Shabbat

on Tuesday he informed them of the order to set boundaries,  and on Wednesday they separated themselves [from their wives].  But the Rabbis hold: New Moon was fixed on Monday, and on that day he said nothing to them on account of their exhaustion from the journey. On Tuesday he said to them, and ye shall be unto me a kingdom of priests; on Wednesday he informed them of the order to set boundaries, and on Thursday they separated themselves. An objection is raised: And sanctify them to-day and to-morrow:  this is difficult in the view of R. Jose?  — R. Jose can answer you: Moses added one day of his own understanding.  For it was taught, Three things did Moses do of his own understanding, and the Holy One, blessed be He, gave His approval:  he added one day of his own understanding, he separated himself from his wife,  and he broke the Tables. 'He added one day of his own understanding': what [verse] did he interpret? To-day and to-morrow: 'to-day' [must be] like 'tomorrow: just as to-morrow includes the [previous] night, so 'to-day' [must] include the [previous] night, but the night of to-day has already passed! Hence it must be two days exclusive of to-day. And how do we know that the Holy One, blessed be He, gave his approval? — Since the Shechinah did not rest [upon Mount Sinal] until the morning of the Sabbath.  And 'he separated himself from his wife': What did he interpret? He applied an a minori argument to himself, reasoning: If the Israelites, with whom the Shechinah spoke only on one occasion and He appointed them a time [thereof], yet the Torah said, Be ready against the third day: come not near a woman: I, with whom the Shechinah speaks at all times and does not appoint me a [definite] time, how much more so! And how do we know that the Holy One, blessed be He, gave his approval? Because it is written, Go say to them, Return to your tents,  which is followed by, But as for thee, stand thou here by me. Some there are who quote, with him [sc. Moses] will I speak mouth to mouth.  'He broke the Tables': how did he learn [this]? He argued: If the Passover sacrifice, which is but one of the six hundred and thirteen precepts, yet the Torah said, there shall no alien eat thereof:  here is the whole Torah, and the Israelites are apostates, how much more so!  And how do we know that the Holy One, blessed be He, gave His approval? Because it is said, which thou brakest,  and Resh Lakish interpreted this: All strength to thee  that thou brakest it. Come and hear: And be ready against the third day: this is a difficulty according to R. Jose?  — Surely we have said that Moses added one day of his own understanding! Come and hear: The third, the third day of the month and the third day of the week:  this is a difficulty according to the Rabbis?  — The Rabbis answer you: with whom does this agree? with R. Jose. In respect of what is [the first] 'the third' [mentioned]? — [In respect] of that which was taught: And Moses reported the words of the people unto the Lord;  and it is written, And Moses told the words of the people unto the Lord.  Now, what did the Holy One, Blessed be He, say unto Moses, what did Moses say unto Israel, what did Israel say to Moses, and what did Moses report before the Omnipotent?  This is the order of setting boundaries:  that is the view of R. Jose son of R. Judah. Rabbi said: At first he explained the penalties [for non-observance], for it is written, 'And Moses reported [wa-yasheb]', [which implies] things which repel [meshabbebin] one's mind.  But subsequently he explained its reward, for it is said, 'And Moses told [wa-yagged]', [which means,] words which draw one's heart like a narrative [aggadah]. Some there are who maintain, At first he explained the reward it confers, for it is written, 'And Moses reported [wa-yasheb]', [which means,] words which appease [meshibin] one's mind. Whilst subsequently he explained its penalties, for it is written, 'and Moses told [wa-yagged'], [meaning], words as hard [unpleasant] to man as worm-wood [giddin]. Come and hear: The sixth, the sixth day of the month and the sixth day of the week [Friday]: this is a difficulty according to the Rabbis?  — This too agrees with R. Jose. In respect of what is [the first] 'the sixth' [mentioned]? — Raba said: