THE REVELATION ON MOUNT SINAI

From the first day of the third month, the day on which Israel
arrived at Mount Sinai, a heavy cloud rested upon them, and every
one except Moses was forbidden to ascend the mountain, yea, they
durst not even stay near it, lest God smite those who pushed
forward, with hail or fiery arrows. [197] The day of the revelation
announced itself as an ominous day even in the morning, for
diverse rumblings sounded from Mount Sinai. Flashes of lightning,
accompanied by an ever swelling peal of horns, moved the people
with mighty fear and trembling. God bent the heavens, moved the
earth, and shook the bounds of the world, so that the depths
trembled, and the heavens grew frightened. His splendor passed
through the four portals of fire, earthquake, storm and hail. The
kings of the earth trembled in their palaces, and they all came to
the villain Balaam, and asked him if God intended the same fate
for them as for the generation of the flood. But Balaam said to
them: "O ye fools! The Holy One, blessed be He, has long since
promised Noah never again to punish the world with a flood." The
kings of the heathen, however, were not quieted, and furthermore
said: "God has indeed promised never again to bring a flood upon
the world, but perhaps He now means to destroy it by means of
fire." Balaam said: "Nay, God will not destroy the world either
through fire or through water. The commotion throughout nature
was caused through this only, that He is not about to bestow the
Torah upon His people. 'The Eternal will give strength unto His
people.'" At this all the kings shouted, "May the Eternal bless His
people with peace," and each one, quieted in spirit, went to his
house. [198]