(15) Moses spoke to the LORD, saying, (16) “Let the LORD, Source of the breath of all flesh, appoint someone over the community (17) who shall go out before them and come in before them, and who shall take them out and bring them in, so that the LORD’s community may not be like sheep that have no shepherd.” (18) And the LORD answered Moses, “Single out Joshua son of Nun, an inspired man, and lay your hand upon him. (19) Have him stand before Eleazar the priest and before the whole community, and commission him in their sight. (20) Invest him with some of your authority, so that the whole Israelite community may obey. (21) But he shall present himself to Eleazar the priest, who shall on his behalf seek the decision of the Urim before the LORD. By such instruction they shall go out and by such instruction they shall come in, he and all the Israelites, the whole community.” (22) Moses did as the LORD commanded him. He took Joshua and had him stand before Eleazar the priest and before the whole community. (23) He laid his hands upon him and commissioned him—as the LORD had spoken through Moses.
Another explanation: ואשר יביאם AND WHO WILL BRING THEM IN — I ask that You should not do to him, as You have done to me' for I may not bring them into the Land. (cf. Yalkut Shimoni on Torah 776).
(20) until the LORD has granted your kinsmen a haven such as you have, and they too have taken possession of the land that the LORD your God is assigning them, beyond the Jordan. Then you may return each to the homestead that I have assigned to him.” (21) I also charged Joshua at that time, saying, “You have seen with your own eyes all that the LORD your God has done to these two kings; so shall the LORD do to all the kingdoms into which you shall cross over. (22) Do not fear them, for it is the LORD your God who will battle for you.” (23) I pleaded with the LORD at that time, saying, (24) “O Lord GOD, You who let Your servant see the first works of Your greatness and Your mighty hand, You whose powerful deeds no god in heaven or on earth can equal! (25) Let me, I pray, cross over and see the good land on the other side of the Jordan, that good hill country, and the Lebanon.” (26) But the LORD was wrathful with me on your account and would not listen to me. The LORD said to me, “Enough! Never speak to Me of this matter again! (27) Go up to the summit of Pisgah and gaze about, to the west, the north, the south, and the east. Look at it well, for you shall not go across yonder Jordan. (28) Give Joshua his instructions, and imbue him with strength and courage, for he shall go across at the head of this people, and he shall allot to them the land that you may only see.” (29) Meanwhile we stayed on in the valley near Beth-peor.
(6) “Be strong and resolute, for you shall apportion to this people the land that I swore to their fathers to assign to them. (7) But you must be very strong and resolute to observe faithfully all the Teaching that My servant Moses enjoined upon you. Do not deviate from it to the right or to the left, that you may be successful wherever you go. (8) Let not this Book of the Teaching cease from your lips, but recite it day and night, so that you may observe faithfully all that is written in it. Only then will you prosper in your undertakings and only then will you be successful. (9) “I charge you: Be strong and resolute; do not be terrified or dismayed, for the LORD your God is with you wherever you go.”
