Seeing as Teshuvah does not require specifying the sin (as the Pasuk indicates in Tehilim, 32:1), why did Moshe specify it?
Yoma, 86b: 'Moshe said before Hakadosh-Baruch-Hu - 'Ribono shel Olam, the silver and gold with which you loaded them - to the point that they exclaimed 'Enough' - caused them to make a golden calf. 1
What are the connotations of the word "ve'Atah"?
Midrash Rabah: 'Ein "ve'Atah" Ela Lashon Teshuvah' (which Yisrael had done by allowing Moshe 1 to break the Eigel - Oznahim la'Torah). 2
To atone for the sin of allowing the sinners to worhipthe Eigel.
Oznayim la'Torah: Similarly, when, in Pasuk 30, Moshe said to the people "ve'Atah A'aleh el Hashem", he was encouraging them to do Teshuvah. It is not clear however, how to explain "ve'Atah" in Pasuk 34? Perhaps it means 'with a fresh start' (which is also the true meaning of Teshuvah). Refer also to 32:34:0.1:1.
What did Moshe mean when he said to Hashem "Im Tisa Chatasam"?
Rashi: He meant that if Hashem would pardon Yisrael, he was not asking for his name to be erased.
Da'as Zekenim and Hadar Zekenim (citing Sefer ha'Gan): He meant that, if Hashem cannot pardon Yisrael, how can He pardon him (Moshe) for breaking His Seifer (the Luchos)? And if He pardons him, He should also pardon Yisrael, for the sake of impartiality. 1
To which Hashem replied that Mashe acted correctly, they did not -since they caused him (to break the Luchos) - and they were therefore not worthy to receive them.
Which Seifer was Moshe referring to?
Rashi: He was asking Hashem to erase his name from the entire Torah. 1
Ramban #1 (citing Ibn Ezra): He was asking for his name to be erased from the book that determines the occurences in Heaven, which in turn, determine what happens on earth.
Seforno: Whether Hashem was willing to forgive them or not, he was asking Him to transfer his merits from the Book of Merits 4 to that of Yisrael, so that they merit forgiveness.
Targum Yonasan and Rosh Hashanah, 16b: 'And if not, erase me from the Book of Tzadikim 5 in which You inscribed my name!'.
Rosh Hashanah, 16b: "Mecheini Na" - 'from the Book of Resha'im'; "mi'Sifr'cha" - ' from the Book of Tzadikim'; "asher Kasavta" - 'from the Book of Beinonim'.
Refer to 32:11:1:6. See Ramban, who then queries Hashem's answer. Da'as Zekenim and Hadar Zekenim (citing Sefer ha'Gan): Even though Moshe's curse was conditional, Moshe's name was erased from Parshas Tetzaveh, because the curse of a Chacham always materializes.
According to the Oznayim la'Torah, that Ramban is synonymous with the Seforno (Refer to 32:32:2:4). See also Torah Temimah, citing B'rachos, 32a, and note 43.
Rashbam: See Yeshayah, 4:3. In other words, he asked Hashem to take his life - See Beha'aloscha, 11:15. Ramban: to suffer the punishment in place of Yisrael, - as in Yeshayah, 53:5. This follows the opinion of the Gemara in B'rachos, 32a, which comments that Moshe was Moser Nefesh on behalf of Yisrael. See Torah Temimah, note 43.
Oznayim la'Torah: This is the 'Seifer Zikaron' mentioned in Mal'achi, 3:16 - the Book about which the Mishnah states in Avos, 2: 've'Chol Ma'asecha ba'Seifer Nichtavim'.
See Torah Teemimah, note 44.
Why did Moshe request to have his name removed from Hashem's Book?
Rashi: To prevent the people from accusing him of being unworthy of Davening on behalf of Yisrael.
Oznayim la'Torah #1: According to Rashi (Refer to 32:32:2:1): Assuming that Hashem wanted to destroy the people and make him into a great nation meant that they would keep the Torah as a family legacy, handed down to them from their illustrious father whose name appears constantly in it and after whom it is named ("ZIchru Toras Moshe"), Moshe requested that his name be removed from the Torah, in which case Hashem may just as well keep Yisrael alive and let them keep it in its original capacity as a national legacy.
Oznayim la'Torah #2: According to the Ramban and Seforno (Refer to 32:32:2:4): He was asking for his name to be removed from the Book of Merits, so that his sons should have no advantage over the children of the Avos, in which case Hashem may as well keep Yisrael alive and let them continue to fulfil their legacy.
QUESTIONS ON RASHI
Rashi writes that Moshe asked Hashem to erase his name from the entire Torah. If so, what was Hashem's answer - that He will erase only those who sinned? Moreover,, the Torah was not written yet?
Refer to 32:32:2:2-5.
