"And rose up from Seir to them"
We are told that God first offered the Torah to the children of Esau and then to the children of Ishmael, all of whom refused it, before He offered it to the children of Yisrael. Rabbi Shimon clarifies a point by saying that the refusal of the inhabitants of Seir and Paran enabled God to add their light and love to the children of Yisrael. We hear a dialogue between God and Samael wherein God offers the Torah to Samael who of course refuses it because of its stricture against killing. Samael suggests that God give the Torah to the children of Yisrael because he thinks that would ensure that Yisrael would never be capable of surviving or ruling - in effect, that the Torah would make them weak. Samael removes his own light and gives it to God to add to the light of Yisrael. The same thing happens with Rachav, the higher minister of Ishmael, who refuses the Torah because of its prohibition against adultery, and who also gives his light to God for Yisrael. Eventually we learn that from the other nations of the world God also took gifts on behalf of the children of Yisrael. Thus Yisrael inherited the Torah with no disagreement from anyone above or below. When Yisrael sinned and went into exile, all their gifts were removed from them, but in the future these gifts will be returned to them.
138. Come and see that it is written: "Hashem, when You did go out of Seir, when You did march out of the field of Edom, the earth trembled..." (Shoftim 5:4). When the Holy One, blessed be He, wished to give the Torah to Yisrael, He went and invited the children of Esau, but they did not accept it, as it says, "Hashem came from Sinai, and rose up from Seir to them" (Ibid.). They refused to accept her. He went to the children of Ishmael and they refused to accept her, as it says, "He shone forth from Mount Paran" (Devarim 33:2). Since they refused, He returned to the children of Yisrael as we were taught.
138. ת"ח, כְּתִיב יְיָ' בְּצֵאתְךָ מִשֵּׂעִיר בְּצַעְדְּךָ מִשְּׂדֵה אֱדוֹם אֶרֶץ רָעָשָׁה וְגוֹ.' בְּשַׁעֲתָא דְּבָעָא קוּדְשָׁא בְּרִיךְ הוּא לְמֵיהַב אוֹרַיְיתָא לְיִשְׂרָאֵל, אָזַל וְזַמִּין לְהוּ לִבְנֵי עֵשָׂו, וְלָא קִבְּלוּהָ. כד"א יְיָ' מִסִּינַי בָּא וְזָרַח מִשֵּׂעִיר לָמוֹ, וְלָא בָּעוּ לְקַבְּלָהּ. אָזַל לִבְנֵי יִשְׁמָעֵאל, וְלָא בָּעוּ לְקַבְּלָהּ, דִּכְתִיב הוֹפִיעַ מֵהַר פָּארָן. כֵּיוָן דְּלָא בָּעוּ, אַהְדָּר לוֹן לְיִשְׂרָאֵל, הָכִי תָּנֵינָן.
139. Since we learned that it is not considered a sin, if a person is very meticulous about the details of the Torah and is asking his questions to clarify, this scripture is difficult to understand and the question needs to be asked. When the Holy One, blessed be He, went to Seir, to which prophet of theirs did He appear? And when He approached Paran, to which prophet of theirs did He reveal Himself? If you say that He revealed Himself to the whole nation, we find that it happened only to Yisrael alone and through Moses. FURTHERMORE, we were taught that this is what the scripture should have said, 'Hashem came to Sinai, and rose up to Seir to them; He shone forth to Mount Paran.' What is meant by: "From Seir to them...from Mount Paran?" All this must be known and be observed. Though I asked, I have not yet heard.
