(Exod. 3:4, cont.:) AND HE SAID: HERE I AM. R. Joshua ben Qorhah said: What is the meaning of HERE I AM, HERE I AM? HERE I AM for priesthood, and HERE I AM for kingship.⁷⁰. 102a; Tanh., Exod. 1:19; Gen. R. 55:6; Exod. R. 2:6; Deut. R. 2:7. In the Masoretic Text what is repeated is “Moses,” not “Here I am.” The Holy One said to him {where he stood}: You are standing {in as} [in place of] the pillar of the world. Abraham said (in Gen. 22:1 11): HERE I AM; now you have said: HERE I AM.

footnotes: ⁷⁰ Zev

(Exod. 3:5:) AND HE SAID: DO NOT COME NEAR HERE. REMOVE YOUR SANDALS FROM YOUR FEET…. It is written with reference to Joshua (in Josh. 5:15): REMOVE YOUR SANDALS, and it is written with reference to Moses (in Exod. 3:5): REMOVE YOUR SANDALS.⁷¹ 40.

footnotes: ⁷¹ Exod. R. 2:6 adds that, since one removes sandals in the Divine Presence, priests ministered barefooted in the Temple. See also PRE

(Exod. 3:6:) HE ALSO SAID: I AM THE GOD OF YOUR FATHER. He revealed himself to him in the voice of his father Amram so that he would not be afraid.⁷² At that time Moses rejoiced and said: My father Amram is [alive]. The Holy One said to him: You have said that I am your father, but I am actually THE GOD OF YOUR FATHER. At that time (ibid., cont.): MOSES HID HIS FACE, FOR HE WAS AFRAID TO LOOK AT GOD. The Holy One said to him: By your life, you have paid me an honor; I am paying you an honor, as stated (in Exod. 34:35): THE CHILDREN OF ISRAEL WOULD SEE MOSES' FACE, THAT THE SKIN OF MOSES' FACE WAS RADIANT WITH LIGHT. You were afraid, as stated (in Exod. 3:6, cont.): FOR HE WAS AFRAID TO LOOK AT GOD. By your life, I am doing for you as it says you did for me. Thus (in Exod. 34:30): AND THEY WERE AFRAID OF APPROACHING HIM. By virtue (in Exod. 3:6) of his being AFRAID TO LOOK (HBYT), (in Numb. 12:8) HE BEHOLDS (from HBYT) THE LIKENESS OF THE LORD.⁷³ 26:9; Lev. R. 20:12.

footnotes: ⁷² Exod.R. 3:1. ⁷³ PRK