Rashi provides two different verses from the book of Shemos and Devarim as the source for the two statements in our verse. The source for G-d having selected the people as His “treasure” is from the narrative of the Giving of the Torah, where G-d said “you shall be to Me a treasure. And the source for the phrase “you will be a holy people to your G-d” is from the end of parshas Kedoshim, “you shall be holy to Me.”
But the verse from Shemos which says “you shall be to Me a treasure out of all peoples,” is followed directly with a verse that begins “And you shall be to Me a kingdom of princes and a holy nation.” Both statements in our verse, “treasured” and “holy”, therefore, can be found in the Shemos narrative. Why does Rashi maintain that the verse meant by Moshe when he said “so that you will be a holy people... as He spoke” is from a much later narrative?
Furthermore, Rashi cites a verse from the end of parshas Kedoshim, while the opening verse of that parshah also contains a direct quote from G-d calling the Jewish people holy, “You shall be holy.” (Vayikra 19:2) Why does he cite the later verse and not the earlier reference?
