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Deuteronomy 5:22 - Fear of divine revelation?

Deuteronomy 5:22 - דברים 5:22

Hebrew Text

וְעַתָּה לָמָּה נָמוּת כִּי תֹאכְלֵנוּ הָאֵשׁ הַגְּדֹלָה הַזֹּאת אִם־יֹסְפִים אֲנַחְנוּ לִשְׁמֹעַ אֶת־קוֹל יְהוָה אֱלֹהֵינוּ עוֹד וָמָתְנוּ׃

English Translation

Now therefore why should we die? for this great fire will consume us: if we hear the voice of the Lord our God any more, then we shall die.

Transliteration

Ve'atah lamah namut ki tokhlenu ha'esh hagdolah hazot im-yosfim anakhnu lishmoa et-kol Adonai Eloheinu od vamatenu.

Hebrew Leining Text

וְעַתָּה֙ לָ֣מָּה נָמ֔וּת כִּ֣י תֹֽאכְלֵ֔נוּ הָאֵ֥שׁ הַגְּדֹלָ֖ה הַזֹּ֑את אִם־יֹסְפִ֣ים <b>׀</b> אֲנַ֗חְנוּ לִ֠שְׁמֹ֠עַ אֶת־ק֨וֹל יְהֹוָ֧ה אֱלֹהֵ֛ינוּ ע֖וֹד וָמָֽתְנוּ׃
וְעַתָּה֙ לָ֣מָּה נָמ֔וּת כִּ֣י תֹֽאכְלֵ֔נוּ הָאֵ֥שׁ הַגְּדֹלָ֖ה הַזֹּ֑את אִם־יֹסְפִ֣ים ׀ אֲנַ֗חְנוּ לִ֠שְׁמֹ֠עַ אֶת־ק֨וֹל יְהֹוָ֧ה אֱלֹהֵ֛ינוּ ע֖וֹד וָמָֽתְנוּ׃

🎵 Listen to leining

Parasha Commentary

Context of the Verse

The verse appears in Devarim (Deuteronomy) 5:22, where Bnei Yisrael express their fear after experiencing the overwhelming revelation of Hashem at Har Sinai. The people, having heard the Aseret HaDibrot (Ten Commandments) directly from Hashem, were terrified by the intensity of the Divine Presence and pleaded with Moshe to serve as an intermediary.

Rashi's Explanation

Rashi explains that Bnei Yisrael feared they would not survive further direct communication from Hashem. The "great fire" symbolizes the overwhelming holiness and power of the Divine Presence, which they felt was beyond human endurance. Rashi notes that their reaction demonstrated both awe and a recognition of their human limitations in the face of Kedushat Hashem (the holiness of G-d).

Rambam's Perspective

Rambam (Maimonides), in Moreh Nevuchim (Guide for the Perplexed), discusses the nature of prophecy and human perception of the Divine. He explains that the people's fear stemmed from the intensity of the experience, which was so overwhelming that they believed continued exposure would be fatal. This reflects the principle that mortal beings cannot fully grasp the essence of Hashem without intermediary means.

Midrashic Insights

  • Shemot Rabbah (29:3) elaborates that the "great fire" was not merely physical but represented the fiery intensity of Torah itself. The Midrash compares Torah to fire—just as fire can illuminate but also consume, Torah elevates those who engage with it properly but can overwhelm those unprepared for its depth.
  • Devarim Rabbah (3:12) teaches that Bnei Yisrael's plea for Moshe to serve as an intermediary was ultimately for their benefit, as it allowed Torah to be transmitted in a way that was accessible to human understanding.

Halachic Implications

The Talmud (Shabbat 88b) discusses this episode as the basis for the concept of Kafah Aleihem Har K'Gigit—that Hashem "held the mountain over them" to accept the Torah. The Gemara debates whether this implies coercion, but concludes that Bnei Yisrael later reaffirmed their commitment willingly (see Esther 9:27, "קיימו וקיבלו"). This verse thus underscores the balance between awe of Hashem and the voluntary acceptance of Torah.

Chassidic Interpretation

The Baal HaTanya (in Likutei Torah) explains that the people's fear of "dying" from hearing Hashem's voice reflects the soul's yearning to cling to the Divine, even at the risk of self-negation. However, Hashem desires that Torah be internalized within the physical world, hence the need for Moshe as an intermediary to "lower" the Divine wisdom to human comprehension.

📚 Talmud Citations

This verse is not quoted in the Talmud.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: What does Deuteronomy 5:22 mean?
A: This verse describes the reaction of the Israelites at Mount Sinai after hearing the voice of Hashem directly. They were overwhelmed by the intensity of the experience and feared that continued direct exposure to Hashem's voice would be too much for them to bear. Rashi explains that they felt their souls were leaving their bodies from the sheer holiness of the moment.
Q: Why did the Israelites say 'why should we die' in this verse?
A: The Israelites expressed this out of awe and reverence for Hashem's presence. According to the Talmud (Shabbat 88b), they felt that if they continued to hear Hashem's voice directly, the intensity of the divine revelation would be too overwhelming for human beings to endure. This led them to request that Moshe serve as an intermediary.
Q: What lesson can we learn from Deuteronomy 5:22?
A: This verse teaches us about the proper reverence for Hashem's holiness and the importance of spiritual boundaries. The Rambam (Hilchos Yesodei HaTorah) explains that while we should strive for closeness to Hashem, we must also recognize our human limitations and approach divine matters with humility and respect.
Q: How does this verse relate to receiving the Torah?
A: This moment was part of the revelation at Sinai where the Torah was given. The Midrash (Shemos Rabbah 29:4) describes how the Israelites' reaction showed their deep respect for the Torah's divine origin. Their request for Moshe to be the intermediary led to the system of Torah transmission through prophets and sages.
Q: Does this verse mean we shouldn't try to connect with Hashem?
A: No, it means we should connect in the proper way. While the Israelites couldn't bear direct revelation, Hashem gave us the Torah and mitzvos as the proper way to build a relationship with Him. The Talmud (Berachos 33b) teaches that through Torah study and mitzvah observance, we can connect to Hashem in a way that's appropriate for human beings.