דברים רבה י״אDevarim Rabbah 11

Section 1א׳

הֲלָכָה, אָדָם מִיִּשְׂרָאֵל שֶׁעָבַר לִפְנֵי הַתֵּבָה וְטָעָה כֵּיצַד הוּא צָרִיךְ לַעֲשׂוֹת, כָּךְ שָׁנוּ חֲכָמִים, הָעוֹבֵר לִפְנֵי הַתֵּבָה וְטָעָה יַעֲבֹר אַחֵר תַּחְתָּיו לִמְּדוּנוּ רַבּוֹתֵינוּ, אָמַר רַבִּי יוֹסֵי בַּר חֲנִינָא טָעָה בְּשָׁלשׁ בְּרָכוֹת הָרִאשׁוֹנוֹת חוֹזֵר בִּתְחִלַּת מָגֵן. רַב הוּנָא אָמַר אִם טָעָה בְּשָׁלשׁ בְּרָכוֹת אֶמְצָעִיּוֹת חוֹזֵר לְהָאֵל הַקָּדוֹשׁ. רַב אָמַר אִם טָעָה בְּשָׁלשׁ אַחֲרוֹנוֹת חוֹזֵר לִתְחִלַּת מוֹדִים. דָּבָר אַחֵר, הָעוֹבֵר לִפְנֵי הַתֵּבָה וְטָעָה יַעֲבֹר אַחֵר תַּחְתָּיו, וּמִנַּיִן הוּא מַתְחִיל, מִתְּחִלַּת הַבְּרָכָה שֶׁטָּעָה. וּמֵהֵיכָן לָמְדוּ, מֵאֲבוֹת הָעוֹלָם, לָמָּה, שֶׁלֹא הָיָה אֶחָד מַתְחִיל אֶלָּא מִמָּקוֹם שֶׁפָּסַק חֲבֵרוֹ, כֵּיצַד, אַבְרָהָם בֵּרַךְ אֶת יִצְחָק, מִנַּיִן, דִּכְתִיב (בראשית כה, ה): וַיִּתֵּן אַבְרָהָם אֶת כָּל אֲשֶׁר לוֹ לְיִצְחָק, וּמַה נָתַן לוֹ, רַבִּי יְהוּדָה וְרַבִּי נְחֶמְיָה, רַבִּי יְהוּדָה אוֹמֵר בְּכוֹרָה נָתַן לוֹ, כָּעִנְיָן שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר (בראשית כה, לג): וַיִּמְכֹּר אֶת בְּכֹרָתוֹ לְיַעֲקֹב. רַבִּי נְחֶמְיָה אָמַר בְּרָכָה נָתַן לוֹ, כָּעִנְיָן שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר (בראשית כז, כח): וְיִתֶּן לְךָ הָאֱלֹהִים. עָמַד יִצְחָק לְבָרֵךְ אֶת יַעֲקֹב, אָמַר, מִמָּקוֹם שֶׁפָּסַק אַבָּא מִשָּׁם אֲנִי מַתְחִיל, אַבָּא הִפְסִיק בְּוַיִתֵּן, אַף אֲנִי מַתְחִיל בִּוְיִתֶּן, מִנַּיִן, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר: וְיִתֶּן לְךָ הָאֱלֹהִים. וּבַמֶּה חָתַם יִצְחָק בִּקְרִיָּה, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר (בראשית כח, א): וַיִּקְרָא יִצְחָק אֶל יַעֲקֹב וַיְבָרֶךְ אֹתוֹ, עָמַד יַעֲקֹב לְבָרֵךְ אֶת הַשְּׁבָטִים, אָמַר, אֵינִי פּוֹתֵחַ אֶלָּא בִּקְרִיָּה, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר (בראשית מט, א): וַיִּקְרָא יַעֲקֹב אֶל בָּנָיו, וּבַמֶּה חָתַם, בְּזֹאת, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר (בראשית מט, כח): וְזֹאת אֲשֶׁר דִּבֶּר לָהֶם אֲבִיהֶם, עָמַד משֶׁה לְבָרֵךְ אֶת יִשְׂרָאֵל, אָמַר, אֵינִי פּוֹתֵחַ אֶלָּא בְּזֹאת, מִנַּיִן, מִמַּה שֶּׁקָּרִינוּ בָּעִנְיָן (דברים לג, א): וְזֹאת הַבְּרָכָה.