139. הַשְׁתָּא אִית לְשָׁאֲלָא, וְהָא תָּנֵינָן דְּלֵית חַטָּאָה כַּד בַּר נָשׁ מְדַקְדֵּק דִּיּוּקִין דְּאוֹרַיְיתָא, וַיִשְׁאַל שְׁאֶלְתּוֹי לְאַנְהָרָא מִלּוֹי. הַאי קְרָא לָא אִתְיַישְּׁבָא, וְאִית לְשָׁאֲלָא. קוּדְשָׁא בְּרִיךְ הוּא כַּד אָזַל לְשֵׂעִיר, לְמַאן נְבִיאָה דִּלְהוֹן אִתְגְּלֵי. וְכַד אָזַל לְפָארָן, לְמַאן נְבִיאָה דִּלְהוֹן אִתְגְּלֵי. אִי תֵּימָא דְּאִתְגְּלֵי לְכֻלְּהוּ, לָא אַשְׁכְּחָן דָּא לְעָלְמִין. בַּר לְיִשְׂרָאֵל בִּלְחוֹדַיְיהוּ, וע"י דְּמֹשֶׁה. וְהָא אִתְּמַר דְּהָכִי מִבָּעֵי קְרָא לְמֵימַר, יְיָ' לְסִינַי בָּא, וְזָרַח לְשֵׂעִיר לָמוֹ, הוֹפִיעַ לְהַר פָּארָן, מַהוּ מִשֵּׂעִיר לָמוֹ, וּמַהוּ מֵהַר פָּארָן. כֹּלָּא אִית לְמִנְדַּע וּלְאִסְתַּכְּלָא, וְהָא שָׁאִילְנָא, וְלָא שְׁמַעְנָא, וְלָא יְדַעְנָא.
140. When Rabbi Shimon came, he approached and asked this again. RABBI SHIMON said to him, This inquiry has been settled, as "Hashem came from Sinai" is as it says, "Lo, I come to you in a thick cloud" (Shemot 19:9) and "came from Sinai" and appeared over them, "and rose up from Seir to them," WHICH MEANS THAT because the inhabitants of Seir said that they do not wish to accept the Torah, He shone upon Yisrael, and added light, and great love, to them. Similarly, He "shone forth" and brightened the light from the mountain of Paran; additional love and bright light was available from the inhabitants of Paran's refusal to accept the Torah, and that was given to Yisrael as well, as is proper.
140. כַּד אָתָא רִבִּי שִׁמְעוֹן, אָתָא וְשָׁאִיל מִלָּה כְּמִלְּקַדְּמִין, אָ"ל הָא שְׁאֶלְתָּא דָּא אִתְאַמְּרַת. יְיָ' מִסִּינַי בָּא: כד"א הִנֵּה אָנֹכִי בָּא אֵלֶיךָ בְּעַב הֶעָנָן, וּמִסִּינַי בָּא וְאִתְגְּלֵי עָלַיְיהוּ. וְזָרַח מִשֵּׂעִיר לָמוֹ, מִמַּה דְּאָמְרוּ בְּנֵי שְׂעִיר, דְּלָא בָּעָאן לְקַבְּלָא, מֵהַאי, אַנְהַר לוֹן לְיִשְׂרָאֵל, וְאוֹסִיף עָלַיְיהוּ נְהוֹרָא וְחָבִיבוּ סַגִּיא. אוֹף הָכִי, הוֹפִיעַ וְאַנְהַר לְיִשְׂרָאֵל מֵהַר פָּארָן, מִמַּה דְּאָמְרוּ בְּנֵי פָּארָן, דְּלָא בָּעוּ לְקַבְּלָא, מֵהַאי. אוֹסִיפוּ יִשְׂרָאֵל חֲבִיבוּ וּנְהִירוּ יַתִיר כַּדְּקָא יָאוּת.
141. You asked through whom He was revealed to them. That is a high secret and it will be uncovered through you; THAT IS, THROUGH YOUR INQUIRY. The Torah came out from the highest mystery, from the concealed head of the King, WHICH IS BINAH. When it reached the left arm, WHICH IS ISAAC, MEANING GVURAH, the Holy One, blessed be He, saw in that arm bad blood, that was increasing from there, WHICH IS ESAU, MEANING SAMAEL AND THE OTHER SIDE. He said, 'I need to refine and clarify this arm and if I do not take off that defective blood, it will injure everything. Indeed, it is necessary to refine every defect from here.'
