As an introduction to the events that will unfold on the mountain, God tells Moshe to tell the people that they will soon become a kingdom of priests and a holy nation to God. (19:5-6)

The Torah then tells us that, “Moshe came [back] and summoned the elders of the people, conveying to them all that God had said. All the people answered as one and said, ‘All that God has spoken, we will do.’ Moshe brought the people’s reply back to God.

God said to Moshe, ‘I will come to you in a thick cloud, so that all the people will hear when I speak to you. They will then believe in you forever.’ Moshe told God the people’s response.” (19:7-9)

Rashi addresses the fact that Moshe conveyed the people’s response the first time, saying it is a sign of respect to God to deliver the message, even though the Almighty and All-knowing knows what they said.

But the precedent is set that the people are told the message from God, they respond to Moshe, and then we are told that Moshe brought their reply to God. So how is that when God describes the thick cloud, Moshe does not convey the message to the people, they do not seem to respond, and yet Moshe tells God of their response? To what did they respond? What did they say? Why does Moshe seem to avoid sharing the second message of God with the people?

Rashi explains that Moshe already knew the will of the people, namely “that they want to hear from You directly. After all, there is no comparison between hearing the king’s message from his messenger versus hearing it directly from the king. ‘We want to see our King.’”

Through trying to understand Rashi’s exposition, the Kli Yakar has a novel approach to reading the text. Rashi does not address what the second response of the people is--only that Moshe was able to convey what they wanted. But the Kli Yakar posits that Moshe was in fact quoting the people when he said the words “El Hashem – to God” in 19:9.

If the words “El Hashem” are not a quote, they are superfluous! The Torah should have said, “Moshe told their response to Him!” – obviously referring to God, with Whom Moshe is conversing. What was previously translated as “Moshe told God the people’s response” should therefore be read, “Moshe [responded to God and] told Him the words of the people, ‘To God.’”