“This is the blessing that Moses, the man of God, blessed the children of Israel before his death” (Deuteronomy 33:1). Halakha: A person of Israel who passed before the ark and erred, how must he act? So the Sages taught: One who passes before the ark and errs, let another pass in his stead. Our Rabbis taught us, Rabbi Yosei bar Ḥanina said: If one erred in the first three blessings, he returns to the beginning of “Shield.” Rav Huna said: If one erred in the middle three blessings, he returns to “the holy God.” Rav said: If one erred in the final three, he returns to the beginning of “we give thanks.” Another matter, one who passes before the ark and erred, another passes in his place. From where does he begin? It is from the beginning of the blessing where he erred. From where did they derive it? It is from the patriarchs of the world. Why? It is because each of them would begin only from where the other ended. How so? Abraham blessed Isaac. From where is it derived? It is as it is written: “Abraham gave all that was his to Isaac” (Genesis 25:5). What did he give him? Rabbi Yehuda and Rabbi Neḥemya, Rabbi Yehuda says: He gave him the birthright, like the matter that is stated: “He sold his birthright to Jacob” (Genesis 25:33). Rabbi Neḥemya said: He gave him a blessing, like the matter that is stated: “May God give you [of the dew of the heavens and the fat of the earth…]” (Genesis 27:28). Isaac arose to bless Jacob, he said: ‘From the place that father ended, I will begin. Father ended with veyiten, I, too, will begin with veyiten,’ as is it is stated: “May God give you [veyiten lekha].” With what did Isaac end? It was with summoning, as it is stated: “Isaac summoned Jacob and blessed him” (Genesis 28:1). Jacob arose to bless the tribes, he said: ‘I will begin only with summoning,’ as it is stated: “Jacob summoned his sons” (Genesis 49:1). With what did he end? It was with zot, as it is stated: “And this [vezot] is what their father spoke to them” (Genesis 49:28). Moses arose to bless Israel, he said: ‘I will begin only with zot.’ From where is it derived? It is from what is written regarding the matter: “This is [vezot] the blessing.”

Section 2ב׳

דָּבָר אַחֵר, וְזֹאת הַבְּרָכָה, זֶה שֶׁאָמַר הַכָּתוּב (תהלים כד, ג): מִי יַעֲלֶה בְּהַר ה', רַבָּנָן אָמְרֵי מְדַבֵּר בְּמשֶׁה, מִי יַעֲלֶה בְּהַר ה' זֶה משֶׁה, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר (שמות יט, ג): וּמשֶׁה עָלָה אֶל הָאֱלֹהִים וגו', (תהלים כד, ג): וּמִי יָקוּם בִּמְקוֹם קָדְשׁוֹ זֶה משֶׁה, מִנַּיִן, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר (שמות ג, ה): כִּי הַמָּקוֹם אֲשֶׁר אַתָּה עוֹמֵד עָלָיו אַדְמַת קֹדֶשׁ הוּא. (תהלים כד, ד): נְקִי כַפַּיִם זֶה משֶׁה, מִנַּיִן, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר (במדבר טז, טו): לֹא חֲמוֹר אֶחָד מֵהֶם נָשָׂאתִי וגו', (תהלים כד, ד): וּבַר לֵבָב זֶה משֶׁה. אָמַר רַבִּי יִצְחָק אֲפִלּוּ הֶדְיוֹט אִם אוֹמֵר לַחֲבֵרוֹ כָּזֶה, גְּנַאי הוּא לוֹ, וּמשֶׁה אָמַר (שמות לב, יא): לָמָּה ה' יֶחֱרֶה אַפְּךָ בְּעַמֶּךָ, אֶלָּא לִבּוֹ בָּרוּר עָלָיו שֶׁאֵינוֹ תּוֹבֵעַ צֹרֶךְ עַצְמוֹ אֶלָּא לְצָרְכָּן שֶׁל יִשְׂרָאֵל. (תהלים כד, ד): אֲשֶׁר לֹא נָשָׂא לַשָּׁוְא נַפְשִׁי, זוֹ נַפְשׁוֹ שֶׁל מִצְרִי, שֶׁלֹא נְטָלָהּ עַל חִנָּם אֶלָּא כַּדִּין עָשָׂה. (תהלים כד, ד): וְלֹא נִשְׁבַּע לְמִרְמָה זֶה משֶׁה, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר (שמות ב, כא): וַיּוֹאֶל משֶׁה לָשֶׁבֶת אֶת הָאִישׁ. (תהלים כד, ה): יִשָֹּׂא בְרָכָה מֵאֵת ה' זֶה משֶׁה. אָמַר רַבִּי תַּנְחוּמָא אַל תְּהִי קוֹרֵא בוֹ אֶלָּא יַשִֹּׂיא בְּרָכָה לַאֲחֵרִים.