(א) וַיְדַבֵּר מֹשֶׁה, יִפְקֹד ה' וְגוֹ'. יְלַמְּדֵנוּ רַבֵּנוּ, הָרוֹאֶה בְּנֵי אָדָם מְשֻׁנִּין כֵּיצַד מְבָרֵךְ. כָּךְ שָׁנוּ רַבּוֹתֵינוּ, הָרוֹאֶה אֶת הַכּוּשִׁי, וְאֶת הַלַּוְקָן, וְאֶת הַקִּפֵּחַ, וְאֶת הַבַּהַקְנִין, וְאֶת דַּרְנִיקוּס, אוֹמֵר, בָּרוּךְ מְשַׁנֶּה הַבְּרִיּוֹת. וְהָרוֹאֶה אֶת הַקִּטֵּעַ, וְאֶת הַסּוּמָא, וְאֶת מֻכֶּה שְׁחִין, אוֹמֵר, בָּרוּךְ דַּיַּן הָאֱמֶת. אֵימָתַי, בְּשָׁעָה שֶׁהָיוּ שְׁלֵמִין וְנִשְׁתַּנּוּ. אֲבָל אִם הָיוּ כֵן מִמְּעֵי אִמָּן, אוֹמֵר, בָּרוּךְ מְשַׁנֶּה בְּרִיּוֹתָיו. וְהָרוֹאֶה בְּרִיּוֹת טוֹבוֹת וְאִילָנוֹת טוֹבוֹת, אוֹמֵר, בָּרוּךְ שֶׁכָּכָה לוֹ בְּעוֹלָמוֹ. אֲבָל אִם רָאָה אוּכְלֻסִין הַרְבֵּה שֶׁל בְּנֵי אָדָם, אוֹמֵר, בָּרוּךְ חֲכַם הָרָזִים. כְּשֵׁם שֶׁאֵין פַּרְצוּפֵיהֶם שָׁוִין זֶה לָזֶה, כָּךְ אֵין דַּעְתָּם שָׁוִין זֶה לָזֶה, אֶלָּא כָּל אֶחָד וְאֶחָד יֵשׁ לוֹ דַּעַת בִּפְנֵי עַצְמוֹ. וְכֵן אוֹמֵר, לַעֲשׂוֹת לָרוּחַ מִשְׁקָל וּמַיִם תִּכֵּן בְּמִדָּה (איוב כח, כה), כָּל בְּרִיָּה וּבְרִיָּה יֵשׁ לוֹ דַּעַת בִּפְנֵי עַצְמוֹ. תֵּדַע לְךָ שֶׁהוּא כֵּן, מֹשֶׁה מְבַקֵּשׁ מִן הַקָּדוֹשׁ בָּרוּךְ הוּא בִּשְׁעַת מִיתָתוֹ, וְאוֹמֵר לְפָנָיו, רִבּוֹנוֹ שֶׁל עוֹלָם, גָּלוּי וְיָדוּעַ לְפָנֶיךָ דַּעְתָּם שֶׁל כָּל אֶחָד וְאֶחָד, וְאֵין בְּשֶׁל בָּנֶיךָ דּוֹמֶה זֶה לָזֶה. כְּשֶׁאֲנִי מִסְתַּלֵּק מֵהֶן, בְּבַקָּשָׁה מִמְּךָ אִם בִּקַּשְׁתָּ לְמָנוֹת עֲלֵיהֶם מַנְהִיג, מְנֵה עֲלֵיהֶם אָדָם שֶׁיְּהֵא סוֹבֵל לְכָל אֶחָד וְאֶחָד לְפִי דַּעְתּוֹ. מִנַּיִן, מִמַּה שֶּׁקָּרְאוּ בָּעִנְיָן, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר: יִפְקֹד ה' אֱלֹקֵי הָרוּחוֹת לְכָל בָּשָׂר וְגוֹ'.
And Moses said... 'Let Ad-nai etc' - Teach us, our teacher, how does one bless? ... One who sees a multitude of people says: Blessed... the Knower of Secrets. Just as their faces are different from one another, so too their opinions are different from one another, rather, each person has their own personality. And therefore it is written 'He makes a weight for the wind, and puts forth water by measures' (Job 28:25), and so too each human being has their own awareness. You must know that this is so, for Moses at the hour of his death asked the Holy One of Blessing: Master of the Universe, the ideas of each person are known and revealed before You, and not a single one of Your children is identical to each other. When I am separated from them, please, if You will appoint a leader for them, please appoint a person who will have patience with each and every one of them according to their individual personality. From where do we learn this? From what we read regarding this issue: Let Ad-nai, the God of the spirits of all flesh, appoint, etc.'
