What are the conotations of "Hinei Anochi Shole'ach Mal'ach"? To whom is the Mal'ach that Hashem will send referring?
Da'as Zekenim #1 and Hadar Zekenim #1: In the merit of the Aseres ha'Dibros, which begin with the word "Anochi", Hashem said "Anochi" (I) will send an angel to guard you.
Da'as Zekenim #2 and Hadar Zekenim #2: "Mal'ach" refers to the hornet, which Hashem will send [to help Yisrael conquer Eretz Yisrael]. In the time of Mashi'ach, he will send Eliyahu ha'Navi.
Moshav Zekenim: As the Pasuk writes in Yeshayah 63:9 "u'Mal'ach Panav Hoshi'am", in Va'eschanan Devarim, 4:37, "va'Yotzi'acha be'Fanav" and in Chukas Bamidbar 20:16 "va'Yishlach Mal'ach va'Yotzi'enu mi'Mitzrayim".
Moshav Zekenim: And when we say in the Hagadah that Hashem Himself took us out of Egypt, it means that He was there telling the angel what to do.
Why did Hashem inform Yisrael that a Mal'ach would bring them to Eretz Yisrael and not He Himself?
Rashi and Ramban (citing Midrash Rabah): He was telling them that they would sin (with the Golden Calf), and that He would therefore not go in their midst, but send an angel 1 in His place. 2
Da'as Zekenim #1 and Hadar Zekenim #1: In the merit of the Aseres ha'Dibros, which begin with the word "Anochi", Hashem said Anochi (I) will send an angel to guard you.
Da'as Zekenim #2 and Hadar Zekenim #2: "Mal'ach" refers to the hornet, which Hashem will send [to help Yisrael conquer Eretz Yisrael]. In the time of Mashi'ach, he will send Eliyahu ha'Navi.
Moshav Zekenim: The Shechinah accompanied Yisrael, and also Sar ha'Panim 3 (Hashem's primary angel). 4
Rosh: "Mal'ach" refers to a Navi (Moshe), like "Vayih'yu Mal'ivim be'Mal'achei Elokim" in Divrei ha'Yamim 2 36:16.
See Sh'mos 33:3 and Sifsei Chachamim. Moshav Zekenim rejects this explanation, since Moshe's Tefilah negated the decree! However, the Ramban (citing the Tanchuma) defends Rashi inasmuch as, after Moshe's death the angel returned in the time of Yehoshua (See Yehoshua 5:13). Moshav Zekenim: This was to inform him that from now and onwards, an angel will be sent in front of them. "Atah Basi" - I was sent in the days of Moshe, and rejected, because Moshe did not want me to go with him. Refer also to 23:21:3:3*.
Moshav Zkenim: As the Pasuk writes in Yeshayah 63:9 "u'Mal'ach Panav Hoshi'am", in Va'eschanan Devarim, 4:37, "va'Yotzi'acha be'Fanav" and in Chukas Bamidbar 20:16 "va'Yishlach Mal'ach va'Yotzi'enu mi'Mitzrayim".
Moshav Zekenim: And when we say in the Hagadah that Hashem Himself took us out of Egypt, it means that He was there telling the angel what to do.
If Hashem was referring to the angel that He would send after the sin of the Golden Calf, why did Yisrael not become dejected and why did Moshe not object as they did when it occurred (See Ki Sisa, 33:3 & Rashi Ki Sisa, 33:12)?
Oznayim la'Torah: Because, whereas in Ki Sisa, the Torah is talking about after the sin of the Golden Calf, where Yisrael and Moshe were worried that hey would sin and the Mal'ach would not forgive them, as Hashem had warned them, the current Parshah is talking about the period following Matan Torah, where even Hashem atterted that they had reached the highest levels, 1 they were certain that they would not sin, and there was no reason to be concerned.
Oznayim la'Torah: See Tehilim, 82: 6.
What are the connotations of the words "El ha'Makom asher Hachinosi"?
Rashi #1, Ramban, Targum Onkelos and Targum Yonasan: It means to the location 1 that Hashem designated.
Rashi #2: It is one of the Pesukim which teaches us that the Beis-Hamikdash in Heaven is located exactly opposite the Beis-Hamikdash on earth. 2
Of His Shechinah (Targum Yonasan), with reference to the Beis-Hamikdash, as the Pasuk indicates in Beshalach, 15:17 (Ramban).
Oznayim la'Torah: And a Mal'ach did indeed show Gad ha'Navi the exact location - the barn of Arnon on the Har Hamoriyah, where the Beis-Hamikdash shel Matah was to be built. Moreover, if the Mal'ach was Micha'el, as some commentaries explain, it was most appropriate, since Micha'el is the Kohen Gadol who sacrifices the Neshamos of Tzadikim on the Mizbe'ach shel Ma'alah.
