Another matter: “On the day that [Moses] concluded” – it is not written here, “on the day that he erected,” but rather, “on the day that [Moses] concluded [kalot].” It was the day that demons were eliminated [shekalu] from the world. “It was on the day that Moses concluded…” – that is what is written: “The guardian of a fig tree will eat its fruit…” (Proverbs 27:18). It is speaking of Joshua, who attended to Moses, just as it says: “And his attendant, Joshua son of Nun, a lad, would not depart from within the tent” (Exodus 33:11).
Why was the Torah likened to a fig tree? It is because most trees, the olive tree, the vine, the date tree, are each harvested all at once, while the fig tree is harvested little by little. So, the Torah, today one studies a little, and the next day a lot, because the Torah is not learned in one year nor in two. In its regard it is written: “The guardian of a fig tree.”
What is “will eat its fruit”? The fruit of Torah is kingdom and dominion, as it is stated: “Through me kings reign…Through me rulers rule” (Proverbs 8:15–16).40Stated from the perspective of wisdom, or the Torah. That is what transpired for Joshua. Moses’ sons did not inherit his position; rather, Joshua inherited his position, just as it says: “Take you Joshua the son of Nun…[and lay your hand upon him]” (Numbers 27:18).
“And the protector of his master will be honored” (Proverbs 27:18) – this is Joshua, who would attend to Moses day and night, just as it says: “Would not depart from within the tent.” And it says: “Moses, my master, restrain them” (Numbers 11:28);41Eldad and Medad were prophesying in the camp, and the content of their prophecy was not in keeping with the honor due Moses. Joshua turned to Moses to stop them. therefore, the Holy One blessed be He honored him.
What honor did the Holy One blessed be He perform for him? Because this is what he said in Joshua’s regard: “Before Elazar the priest he shall stand, and he will inquire for him regarding the judgment of the Urim…” (Numbers 27:21). Because he attended to his master, he merited the Divine Spirit, as it is stated: “It was after the death of Moses, [servant of the Lord, that the Lord said to Joshua son of Nun, Moses’ attendant, saying]” (Joshua 1:1).
The verse need not have said “Moses’ attendant.” Why is it stated? It is to say to you that because he was Moses’ attendant, he merited prophecy. That is, “will be honored.”
Another matter: “The guardian of a fig tree [will eat its fruit]” (Proverbs 27:18) – the Holy One blessed be He does not withhold the reward of any creature. Any place that a person toils and devotes his life to a matter, the Holy One blessed be He does not withhold his reward. If you would like to know a proof, Solomon built the Temple, as it is stated: “Solomon built the Temple, and he completed it“ (I Kings 6:14).
Because David devoted his life to the Temple that was built, as it is stated: “Remember, Lord, for David, all of his afflictions.… I will not enter the roof of my house.… I will not give sleep to my eyes.… until I find a place for the Lord” (Psalms 132:1, 3–5), the Holy One blessed be He did not withhold his reward, but rather He attributed it to his name. “A psalm, a song for the dedication of the Temple to David” (Psalms 30:1) – it is not written here, “to Solomon,” but “to David.”
That is, “the guardian of a fig tree will eat its fruit.” Likewise, you find regarding Moses, who devoted his life to three matters and they were called by his name. These are laws, Torah, and the Tabernacle, as it is written: “Moses sat to judge the people…[from the morning until the evening]” (Exodus 18:13). They were called by his name, as it is written: “He performed the righteousness of the Lord, and His ordinances with Israel” (Deuteronomy 33:21).
Torah, from where is it derived? It is as it is stated: “Moses was at the mountaintop forty days [and forty nights]” (Exodus 24:18). It is called by his name, as it is stated: “Remember the Torah of Moses My servant” (Malachi 3:22). The Tabernacle, from where is it derived?
It is because you find that Moses would circulate among the craftsmen at all hours of every day to teach them how to perform the labor so they would not err in its regard, because the Holy One blessed be He said to him: “See and craft in accordance with their form [that you are shown on the mountain]” (Exodus 25:40). Therefore, it is written regarding each and every item: “As the Lord commanded Moses,” as he would not move from overseeing them.
Likewise it says: “Moses saw all the labor, [and behold, they had performed it; as the Lord had commanded, so they had performed], and Moses blessed them” (Exodus 39:43). What blessing did he recite? “May the grace of the Lord our God [be upon us, and our handiwork…]” (Psalms 90:17). He said to them: May the Divine Presence rest upon your handiwork.
Rabbi Ḥiyya bar Yosef said: All seven days of the inauguration, Moses would erect the Tabernacle and dismantle it twice each day. If you say that an individual from the tribe of Levi would assist him, that is not so. Rather, the Sages said that he would put it in place and dismantle it, and no individual from Israel assisted him, as it is stated: “It was on the day that Moses concluded.” That is why it is called by his name, as it does not say: “On the day that he erected,” but rather, “on the day that [Moses] concluded [erecting]” – the day that his erecting concluded. It mentioned his name there. That is why it is stated: “That Moses concluded.”