Another matter, “this is the blessing” – that is what the verse said: “Who will ascend the mountain of the Lord?” (Psalms 24:3). The Rabbis said: It is speaking of Moses. “Who will ascend the mountain of the Lord?” – this is Moses, as it is stated: “Moses ascended to God…” (Exodus 19:3). “Who will stand in His holy place?” (Psalms 24:3) – this is Moses. From where is it derived? It is as it is stated: “As the place upon which you are standing is sacred ground” (Exodus 3:5). “One who has clean hands” (Psalms 24:4). From where is it derived? It is as it is stated: “Not one donkey did I take from them…” (Numbers 16:15). “And a pure heart” (Psalms 24:4) – this is Moses. Rabbi Yitzḥak said: Even a common person, if another were to speak to him in that manner, it would be a disgrace for him, and Moses said: “Lord, why will your wrath be enflamed against your people?” (Exodus 32:11). It is, though, that it was clear in his heart that he was not making demands on his own behalf, but on behalf of Israel. “Who has not raised his soul for naught” (Psalms 24:4) – this is the soul of the Egyptian, as he did not take it for naught; rather, he did so justifiably. “Nor taken an oath deceitfully” (Psalms 24:4) – this is Moses, as it is stated: “Moses decided [vayoel] to live with the man” (Exodus 2:21). “He will receive [yisa] a blessing from the Lord” (Psalms 24:5) – this is Moses. Rabbi Tanḥuma said: Read it only as yasi –he will transmit a blessing to others.