141. וּמַה דְּשָׁאַלְתּ עַל יְדָא דְּמַאן אִתְגְּלֵי עָלַיְיהוּ. רָזָא עִלָּאָה אִיהוּ, וְאִתְגְּלֵי מִלָּה עַל יְדָךְ. אוֹרַיְיתָא נַפְקַת מֵרָזָא עִלָּאָה, דְּרֵישָׁא דְּמַלְכָּא סְתִימָא, כַּד מָטָא לְגַבֵּי דְּרוֹעָא שְׂמָאלָא, חָמָא קוּדְשָׁא בְּרִיךְ הוּא בְּהַהוּא דְּרוֹעָא, דָּמָא בִּישָׁא דַּהֲווּ מִתְרַבֵּי מִתַּמָּן. אָמַר, אִצְטְרִיךְ לִי לְבָרְרָא וּלְלַבְּנָא דְּרוֹעָא דָּא. וְאִי לָא יַמְאִיךְ הַהוּא דָּמָא בִּישָׁא, יַפְגִּים כֹּלָּא. אֲבָל אִצְטְרִיךְ לְבָרְרָא מֵהָכָא כָּל פְּגִימוּ.
142. What did He do? He called Samael, ESAU'S MINISTER ABOVE, who came before Him. He said to him, 'Do you want My Torah?' And he said, What is written in her? He said, "You shall not murder" (Shemot 20:13), since the Holy One, blessed be He, skipped to show him the necessary place - HE SKIPPED TO THE COMMANDMENT THAT HE KNEW HE WOULD NOT BE ABLE TO KEEP. SAMAEL said, Heaven forbid, this Torah is Yours and Yours it shall remain. I do not desire such a Torah. He again beseeched of Him saying, Master of the World, if You give me THIS TORAH, my entire government will cease, since my entire domination is based on killing. AND IF I ACCEPT THE TORAH, there will no longer be wars. My rule is over the planet Maadim (Mars) THAT INDICATES SPILLING OF BLOOD. If so, all becomes void from the world.
142. מָה עֲבַד. קָרָא לְסָמָאֵל, וְאָתָא קַמֵּיהּ, וְאָמַר לֵיהּ תִּבְעֵי אוֹרַיְיתָא דִּילִי. אָמַר, מַה כְּתִיב בָּהּ. אָמַר לֵיהּ, לֹא תִרְצַח. דָּלִיג קוּדְשָׁא בְּרִיךְ הוּא לַאֲתָר דְּאִצְטְרִיךְ. אָמַר ח"ו, אוֹרַיְיתָא דָּא דִּילָךְ הִיא, וְדִילָךְ יְהֵא, לָא בָּעֵינָא אוֹרַיְיתָא דָּא. אָתִיב וְאִתְחַנָּן קַמֵּיהּ, אָמַר מָארֵיהּ דְּעָלְמָא, אִי אַתְּ יָהֲבָהּ לִי, כָּל שָׁלְטָנוּ דִּילִי אִתְעֲבָר, דְּהָא שָׁלְטָנוּ דִּילִי עַל קְטּוּלָא אִיהוּ, וּקְרָבִין לָא יֵהוֹן וְשֻלְטָנוּ דִּילִי עַל כֹּכָבָא דְּמַאֲדִים, א"ה כֹּלָּא אִתְבְּטַל מֵעָלְמָא.
