When Hashem went around offering the Torah to the other nations each asked what is written therein to each nation He told them of the commandment representing their weak point or vice, hence they rejected it. The question remains if you look at the things Hashem brought up they are all included in the Seven Commandments which Non Jews are responsible to keep even without the Torah. The question is why did Hashem choose to pick something they were already commanded in and why if they were commanded in these things anyway did they not accept?
asked Jan 19, 2011 at 3:57
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4If you're asking on a Midrash, you should cite the Midrash.– Isaac Moses ♦Jan 19, 2011 at 6:29
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3My request was not about demonstrating whether you've seen the Midrash; it was about making this question make as much sense as possible to someone who happens to read it, which potentially includes people who've never seen any other page on m.y.– Isaac Moses ♦Jan 19, 2011 at 16:32
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2This is NOT just a midrash. It was taught by R' Yochanan (Avodah Zara 2b) and learned out of a pasuk in Devarim (as well as one in Habbakuk).– follickFeb 6, 2012 at 12:35
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4@follick How does the fact that it's recorded in the Gemorah mean it's not a midrash? The Talmud bavli is 1/3rd Midrash!– aviFeb 6, 2012 at 13:03
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2Aggadah is not the same thing as Midrash. And, in any case, Rashi makes clear that this is Pshat on the Pasuk in Devarim 33:2. I don't understand how anyone could say that the Chumash is not historical or not Halachically binding, Chas V'Shalom.– follickFeb 7, 2012 at 3:54
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3 Answers
The sefer Dor Revi'i answers that unscrupulous scholars are able to twist the Torah in any direction they choose, using the Torah against itself. Such as the Jewish king Menashe who was able to purify the Sheretz with 150 reasons. This was the reason the nations rejected it. They claimed that once the Torah was in their hands, they would find ample room to be lenient in prohibitions that they were especially susceptible to.
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@ertert3terte The Dor R'vi'i explains that God offered the Torah to scrupulous scholars from those nations, and the scrupulous scholars, very responsibly, declined.– ZarkaFeb 13 at 11:56
Perhaps the Medrash is just indicating the particular issue the group of people would be challenged by. It is demonstrating the types of things that prevent people from adopting the Torah. Highlighting it, if you will.
The gemara answers your question on Avodah Zara 2b. The reasons have to do with G-d's judgement at the end of days. If the nations defend themselves by saying to G-d 'If you had offered us the Torah as you offered it to Am Yisroel...' then that can be answered by saying that it was offered. If they defend themselves by saying to G-d 'If you had compelled us to accept the Torah as you compelled Am Yisroel...' then that can be answered by saying just as you didn't keep the Sheva Mitzvos B'nei Noach you wouldn't have kept the Torah either. As Yishayahu said (43:9) "and the first ones will inform us" (while talking about G-d's judgement of the world at the end of days). That is why mitzvos from the 7 Noachide laws are used here. The gemara explains all this in detail and I recommend you learn it inside.
