Shekinah rest, I am the destined one, for when Israel wished to
pass through the Red Sea, it was I who enabled them to do so, for I
settled down between the two shores of the sea, and they moved
from one side to the other, through my aid, so that not even their
clothes became wet." Mount Carmel was quite silent, but settled
down on the shore of the sea, thinking: "If the Shekinah is to
repose on the sea, it will rest upon me, and if it is to repose on the
mainland, it will rest upon me." Then a voice out of the high
heavens rang out and said: "The Shekinah shall not rest upon these
high mountains that are so proud, for it is not God's will that the
Shekinah should rest upon high mountains that quarrel among
themselves and look upon one another with disdain. He prefers the
low mountains, and Sinai among these, because it is the smallest
and most insignificant of all. Upon it will He let the Shekinah
rest." [183] The other mountains hereupon said to God, "Is it
possible that Thou are partial, and wilt give us no reward for our
good intention?" God replied: "Because ye have striven in My
honor will I reward ye. Upon Tabor will I grant aid to Israel at the
time of Deborah, and upon Carmel will I give aid to Elijah." [184]

Mount Sinai was given the preference not for its humility alone,
but also because upon it there had been no worshipping of idols;
whereas the other mountains, owing to their height, had been
employed as sanctuaries by the idolaters. [185] Mount Sinai has a
further significance, too, for it had been originally a part of Mount
Moriah, on which Isaac was to have been sacrificed; but Sinai
separated itself from it, and came to the desert. Then God said:
"Because their father Isaac lay upon this mountain, bound as a
sacrifice, it is fitting that upon it his children receive the Torah."
Hence God now chose this mountain for a brief stay during the