in his prophecy. Refer to 19:8:1.1:1 (Oznayim la'Torah).
QUESTIONS ON RASHI
Rashi writes that the people wanted to hear directly from Hashem. How does he know that?
Riva: He extrapolates it from Hashem's words in Pasuk 11 - that He will descend before the eyes of all the people.
