What is "u'le'Chol ha'Yad ha'Chazakah" referring to?
Rashi: It refers to Moshe receiving the (heavy) Luchos 1 with his hands.
Ramban #1: It refers to Keri'as Yam-Suf. 2
Ramban #2 (citing the Sifri): It refers to Makas B'choros. 3
Ramban #3 (according to Kabalah): It refers to the Midas ha'Din. 4
Seforno: It refers to all the miracles that Hashem wrought regarding changing the nature of things that are indestructible - such as the splitting of the Yam-Suf, opening the mouth of the earth bringing down the Manna and others.
Targum Yonasan: It refers to Moshe's staff which weighed forty Sa'ah that Moshe held in his hands and with which he split the Sea and struck the rock.
Rosh (citing a Midrash 5 ): Hashem and Moshe werre both holding two Tefachim of the Luchos, leaving two Tefachim in the middle. After the sin of the Gokden Calf, Hashem wanted Moshe to retain the Luchos, yet He gave Moshe the strength to take them, and he (Moshe) subsequently descended with them.
Yerushalmi Ta'nis, 4:5: It refers to when when after Hashem had Handed the Luchos to Moshe and Yisrael were worshipping the Golden Calf, Hashem made to take back the Luchos, but Moshe overpowered Him, Kevayachol, and snatched them back. 6 That is why the Torah praises Moshe and writes "u'le'Chol ha'Yad ha'Chazakah!'
Sifri (citing R. Elazar): It refers to the wonders of Har Sinai. 7
See Sifsei Chachamim.
Ramban: In connection with which the Torah wrote in Sh'mos, 14:31 "Vayar Yisrael es ha'Yad ha'Gedolah."
Ramban (Ibid.): In connection with which the Torah wrote in Sh'mos, 6:1 - "Ki be'Yad Chazakah Yeshalchem!" See also Torah Temimah, note 28.
Ramban: Like we find in Yechezkel, 37:1 & 40:1 and in Yeshayah, 41:20.
If Hashem wanted to retain them, why did He give Moshe the strength to take them? Perhaps it is similar to "Hanichah Li? va'Achalem" (Sh'mos 32:10) - where Hashem was merely hinting to Moshe what will happen if he will not act (PF) Devarim Rabah in Vayeilech): Moshe had great strength to seize the Luchos from Hashem, but that did not help him when his time came to die - as the Pasuk writes in Koheles 9:11 "ve'Lo la'Giborim ha'Milchamah".
See Torah Temimah, note 26, who elaborates.
See Torah Temimah, note 30.
What is "u'le'Chol ha'Morah ha'Gadol" referring to?
Rashi: It refers to the miracles and mighty deeds that he performed in the desert. 1
Ramban #1 (citing the Sifri #2), Seforno and Targum Onkelos 2 : It refers to Matan Torah (Ma'amad Har Sinai - Ramban 3 ).
Ramban #2 (citing the Sifri #1): It refers to Keri'as Yam-Suf. 4
Ramban #3 (according to Kabalah): It refers to the Midas ha'Rachamim. 5
Targum Yonasan: It refers to his receiving the sapphire Luchos that weighed forty Sa'ah which he carried (down the mountain) with both hands.
See Torah Temimah, nmote 31.
See 'Shefa Rav'.
Ramban: In connection with which the Torah wrote in Sh'mos, 20:20 "le'Va'avur Tih'yeh Yir'aso al Peneichem".
By which the Torah writes in Sh'mos, 14:30 'Vayir'u ha'Am es Hashem'. See also Torah Temimah, note 29.
Ramban: Like we find in Yeshayah, 8:13. See Ramban DH 've'Al Derech ha'Emes', who equates this explanation with the Sifri - Refer to 34:12:1:3 & 34:12:2:3.
To which incident is "le'Einei Kol Yisrael" referring?
Rashi: It refers to the fact that Moshe's heart inspired him to smash the Luchos 1 before the eyes of all the people. 2
Ramban #1: It refers to Keri'as Yam-Suf and Ma'amad Har Sinai. 3
Ramban (according to Kabalah): He prepared 4 the Yad ha'Chazakah (the Midas ha'Din) and the Mora Gadol (the Midas ha'Rachamim) 5 before the eyes of Yisrael.
Seforno: Refer to 34:12:2:2. It refers to when Yisrael saw and stood at a distance, and Moshe approached the black cloud, where he acquired the highest level of prophecy - "Panim el Panim", 6 and where he became awesome with the Karnei Hod 7 (the rays of majesty).
Targum Yonasan: Refer to 34:12:2:2. It refers to the sapphire Luchos that Moshe brought down the mountain.
Hadar Zekenim: It is emphasising the difference between Moshe and the other Nevi'im. Refer to 34:10:2:8.
Rashi: An act with which Hashem concurred. Refer to Sh'mos 34:1:4:2. Riva - this is not like the Yerushalmi, which explains that, due to the sin of the Golden Calf, his hands became heavy and he was no longer able to hold the Luchos.
Rashi: As the Torah wrote in 9:17, "Va'ashabrem le'Eineichem", and which the Sifri learns learns via a Gezeirah Shavah "le'Einei" Yisrael" "le'Eineichem" there. See also Torah Temimah, note 32.
Refer to 34:12:1:2 & 34:12:2:2. Having mentioned the miracles that Moshe performed before Par'oh, the Torah now relates the miracles that he performed before Yisrael.
Ramban: As in Bereishis, 12:5 & 18:7. And it was due to his preparations, that Yisrael witnessed the miracles - Makas B'choros and Keri'as Yam-Suf.
Ramban: He did not make them.
This appears to contradict what the Seforno stated above. Refer to 34:11:1:2*.
Seforno: As the Torah wrote in Shemos 34:30, 'And Aharon and all Yisrael saw that Moshe's face was shining and they were afraid to come near him'.
