📖 Pirkei DeRabbi Eliezer 45
Chapter 45 of Pirkei DeRabbi Eliezer
Verses
Verse 1
רַבִּי שִׁמְעוֹן בֶּן יוֹחַאי אוֹמֵר: כְּשֶׁנִּגְלָה הַקָּדוֹשׁ בָּרוּךְ הוּא עַל מֹשֶׁה מִתּוֹךְ הַסְּנֶה לְשָׁלְחוֹ אֶל מִצְרַיִם, אָמַר מֹשֶׁה לִפְנֵי הַקָּדוֹשׁ בָּרוּךְ הוּא: ״רִבּוֹן כָּל הָעוֹלָמִים, הִשָּׁבַע לִי כָּל מַה שֶּׁאֲנִי מְבַקֵּשׁ לַעֲשׂוֹת אַתָּה עוֹשֶׂה לִי, שֶׁאִם אֲדַבֵּר דָּבָר לִפְנֵי פַּרְעֹה וְלֹא תַּעֲשֶׂה אוֹתָם וְיַהַרְגֵנִי״. וְהַקָּדוֹשׁ בָּרוּךְ הוּא נִשְׁבַּע לוֹ שֶׁכָּל מַה שֶּׁהוּא מְבַקֵּשׁ הוּא עוֹשֶׂה, חוּץ מִשְּׁנֵי דְבָרִים: מִלְּהִכָּנֵס לְאֶרֶץ יִשְׂרָאֵל וּמִיּוֹם הַמָּוֶת. וּמִנַּיִן שֶׁנִּשְׁבַּע לוֹ? שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר: ״בִּי נִשְׁבַּעְתִּי יָצָא מִפִּי דְּבַר צְדָקָה וְלֹא יָשׁוּב כִּי לִי תִּכְרַע כָּל בֶּרֶךְ תִּשָּׁבַע כָּל לָשׁוֹן״. וּכְשֶׁקִּבְּלוּ יִשְׂרָאֵל אֶת הַתּוֹרָה, רְצוֹנִי לוֹמַר עֲשֶׂרֶת הַדִּבְּרוֹת, לְאַחַר אַרְבָּעִים יוֹם שָׁכְחוּ אֶת אֱלֹהֵיהֶם וְאָמְרוּ לְאַהֲרֹן: ״הַמִּצְרִיִּים הָיוּ נוֹשְׂאִין אֶת אֱלֹהֵיהֶם וּמְשׁוֹרְרִין וּמְזַמְּרִין לְפָנָיו וְרוֹאִין אוֹתוֹ לִפְנֵיהֶם. קוּם עֲשֵׂה לָנוּ אֱלֹהִים אֲשֶׁר יֵלְכוּ לְפָנֵינוּ כְּשִׁקּוּץ הַמִּצְרִיִּים וְנִרְאֶה אוֹתוֹ לְפָנֵינוּ״, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר: ״קוּם עֲשֵׂה לָנוּ אֱלֹהִים אֲשֶׁר יֵלְכוּ לְפָנֵינוּ״.
THE GOLDEN CALF RABBI SIMEON BEN JOCHAI said: When the Holy One, blessed be He, was revealed to Moses out of the thorn-bush, in order to send him to Egypt, Moses spake before the Holy One, blessed be He (saying): Sovereign of all the worlds! Swear to me that all things which I desire to do, Thou wilt do, so that I should not speak words before Pharaoh, and Thou wilt not fulfil them, for then will he slay me. And He swore unto him that "whatsoever thou || desirest to do, I will do, except with reference to two things," (namely,) to let him enter the land (of Canaan), and (to postpone) the day of (his) death. Whence do we know that He swore unto him? Because it is said, "By myself have I sworn, saith the Lord, the word is gone forth from my mouth in righteousness" (Isa. 45:23). When Israel received the commandments they forgot their God after forty days, and they said to Aaron: The Egyptians were carrying their god, and they were singing and uttering hymns before it, and they saw it before them. Make unto us a god like the gods of the Egyptians, and let us see it before us, as it is said, "Up, make us a god" (Ex. 32:1).