(ט) דָּבָר אַחֵר, מַהוּ הֵן, אָמַר רַבִּי סִימָא הַיּוֹם קוֹבֵל לִפְנֵי הַקָּדוֹשׁ בָּרוּךְ הוּא, אָמַר, רִבּוֹנוֹ שֶׁל עוֹלָם אֵינִי זָז וְאֵינִי שׁוֹקֵעַ וּמשֶׁה קַיָּם. דָּבָר אַחֵר, רַבָּנָן אָמְרֵי כֵּיוָן שֶׁיָּדַע משֶׁה שֶׁהָיָה לוֹ לָמוּת בְּאוֹתוֹ הַיּוֹם, מֶה עָשָׂה, אָמַר רַבִּי יַנַּאי כָּתַב שְׁלשׁ עֶשְׂרֵה תּוֹרוֹת, שְׁנֵים עָשָׂר לִשְׁנֵים עָשָׂר שְׁבָטִים, וְאַחַת הִנִּיחַ בָּאָרוֹן, שֶׁאִם יְבַקֵּשׁ לְזַיֵּף דָּבָר, שֶׁיִּהְיוּ מוֹצְאִים אוֹתָהּ שֶׁבָּאָרוֹן. אָמַר משֶׁה מִתּוֹךְ שֶׁאֲנִי עָסוּק בַּתּוֹרָה שֶׁכֻּלָּהּ חַיִּים, הַיּוֹם שׁוֹקֵעַ וְהַגְּזֵרָה בְּטֵלָה, מֶה עָשָׂה הַקָּדוֹשׁ בָּרוּךְ הוּא רָמַז לַשֶּׁמֶשׁ וְהָיָה עוֹמֵד וּמִתְקַשֶּׁה כְּנֶגְדוֹ, אָמַר אֵינִי שׁוֹקֵעַ וּמשֶׁה קַיָּם בָּעוֹלָם, לְפִיכָךְ אִיּוֹב מְפָרְשָׁהּ (איוב ל, כה): אִם לֹא בָכִיתִי לִקְשֵׁה יוֹם, שֶׁנִּתְקַשָּׁה הַיּוֹם כְּנֶגְדוֹ. הֵן, מַהוּ הֵן קָרְבוּ יָמֶיךָ, כְּאָדָם שֶׁאוֹמֵר לַחֲבֵרוֹ פְּלוֹנִי קָבַל עָלֶיךָ לִפְנֵי הַמֶּלֶךְ. (דברים לא, יד): קְרָא אֶת יְהוֹשֻׁעַ, אָמַר לְפָנָיו רִבּוֹנוֹ שֶׁל עוֹלָם, יִטֹּל יְהוֹשֻׁעַ אַרְכִי שֶׁלִּי וֶאֱהֵא חָי, אָמַר הַקָּדוֹשׁ בָּרוּךְ הוּא עֲשֵׂה לוֹ כְּדֶרֶךְ שֶׁהוּא עוֹשֶׂה לָךְ, מִיָּד הִשְׁכִּים משֶׁה וְהָלַךְ לְבֵיתוֹ שֶׁל יְהוֹשֻׁעַ, נִתְיָרֵא יְהוֹשֻׁעַ וְאָמַר משֶׁה רַבִּי בּוֹא אֶצְלִי, יָצְאוּ לַהֲלֹךְ, הָלַךְ משֶׁה לִשְׂמֹאלוֹ שֶׁל יְהוֹשֻׁעַ, נִכְנְסוּ לְאֹהֶל מוֹעֵד, יָרַד עַמּוּד הֶעָנָן וְהִפְסִיק בֵּינֵיהֶם, מִשֶּׁנִּסְתַּלֵּק עַמּוּד הֶעָנָן הָלַךְ משֶׁה אֵצֶל יְהוֹשֻׁעַ וְאָמַר מָה אָמַר לְךָ הַדִּבּוּר, אָמַר לוֹ יְהוֹשֻׁעַ כְּשֶׁהָיָה הַדִּבּוּר נִגְלָה עָלֶיךָ יוֹדֵעַ הָיִיתִי מַה מְדַבֵּר עִמְּךָ, אוֹתָהּ שָׁעָה צָעַק משֶׁה וְאָמַר מֵאָה מִיתוֹת וְלֹא קִנְאָה אֶחָת, וּשְׁלֹמֹה מְפָרְשָׁהּ (שיר השירים ח, ו): כִּי עַזָּה כַמָּוֶת אַהֲבָה קָשָׁה כִשְׁאוֹל קִנְאָה, אַהֲבָה שֶׁאָהַב משֶׁה לִיהוֹשֻׁעַ, וּמַה שֶּׁקִּנֵּא משֶׁה בִּיהוֹשֻׁעַ. כֵּיוָן שֶׁקִּבֵּל עָלָיו לָמוּת, הִתְחִיל הַקָּדוֹשׁ בָּרוּךְ הוּא מְפַיְסוֹ, אָמַר לוֹ חַיֶּיךָ בָּעוֹלָם הַזֶּה הִנְהַגְתָּ אֶת בָּנַי, אַף לֶעָתִיד לָבוֹא עַל יָדֶיךָ אֲנִי מַנְהִיג אוֹתָן, מִנַּיִן, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר (ישעיה סג, יא): וַיִּזְכֹּר יְמֵי עוֹלָם משֶׁה עַמּוֹ.
