The Laws Forgotten During the Mourning for Moses

"And now arise, cross this Jordan" (Joshua 1:2). Rabbi Yehudah said in the name of Shmuel: Three thousand laws were forgotten during the days of mourning for Moses. They said to Joshua, "Ask!" He said to them, "'It is not in heaven' (Deuteronomy 30:12)." They said to Samuel, "Ask!" He said to them, "'These are the commandments' (Leviticus 27:34), meaning that a prophet is not permitted to innovate anything from now on." Rabbi Yehudah said in the name of Rav: When Moses our teacher entered the Garden of Eden, he said to Joshua, "Ask of me any doubts you have to ask." Joshua said to him, "Did I ever leave you and go elsewhere? Did you not write of me, 'And his attendant Joshua son of Nun, a youth, did not depart from within the tent' (Exodus 33:11)?" Immediately Joshua's strength weakened, three hundred laws were forgotten by him, and seven hundred doubts arose for him, and all Israel rose to kill him. The Holy One, blessed be He, said to him, "To tell you them is impossible; go occupy them with war," as it is said, "Arise, cross the Jordan" (Joshua 1:2). It was taught in a baraita: One thousand seven hundred doubts concerning gezeirah shavah [verbal analogies between verses], inferences from minor to major, and the fine points of the scribes were forgotten during the days of mourning for Moses. Rabbi Abbahu said: Even so, Othniel son of Kenaz restored them through his dialectical reasoning, as it is said, "And Caleb said, 'Whoever strikes Kiriath-sefer and captures it...'" (Joshua 15:16), and it is written, "and Othniel son of Kenaz captured it" (Joshua 15:17).