Rashi on TanakhDeuteronomy 9

Greater and more powerful than you. You are powerful but they are even more powerful than you.

Do not say in your heart: My righteousness and the wickedness of the nations was the cause [of my inheriting the land.]

Not because of your righteousness — are you coming to inherit — but because of the wickedness, etc. Here the word כִּי means “but.”

I remained on the mountain: In this sense, the word יְשִׁיבָה (וְאֵשֵׁב) means remaining.

Tablets The word is written as לוּחַת (a singular form) [without a ו -vov before the ת - tof] to imply that they were both alike.

I prostrated myself before God as before, forty days [and forty nights]. As it is said, “I will now ascend to Adonoy, perhaps I will gain atonement for your sin.” During that ascension, I remained for forty days — hence, they came to a close on the twenty-ninth of Av, as he ascended on the eighteenth of Tammuz. That day, God granted the Israelites favor and said to Moshe, “Carve two stones for yourself,” and he remained for an additional forty days — hence, they came to a close on Yom Kippur. That day, the Holy One, may He be blessed, granted favor to the Israelites joyfully, and said to Moshe, ‘I have forgiven, just as you spoke.’ This is why it was designated for atonement and forgiveness. From where is it derived that He granted complete favor? For it is said concerning the forty days of the last tablets, “I remained on the mountain just as during the first days.” Just as the first were with favor, so were the last with favor. You may thus say that the interim days were with anger.

And at Aharon, Adonoy grew very angry. Because he listened to you.

To destroy him. This refers to the death of children. Similarly, it is said, “I shall destroy his fruit from above.”

I also prayed for Aharon. My prayer was effective in atoning for half. Two died, and two were spared.

Grinding. This is the present tense, like “going,” “longing.” Molant in Old French.

I prostrated myself, etc. These are the very days mentioned above. They are repeated here because Scripture here records the pattern of his prayer, as it is said, “Adonoy God, do not destroy your people, etc.”