143. Master of the Universe, take for Yourself that Torah of Yours. I do not want any part or portion in her. However, if it suits You, here are the people, the children of Jacob, for whom THIS TORAH is suitable. He thought that he said about them some derogatory accusation, which is the meaning of: "And rose up from Seir to them." Actually "from Seir" light went out for Yisrael, MEANING FROM SAMAEL, THE CHIEF MINISTER OF SEIR. Samael said TO HIMSELF, Certainly, if Jacob's children will accept THE TORAH, they will cease to exist in the world and will never be capable of ruling. THE HOLY ONE, BLESSED BE HE, responded several times and said the following, 'You are the firstborn, BECAUSE ESAU WAS THE FIRSTBORN and THE TORAH befits you.' He said to him, My birthright belongs to him, since it was sold to him and I gave my consent. THE HOLY ONE, BLESSED BE HE, then said, 'Since you don't wish to have any part IN THE TORAH, remove yourself from her altogether.' He said he would.
143. מָארֵיהּ דְּעָלְמָא, טוֹל אוֹרַיְיתָךְ, וְלָא יְהֵא חוּלָקָא וְאַחֲסָנָא לִי בָּהּ. אֲבָל אִי נִיחָא קַמָּךְ, הָא עַמָּא בְּנוֹי דְּיַעֲקֹב, לוֹן אִתְחֲזֵי. וְאִיהוּ חָשִׁיב דְּהָא דַּלְטּוֹרָא אָמַר עָלַיְיהוּ. וְדָא הוּא וְזָרַח מִשֵּׂעִיר לָמוֹ, מִשֵּׂעִיר מַמָּשׁ נָפַק נְהוֹרָא לוֹן לְיִשְׂרָאֵל. אָמַר סָמָאֵ"ל וַדַּאי, אִי בְּנוֹי דְּיַעֲקֹב יְקַבְּלוּן דָּא, יִתְעָבְרוּן מֵעָלְמָא, וְלָא יִשְׁלְטוּן לְעָלְמִין. אָתִיב לֵיהּ כַּמָה זִמְנִין, וְאָמַר דָּא, וְאָמַר לֵיהּ אַנְתְּ בּוּכְרָא, וְלָךְ אִתְחֲזֵי. אָמַר לֵיהּ, הָא לֵיהּ בְּכִירוּתָא דִּילִי, וְהָא אֶזְדְּבַן לֵיהּ, וַאֲנָא אוֹדֵיתִי. אָמַר לֵיהּ הוֹאִיל וְלָא בָּעִית לְמֶהֱוֵי לָךְ בָּהּ חוּלָקָא, אִתְעֲבָר מִנָּהּ בְּכֹלָּא. אָמַר יָאוּת.
144. THE HOLY ONE, BLESSED BE HE, said to him, 'Since it is so, give Me advice on what I should do, so that the children of Jacob would accept her, as you say.' SAMAEL said to him, Master of the Universe, there is a need to bribe them. Take light from the light of the legions in heaven and impart it to them. By this, they will accept her and here is some OF MY LIGHT, which I will give first. He removed from himself the light that enveloped him and gave it TO THE HOLY ONE, BLESSED BE HE, TO present it to Yisrael. This is what is meant by: "And rose up from Seir to them;" "from Seir" actually is Samael. It is written about him: "And the goat (Heb. sair) shall bear upon it" (Vayikra 16:22). "To them" MEANS to Yisrael.
144. אָמַר לֵיהּ, הוֹאִיל וְכַךְ, הַב לִי עֵיטָא, אֵיךְ אַעְבִּיד דִּיקַבְּלוֹן לָהּ בְּנוֹי דְּיַעֲקֹב דְּאַתְּ אָמֵר. אָמַר לֵיהּ מָארֵיהּ דְּעָלְמָא, אִצְטְרִיךְ לְשַׁחֲדָא לוֹן, טוֹל נְהוֹרָא מִנְּהִירוּ דְּחֵילֵי שְׁמַיָּא, וְהָב עָלַיְיהוּ, וּבְדָא יְקַבְּלוּן לָהּ, וְהָא דִּילִי יְהֵא בְּקַדְמֵיתָא. אַפְשִׁיט מִנֵּיהּ נְהִירוּ דְּחַפְּיָא עָלֵיהּ, וְיָהַב לֵיהּ, לְמֵיהַב לוֹן לְיִשְׂרָאֵל, הה"ד וְזָרַח מִשֵּׂעִיר לָמוֹ. מִשֵּׂעִיר מַמָּשׁ דָּא סָמָאֵ"ל. דִּכְתִיב וְנָשָׂא הַשָׂעִיר עָלָיו. לָמוֹ לְיִשְׂרָאֵל.
