Devarim Rabbah, a collection of rabbinic teachings on the Book of Deuteronomy, delves into the meaning of a verse from Ecclesiastes (9:11): "I again saw under the sun that the race is not to the swift…" But what does that really mean?
Rabbi Tanhuma, a prominent sage, offers a fascinating interpretation: This verse, he says, is actually talking about Moses. Just yesterday, Moses could ascend to the heavens like an eagle! He was in direct communication with God, a towering figure, a leader without equal. And yet, here he is, yearning to cross the Jordan River into the Promised Land, a seemingly simple act, but he's denied. As God says in Deuteronomy (3:27), "You will not cross this Jordan."
It’s a gut-wrenching moment. How could the man who led the Israelites through the desert, who received the Torah at Sinai, be stopped at the very threshold of his dream?
The verse continues, "And the war is not to the valiant." Again, Rabbi Tanhuma sees Moses. Remember how the angels themselves trembled before him? But now, Moses confesses, "For I was daunted due to the wrath and the fury" (Deuteronomy 9:19). The man who faced down Pharaoh, who split the Red Sea, admits to being afraid.
Then comes, "Also not to the wise is bread." This, Rabbi Tanhuma explains, relates to Moses’ wisdom. He quotes Proverbs (21:22): "The wise man goes up against the city of the mighty and removes the strength of its stronghold." Moses possessed unparalleled wisdom; some would say it came directly from Heaven. Yet, the mantle of leadership, the "bread" of authority, was taken from him and given to Joshua, son of Nun.
"And also not to the clever is wealth." Yesterday, Moses spoke with the confidence of a wealthy man, interceding with God on behalf of his people. He pleaded, "Relent from Your enflamed wrath" (Exodus 32:12), and "please pardon the iniquity of this people" (Numbers 14:19). But now, he speaks like a beggar, an indigent man. He says, "I pleaded [vaetḥanan]" (Deuteronomy 3:23), begging God to do it for him for nothing, for ḥinam, as a free gift.
Finally, "And also not to the knowledgeable is favor." Moses knew how to appease his Creator. He knew the power of prayer, the right words to say at the right time. He’d proclaimed, "Arise, Lord" (Numbers 10:35), and "repose, Lord" (Numbers 10:36), directing God's presence. But now, after pleading for seven long days, the Holy One, Blessed be He, simply tells him: "Your days are approaching."
What are we to make of this? It’s a sobering reminder that even the greatest among us face limitations. That life isn't always fair. The race isn't always to the swift, the war isn't always to the valiant. Sometimes, despite our best efforts, our deepest desires remain just out of reach.
Perhaps the lesson isn't about Moses' failure to cross the Jordan. Maybe it's about his response to that failure. He pleaded, he begged, he poured out his heart to God. Even in the face of disappointment, he never stopped striving, never stopped believing. And maybe, just maybe, that's the real victory. The unwavering faith, the persistent prayer, the acceptance of a reality we cannot change. It's a powerful message, and one that resonates just as strongly today as it did centuries ago.