Likutay Moharan - Torah-teaching 190

190 - And Moses Told the Words of the People to Hashem

"And all the people answered together and said: All that Hashem has spoken we will do, and Moses returned the words of the people to Hashem. And Hashem said to Moses: Behold I come to you in the thickness of the cloud so that the people hear when I speak with you, and also in you etc. And Moses told the words of the people to Hashem" (Exodus 19:8-9). This is highly wondrous, for what are the "words of the people" the second time, upon which it is said: "And Moses told the words of the people"? No second response or words from the people are recorded after the first: "All that Hashem has spoken" etc. What then is this repeated "And Moses told the words of the people to Hashem"?

Know that Israel claimed against Moses' call to receive the Torah, responding: "All that Hashem has spoken we will do" – meaning they are compelled to act, with no choice once the command issues from Hashem's mouth. Thus, "All that Hashem has spoken we will do" certainly, for there is no option to disobey after it has been spoken by Hashem. Immediately, "Moses returned the words of the people to Hashem" – he conveyed Israel's claim to the Holy One Blessed be He. Hashem replied: "And Hashem said to Moses: Behold I come to you" precisely "so that the people hear when I speak with you" precisely – I will speak the utterances only to you alone (e.g., "I am Hashem your G-d, you shall not have" etc.), not directly to Israel; they will only hear Me speaking with you. This grants them the power of choice to act as they will.

Then, "Moses told the words of the people to Hashem" – Moses now applied the people's original claim to himself before Hashem: You granted Israel choice by speaking only to me, but not to me, for direct speech to me eliminates my choice. Hashem responded: "And Hashem said to Moses: Go to the people and sanctify them today and tomorrow" – commanding two days, but Moses added a third of his own accord (Shabbat 87a), aligning with Hashem's intent (as the Torah was indeed given after three days). Moses' choice hinged on this: receipt was impossible without three days. Without the addition, no receipt would occur. Hashem specified two days; Moses discerned the need, chose to receive the Torah, and added the day – enabling its reception. The primary choice for Moses lay in adding that day of his own volition.