145. As soon as He removed that one, SAMAEL, and cleaned out the bad blood from the left arm, THAT IS ISAAC, WHICH IS GVURAH, He turned to the right arm, WHICH IS ABRAHAM, AND HE IS CHESED. He noticed in it also DEFECTIVE BLOOD THAT IS ISHMAEL. He said, 'This arm too needs to have the bad blood cleaned out of it.' The Holy One, blessed be He, called to Rahav, THE MINISTER OF ISHMAEL. He said to him, 'Do you want My Torah?' RAHAV said to Him, What is written in it? He skipped EVERYTHING ELSE and said TO HIM, "You shall not commit adultery" (Shemot 20:13). He said to Him, Woe FOR ME. If that is the legacy the Holy One, blessed be He, wishes me to inherit, that would be an evil legacy for me, since it would remove my entire dominion WHICH IS BASED ON ADULTERY. Since I took the blessings of the water, the blessing reserved for the fish of the sea, as it is written: "Be fruitful (Heb. pru) and multiply" (Beresheet 1:22) and: "and will make him fruitful, and will multiply him..." (Beresheet 17:20). It is further written: "And he will be a wild (Heb. pere) man" (Beresheet 16:12).
145. כֵּיוָן דְּבִיעֵר דָּא, וְאַעְבַּר דָּמָא בִּישָׁא מִדְּרוֹעָא שְׂמָאלָא, אַהְדָּר לִדְרוֹעָא יְמִינָא חָמָא בֵּיהּ אוֹף הָכִי, אָמַר הָכִי נָמֵי אִצְטְרִיךְ לְנַקְיָיא, מִדָּמָא בִּישָׁא, דְּרוֹעָא דָּא. קָרָא לְרַהַ"ב אָמַר לֵיהּ, תִּבְעֵי אַתְּ אוֹרַיְיתָא דִּילִי. אָמַר לֵיהּ, מַה כְּתִיב בָּהּ. דָּלִיג לֵיהּ, וְאָמַר לֹא תִּנְאַף. אָמַר וַוי אִי יְרוּתָא דָּא יַחֲסִין לִי קוּדְשָׁא בְּרִיךְ הוּא, יְרוּתָא בִּישָׁא, דְּיִתְעַבָר בָּהּ כָּל שָלְטָנֵי, דְּהָא בִּרְכָתָא דְּמַיָּא נָטִילְנָא, בִּרְכָתָא דְּנוּנֵי יַמָּא, דִּכְתִיב פְּרוּ וּרְבוּ וְגוֹ.' וּכְתִיב וְהִפְרֵיתִי אוֹתוֹ וְהִרְבֵּיתִי אוֹתוֹ וְגוֹ' וּכְתִיב וְהוּא יִהְיֶה פֶּרֶא אָדָם.
146. He began to beseech his Master and said to him, Master of the Universe, two children came out of Abraham. Here are the children of Isaac, give it to them, for she is suitable for them. THE HOLY ONE, BLESSED BE HE, said to him, 'I can't, since you are the firstborn and THE TORAH is suitable for you.' He began to plead before Him and said, Master of the Universe, let the rights of the firstborn be his. That light which I inherited as a legacy thereby due to that RIGHTS OF THE FIRSTBORN, take and give to them. And so, THE HOLY ONE, BLESSED BE HE, did. This is what is written: "He shone forth from Mount Paran" (Devarim 33:2).