Another opinion: The rabbis taught, when Moses knew that he was about to die on that day, what did he do? Rabbi Yannai said, he wrote thirteen Torah scrolls, twelve for the twelve tribes and one to leave in the ark, so that if someone forges a copy they will be able to check against the one in the ark. Moses said, because I am engaging with the Torah which is all life, when the day ends the decree will be annulled. What did God do, he hinted at the sun and it was stubborn and stood and did not set and said, "I will not set while Moses is alive". Thus Job explained, "Have I not wept at the difficulties of the day?" Because the day was stubborn to him. Thus, what is "For your days have come?" Like a person who says to his friend, accept it from the King. "Call Joshua" (Deuteronomy 31:14) Moses said to God, "Let Joshua take my authority while I am alive." God said to him, "He will do with you as you did with him." Immediately Moses got up and went to Joshua's house. Joshua was afraid but Moses said "Come with me." They went out and Moses walked to the left of Joshua. They went to the Tent of Meeting, the Cloud of Glory came down between them. When the Cloud was removed Moses went to Joshua and asked, "What did the Word of God say to you?" Joshua said, "When the Word was revealed to you, did I know what it said to you?" On that day Moses cried and said, "I would rather have one hundred deaths than one jealousy." And Solomon interpreted this "Love is as strong as death, jealously as hard as the grave." This is the love with which Moses loved Joshua and the jealousy that Moses had of Joshua.
A person is jealous of everyone except a student and a child. We learn son from Solomon and student from either 'May I receive a double portion of your spirit' (2 Kings 2:9) or 'He placed his hands on him and commanded him' (Numbers 27:23).
מהודך SOME OF THY GLORY, and not all thy glory; consequently we learn from this: Moses’ face beamed like the sun, Joshua's face only like the moon (Sifrei Bamidbar 140:2; Bava Batra 75a).
(ב) כִּי הַלְּבָנָה אֵין לָהּ אוֹר מֵעַצְמָהּ כְּלָל, רַק הִיא מְקַבֶּלֶת אוֹר מֵהַשֶּׁמֶשׁ. הַיְנוּ עַל־יְדֵי שֶׁהַלְּבָנָה הִיא כְּמַרְאָה מְלֻטֶּשֶׁת, עַל־יְדֵי־זֶה מְקַבֶּלֶת אוֹר מֵהַשֶּׁמֶשׁ, וּמִתְנוֹצֵץ מִמֶּנָּה אוֹר לְהָאִיר עַל הָאָרֶץ. אַךְ אִם הָיָה גִּשְׁמָהּ עָב וְחָשׁוּךְ, בִּלְתִּי מְלֻטֶּשֶׁת, לֹא הָיְתָה יְכוֹלָה לְקַבֵּל אוֹר הַשֶּׁמֶשׁ כְּלָל.
(2) The moon has no light whatsoever of its own. Rather, it receives light from the sun. That is, because the moon is like a polished mirror, it receives light from the sun and then the light reflects off it to illuminate the earth. But if it was [more] corporeal, dense and dark, [if it was] “unpolished,” it would not be able to receive the light of the sun at all.
Sfas Emes - Pinchas 4th Maamar (adapted)
When the sun shines in the sky, there is no place for others shining. The particular quality of the moon is that it can shine while allowing other celestial bodies to shine with it in the sky
(ב) יעש משה כאשר צוה ה' אותו - הלך ועשה בשמחה, ולא הורע בעיניו בין בנו לבין בן אחיו: ויקח את יהושע - לקחו בדברים והודיעו מתן שכר פרנסי ישראל לעולם הבא:
(2) (Bamidbar 27:22) "And Moses did as the L-rd commanded him": He did so with joy, undiluted with regret for his son and his brother's sons (i.e., for the honor not having been accorded them.) "and he 'took' Joshua": He "took" him with words, apprising him of the reward of the leaders of Israel in the world to come.
