עברית
Faith
Did Moses Our Teacher See Hashem?
Question
Hello, honored rabbi,
My question is whether Moses saw Hashem. On the one hand, it is written that at the burning bush Hashem wanted Moses to see Him, but Moses covered his eyes, and afterward, when Moses asked to see Hashem - 'Show me, I pray, Your glory' - Hashem agreed only that he would see, as it were, His back.
But on the other hand, it is written that there never arose another prophet like Moses, who saw Hashem face to face; other prophets saw in dreams, etc., but Moses was like a man speaking with his friend...
I would appreciate understanding this.
Thank you!
Answer
Hello,
Moses our teacher did not see Hashem face to face, and this is the language of the verse in the Book of Exodus (chapter 33, verse 11): 'Hashem would speak to Moses face to face,' and in the Book of Deuteronomy (chapter 34, verse 10): 'And there has not arisen a prophet since in Israel like Moses, whom Hashem knew face to face,' and the language of seeing is not stated there.
And the meaning of these verses is - as the Rambam wrote (Hilchot Yesodei HaTorah, chapter 7, halacha 6): What is the difference between the prophecy of Moses and that of all the other prophets, etc.? All the prophets receive through an angel; therefore they see what they see in a parable and a riddle. Moses our teacher did not receive through an angel, as it is stated (Numbers chapter 12, verse 8): 'With him I speak mouth to mouth,' and it is stated, 'And Hashem would speak to Moses face to face,' etc. See there.
With blessings,
Hillel Meirs