146. שָׁארִי לְאִתְחַנְּנָא קַמֵּי מָארֵיהּ, אָמַר לֵיהּ, מָארֵי דְּעָלְמָא, תְּרֵין בְּנִין נָפַקְנָא מֵאַבְרָהָם, הָא בְּנוֹי דְּיִצְחָק, הַב לוֹן, וְלוֹן אִתְחֲזֵי. אָמַר לֵיהּ, לָא יָכִילְנָא, דְּאַנְתְּ בּוּכְרָא, וְלָךְ אִתְחֲזֵי, שָׁארִי לְאִתְחַנְּנָא קַמֵּיהּ, וְאָמַר מָארֵיהּ דְּעָלְמָא, בְּכֵירוּתָא דִּילִי יְהֵא דִּילֵיהּ, וְהַאי נְהוֹרָא דַּאֲנָא יָרִיתְנָא עַל דָּא, טוֹל וְהַב לוֹן, וְכַךְ עָבֵד, הֲדָא הוּא דִּכְתִיב, הוֹפִיעַ מֵהַר פָּארָן.
147. What changed, in that by Samael, it says, "Rose up" and by Rahav, it is written: "Shone forth?" HE RESPONDS: It is only that He took with that light, which He removed from Samael, the sword and the killing, to kill with sentencing by judgment and to do the killing properly, as it is written: "And One that is the sword of your excellency" (Devarim 33:29), though it is not belonging to you. From that blessing which He removed from Rahav, He took only a little, like someone that only shone a little of their blessing, meaning just enough to be able to produce and multiply. Therefore, IT IS WRITTEN: "He shone forth from Mount Paran" and it is not written: "Rose up," WHICH MEANS INCREASE LIKE BY SAMAEL.
147. מַאי שְׁנָא בְּסָמָאֵ"ל כְּתִיב וְזָרַח, וּבְרַהַ"ב כְּתִיב הוֹפִיעַ. אֶלָּא נָטַל בְּהַהוּא נְהִירוּ דְּאַפְשִׁיט מִנֵּיהּ סָמָאֵ"ל, חֶרֶב וְקָטוֹלָא, לְקָטְלָא בְּדִינָא, וּלְקָטְלָא כַּדְקָא יָאוּת. הֲדָא הוּא דִּכְתִיב, וַאֲשֶׁר חֶרֶב גַּאֲוָתֶךָ. אע"ג דְּלָא הֲוָה דִּילָךְ. וְנָטַל בְּהַהוּא בִּרְכָתָא דְּאַפְשִׁיט מִנֵּיהּ רַהַ"ב, זְעֵיר, כְּמָאן דְּהוֹפִיעַ זְעֵיר מִבִּרְכָתָא דִּלְהוֹן, לְמֶעְבַּד פִּרְיָה וּרְבִיָּה. בְּגִין כַּךְ הוֹפִיעַ מֵהַר פָּארָן, וְלָא כְּתִיב וְזָרַח.
148. As soon as THE HOLY ONE, BLESSED BE HE, took these gifts to Yisrael from these chief ministers that rule OVER ESAU AND ISHMAEL, He approached and called all the "holy multitudes" (Ibid. 2) that are appointed over the rest of the nations. They also replied to Him similarly AS SAMAEL AND RAHAV. From all of them, He took and accepted gifts on behalf of Yisrael. THIS IS LIKE a doctor who had one vial full of medicine of life and kept it for his son. He wished to give his son those medicine of life, but the doctor was wise and thought about the evil servants in his household. If they notice that I give this gift to my son, they will be jealous and will want to kill him.
