The Legends of the Jews, that incredible compilation of rabbinic stories and folklore assembled by Louis Ginzberg, gives us a glimpse into a truly human moment for the greatest prophet of them all. It's a story of succession, humility, and maybe even a touch of jealousy.
Picture this: The Israelites, accustomed to gathering before Moses's tent to receive God's word, are bewildered. Moses is nowhere to be found. They learn he's gone to Joshua, his loyal disciple. So, naturally, they head over there too.
And what do they see? Moses, standing respectfully before Joshua, who is seated! Can you imagine the shock? "What's going on here?!" they essentially shout at Joshua. "Why are you sitting while our teacher, Moses, stands before you with bowed head and folded hands?" According to the tale, they were so angry they would have killed Joshua on the spot, but a cloud descended, shielding him. Dramatic, right?
Joshua, mortified, immediately rose and cried out to Moses, "My father, my teacher! You raised me, you taught me wisdom! Why are you doing this? You'll bring Divine punishment upon me!" It's a powerful image of respect and fear of upsetting the natural order.
The people then implore Moses to teach them the Torah as usual. But Moses replies, "I don't have permission to do so." They persist, of course, until a voice from heaven booms, "Learn from Joshua." The transition is happening, whether they like it or not.
Finally, the people agree to acknowledge Joshua as their new teacher. They gather before him, Moses seated at his right, and Aaron’s sons, Eleazar and Ithamar, at his left. This is it, the official passing of the torch.
But here's where the story takes a truly poignant turn. As Joshua begins his discourse, uttering the words, "Praised be God that taketh delight in the pious and their teachings," something extraordinary happens. The treasures of wisdom, the very essence of divine knowledge, vanish from Moses and pass into Joshua's possession.
And Moses? He can't even follow Joshua's lecture! Talk about feeling obsolete!
Afterward, the Israelites ask Moses to review what Joshua taught. "I don't know how to reply to your request," Moses confesses. He tries to explain Joshua's words, but he can't, because he simply didn't understand them.
This is where the story culminates in a raw, honest moment of vulnerability. Moses turns to God and cries out, "Lord of the world! Until now I wished not for life, but now I long to die. Rather a hundred deaths, than one jealousy."
That last line… "Rather a hundred deaths, than one jealousy." It's a powerful statement, revealing the internal struggle of a man who has dedicated his life to serving God and leading his people, now facing the reality of his own mortality and the rise of a new generation. It’s a deeply human emotion, relatable even to those of us who aren't prophets.
What does this story from Legends of the Jews, drawing perhaps from sources like Midrash Rabbah, tell us? Perhaps it’s about the inevitability of change, the importance of humility, and the bittersweet reality of seeing our students surpass us. It reminds us that even the greatest among us are not immune to the pangs of jealousy and the fear of being left behind. And maybe, just maybe, it encourages us to embrace the future, even when it means letting go of the past.