How The Dead See The Dead

(Deuteronomy 34:1) "And Moses went up from the plains of Moab": it is an ascent and not a descent. "From the plains of Moab": this teaches that the Holy One, blessed be He, showed him the chain of kings destined to arise from Ruth the Moabitess, namely David and his offspring. "To Mount Nebo, the top of the peak (Pisgah)": just as this peak is set apart from the cluster and is not joined to it, so is the burial-place of Moses joined to the mountain yet not joined, with the valley between them. "That is opposite Jericho": this teaches that He showed him the chain of prophets destined to arise from Rahab the harlot. "And the LORD showed him the whole land": this teaches that He showed him the Land of Israel settled in its tranquility, and then He showed him again the oppressors who would seize hold of it. "The Gilead": this teaches that He showed him the Temple settled in its tranquility, and then He showed him again those who would lay it waste. And "Gilead" means none other than the Temple, as it is said (Jeremiah 22:6): "Gilead are you to Me, the head of Lebanon." "As far as Dan": this teaches that He showed him the land of Dan settled in its tranquility, and then He showed him again the oppressors who would seize hold of it. Another interpretation: "As far as Dan": this teaches that He showed him the tribe of Dan worshiping idolatry, as in the matter stated (Judges 18:30): "And the children of Dan set up for themselves the graven image," and then He showed him again the redeemer of Israel destined to arise from it. And who is this? This is Samson son of Manoah. (Deuteronomy 34:5) "And Moses died there": is it possible that Moses died and yet wrote "And Moses died there"? Rather, up to this point Moses wrote; from here onward Joshua wrote. Rabbi Eliezer says: A Divine Voice went forth from the midst of the camp, twelve mil by twelve mil, and it proclaimed and said: Moses has died. "By the mouth of the LORD": when the Omnipresent takes the souls of the righteous, He takes it from them with tranquility of spirit. Thus, when the Omnipresent takes the souls of the righteous, He takes it with tranquility; but when He takes the souls of the wicked, He hands it over to evil angels, to cruel angels, so that they may wrench out their souls. "His eye was not dimmed": this teaches that the eyes of the dead are dimmed. "Whom the LORD knew face to face": why is this said? Because it is said (Exodus 33:18): "And he said, Show me, I pray, Your glory." He said to him: In this world you cannot see, for it is compared to the face, as it is said (Exodus 33:20): "You cannot see My face." But you shall see in the World to Come, which is compared to the back, as it is said (Exodus 33:23): "And I will remove My hand, and you shall see My back." When did He show him? Close to death. From this you learn that the dead see.