Verse 2
הָלְכוּ לָהֶם אֵצֶל עוֹשֵׂי דְבָרוֹ שֶׁל מֹשֶׁה, אַהֲרֹן וְחוּר בֶּן אֲחוֹתוֹ. וּמִנַּיִן שֶׁהָיָה חוּר בֶּן אֲחוֹתוֹ? שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר: ״וַיִּקַּח לוֹ כָלֵב אֶת אֶפְרָת וַתֵּלֶד לוֹ אֶת חוּר״. וְלָמָּה נִקְרָא שְׁמָהּ שֶׁל מִרְיָם אֶפְרָת? אֶלָּא פָּלָטִנִי שֶׁל בַּת מְלָכִים, גְּדוֹלֵי הַדּוֹר, שֶׁכָּל נָשִׂיא וְגָדוֹל שֶׁעָמַד בְּיִשְׂרָאֵל נִקְרָא שְׁמוֹ אֶפְרָתִי. וְכֵן ״וְדָוִד בֶּן אִישׁ אֶפְרָתִי״, וְכִי אֶפְרָתִי הָיָה? וַהֲלֹא מִשֵּׁבֶט יְהוּדָה הָיָה! אֶלָּא פָּלָטִנִי בֶּן מְלָכִים, גְּדוֹלֵי הַדּוֹר. וְ״יָרָבְעָם בֶּן נְבָט אִישׁ אֶפְרָתִי״. וּלְפִי שֶׁהָיָה חוּר מִשֵּׁבֶט יְהוּדָה, מִגְּדוֹלֵי הַדּוֹר, הִתְחִיל מוֹכִיחַ אֶת יִשְׂרָאֵל בִּדְבָרִים קָשִׁים. כַּזָּבִים שֶׁבְּיִשְׂרָאֵל עָמְדוּ עָלָיו וַהֲרָגוּהוּ.
They betook themselves to the one who carried out the words of Moses, (to) Aaron his brother, and Hur, the son of his sister. Whence (do we know) that Hur was the son of (Moses') sister? Because it is said, "And Caleb took unto him Ephrath, which bare him Hur" (1 Chron. 2:19). Why was Miriam's name called Ephrath? Because she was a daughter of the palace, a daughter of kings, one of the magnates of the generation; for every prince and great man who arose in Israel had his name called an Ephrathite, as it is said, "And Jeroboam, the son of Nebat, an Ephrathite" (1 Kings 11:26); and it says, "And David was the son of that Ephrathite" (1 Sam. 17:12). Was he then an Ephrathite? Was he not of the tribe of Judah? But he was a nobleman, a son of kings, one of the magnates of the generation. But since Hur was of the tribe of Judah, and one of the magnates of the generation, he began to reprove Israel with harsh words, and the plunderers who were in Israel arose against him, and slew him.
Verse 3
וְרָאָה אַהֲרֹן לְחוּר שֶׁנֶּהֱרַג וּבָנָה מִזְבֵּחַ לָהֶם, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר: ״וַיַּרְא אַהֲרֹן וַיִּבֶן מִזְבֵּחַ לְפָנָיו״. מָה רָאָה? רָאָה שֶׁנֶּהֱרַג חוּר בֶּן אַהֲרֹן, וּבָנָה לָהֶם מִזְבֵּחַ, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר: ״וַיִּבֶן מִזְבֵּחַ״.
Aaron arose || and saw that Hur, the son of his sister, was slain; and he built for them an altar, as it is said, "And when Aaron saw this, he built an altar before it" (Ex. 32:5).
