Rabbi Kook

[We continue with initiatives of Moshe Rabbeinu that Hashem agreed to.] Moshe separated himself from his wife. From where did he derive this? He followed the reasoning of a kal vachomer. If about Israel, who Hashem spoke to for only a short time and the time was set, still the Torah said, “They shall not get close to a woman” (Shemot 19:15), I, to whom Hashem speaks on an ongoing basis and the time for this is not set, it is all the more clear [that I should separate myself from women]. How do we know that Hashem accepted this? [It says in the Torah, “Go tell them: Return to your tents” (Devarim 5:26). And then it says: “And you (Moshe), stand here with Me” (ibid. 27). Some say that it is derived from [that which Hashem said about Moshe]: “Mouth to mouth I speak to him” (Bamidbar 12:8).

[We continue with the account of Moshe finding a hint in the Torah that he should extend the preparations for accepting the Torah to a third day.] “They shall sanctify themselves today and tomorrow” (Shemot 19:10) – today is like tomorrow. Just like tomorrow includes the night that goes with it, so too today (i.e., the first day of separation) refers to a day that has an accompanying night, whereas in this case, the night had already passed

[To answer a question about the timing of the giving of the Torah at Sinai, the gemara posits (according to one opinion) that] Moshe added, on his own, a day of separation from wives. This is as it says in a baraita: Moshe did three things of his own volition, and Hashem agreed with him.

[We continue with the events that preceded the revelation and the presenting of the Ten Commandments at Mount Sinai. On Sunday, they arrived at Sinai; on Monday, they were promised to be a unique spiritual nation in the world (segula).] On Tuesday they were given the mitzva to cordon off the area around Mt. Sinai (into which unauthorized people were strictly forbidden to go). On Wednesday, they were to start separating themselves (from their wives).

[We are still learning about the timing of events from the arrival at Sinai until the giving of the Torah.] On Sunday, the month [of Sivan] was set, but Hashem did not tell them anything because they were tired from the journey. On Monday, He said to them: “You shall be for Me a kingdom of priests” (Shemot 19:6).

[We saw the disagreement as to whether the Torah was given on the sixth or seventh of Sivan.] Everyone agrees that the Torah was given on Shabbat. It says [in the Ten Commandments], “Remember the day of Shabbat to sanctify it” (Shemot 20:7), and it says [at the time of the Exodus] “Remember this day on which you left Egypt” (ibid. 13:3). Just like there (at the Exodus), it took place on the very day described, so too here it took place on the very day [to which it applies – Shabbat]. What do they disagree about? About the day that was set as the beginning of the month.

Everyone agrees that the nation came to the Sinai Desert on Rosh Chodesh (first of the month). It says here, "On this day, they came to the Sinai Desert" (Shemot 19:1), and it says there, "This month is for you the first of the months" (ibid. 12:2). Just like there it was Rosh Chodesh, so too here it was Rosh Chodesh.