Pisqa’ 3041H:293-294;JN2:289-290. 1. “And HASHEM said to Moses: Indeed, your days are dwindling down to death” (Dt.31:14). R. Shimon b. Yohai says: Blessed be the True Judge,2=M. Ber.9:2. According to the Mishnah, this blessing is recited upon hearing bad news. the Lord of all redemptive deeds, before Whom there is no injustice or favoritism! And, in this vein, He says: “Do not place your trust in a friend and don’t rely upon a confidante” 3For the translation of ‘aluf, I rely upon BDB:48. (Mic.7:5)— [for only the Holy One is trustworthy]
Moses replied before the Blessed Holy One: Master of the world! Since I am departing amidst great portents, show me the trustworthy man who will lead Israel, so that I can take my leave4Heb: ‘eitzei; literally, “go out.” From the root, y-tz-‘. from them in peace! And, in this vein, He says: “One who shall go out5Heb: yeitz’ei. The assonance of two verbs formed from the same root lends to each a shading drawn from the other. As Moses “takes his leave” he also contemplates the needs of “going out” to war.before them [in war], and who shall come in before them [in war]”6The insertion of “[in war]” follows the paraphrase of the same verse offered at Sifre Nu.139.(Nu.27:17). And He says: “Then HASHEM said to Moses: Take to yourself Joshua b. Nun” (Nu.27:18).7Cf. ARNA:17. 2. And He says [about Israel’s leadership]: “We have a little sister, who hasn’t yet any breasts” (Song8:8). Four empires will rule over Israel, yet they will have no sage, nor even a man of insight [to guide them]. Such were the days of Ahab, King of Israel, and the days of Yehoshafat, King of Judah: “All Israel was scattered upon the hills like flocks with no shepherd” (1 Kings.22:17)— [and this is foreseen by the Torah:] “So that the Congregation of HASHEM will not become like flocks with no shepherd” (Nu.27:17)
(דברים לא יד) וַיֹּאמֶר ה׳ אֶל מֹשֶׁה הֵן קָרְבוּ יָמֶיךָ לָמוּת, רַבִּי שִׁמְעוֹן בֶּן יוֹחַאי אוֹמֵר: בָּרוּךְ דַּיָּן הָאֱמֶת, אֲדוֹן כָּל הַמַּעֲשִׂים, שֶׁאֵין עַוְלָה וּמַשֹּׂא פָנִים לְפָנָיו. וְכֵן הוּא אוֹמֵר (מיכה ז ה): ״אַל תַּאֲמִינוּ בְרֵעַ וְאַל תִּבְטְחוּ בְאַלּוּף״.
Pisqa’ 3041H:293-294;JN2:289-290.
1. “And HASHEM said to Moses:
Indeed, your days are dwindling down to death” (Dt.31:14).
R. Shimon b. Yohai says:
Blessed be the True Judge,2=M. Ber.9:2. According to the Mishnah, this blessing is recited upon hearing bad news.
the Lord of all redemptive deeds,
before Whom there is no injustice or favoritism!
And, in this vein, He says:
“Do not place your trust in a friend
and don’t rely upon a confidante” 3For the translation of ‘aluf, I rely upon BDB:48. (Mic.7:5)—
[for only the Holy One is trustworthy]
מֵשִׁיב מֹשֶׁה לִפְנֵי הַקָּדוֹשׁ בָּרוּךְ הוּא: רִבּוֹנוֹ שֶׁל עוֹלָם, הוֹאִיל וַאֲנִי נִפְטָר בִּנְסִיס גָּדוֹל מִן הָעוֹלָם, הַרְאֵנִי אָדָם נֶאֱמָר שֶׁיַּעֲמֹד עַל יִשְׂרָאֵל שֶׁאֵצֵא יְדֵיהֶם לְשָׁלוֹם. וְכֵן הוּא אוֹמֵר (במדבר כז יז): ״אֲשֶׁר יֵצֵא לִפְנֵיהֶם וַאֲשֶׁר יָבֹא לִפְנֵיהֶם״, וְאוֹמֵר (במדבר כז יח): ״וַיֹּאמֶר ה׳ אֶל מֹשֶׁה קַח לְךָ אֶת יְהוֹשֻׁעַ בֶּן נוּן״, וְאוֹמֵר (שה״ש ח ח): ״אָחוֹת לָנוּ קְטַנָּה וְשָׁדַיִם אֵין לָהּ״ – אַרְבַּע מַלְכֻיּוֹת מוֹשְׁלוֹת בָּהֶם בְּיִשְׂרָאֵל וְאֵין בָּהֶם חָכָם וְאֵין בָּהֶם נָבוֹן, בִּימֵי אַחְאָב מֶלֶךְ יִשְׂרָאֵל וּבִימֵי יְהוֹשָׁפָט מֶלֶךְ יְהוּדָה הָיוּ יִשְׂרָאֵל נְפוֹצִים עַל הֶהָרִים כַּצֹּאן אֲשֶׁר אֵין לָהֶם רוֹעֶה (במדבר כז יז): ״וְלֹא תִהְיֶה עֲדַת ה׳ כַּצֹּאן אֲשֶׁר אֵין לָהֶם רֹעֶה״.
Moses replied before the Blessed Holy One:
Master of the world!
Since I am departing amidst great portents,
show me the trustworthy man
who will lead Israel,
so that I can take my leave4Heb: ‘eitzei; literally, “go out.” From the root, y-tz-‘.
from them in peace!
And, in this vein, He says:
“One who shall go out5Heb: yeitz’ei. The assonance of two verbs formed from the same root lends to each a shading drawn from the other. As Moses “takes his leave” he also contemplates the needs of “going out” to war. before them [in war],
and who shall come in before them [in war]”6The insertion of “[in war]” follows the paraphrase of the same verse offered at Sifre Nu.139. (Nu.27:17).
And He says:
“Then HASHEM said to Moses:
Take to yourself Joshua b. Nun” (Nu.27:18).7Cf. ARNA:17.
2. And He says [about Israel’s leadership]:
“We have a little sister, who hasn’t yet any breasts” (Song8:8).
Four empires will rule over Israel,
yet they will have no sage,
nor even a man of insight [to guide them].
Such were the days of Ahab, King of Israel,
and the days of Yehoshafat, King of Judah:
“All Israel was scattered upon the hills
like flocks with no shepherd” (1 Kings.22:17)—
[and this is foreseen by the Torah:]
“So that the Congregation of HASHEM will not become
like flocks with no shepherd” (Nu.27:17)