Verse 4
דָּן אַהֲרֹן דִּין בֵּינוֹ לְבֵין עַצְמוֹ, אָמַר: אִם אֲנִי אוֹמֵר לְיִשְׂרָאֵל ״תְּנוּ לִי כֶּסֶף וְזָהָב״, מִיָּד הֵם מְבִיאִים. אֶלָּא הֲרֵינִי אוֹמֵר לָהֶם ״תְּנוּ לִי נִזְמֵי נְשֵׁיכֶם וְנִזְמֵי בְּנֵיכֶם וּבְנוֹתֵיכֶם״, וְהָיָה הַדָּבָר בָּטֵל מִמֶּנּוּ. שָׁמְעוּ הַנָּשִׁים וְלֹא קִבְּלוּ עֲלֵיהֶם לִתֵּן נִזְמֵיהֶן לְבַעֲלֵיהֶן, אֶלָּא אָמְרוּ לָהֶם: ״אַתֶּם רוֹצִים לַעֲשׂוֹת שִׁקּוּץ וְתוֹעֵבָה שֶׁאֵין בּוֹ כֹּחַ לְהַצִּיל?״ לֹא שָׁמְעוּ לָהֶם, וְנָתַן הַקָּדוֹשׁ בָּרוּךְ הוּא שְׂכָרָן שֶׁל נָשִׁים בָּעוֹלָם הַזֶּה וּבָעוֹלָם הַבָּא. וּמַה שָּׂכָר נָתַן לָהֶם לָעוֹלָם הַבָּא? לָעוֹלָם הַזֶּה שֶׁהֵן מְשַׁמְּרוֹת רָאשֵׁי חֳדָשִׁים, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר: ״הַמַּשְׂבִּיעַ בַּטּוֹב עֶדְיֵךְ תִּתְחַדֵּשׁ כַּנֶּשֶׁר נְעוּרָיְכִי״.
Aaron argued with himself, saying: If I say to Israel, Give ye to me gold and silver, they will bring it immediately; but behold I will say to them, Give ye to me the earrings of your wives, and of your sons, and forthwith the matter will fail, as it is said, "And Aaron said to them, Break off the golden rings" (Ex. 32:2). The women heard (this), but they were unwilling to give their earrings to their husbands; but they said to them: Ye desire to make a graven image and a molten image without any power in it to deliver. The Holy One, blessed be He, gave the women their reward in this world and in the world to come. What reward did He give them in this world? That they should observe the New Moons more stringently than the men, and what reward will He give them in the world to come? They are destined to be renewed like the New Moons, as it is said, "Who satisfieth thy years with good things; so that thy youth is renewed like the eagle" (Ps. 103:5).
Verse 5
רָאוּ הָאֲנָשִׁים שֶׁלֹּא קִבְּלוּ הַנָּשִׁים לִיתֵּן אֶת נִזְמֵיהֶן לְבַעֲלֵיהֶן, וְעַד אוֹתָהּ שָׁעָה הָיוּ הַנְּזָמִים בְּאָזְנֵיהֶם כְּמַעֲשֵׂה הַמִּצְרִיִּים וּכְמַעֲשֵׂה הָעֲרָבִים, וּפָרְקוּ אֶת נִזְמֵיהֶם שֶׁבְּאָזְנֵיהֶם וְנָתְנוּ, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר: ״וַיִּתְפָּרְקוּ כָּל הָעָם אֶת נִזְמֵי הַזָּהָב אֲשֶׁר בְּאָזְנֵיהֶם״. ״בְּאָזְנֵי נְשֵׁיהֶם״ אֵין כְּתִיב כָּאן אֶלָּא ״בְּאָזְנֵיהֶם״. וּמָצָא אַהֲרֹן בֵּין הַנְּזָמִים צִיץ שֶׁל זָהָב אֶחָד כָּתוּב עָלָיו שֵׁם הַקֹּדֶשׁ וְחָרוּת עָלָיו כְּצוּרַת עֵגֶל, וְאוֹתוֹ לְבַד הִשְׁלִיךְ לַכּוּר שֶׁל אֵשׁ, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר: ״וַיֵּצֵא הָעֵגֶל הַזֶּה״. ״וַיֵּצֵא הָעֵגֶל הַזֶּה״ גּוֹעֶה, וְרָאוּ אוֹתוֹ כָּל יִשְׂרָאֵל וְתָעוּ אַחֲרָיו.
The men saw that the women would not consent to give their earrings to their husbands. What did they do? Until that hour the earrings were (also) in their own ears, after the fashion of the Egyptians, and after the fashion of the Arabs. They broke off their earrings which were in their own ears, and they gave (them) to Aaron, as it is said, "And all the people brake off || the golden rings which were in their ears" (Ex. 32:3). "Which were in the ears of their wives" is not written here, but "which were in their ears." Aaron found among the earrings one plate of gold upon which the Holy Name was written, and engraven thereon was the figure of a calf, and that (plate) alone did he cast into the fiery furnace, as it is said, "So they gave it me: and I cast it into the fire, and there came out this calf" (Ex. 32:24). It is not written here, "And I cast them in," but "And I cast it in the fire, and there came out this calf." The calf came out lowing, and the Israelites saw it, and they went astray after it.
