Reader: I read your quote from the Rambam about
how the events that occurred at Sinai are one of the “secrets of the torah” (it
being unclear whether G-d spoke all 10, or just the first 2 commandments.) This
seems strange to me. If we think of the revelation at Sinai as the event that
demonstrates incontrovertibly that G-d revealed Himself to the people, that is
dependent on 2 factors: 1) mass revelation, i.e., that many people witnessed
the event, and 2) simple, rather than complex information so that there is no
mistake that G-d was revealing Himself. This was achieved by the lightning,
thunder, fire, and voice.
But why wouldn't it be clear what events actually transpired? Wouldn't that
undermine the absolute proof that the event occurred? If we can't figure out
exactly what happened, doesn't that leave a hole? Once we're not even
sure what happened, isn't that a slippery slope?
The answer can be that the events are clear that all the people believed that
G-d revealed himself. Even though it's not clear exactly what happened. Despite
this, I find it strange that the event upon which we base all our conviction is
an ambiguous event.
Mesora:
You suggest the word “secret” conveys that we are unsure of what transpired at
Sinai. Maimonides’ statement that this is “one of the secrets of the law” does
not mean what transpired on Sinai is not known. Just the opposite is true. A
“secret” means that something very definite and clear exists, albeit in a
discreet form. One may only refer to some knowledge as a “secret”, if he in
fact knows that secret. That means the knowledge was definitely known by
Maimonides, and those from whom he received his knowledge. Therefore, “secret”
only means that it is safeguarded by the Rabbis, or unapproachable by most
individuals lacking the required intellectual training to discover that secret.
What is an “event”?
“Event” refers to an exclusive set of matters, which have transpired at
a given time, or duration. These matters are absolute, and unchangeable. We
know there can be but one true depiction for any given event in history. The
question is whether we possess the true account. As you said, masses and simple
phenomena validate an event as truth. At Sinai, there was and is no ambiguity
about which events transpired, only regarding which commands the nation heard,
in contrast to Moses. Moses recalls the events to the people in Deuteronomy.
Had there been any ambiguity about events, the Jews would not accept and
transmit Moses’ depiction exclusively. It is clear, the people and Moses were
in unanimous agreement as to which events transpired.
What were some significant features of that event? Moses - and
certainly everyone else - was not able to approach G-d directly, thus, the
inclusion of clouds and “darkness”. G-d also told Moses, “Man cannot know Me
while alive”. Sinai’s elements were not accidental, but orchestrated by G-d to
teach man of his inability to perceive G-d, or know Him in any positive
fashion. We are flesh, with limited intelligence. This limit is conveyed by
G-d’s creation of “darkness, cloud and thick cloud” which accompanied the event
of Sinai. (See Deut. 4:11) It was essential to G-d’s revelation, that man be
made aware that his limited intelligence is a veil between him and G-d. Man did
not perceive G-d Himself, as Moses pointed out to the Jews so many times.
I do not feel we ever stated this in so many words, that man
cannot perceive G-d, and that he did not perceive G-d at Sinai. G-d is not
physical, while all man’s perceptions are only of physical matters. Therefore,
man cannot truly perceive G-d. Therefore, how was Sinai a proof of G-d’s
existence, if we did not perceive Him? The answer is that although we did not
perceive G-d, we did perceive proof of His existence, and His complete control
of the universe. Only the One who created and controls the physical world could
create such an event as Sinai.
Maimonides teaches, “…what Moses experienced at the
revelation on Mount Sinai was different from that which was experienced by all
the other Israelites”,
also, “…the people did not understand the voice in the same degree as
Moses did”. This must be
so. Revelation of G-d means that man was directed by G-d’s “physical event”, to
strive and perceive something metaphysical, to acquire new knowledge. As such,
this event was not limited to sensory perception alone, but afforded those on
their own, respective levels of intelligent proficiency to apprehend new
truths. As Moses surpassed all Jews in intelligence, his apprehension also
surpassed theirs. Moses perceived something greater than the Jews. His
understanding of G-d must be on a greater level. Everyone including Moses
perceived the physical phenomena identically. Moses’ eyes and ears are no
better than the Jews’. Therefore, Moses excelled over others in the realm of
intellectual apprehension.
This is one of the central lessons of Sinai, almost as vital as
the proof of G-d: our knowledge of G-d is in proportion to our intelligence:
Maimonides, Guide for the Perplexed, Book II, Chap. XXXII:
“As to the revelation on Mount
Sinai, all saw the great fire, and heard the fearful thunderings, that caused
such an extraordinary terror; but only those of them who were duly qualified
were prophetically inspired, each one according to his capacities. Therefore it
is said," Come up unto the Lord, thou and Aaron, Nadab and Abihu."
Moses rose to the highest degree of prophecy, according to the words," And
Moses alone shall come near the Lord." Aaron was below him, Nadab and
Abihu below Aaron, and the seventy elders below Nadab and Abihu, and the rest
below the latter, each one according to his degree of perfection. Similarly our
Sages wrote: Moses had his own place and Aaron his own.”
Maimonides, Guide for the Perplexed, Book III, Chapter XXXIII, opening words:
“It is clear to me that what Moses experienced at the revelation on Mount Sinai was different from that which was experienced by all the other Israelites, for Moses alone was addressed by God, and for this reason the second person singular is used in the Ten Commandments”.
We derive this important lesson: Sinai did not only prove G-d’s existence, but it taught mankind that ours is not to know G-d, (which is impossible) but only that we may “approach” Him. And in our approaching G-d, our degree of knowledge determines our metaphysical proximity to greater truths. The varying levels of ascension of Moses, Joshua, Nadab, Abihu and the elders taught this very lesson, that we only “approach” G-d, never knowing Him. The truths arrived at by Moses are of a far higher degree of clarity than what others apprehended.
We
already said that our perception is limited to physical matters alone. G-d is
not physical, and therefore we can never perceive Him. However, what we can do
is approach Him, and this is achieved only through advancing our intelligence
and knowledge. Torah study is the greatest command for this very reason, that
knowledge of G-d is our priority.
This
idea that we may only “approach” G-d, never comprehending His essence, and that
such an approach is based only on intelligence and perfection (applied
intelligence) and no other consideration, is displayed by the command G-d gave
the Jews not to ascend Mount Sinai. Exodus 19:12: “Set boundaries around the
mountain saying, “Be ye careful, ascending the mountain or touching its edges,
anyone touching the mountain will be certainly killed.” Why such a severe punishment? Why would
people wish to ascend? The answer is obvious: the Jews might be led to feel
that geographical proximity exists in connection with G-d. But this is heresy,
as this is predicated on the fallacy that G-d has location, that He is physical
in some way. (Based on this idea, I personally feel those who insert “kapituls”
or letters into the Western Wall for G-d’s response, are failing to understand
G-d.) The fact that G-d warned the Jews from touching Mount Sinai displays the
human proclivity towards doing so. Again, we are made aware of the idea that an
approach to G-d can only be through our advance in intelligence, and in
applying this intelligence to life, thereby perfecting ourselves. For
knowledge, which does not eventuate in subsequent employment, surely falls
short of a complete conviction in that knowledge. True conviction is the goal
we must strive for in our studies. And the barometer of complete conviction in
our ideas - is action.
As a final question, why were both cloud and darkness
incorporated into revelation at Sinai? Couldn’t either one teach the lesson?
And how does the meteorological phenomena work with the levels of human ascent
on the mountain, that both categories were required? Write in with your ideas.