Does G-D Believe in Determinism?

(7) And he took the book of the covenant, and read in the hearing of the people; and they said: ‘All that the LORD hath spoken will we do, and obey.’

(17) And Moses brought forth the people out of the camp to meet God; and they stood at the nether part of the mount.

Held the mountain over them like a barrel - Even though they had already said “We will do and we will listen”, perhaps they retracted when they saw the great fire [on the mountain] that caused their souls to depart [...]

Bottom of the Mountain - Literally underneath the mountain

Barrel - A barrel in which one keeps beer

Great Claim - For if He will judge saying, "why did you not uphold that which you accepted?" they [the Jews] will be able to answer, "because it was forced upon us."

“In the days of Ahasuerus” – because of love of the miracle done on their behalf.

Love Hashem your G-d We learned in a Braita: Rabbi Eliezer says If we say with all your life, why do we say with all your wealth? And if you say with all your wealth, why do you say with all your life? rather If there is a person who values their body more than their money, therefore it says "with all your life", and if there is a person whose money is more important than his body therefore it says "with all your wealth" Rabbi Akiva says "With all your life", this means even to take your own life. The Rabbis taught in a braita" Once upon a time, the evil empire decreed that the Jews could not deal with studying Torah. Came Papus the son of Yehuda and found Rabbi Akiva who was gathering large groups in public and learning Torah. He said to him: Akiva, are you not scared of the government? He said to him I will tell you a parable to what this is similar: A fox was walking on the riverbank and saw fish jumping from place to place. He said to the fish from what are you running away? They said to him: from the nets that people are throwing upon us He said to them: What you want is to rise up on the dry land, and you and I will live the way that our ancestors lived They said to him: You are the one that people say are the wisest of all the animals. You are not wise, rather you are dumb. In a place where we live, we are fearful, in a place where we will die, even more so (we will be fearful) (Rabbi Akiva talks now) So too we, now are sitting and learning Torah, as it says: "For Torah is your life and a way to live a long time", therefore if we veer away and stop learning Torah, even more so we will die. They said: It was only a few days until they caught Rabbi Akiva and tied him up in jail. They caught Papus the son of Yehuda and tied him up. He said to him Papus Who brought you here? He said to him (Papus said to Akiva) Praiseworthy are you Rabbi Akiva, that you were caught on the matters of Torah, Woe is to Papus who was caught for silly matters. At the time when they took Rabbi Akiva to be killed, it was the time of reading the Shema. While they were brushing his flesh with metal combs, he was accepting upon himself the yolk of heaven. His students said to him: Our Rabbi, until here He said to them: My entire life, I felt bad about this verse, "With all your life" even to take your own soul. I said When will I have a chance to fulfill (the words of the verse?) Now when I have that chance, would I not fulfill the verse? He extended the word "One" until his soul left his body. A heavenly voice came out and said: Praiseworthy are you Rabbi Akiva, that your soul left your body at "One" The angels in heaven said to Gd: This is Torah? This is its reward?! From men, by Thy hand, O LORD, From men of the world, whose portion is in this life He said to them: Some are living A heavenly voice came out and said Praiseworthy are you Rabbi Akiva, that you are invited to the world to come.