Why did Moshe kneel and prostrate hinself?
Rashi, Rashbam and Seforno: When he saw the Shechinah passing and heard its voice, he prostrated himself before it in submission.
R. Bachye #1: To thank Hashem for the Chaninah and the Rachamim that He had just promised him - like one who received a great gift from the king, and he thanks and bows down to him
R. Bachye #2 (citing R. Chanina ben Gamliel in Midrash Tehilim): Because he 'saw' the Midah of Erech Apayim - which all Yisrael need in all generations. 1
R. Bachye #3 (citing the Rabbanan in Midrash Tehilim): Because he 'saw' the Midah of Emes 2 which pardons completely. 3
Moshav Zekenim: It refers to 33:14, when Hashem said "Panai Yeleichu ...". Moshe bowed as a sign of gratitude 4 - like one who received a great gift from the king, and he thanks and bows down to him. 5
Da'as Zekenim (in Pasuk 7) and Hadar Zekenim: After hearing that Hashem is "Rachum ve'Chanun", he was no longer afraid ("Pen Achelcha ba'Darech"), so he thanked Hashem bowed and continued to Daven.
Sanhedrin, 111a: Because he 'saw' the Midah of "Erech Apayim".
See also Torah Temimah, note 16.
See R. Bachye, who explains how, according to Kabalah, R. Chanina ben Gamliel and the Rabbanan do not reslly argue.
Moshav Zekenim: Since an angel would not pardon our sins, but Hashem, who is full of mercy, will.
If Hashem promised to go among us, why, in the following Pasuk, does Moshe repeat the request? Refer to 34:9:0.1:1.
What is the significance of the fact that Moshe hurried to kneel and prostrate himself?
R. Bachye: Because Moshe performed Mitzvos with Zerizs (alacrity).
Seforno: It was a sign of total submission, demonstrating the esteem in which one holds the one before whom one is prostrating oneself. 1
Moshav Zekenim #1, Da'as Zekenim (in Pasuk 7) #1 and Hadar Zekenim #1: Because he was afraid that Hashem would add more generations, and that everyone would subsequently stumble in the sins of his fathers (and be punished for them). 2
See Torah Temimah, note 16.
Seforno: As the Gemara relates in B'rachos 12b - when Rav Sheishes would bow down, he would bow down like a stick - in one quick motion, and unfurl like a snake .
If Hashem's Midah were to punish until the fifth generation, would Hashem change His Midos because Moshe bowed? (PF)
Rosh: As the Navi writes in Yirmiyah 4:13 "ve'Chasufah Markevosav" ('His chariots are swift').
See R. Bachye's objection to this explanation.
