A prayer for Moses, the man of God. As it is written (Proverbs 15:8), "The sacrifice of the wicked is an abomination to the Lord." This refers to Balaam and Balak. When Balaam said to Balak (Numbers 23:1-29), "Build me seven altars," the Lord said to him, "I do not accept sacrifices from the wicked." (Ecclesiastes 4:6) "Better is a handful of quietness than two hands full of toil and a striving after wind."
This means that the handful of fine flour that the Israelites bring before me as a regular offering is better than all the sacrifices you offer me, which are an abomination to me. And why do I desire the prayer of the righteous? As it is written (Proverbs 15:8), "The prayer of the upright is His delight." This refers to Israel.
Therefore, let us pray to Moses. The Rabbis and Rabbi Judah ben Simon said that there are four parts to prayer, and they arranged words before the Lord. Jeremiah said (Jeremiah 32:16), "Then I prayed to the Lord," and he said after giving the deed of purchase. By arranging words, what is written above them is elevated (Jeremiah 24:1), "Behold, the baskets of figs came to the city."
And Habakkuk arranged a prayer, as it is written (Habakkuk 3:1), "A prayer of Habakkuk the prophet." What is written above this matter? (Habakkuk 1:3) "Why do you make me see iniquity, and why do you idly look at wrong?" David also said, as it is written (Psalm 17:1), "A prayer of David. Hear a just cause, O Lord."
What is written above this matter? (Psalm 10:1) "Why, O Lord, do you stand far away? Why do you hide yourself in times of trouble?" And so Moses arranged a prayer, as it is written (Deuteronomy 9:26), "So I prayed to the Lord, and said: 'O Lord God.'" What is written above this matter? (Exodus 32:11) "Why should your anger burn against your people?"
Rabbi Judah ben Simon said, "In the middle of their prayer, they should place a cantor's name." Jeremiah said (Jeremiah 32:16), "Then I prayed to the Lord." And what does it mean when it says (Psalm 17:1), "A prayer of David. Hear, O Lord, my righteous plea; listen to my cry.
Give ear to my prayer-- it does not rise from deceitful lips."? David also said (Psalm 17:14), "By your hand save me from such people, Lord, from those of this world whose reward is in this life. May what you have stored up for the wicked fill their bellies; may their children gorge themselves on it, and may there be leftovers for their little ones." Moses said (Deuteronomy 9:26), "I prayed to the Lord and said, 'Sovereign Lord, do not destroy your people, your own inheritance that you redeemed by your great power and brought out of Egypt with a mighty hand.'"
And what is meant by (Exodus 32:10), "Now leave me alone so that my anger may burn against them and that I may destroy them. Then I will make you into a great nation." But God responded, "I have forgiven them, as you asked" (Numbers 14:20). Rabbi Helbo said that Moses wrote thirteen copies of the Torah on the day he left the world, one for each tribe, and one was placed in the ark, so that if Israel should ever forge one of them, they would not be able to do so.
And he did not bless the tribe of Shimon because of what they did in Shittim. Rabbi Yehoshua of Sikhnin said in the name of Rabbi Levi, "Nevertheless, Judah was preferred with them, as it says (Joshua 19:9), 'From the portion of the children of Judah was the inheritance of the children of Simeon.'" Simeon is compared to a bull whose dealings were evil, so they tied a lion to his tail, but he still had strength.
Thus, Judah was compared to a lion, as it says (Genesis 49:9), "Judah is a lion's cub." Therefore, they were preferred with him. Rabbi Yudan said, "He did not establish a judge," and similarly it says (Judges 3:31), "After Ehud came Shamgar son of Anath, who struck down six hundred Philistines with an oxgoad. He too saved Israel."
He did not establish a king, and similarly it says (1 Kings 16:15), "In the twenty-seventh year of Asa king of Judah, Zimri reigned in Tirzah seven days." And Moses said eleven psalms in response to the eleven tribes.