But in Jewish tradition, we find a fascinating story in Devarim Rabbah that touches upon just such a concept when it comes to the death of Moses.

The text starts by asking, "What is hen?"—a Hebrew word that can mean "grace" or "behold." Rabbi Sima interprets it as a day lodging a complaint before God. According to the Etz Yosef commentary, the day protested, "Master of the universe, I will not move and will not set, as long as Moses is alive!" The day Moses was to die had arrived, and the day itself seemed to be resisting the transition of power to Joshua.

The Rabbis offer another perspective. Knowing his death was imminent, what did Moses do? Rabbi Yanai tells us he wrote thirteen Torah scrolls: twelve for the tribes and one to be placed in the Ark. Why? So that if anyone tried to falsify the Torah, there would be an original for comparison. Moses believed that by immersing himself in the Torah, “which is all life,” he could somehow delay the decree of his death.

But God signaled to the sun to set, and it refused! The sun declared, "I will not set as long as Moses exists in this world." That's why Job said, "Truly, I wept for the downtrodden [keshe yom], [my soul grieved for the indigent]" (Job 30:25) – as the day was obstinate [nitkasha] against Him. According to this interpretation, Job was lamenting Moses’s impending death, a death preceded by the day's stubborn refusal to end.

The text then shifts, pondering the meaning of "behold, your days are approaching." It’s likened to someone saying, "So-and-so filed a grievance against you before the king." Then comes the instruction, "Summon Joshua." Moses pleads with God, "Master of the universe, let Joshua take my kingdom, but I will live!" God responds, "Act toward him just as he acts toward you."

Immediately, Moses went to Joshua’s residence. Joshua, understandably, became afraid. Moses reassured him, "My master, come to me." They walked together, Moses deferentially positioning himself to Joshua's left. They entered the Tent of Meeting, and a pillar of cloud descended, separating them. When the cloud lifted, Moses asked Joshua, "What did the Divine Speech say to you?" Joshua replied, "When the Divine Speech was revealed to you, would I know what it was speaking with you?"

This is a powerful moment. Just as Moses didn't share everything God told him with Joshua, Joshua wouldn't share his divine communications with Moses. At that moment, Moses cried out, "One hundred deaths, but not one [instance of] jealousy!" Solomon echoes this sentiment in Song of Songs 8:6: “As love is as intense as death, jealousy is as cruel as the grave” – highlighting the immense love Moses had for Joshua, and the painful jealousy he felt at being replaced.

Once Moses accepted his fate, God began to console him. He said, "In this world, you led My children. In the future, too, I will lead them through you." The proof? Isaiah 63:11: "He remembered the days of old, Moses, His people."

Isn't that amazing? This passage from Devarim Rabbah gives us a glimpse into the incredibly human emotions surrounding Moses's death: fear, jealousy, acceptance, and ultimately, reassurance. It reminds us that even the greatest leaders, like Moses, grapple with mortality and the changing of the guard. And it offers a comforting thought: that even in death, a leader's influence and legacy can endure.