What is the significance of the words "Rega Echad"?
Rashi: It signifies the moment that Hashem's anger lasts. 1
Seforno: Hashem was telling the people not to mourn the fact that He would remove His Shechinah from their midst. Since they are stiff-necked and do not turn to hear their teachers, if He would be among them, He would consume them in a moment, despite the fact that they acquired preparation for perfection on Har Sinai! 2
What are the connotations of "Rega Echad E'eleh be'Kirb'cha Vechilisicha"? Is it good or bad?
Rashi and Seforno: Hashem was telling the people not to mourn the fact that He would remove His Shechinah from their midst, because, since they are stiff-necked and do not turn to hear their teachers, if He would be among them, He would consume them in a moment, despite the fact that they acquired preparation for perfection on Har Sinai!
What is the connection between the first half of the Pasuk and the second half?
Rashi: It means 'Part of the punishment will take effect immediately - "Remove your jewellery!" ' 1
R. Bachye #1 (citing R. Chananel): It means that they should remove the clothes on which the Bechoros had sprinkled the Dam B'ris 2 at Matan Torah, 3
R. Bachye #2: It means that they should remove the Name of Hashem 4 which they received at Har Sinai, and which rendered them free from the Mal'ach ha'Maves.
Seforno: It means that they should remove the 'spiritual preparation' that Hashem gave them at Ma'amad Har Sinai.
See Sifsei Chachamim.
R. Bachye: As the Torah recorded in 24:5.
R. Bachye: Which served as a great Kavod for Yisrael, seeing as it symbolized their acceptance of the covenant with Hakadosh-Baruch-Hu, and which, having now denied that covenant, they had to remove.
An ornament with the Name of Hashem inscribed on it. R. Chavel's footnotes, citing Midrash Tehilim. See also R. Bachye who elaborates.
Why did Hashem instruct the people to remove their ornaments?
Seforno: Because, once Hashem gives a present, He does not take it away without the recipient's consent.
Sha'arei Teshuvah (1:29): Hachna'ah (submissiveness) in action is a part of Teshuvah. Consequently, one should not engage in beauty of clothing or ornaments when performing it. 1
As the Gemara states in Ta'anis, 25a. See Esther, 4:1 & 3, which describes how Mordechai and the people donned sack-cloth and ashes when doing Teshuvah.
What did Hashem mean when He said "ve'Eid'ah Mah E'eseh lach"?
Rashi #1: With reference to 33:5:1.2:2 - He meant 'As far as the rest of the punishment is concerned I have already decided what I will do with you'. 1
Rashi #2 (in Shabbos, 88a): 'To punish you with auffering and not with annililation.
Seforno: With reference to 33:5:1.2:2 - so that they they will not be deserving of such a severe punishment.
Hadar Zekenim: Hashem said, 'Since, due to your stubborness, I planned not to go with you, remove your weapons, until I decide what to do with you - whether to go with you or not'. 2
Moshav Zekenim #1 (citing the Rosh): He meant that He would punish them according to His knowledge, based on their mourning and regret of their sin.
Moshav Zekenim #2: He meant that He would give them Yom Kipur to atone for them.
Targum Onkelos and Targum Yonasan: He meant that it was revealed before Him what He would do to them.
See also Bereishis, 18:21:3:1.
This is why Moshe said in Pasuk 12 'You did not inform me' (what You decided).
Why did Hashem say "E'eleh (I will ascend) in your midst"?
Rosh: It means the opposite - 'I will descend ... '. 1
Targum Yonasan: It means 'I will remove My Shechinah".
Rosh: And we find that it sometimes refers to descent. See Iyov 6:18 and Melachim 1, 9:8.