148. כֵּיוָן דְּנָטַל מַתְנָן אִלֵּין לְיִשְׂרָאֵל, מֵאִינּוּן רַבְרְבָנִין שָׁלְטָנִין, אָתָא וְקָרָא לְהוּ לְכָל רִבְבוֹת קֹדֶשׁ, דִּמְמָנָן עַל שְׁאַר עַמִּין, וְאָתִיבוּ לֵיהּ אוֹף הָכִי. וּמִכֻּלְּהוּ קַבִיל וְנָטִיל מַתְנָן, לְמֵיהַב לוֹן לְיִשְׂרָאֵל. לְאַסְיָא, דְּהֲוָה לֵיהּ חַד מָאנָא מַלְיָא מִסַּמָּא דְּחַיֵּי, וְנָטִיר לֵיהּ לִבְרֵיהּ. בָּעָא לְמֵיהַב לֵיהּ לִבְרֵיהּ, הַהוּא פְּלַיִיטוֹן דְּסָמָא דְּחַיֵּי. אַסְיָא הֲוָה חַכִים, אָמַר עַבְדִין בִּישִׁין אִית בְּבֵיתִי, אִי יִנְדְּעוּן דַּאֲנָא יָהִיב לִבְרִי נְבַזְבְּזָא דָּא, יַבְאִישׁ בְּעֵינַיְיהוּ, וְיִבְעוּן לְקָטְלָא לֵיהּ.
149. What did he do? He took a little bit of deadly poison spices and put it at the opening of that vessel, then called his servants and said to them, You faithful of mine, would you like to have some of this potion? They said, Let's see what it consists of. They took a bit of it to taste and, even before that, when they only smelled it, they felt like they were going to die. They figured to themselves, If he gives that potion to his son, he would certainly die, and we will inherit our lord's goods. They said to him, Our lord, this potion is only proper and suitable for your son. Here are some of our wages. Give it as a bribe to your son so that he will accept this potion.
149. מָה עֲבַד. נָטַל זְעֵיר מִסַמָּא דְּמוֹתָא, וְשַׁוֵּי אֲפִּתְחָא דְּמָאנָא, קְרָא לְעַבְדוֹי, אָמַר לוֹן, אַתּוּן מְהֵימְנָן קֳדָמַי, תִּבְעוּן לְהַהוּא סַמָא. אָמְרוּ נֶחֱמֵי מַאי הִוא. נַטְלוּ לְמִטְעַם, עַד לָא אַרְחוּ, בָּעוּ לְמֵימַת, אָמְרוּ בְּלִבַּיְיהוּ, אִי הַאי סַמָּא יָהִיב לִבְרֵיהּ, וַדַּאי יָמוּת וַאֲנָן נִירַת לְרִבּוֹנָנָא. אָמְרוּ קַמֵּיהּ, מָרָנָא, סַמָּא דָּא לָא אִתְחֲזֵי אֶלָּא לִבְרָךְ, וְהָא אַגְרָא דְּפוּלְחָנָנָא שְׁבַקְנָא גַּבָּךְ, זִיל וְהַב לֵיהּ לְשׁוֹחֲדָא, דִּיּקֲבֵּל סַמָּא דָּא.
150. So too, the Holy One, blessed be He, is a wise healer and knew if He gave the Torah to Yisrael before He informed THE CHIEF MINISTERS, they would pursue Yisrael for her sake every day, and kill them. But instead, HE INVITED THEM AND THEY REFUSED and they gave Him offerings and gifts so that YISRAEL should accept her. Moses accepted all of them to give to Yisrael. This is what is written: "You have ascended on high, you have led captivity captive: you have received gifts..." (Tehilim 68:19). Therefore, Yisrael inherited the Torah without any disagreement and without any accusation at all. Praised is He and praised is His name forever and ever.
