שמות, פרק כ״ד, פסוק ט״ז

The revelation at Mount Sinai reaches a sublime climax where all of creation finds its ultimate purpose and stability. The resting of God’s glory upon the mountain is a culmination of earlier stages of revelation, summarizing the sequence of events that brought the physical world into contact with the Divine [אבן עזרא, חזקוני, ביאור יש״ר]. Just as the physical universe found rest after the six days of Creation, the shaking and trembling world finally achieved true stability through the acceptance of the Torah [שפתי כהן]. This momentous resting of the Divine Presence also anticipates the building of the Tabernacle, forging a direct link between the monumental event at Sinai and God's future, ongoing dwelling within the Israelite camp [קאסוטו]. Furthermore, this Divine glory is destined to remain with Israel forever, provided they do not turn to wicked deeds [קיצור בעל הטורים].

A deep discussion emerges regarding the six days when a cloud covered the area, focusing on what was hidden and when this occurred. One approach suggests this took place in the days leading up to the giving of the Torah. During this time, the cloud covered the mountain itself, not Moses, since he was actively going up and down the mountain to communicate with the people and could not have been secluded [רש״י, מזרחי, תורה תמימה, גור אריה]. Alternatively, this period of concealment occurred after the Torah was given, marking the beginning of the forty days Moses spent on the mountain to receive the tablets. In this scenario, the cloud enveloped Moses himself. These six days served as a period of intense spiritual preparation and separation, much like a High Priest separating from his family before Yom Kippur. The waiting purified Moses' body from the need for food and drink, elevating him to the level of angels and preparing him to enter the Divine presence [רש״י, מזרחי, רבנו בחיי, ברכת אשר על התורה, ביאור שטיינזלץ]. However, some reject this second timeline, arguing that Moses would not have been left waiting for six days after the giving of the Torah without God speaking to him, as this silence would imply Divine anger [אבן עזרא הקצר]. A third perspective suggests that the cloud covered neither the mountain nor Moses, but rather God’s glory itself, which appeared as a consuming fire. The cloud shielded this intense revelation even from Moses, who waited safely at the mountain's edge until he was granted permission to approach [העמק דבר, מלבי״ם].

The call to Moses on the seventh day marks the completion of this intense preparation period, following a familiar pattern where an ongoing state lasts for six days before reaching a resolution on the seventh [קאסוטו]. If this call occurred before the giving of the Torah, it was actually directed at all the Israelites to hear the Ten Commandments, though it specifically addressed Moses as a mark of profound honor [רש״י, תורה תמימה]. If, however, the call took place afterward, it was a direct invitation for Moses to ascend from the lower slopes into the Divine glory itself. Approaching with awe and trembling, his goal was to attain the complete wisdom of the Torah. To ensure his safe passage, God carved a special path directly through the thick cloud, much like the splitting of the waters at the Red Sea, allowing Moses to walk securely into the Divine mist [רבנו בחיי, מלבי״ם].