The Mystery of Taryag "MiSinai" - 2 Approaches

Here is the approach I used at [Cong] Mt. Sinai -

Moshe was not given all 613 mitzvos at Mt. Sinai per se. This is in apparent contrast with Rashi in the opening of B'har 25:1

Rather Moshe was given some Mitzvot in detail on Sinai and Hashem told Moshe:
"Moshe when all is said and done there will be a total of Taryag Mitzvot altogether "

But Perhaps HKBH never enumerated them and therefore allowed them to unfold.

Thus, the Sum Total of 613 is indeed a tradition from Mt. Sinai, but not necessary any enumerated list

This addresses all the above questions. And it was only the Rambam who first concerned himself with a DEFINITIVE list. Until then, while the total was axiomatic, the enumerations thereof were in flux.

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For an alternate, but radical, hypothesis -

613 were literally given at Mt. Sinai [opening Set]

And those Mtzvot given in the Midbar at Ohel Moed were NOT included. [2nd Set]

Note: That might include all given in the Midbar, or may be limited to only those originating in the Midbar W/O roots from Sinai

At any rate, the 613 later encompassed both sets somehow


I also highly recommend this book by
Abraham Hirsch Rabinowitz

TaRYaG: a study of the tradition that the written Torah contains 613 mitzvot

http://books.google.com/books?id=81QwAAAAYAAJ&source=gbs_similarbooks
 
Shalom,
RRW