(טו) דָּבָר אַחֵר, יִפְקֹד ה', מָשָׁל לְמֶלֶךְ שֶׁרָאָה אִשָּׁה אַחַת יְתוֹמָה, בִּקֵּשׁ לִטֹּל אוֹתָהּ לוֹ לְאִשָּׁה, שָׁלַח לְתָבְעָהּ, אָמְרָה אֵינִי כְּדַאי לְהִנָּשֵׂא לַמֶּלֶךְ, שָׁלַח לְתָבְעָהּ שֶׁבַע פְּעָמִים, וְלֹא הָיְתָה מְבַקֶּשֶׁת, לְסוֹף נִשַֹּׂאת לוֹ. לְאַחַר זְמַן כָּעַס עָלֶיהָ הַמֶּלֶךְ וּבִקֵּשׁ לְגָרְשָׁהּ, אָמְרָה אֲנִי לֹא בִקַּשְׁתִּי לְהִנָּשֵׂא לָךְ אַתָּה בִּקַּשְׁתָּ אוֹתִי, הוֹאִיל וְכָךְ גָּזַרְתָּ לְגָרְשֵׁנִי וְלִטֹּל אַחֶרֶת, אַל תַּעֲשֶׂה לָזוֹ כְּשֵׁם שֶׁעָשִׂיתָ לִי. כָּךְ הַקָּדוֹשׁ בָּרוּךְ הוּא, אָמַר רַבִּי שְׁמוּאֵל בַּר נַחְמֵנִי שִׁבְעָה יָמִים הָיָה מְפַתֵּהוּ הַקָּדוֹשׁ בָּרוּךְ הוּא שֶׁיֵּלֵךְ בִּשְׁלִיחוּתוֹ, וְהָיָה אוֹמֵר לוֹ (שמות ד, יג): שְׁלַח נָא בְּיַד תִּשְׁלָח, (שמות ד, י): לֹא אִישׁ דְּבָרִים אָנֹכִי גַּם מִתְּמוֹל גַּם מִשִּׁלְשֹׁם, הֲרֵי שִׁבְעָה יָמִים, לְאַחַר זְמַן פִּיְּסוֹ הַקָּדוֹשׁ בָּרוּךְ הוּא וְהָלַךְ בִּשְׁלִיחוּתוֹ וְעָשָׂה כָּל אוֹתָן הַנִּסִּים עַל יָדוֹ, בַּסּוֹף אָמַר לוֹ (במדבר כ, יב): לֹא תָבִיאוּ, אָמַר לוֹ משֶׁה רִבּוֹנוֹ שֶׁל עוֹלָם, אֲנִי לֹא בִקַּשְׁתִּי לַהֲלֹךְ, וְכֵן הוּא אוֹמֵר (דברים ג, כד): אַתָּה הַחִלּוֹתָ לְהַרְאוֹת אֶת עַבְדְּךָ וגו', הוֹאִיל וְכָךְ גָּזַרְתָּ עָלַי, אוֹתוֹ שֶׁיִּכָּנֵס אַל תַּעַשׂ לוֹ כְּדֶרֶךְ שֶׁעָשִׂיתָ לִי, אֶלָּא (במדבר כז, יז): אֲשֶׁר יֵצֵא לִפְנֵיהֶם וַאֲשֶׁר יָבֹא לִפְנֵיהֶם. אָמַר לוֹ הַקָּדוֹשׁ בָּרוּךְ הוּא (במדבר כז, יח): קַח לְךָ אֶת יְהוֹשֻׁעַ בִּן נוּן. וְעָשָׂה משֶׁה בְּטוּב עַיִן, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר (משלי כב, ט): טוֹב עַיִן הוּא יְבֹרָךְ. מָשָׁל לְמֶלֶךְ שֶׁאָמַר לְבֶן בֵּיתוֹ תֵּן לִפְלוֹנִי סְאָה שֶׁל חִטִּים, הָלַךְ וְנָתַן לוֹ סְאָתַיִם, אָמַר לוֹ הֲרֵי סְאָה מִשֶּׁל מֶלֶךְ וּסְאָה מִשֶּׁלִּי. כָּךְ אָמַר הַקָּדוֹשׁ בָּרוּךְ הוּא לְמשֶׁה (במדבר כז, יח): וְסָמַכְתָּ אֶת יָדְךָ עָלָיו, יַד אַחַת, מֶה עָשָׂה (במדבר כז, כג): וַיִּסְמֹךְ אֶת יָדָיו וַיְצַוֵּהוּ, לְקַיֵּם מַה שֶּׁנֶּאֱמַר: טוֹב עַיִן הוּא יְבֹרָךְ. לְפִיכָךְ (משלי כז, יח): נֹצֵר תְּאֵנָה יֹאכַל פִּרְיָהּ, לָמָּה נִמְשְׁלָה תּוֹרָה כִּתְאֵנָה, שֶׁרֹב הָאִילָנוֹת, הַזַּיִת, הַגֶּפֶן וְהַתְּמָרָה, נִלְקָטִין כְּאַחַת, וְהַתְּאֵנָה