Verse 6
רַבִּי יְהוּדָה אוֹמֵר: סָמָאֵל נִכְנַס וְהָיָה גּוֹעֶה לְהַתְעוֹת אֶת יִשְׂרָאֵל, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר ״יָדַע שׁוֹר קוֹנֵהוּ וַחֲמוֹר אֵבוּס בְּעָלָיו״. וְרָאוּ כָל יִשְׂרָאֵל אֶת הָעֵגֶל וְתָעוּ אַחֲרָיו וַיִּשְׁתַּחֲווּ לוֹ וַיִּזְבְּחוּ לוֹ.
Rabbi Jehudah said: Sammael entered into it, and he was lowing to mislead Israel, as it is said, "The ox knoweth his owner" (Isa. 1:3).
Verse 7
אָמַר הַקָּדוֹשׁ בָּרוּךְ הוּא לְמֹשֶׁה: שָׁכְחוּ יִשְׂרָאֵל לְכֹחַ גְּבוּרָתִי שֶׁעָשִׂיתִי עִמָּהֶם בְּמִצְרַיִם וְעַל יָם סוּף וְעָשׂוּ לָהֶם עֲבוֹדָה זָרָה. אָמַר הַקָּדוֹשׁ בָּרוּךְ הוּא לְמֹשֶׁה: לֵךְ רֵד מִנַּחֲלָתְךָ כִּי כָּרוּ לָהֶם שׁוּחָה. אָמַר מֹשֶׁה לִפְנֵי הַקָּדוֹשׁ בָּרוּךְ הוּא: רִבּוֹן כָּל הָעוֹלָמִים, עַד שֶׁלֹּא חָטְאוּ יִשְׂרָאֵל לְפָנֶיךָ הָיִיתָ קוֹרֵא אוֹתָם ״עַמִּי״, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר: ״וְהוֹצֵאתִי אֶת צִבְאוֹתַי אֶת עַמִּי״, וְעַכְשָׁיו שֶׁחָטְאוּ לְפָנֶיךָ אַתָּה אוֹמֵר לִי ״לֵךְ רֵד כִּי שִׁחֵת עַמְּךָ״. עַמְּךָ הֵם וְלֹא עַמִּי, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר: ״וְהֵם עַמְּךָ וְנַחֲלָתֶךָ״.
The Holy One, blessed be He, said to Moses: Israel has forgotten the might of My power, which I wrought for them in Egypt and at the Reed Sea, and they have made an idol for themselves. He said to Moses: Go, get thee down from thy greatness. Moses spake before the Holy One, blessed be He: Sovereign of all the worlds! Whilst Israel had not yet sinned before Thee, Thou didst call them "My people," as it is said, "And I will bring forth my hosts, my people" (Ex. 7:4). Now that they have sinned before Thee, Thou sayest unto me, "Go, get thee down, for thy people have corrupted themselves" (Ex. 32:7). They are Thy people, and Thine inheritance, as it is said, "Yet they are thy people and thine inheritance" (Deut. 9:29).
Verse 8
וְלָקַח מִשָּׁם אֶת הַלּוּחוֹת, וְהָיָה יוֹרֵד, וְהָיוּ הַלּוּחוֹת סוֹבְלִין אֶת עַצְמָן וְאֶת מֹשֶׁה עַצְמוֹ עִמָּן. וּכְשֶׁרָאוּ הָעֵגֶל וְאֶת הַמְּחוֹלוֹת, בָּרְחוּ הַכְּתוּבִים מֵעַל הַלּוּחוֹת. נִמְצְאוּ כְּבֵדִים עַל יָדוֹ מֹשֶׁה, וְלֹא הָיָה מֹשֶׁה יָכוֹל לִסְבֹּל אֶת עַצְמוֹ וְלֹא אֶת הַלּוּחוֹת, וְהִשְׁלִיכָן מִיָּדוֹ, וְנִשְׁתַּבְּרוּ תַּחַת הָהָר, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר: ״וַיִּחַר לְמֹשֶׁה״.
