On the last day of his life, Moses did something no prophet had ever done — he dressed his successor in public, with his own hands. He commanded that a golden throne be brought, along with a crown, a diadem of pearls, a royal cap, and purple garments. He arranged every piece before Joshua and clothed him while all Israel watched.
A herald marched through the camp crying: "Come and hear the words of the new prophet whom the Holy One has raised over you today!" All Israel rose in honor. And then Moses sat down — not on the throne, but before it, like a student sitting before his teacher. Joshua opened his mouth and expounded Torah for the first time, while Moses listened from below.
Joshua's first sermon was a flood of praise: "Blessed be the Lord God of Israel who gave the Torah through Moses my teacher, His servant and chosen one, faithful in all His house." The people responded: "Amen, Hallelujah!" Joshua spoke of a God who is One with no second, with no end to His praise and no limit to His glory, whose wonders cannot be searched and whose kingdom cannot be measured.
But Moses knew what came next. When his time arrived, he tore his garment, plucked his beard, put dust on his head, and wrapped himself in mourning. He entered his tent with a bitter cry, clapping his two hands together and weeping: "Woe to my feet that never walked in the Land of Israel! Woe to my hands that never plucked its fruit! Woe to my throat that never tasted the produce of a land flowing with milk and honey!"
Before departing, Moses turned to Israel one final time and blessed them with peace. Then he raised his voice and said: "I will see you at the resurrection of the dead. In the future that is coming, I will see you." He walked out from among them, and all Israel raised their voices in weeping — a great and bitter cry that rose all the way to the highest heavens (Deuteronomy 34:8).