נִלְקֶטֶת מְעַט מְעַט, כָּךְ הַתּוֹרָה הַיּוֹם לוֹמֵד מְעַט וּלְמָחָר הַרְבֵּה, לְפִי שֶׁאֵינָהּ מִתְלַמֶּדֶת לֹא בְּשָׁנָה וְלֹא בִּשְׁנָתַיִם. (במדבר כז, יח): אִישׁ אֲשֶׁר רוּחַ בּוֹ, לְפִי שֶׁאָמַר (במדבר כז, טז): אֱלֹהֵי הָרוּחֹת, שֶׁאַתָּה מַכִּיר רוּחַ כָּל אֶחָד וְאֶחָד מִכָּל בְּרִיָה, וּתְמַנֶּה אָדָם שֶׁיֵּדַע לַהֲלֹךְ עִם כָּל אֶחָד וְאֶחָד מֵהֶם לְפִי דַעְתּוֹ. וְסָמַכְתָּ אֶת יָדְךָ עָלָיו, כְּמַדְלִיק נֵר מִנֵּר. (במדבר כז, כ): וְנָתַתָּה מֵהוֹדְךָ, כִּמְעָרֶה מִכְּלִי לִכְלִי. וּמַה שֶּׁאָמַרְתָּ (במדבר לו, ט): וְלֹא תִסֹּב נַחֲלָה מִמַּטֶּה לְמַטֶּה אַחֵר, הַכָּבוֹד אֵינוֹ זָז מִבֵּית אָבִיךָ, שֶׁאַף יְהוֹשֻׁעַ שֶׁעוֹמֵד תַּחְתֶּיךָ (במדבר כז, כא): וְלִפְנֵי אֶלְעָזָר הַכֹּהֵן יַעֲמֹד.
“And lay your hand on him – this is like lighting one candle with another. Give him some of your authority – this is like emptying one vessel into another.”
Rabbi Lord Jonathan Sacks on Parashat Pinchas
Influence is like lighting one candle with another. Sharing your influence with someone else does not mean you have less; you have more. When we use the flame of a candle to light another candle, the first is not diminished. There is now, simply, more light.
Transferring power, though, is like emptying one vessel into another. The more power you give away, the less you have. Moses’ power ended with his death. His influence, though, remains to this day.
Judaism has an ambivalent attitude towards power. It is necessary. Without it, in the words of Rabbi Hanina, deputy High Priest, “people would eat one another alive” (Avot 3:2). But Judaism long ago recognised that (to quote Lord Acton), power tends to corrupt and absolute power corrupts absolutely. Influence – the relation of prophet to people, teacher to disciple – is altogether different. It is a non-zero-sum game. Through it, both teacher and disciple grow. Both are enhanced.
Moses gave Joshua his power and his influence. The first was essential to the political and military tasks ahead. But it was the second that made Joshua one of the great figures of our tradition. Influence is simply more enduring than power.