Just as one who is to be admitted to Judaism must first submit to the
three ceremonies of circumcision, baptism, and sacrifice, so Israel did
not receive the Torah until they had performed these three ceremonies.
They had already undergone circumcision in Egypt. Baptism was imposed
upon them two days before the revelation on Mount Sinai. On the day
preceding the revelation Moses recorded in a book the covenant between
Israel and their God, and on the morning of the day of the revelation,
sacrifices were offered as a strengthening of the covenant. [192]
As there were no priests at that time, the service was performed by the
elders of Israel, who in spite of their age performed their duty with
youthful vigor. [193] Moses erected an altar on Mount Sinai, as well as
twelve memorial pillars, one for each tribe, and then bade them bring
bulls, as a burnt offering and a peace offering. [194] The blood of
these animals was then separated exactly into two halves. This was
attended to by the angel Michael, who guided Moses' hand, and so
conducted the separation of the blood that there might be not a drop
more in one half than in the other. God upon this said to Moses:
"Sprinkle the one half of the blood upon the people, as a token that
they will not barter My glory for the idols of other peoples; and
sprinkle the other half on the altar, as a token that I will not
exchange them for any other nation." Moses did as he was bidden, and
lo! the miracle came to pass that the blood of a few animals sufficed
to sprinkle every single Israelite.
Before this covenant between God and Israel had been made, Moses read
aloud to the people all of the Torah, that they might know exactly what
they were taking upon themselves. This covenant was made a second time
in the desert of Moab by Moses, and a third time by Joshua after the
entrance into the promised land, on the mountains of Gerizim and Ebal.
[195]
Although the people had now clearly expressed their desire to accept
the Torah, still God hesitated to give it to them, saying: "Shall I
without further ado give you the Torah? Nay, bring Me bondsmen, that
you will observe it, and I will give you the Torah." Israel: "O Lord of
the world! Our fathers are bondsmen for us." God: "Your fathers are My
debtors, and therefore not good bondsmen. Abraham said, 'Whereby shall
I know it?' and thus proved himself lacking in faith. Isaac loved Esau,
whom I hated, and Jacob did not immediately upon his return from
Padan-Aram keep his vow that he had made upon his way there. Bring Me
good bondsmen and I will give you the Torah." Israel: "Our prophets
shall be our bondsmen." God: "I have claims against them, for 'like
foxes in the deserts became your prophets.' Bring Me good bondsmen and
I will give you the Torah." Israel: "We will give Thee our children as
bondsmen." God: "Well, then, these are good bondmen, on whose bond I
will give you the Torah." Hereupon the Israelites brought their wives
with their babes at their breasts, and their pregnant wives, and God
made the bodies of the pregnant women transparent as glass, and He
addressed the children in the womb with these words: "Behold, I will
give your fathers the Torah. Will you be surety for them that they will
observe it?" They answered: "Yea." He furthermore said: "I am your
God." They answered: "Yea." "Ye shall have no other gods." They said:
"Nay." In this wise the children in the womb answered every commandment
with "Yea," and every prohibition with "Nay." As it was the little
children upon whose bond God gave His people the Torah, it comes to
pass that many little children die when Israel does not observe the
Torah. [196]