Moses took || the tables (of the law), and he descended, and the tables carried their own weight and Moses with them; but when they beheld the calf and the dances, the writing fled from off the tables, and they became heavy in his hands, and Moses was not able to carry himself and the tables, and he cast them from his hand, and they were broken beneath the mount, as it is said, "And Moses' anger waxed hot, and he cast the tables out of his hands, and brake them beneath the mount" (Ex. 32:19).
Verse 9
אָמַר מֹשֶׁה לְאַהֲרֹן: מֶה עָשִׂיתָ לָעָם הַזֶּה וּפְרַעְתָּ אוֹתָם כְּאִשָּׁה פְּרוּעָה מִזְּנוּת? אָמַר לוֹ: רָאִיתִי מַה שֶּׁעָשׂוּ לְחוּר וְנִתְיָרֵאתִי הַרְבֵּה מְאֹד.
Moses said to Aaron: What hast thou done to this people? Thou hast made them unruly, like a woman who is unchecked owing to immorality. He said to Moses: I saw what they did to Hur, and I feared very greatly.
Verse 10
רַבִּי אוֹמֵר: לֹא נִשְׁתַּתְּפוּ הַנְּשִׂיאִים בְּמַעֲשֵׂה הָעֵגֶל, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר ״וְאֶל אֲצִילֵי בְּנֵי יִשְׂרָאֵל לֹא שָׁלַח יָדוֹ״. לְפִיכָךְ זָכוּ לִרְאוֹת פְּנֵי הַשְּׁכִינָה, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר ״וַיִּרְאוּ אֵת אֱלֹהֵי יִשְׂרָאֵל״.
Rabbi said: All the princes were not associated in the affair of the calf, as it is said, "And upon the nobles of the children of Israel he laid not his hand" (Ex. 24:11). The word ("Azilê") means the "princes," therefore they were accounted worthy to gaze upon the glory of the Shekhinah, as it is said, "And they saw the God of Israel" (Ex. 24:10).
Verse 11
רַבִּי יְהוּדָה אוֹמֵר: אַף שֵׁבֶט לֵוִי לֹא שִׁתֵּף עַצְמוֹ בְּמַעֲשֵׂה הָעֵגֶל, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר ״וַיַּעֲמֹד מֹשֶׁה בְּשַׁעַר הַמַּחֲנֶה״ וְכוּ'. רָאָה מֹשֶׁה אֶת שֵׁבֶט לֵוִי שֶׁלֹּא נִשְׁתַּתֵּף עִמָּהֶם וְנִתְגַּבֵּר בְּכֹחוֹ וְלָקַח אֶת הָעֵגֶל וּשְׂרָפוֹ בָּאֵשׁ וְכִתְּתוֹ כְּעֲפַר אֶרֶץ וְזָרְקוֹ עַל פְּנֵי הַמַּיִם, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר ״וַיִּקַּח אֶת הָעֵגֶל אֲשֶׁר עָשׂוּ וַיִּשְׂרֹף בָּאֵשׁ וַיִּטְחַן עַד אֲשֶׁר דָּק לְעָפָר וַיִּזֶר עַל פְּנֵי הַמַּיִם וַיַּשְׁקְ אֶת בְּנֵי יִשְׂרָאֵל״. וְהָיָה מַשְׁקֶה אֶת יִשְׂרָאֵל, וְכָל מִי שֶׁנָּשַׁק אֶת הָעֵגֶל הָיוּ שִׂפְתוֹתָיו נִתְפָּשׂוֹת מֵהַזָּהָב, וְשֵׁבֶט לֵוִי הָיוּ הוֹרְגִים אוֹתוֹ עַד שֶׁנָּפְלוּ מִיִּשְׂרָאֵל כִּשְׁלֹשֶׁת אַלְפֵי אִישׁ, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר ״וַיִּפֹּל מִן הָעָם בַּיּוֹם הַהוּא כִּשְׁלֹשֶׁת אַלְפֵי אִישׁ״.
