“I pleaded with the Lord” – this is what the verse said: “A poor person speaks with pleas, and a wealthy one responds harshly” (Proverbs 18:23). Rabbi Tanḥuma said: “A poor person speaks with pleas” – this is Moses, who came to his Creator with pleas. “And a wealthy one responds harshly” – the wealthy One of the world, namely the Holy One blessed be He. He answered him harshly, as it is stated: “Do not continue speaking to Me” (Deuteronomy 3:26).
Another matter: Rabbi Yoḥanan said: “A poor person speaks with pleas [taḥanunim]” (Proverbs 18:23) – these are the prophets of Israel. “And a wealthy one responds harshly” (Proverbs 18:23) – these are the prophets of the nations of the world. Rabbi Yoḥanan said: There was no one in the nations of the world more righteous than Job, and he came only with reproaches [tokhaḥot], as it is stated: “I would organize my case before Him and fill my mouth with arguments [tokhaḥot]” (Job 23:4).
There were none greater among the prophets than Moses and Isaiah, and both of them came only with pleas. Isaiah said: “Lord, be gracious to us [ḥanenu]; we have longed for You” (Isaiah 33:2), and Moses said: “I pleaded [va’etḥanan] with the Lord.” Another matter: “I pleaded with the Lord” – to what is the matter comparable? To a noblewoman who bore a child.5Some interpret this to refer to a concubine of the king (see Midrash HaMevo’ar).
In any event, the meaning is that because she bore a child to the king or ruler, she could enter the palace whenever she wanted. All the days that her son was alive, she would enter the palace with impunity. When her son died, she began asking to enter with pleas. So, as long as Israel was alive in the wilderness, Moses would enter before the Holy One blessed be He with impunity: “Lord, why will Your wrath be enflamed against Your people” (Exodus 32:11)?
“Please pardon the iniquity of this people…” (Numbers 14:19). When Israel died in the wilderness,6This refers to the generation that had experienced the exodus from Egypt. he began asking to enter the Land of Israel with pleas – “I pleaded.”