Daily Chumash & Rashi Parshas Ki Sisa – Chamishi: Moshe ascends with the second Luchos (Thursday, 16th Adar)

📘 Rashi Q&A — Shemot 34:1–9

34:1 — The Second Tablets

Q1. What does “פְּסָל־לְךָ” mean according to Rashi?

A: “Hew for yourself” — G-d showed Moshe a sapphire quarry in his tent, and the leftover sapphire would belong to Moshe.

Q2. What resulted from the sapphire leftovers?

A: Moshe became extremely wealthy.

Q3. Why does G-d say “Hew for yourself” specifically?

A: Because Moshe broke the first tablets, he must prepare the second ones himself.

Q4. What parable does Rashi give to explain this?

A: A king, his wife, and her maidservants: Moshe tore up the first “marriage contract,” so he must provide the material for the second.

Q5. Who do the figures in the parable represent?

A:

• The king: G-d
• The wife: Israel
• The maidservants: the mixed multitude
• The friend: Moshe

34:2 — Preparation to Ascend

Q6. What does “נָכוֹן” mean?

A: Prepared.

Q7. When was Moshe to ascend Mount Sinai?

A: In the morning, for the third time.

34:3 — Solitary Ascent

Q8. Why was no one else allowed on the mountain?

A: The first tablets, given publicly, were harmed by the evil eye.

Q9. What quality does this teach is superior?

A: Modesty — “there is no better trait than modesty.”

34:4 — Moshe Ascends

Q10. What did Moshe take with him?

A: The two stone tablets he had hewn.

34:5 — G-d’s Descent

Q11. How does Onkelos translate “וַיִּקְרָא בְשֵׁם ה’”?

A: “He called out the Name of G-d.”

34:6 — The Thirteen Attributes (Beginning)

Q12. What does “ה’ ה’” signify?

A: G-d’s attribute of mercy — one before a person sins and one after he sins and repents.

Q13. Why does “אֵל” also signify mercy?

A: Because it would be inappropriate to cry “Why have You forsaken me?” to the attribute of strict justice.

Q14. What does “אֶרֶךְ אַפַּיִם” mean?

A: Slow to anger — G-d delays punishment in case the sinner repents.

Q15. What does “וְרַב־חֶסֶד” mean?

A: Abundant kindness toward those with few merits.

Q16. What does “וֶאֱמֶת” mean?

A: G-d faithfully rewards those who fulfill His will.

34:7 — The Thirteen Attributes (Continuation)

Q17. What does “נֹצֵר חֶסֶד לָאֲלָפִים” mean?

A: G-d preserves acts of kindness for 2000 generations.

Q18. What are “עָוֹן” and “פֶּשַׁע”?

A:

• עָוֹן: intentional sins
• פֶּשַׁע: rebellious sins done to provoke G-d

Q19. What does “וְנַקֵּה לֹא יְנַקֶּה” mean according to the plain meaning?

A: G-d does not forgo sin entirely, but exacts punishment gradually.

Q20. How do the Sages interpret “וְנַקֵּה לֹא יְנַקֶּה”?

A: G-d acquits those who repent, but does not acquit those who do not.

Q21. When does G-d punish children for the sins of their fathers?

A: Only when they continue in their fathers’ evil ways.

Q22. What does “עַל רִבֵּעִים” mean?

A: Up to the fourth generation.

Q23. What comparison does Rashi make between mercy and punishment?

A: G-d’s measure of kindness is 500 times greater than His measure of punishment.

34:8 — Moshe’ Immediate Response

Q24. Why did Moshe hasten to bow?

A: When he sensed the Divine Presence passing and heard G-d proclaim His attributes.

34:9 — Moshe’ Prayer

Q25. What does “יֵלֶךְ־נָא אֲדֹנָי בְּקִרְבֵּנוּ” mean?

A: Moshe asks that G-d Himself go in Israel’s midst.

Q26. Why does Moshe mention Israel’s stubbornness here?

A: Even if they are stiff‑necked, G-d now forgives sin, so this is no longer a reason to withdraw.

Q27. How is כִּי sometimes used in this verse?

A: In the sense of “if.”

Q28. What does “וּנְחַלְתָּנוּ” mean?

A: Make us Your unique possession.

Q29. How does this request parallel an earlier one by Moshe?

A: It matches: “Let Your people and me be distinct” — that G-d not rest His Presence among other nations.