Rabbi Jehudah said: The tribe of Levi also did not associate itself in the affair of the calf, as it is said, "Then Moses stood in the gate of the camp, and said, Whoso is on the Lord's side (let him come) unto me. And all the sons of Levi gathered themselves together unto him" (Ex. 32:26). Moses saw that the tribe of Levi was with him. He became strengthened with his might, and he burnt the calf with fire, and powdered it, like the dust of the earth, and he cast its dust upon the face of the waters, as it is said, "And he took the || calf which they had made" (Ex. 32:20). He made Israel drink the water (with the dust of the calf). Everyone who had kissed the calf with all his heart, his upper lip and his bones became golden, and the tribe of Levi slew him, until there fell of Israel about three thousand men, as it is said, "And the sons of Levi did according to the word of Moses" (Ex. 32:28).
Verse 12
שָׁלַח הַקָּדוֹשׁ בָּרוּךְ הוּא חֲמִשָּׁה מַלְאָכִים לְהַשְׁחִית אֶת יִשְׂרָאֵל, וְאֵלּוּ הֵן: קֶצֶף, אַף, חֵמָה, מַשְׁחִית, וְחָרוֹן. שָׁמַע מֹשֶׁה וַיֵּצֵא לִקְרַאת אַבְרָהָם יִצְחָק וְיַעֲקֹב אֶל מְעָרַת הַמַּכְפֵּלָה. אָמַר לָהֶם, אִם אַתֶּם מִבְּנֵי הָעוֹלָם הַבָּא, עִמְדוּ לְפָנַי בְּשָׁעָה הַזֹּאת, שֶׁהֲרֵי בְּנֵיכֶם נִתְּנוּ לַטִּבְחָה כַּצֹּאן. וְשָׁם עָמְדוּ לְפָנָיו אַבְרָהָם וְיִצְחָק וְיַעֲקֹב. אָמַר מֹשֶׁה לִפְנֵי הַקָּדוֹשׁ בָּרוּךְ הוּא: רִבּוֹן כָּל הָעוֹלָמִים! לֹא כָּךְ נִשְׁבַּעְתָּ לָנוּ לְהַרְבּוֹת זַרְעָם כְּכוֹכְבֵי הַשָּׁמַיִם, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר: ״זְכֹר לְאַבְרָהָם לְיִצְחָק וּלְיִשְׂרָאֵל עֲבָדֶיךָ אֲשֶׁר נִשְׁבַּעְתָּ לָהֶם בָּךְ״.
The Holy One, blessed be He, sent five angels to destroy Israel. (The angels were) Wrath, Anger, Temper, Destruction, and Glow of Anger. Moses heard, and he went to invoke Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob at the Cave of Machpelah, and he said: If ye be of the children of the world to come, stand ye before me in this hour, for behold your children are given over like sheep to the slaughter. Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob stood there before him. Moses spake before the Holy One, blessed be He (saying): Sovereign of all the worlds ! Didst Thou not swear to these (forefathers) thus to increase their seed like the stars of the heaven, as it is said, "Remember Abraham, Isaac, and Israel, thy servants, to whom thou swarest by thine own self, and saidst unto them, I will multiply your seed as the stars of heaven" (Ex. 32:18).