150. כַּךְ קוּדְשָׁא בְּרִיךְ הוּא, הוּא אַסְיָא חַכִּים, יָדַע דְּאִי יָהִיב אוֹרַיְיתָא לְיִשְׂרָאֵל, עַד לָא אוֹדַע לוֹן, בְּכָל יוֹמָא הֲווֹ רַדְפִין לוֹן לְיִשְׂרָאֵל עָלָהּ, וְקַטְלִין לוֹן. אֲבָל עֲבַד דָּא, וְאִינּוּן יָהֲבוּ לֵיהּ מַתְנָן וּנְבִזְבְּזָן, בְּגִין דִּיְקַבְּלוּן לָהּ. וְכֻלְּהוּ קַבִּיל לוֹן מֹשֶׁה, לְמֵיהַב לְהוּ לְיִשְׂרָאֵל, הה"ד עָלִיתָ לַמָּרוֹם שָׁבִיתָ שֶּׁבִי וְגוֹ.' וּבְגִין כַּךְ יַרְתּוּ יִשְׂרָאֵל אוֹרַיְיתָא, בְּלָא עִרְעוּרָא, וּבְלָא קִטְרוּגָא כְּלָל. בְּרִיךְ הוּא, בְּרִיךְ שְׁמֵיהּ, לְעָלַם וּלְעָלְמֵי עָלְמַיָּא.
151. Come and see the offerings and gifts that Yisrael received from the CHIEFS OF THESE NATIONS, because of which neither death nor the Other Side could dominate them, and not only that, they received the Torah without any protest. They also received gifts and presents from all. When they sinned, it is written: "And the children of Yisrael stripped themselves of their ornaments" (Shemot 33:6), which are "gifts from men," WHICH THEY RECEIVED. What was left of them? Just that captivity, which is written: "You have ascended on high, you have led captivity captive, YOU HAVE RECEIVED GIFTS FROM (ALSO: 'WITH') MEN."
151. ת"ח, עֶדְיָם דִּבְנֵי יִשְׂרָאֵל, אִלֵּין מַתְנָן וּנְבִזְבְּזָן דְּקַבִּילוּ. ובג"כ, לָא הֲוָה שַׁלִּיט עָלַיְיהוּ מוֹתָא, וְלָא סִטְרָא אַחֲרָא, וְלָא דַּי לוֹן דַּי נַטְלוּ אוֹרַיְיתָא בְּלָא עִרְעוּרָא כְּלָל, אֶלָּא דְּקַבִּילוּ נְבִזְבְּזָן וּמַתְנָן מִכֻּלְּהוּ. כֵּיוָן דְּחָטוּ מַה כְּתִיב, וַיִּתְנַצְּלוּ בְנֵי יִשְׂרָאֵל אֶת עֶדְיָם. אִינּוּן מַתָּנוֹת בָּאָדָם. מַה אִשְׁתְּאַר מִנְּהוֹן. הַהוּא שְׁבִי, דִּכְתִיב עָלִיתָ לַמָּרוֹם שָׁבִיתָ שֶּׁבִי וְגוֹ.'
152. When they sinned again, it is written: "And when the Canaanite, the king of Arad...heard...then he fought against Yisrael, and took some of them prisoners" (Bemidbar 21:1), MEANING THAT HE TOOK FROM THEM THEIR REMAINING CAPTIVITY. As long as Yisrael will repent before their Father in heaven, these gifts will be returned to them and they will shelter them. In the future to come, everything will be returned, as it is written: "And then Hashem your Elohim will return your captivity..." (Devarim 30:3). From here on, speak your words.
152. אוֹסִפוּ וְחָטוּ, מַה כְּתִיב וְיִּשְׁמַע הַכְּנַעֲנִי מֶלֶךְ עֲרָד. וּכְתִיב, וַיִּלָּחֶם בְּיִשְׂרָאֵל וַיִשְׁבְּ מִמֶּנּוּ שֶׁבִי וְכָל זִמְנָא דְּיִשְׂרָאֵל תָּבִין לַאֲבוּהוֹן דְּבִשְׁמַיָּא, אִינּוּן נְבִזְבְּזָן יִתְהָדַּר לְגַבַּיְיהוּ, וְאִתְחַפְּיָין בֵּיהּ. וּלְזִמְנָא דְּאָתֵי, כֹּלָּא יִתְהָדַּר דִּכְתִּיב וְשָׁב ה' אֱלֹהֶיךָ אֶת שְׁבוּתְךָ וְגוֹ.' מִכָּאן וּלְהָלְאָה אֵימָא מִילָּךְ.