Verse 13
וּבִזְכוּת שְׁלֹשָׁה אָבוֹת הַלָּלוּ נֶעֶצְרוּ שְׁלֹשָׁה מַלְאֲכֵי חַבָּלָה, קֶצֶף אַף חֵמָה, וְנִשְׁתַּיְּרוּ שְׁנַיִם, חָרוֹן וּמַשְׁחִית. אָמַר מֹשֶׁה לִפְנֵי הַקָּדוֹשׁ בָּרוּךְ הוּא: ״רִבּוֹן כָּל הָעוֹלָמִים, לְמַעַן הַשְּׁבוּעָה אֲשֶׁר נִשְׁבַּעְתָּ לָהֶם כָּךְ עֲצֹר מַשְׁחִית מִיִּשְׂרָאֵל!״ וְנֶעֱצַר הַמַּשְׁחִית, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר: ״וְהוּא רַחוּם יְכַפֵּר עָוֹן וְלֹא יַשְׁחִית וְהִרְבָּה לְהָשִׁיב אַפּוֹ וְלֹא יָעִיר כָּל חֲמָתוֹ״. וְעוֹד אָמַר מֹשֶׁה לִפְנֵי הַקָּדוֹשׁ בָּרוּךְ הוּא: ״רִבּוֹן כָּל הָעוֹלָמִים, לְמַעַן שִׁמְךָ הַגָּדוֹל וְהַקָּדוֹשׁ שֶׁהוֹדַעְתָּ לִי עֲצֹר חֲרוֹן אַף מִיִּשְׂרָאֵל!״ שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר: ״שׁוּב מֵחֲרוֹן אַפֶּךָ וְהִנָּחֵם עַל הָרָעָה לְעַמֶּךָ״. מֶה עָשָׂה מֹשֶׁה? חָפַר בָּאָרֶץ כְּבֵית דִּירָה גְדוֹלָה בְּנַחֲלַת בְּנֵי גָד וְטָמַן אֶת חֲרוֹן אַף בָּאָרֶץ כְּאָדָם שֶׁהוּא חָבוּשׁ בְּבֵית הָאֲסוּרִים. וּבְכָל זְמַן שֶׁהָיוּ חוֹטְאִין הָיָה עוֹלֶה וּפוֹעֵל בְּפִיו לִנְשֹׁךְ בְּרוּחוֹ לְהַשְׁחִית אֶת יִשְׂרָאֵל, וְהָיָה מֹשֶׁה מַזְכִּיר עָלָיו אֶת הַשֵּׁם וּמוֹרִידוֹ לְמַטָּה לָאָרֶץ. לְפִיכָךְ נִקְרָא שְׁמוֹ פְּעוֹר. וּכְשֶׁמֵּת מֹשֶׁה, מֶה עָשָׂה הַקָּדוֹשׁ בָּרוּךְ הוּא? נָתַן אֶת קִבְרוֹ כְּנֶגְדָּן, וְכָל זְמַן שֶׁהֵם חוֹטְאִין וְהוּא רוֹצֶה לַעֲלוֹת וְלִפְעֹר אֶת פִּיו וְלִנְשֹׁךְ בְּרוּחוֹ לְהַשְׁחִית אֶת יִשְׂרָאֵל, וְהוּא רוֹאֶה אֶת קִבְרוֹ שֶׁל מֹשֶׁה כְּנֶגְדּוֹ, הוּא מִתְפַּחֵד וְיוֹרֵד לְמַטָּה לָאָרֶץ. וּלְכָךְ נֶאֱמַר: ״וַיִּקְבֹּר אֹתוֹ בַגַּיְא מוּל בֵּית פְּעוֹר״.
By the merit of the three patriarchs, the three angels, Wrath, Anger, and Temper, were restrained from (doing harm to) Israel. But two (angels) remained. Moses spake before the Holy One, blessed be He: Sovereign of all the universe ! For the sake of the oath which Thou didst swear unto them, keep back (the angel) Destruction || from Israel, as it is said, "To whom thou swarest by thine own self" (ibid.); and Destruction was kept back from Israel, as it is said, "But he, being full of compassion, forgave their iniquity, and destroyed (them) not" (Ps. 78:88). Moses spake before the Holy One, blessed be He: Sovereign of all worlds! For the sake of Thy great and holy Name, which Thou didst make known unto me, hold back from Israel (the angel called) Glow of Anger, (as it is said,) "Turn away from thy fierce anger" (Ex. 32:12). What did Moses do? He dug in the earth in the possession of Gad, as (though for the foundation of) a large dwelling, and he buried "Fierce Anger" in the earth, like a man who is bound in the prison. Every time Israel sins it arises and opens its mouth to bite with its breath, and to destroy Israel. Moses pronounced against it the (divine) Name, and brought it down beneath the earth. Therefore is its name called Peor (the one who opens). When Moses died, what did the Holy One, blessed be He, do? He put his burial-place opposite to it. Every time Israel sins it opens its mouth to bite with its breath, and to destroy Israel, but (when) it sees the burial-place of Moses opposite to it, it returns backward, as it is said, "And he buried him in the valley, in the land of Moab, over against the house of Peor" (Deut. 34:6).