Section 3ג׳

וְזֹאת הַבְּרָכָה, זֶה שֶׁאָמַר הַכָּתוּב (משלי לא, כט): רַבּוֹת בָּנוֹת עָשׂוּ חָיִל וְאַתְּ עָלִית עַל כֻּלָּנָה, מַהוּ וְאַתְּ עָלִית עַל כֻּלָּנָה, מְדַבֵּר בְּמשֶׁה, עַל שֶׁנִּתְעַלָּה יוֹתֵר מִן הַכֹּל. כֵּיצַד, אָדָם הָרִאשׁוֹן אוֹמֵר לְמשֶׁה אֲנִי גָּדוֹל מִמְּךָ שֶׁנִּבְרֵאתִי בְּצַלְּמוֹ שֶׁל הַקָּדוֹשׁ בָּרוּךְ הוּא, מִנַּיִן, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר (בראשית א, כז): וַיִּבְרָא אֱלֹהִים אֶת הָאָדָם בְּצַלְמוֹ, אוֹמֵר לוֹ משֶׁה, אֲנִי נִתְעַלֵּיתִי יוֹתֵר מִמְּךָ, אַתָּה כָּבוֹד שֶׁנִּתַּן לְךָ נִטַּל מִמְּךָ, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר (תהלים מט, יג): וְאָדָם בִּיקָר בַּל יָלִין, אֲבָל אֲנִי זִיו הַפָּנִים שֶׁנָּתַן לִי הַקָּדוֹשׁ בָּרוּךְ הוּא, עִמִּי הוּא, מִנַּיִן, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר (דברים לד, ז): לֹא כָהֲתָה עֵינוֹ וְלֹא נָס לֵחֹה. דָּבָר אַחֵר, נֹחַ אָמַר לְמשֶׁה אֲנִי גָּדוֹל מִמְּךָ שֶׁנִּצַּלְתִּי מִדּוֹר הַמַּבּוּל, אָמַר לוֹ משֶׁה אֲנִי נִתְעַלֵּיתִי יוֹתֵר מִמְּךָ, אַתָּה הִצַּלְתָּ אֶת עַצְמְךָ וְלֹא הָיָה בְךָ כֹּחַ לְהַצִּיל אֶת דּוֹרְךָ, אֲבָל אֲנִי הִצַּלְתִּי אֶת עַצְמִי וְהִצַּלְתִּי אֶת דּוֹרִי כְּשֶׁנִּתְחַיְּבוּ כְּלָיָה בָּעֵגֶל, מִנַּיִן, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר (שמות לב, יד): וַיִּנָּחֶם ה' עַל הָרָעָה אֲשֶׁר דִּבֶּר לַעֲשׂוֹת לְעַמּוֹ, לְמָה הַדָּבָר דּוֹמֶה לִשְׁתֵּי סְפִינוֹת שֶׁהָיוּ בַּיָּם וְהָיוּ בְּתוֹכָן שְׁנֵי קַבַּרְנִיטִים, אֶחָד הִצִּיל אֶת עַצְמוֹ וְלֹא הִצִּיל אֶת סְפִינָתוֹ, וְאֶחָד הִצִּיל אֶת עַצְמוֹ וְאֶת סְפִינָתוֹ, לְמִי מְקַלְּסִין לֹא לְאוֹתוֹ שֶׁהִצִּיל אֶת עַצְמוֹ וְאֶת סְפִינָתוֹ, כָּךְ נֹחַ לֹא הִצִּיל אֶלָּא אֶת עַצְמוֹ, אֲבָל משֶׁה הִצִּיל אֶת עַצְמוֹ וְאֶת דּוֹרוֹ, הֱוֵי וְאַתְּ עָלִית עַל כֻּלָּנָה. דָּבָר אַחֵר, אַבְרָהָם אוֹמֵר לְמשֶׁה אֲנִי גָּדוֹל מִמְּךָ שֶׁהָיִיתִי זָן לָעוֹבְרִים וְשָׁבִים, אוֹמֵר לוֹ משֶׁה אֲנִי נִתְעַלֵּיתִי יוֹתֵר מִמְּךָ, אַתָּה הָיִיתָ זָן בְּנֵי אָדָם עֲרֵלִים, וַאֲנִי הָיִיתִי זָן בְּנֵי אָדָם מְהוּלִים, וְלֹא עוֹד אֶלָּא אַתְּ הָיִיתָ זָן בַּיִּשּׁוּב, וַאֲנִי הָיִיתִי זָן בַּמִּדְבָּר. יִצְחָק אָמַר לְמשֶׁה אֲנִי גָּדוֹל מִמְּךָ שֶׁפָּשַׁטְתִּי אֶת צַוָּארִי עַל גַּבֵּי הַמִּזְבֵּחַ וְרָאִיתִי אֶת פְּנֵי הַשְּׁכִינָה, אָמַר לוֹ משֶׁה אֲנִי נִתְעַלֵּיתִי יוֹתֵר מִמְּךָ, שֶׁאַתָּה רָאִיתָ פְּנֵי הַשְּׁכִינָה וְכָהוּ עֵינֶיךָ, מִנַּיִן, דִּכְתִיב (בראשית כז, א): וַיְהִי כִּי זָקֵן יִצְחָק וַתִּכְהֶיןָ עֵינָיו מֵרְאֹת, מַהוּ מֵרְאֹת, מֵרְאוֹת בַּשְּׁכִינָה, אֲבָל אֲנִי הָיִיתִי מְדַבֵּר עִם הַשְּׁכִינָה פָּנִים בְּפָנִים וְלֹא כָהוּ עֵינָי, מִנַּיִן, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר (שמות לד, כט): וּמשֶׁה לֹא יָדַע כִּי קָרַן עוֹר פָּנָיו. יַעֲקֹב אָמַר לְמשֶׁה אֲנִי גָּדוֹל מִמְּךָ שֶׁנִּפְגַּשְׁתִּי עִם הַמַּלְאָךְ וְנִצַּחְתִּי אוֹתוֹ, אָמַר לוֹ משֶׁה אַתָּה נִפְגַּשְׁתָּ עִם הַמַּלְאָךְ בַּפִּירְבּוֹרִין שֶׁלָּךְ, וַאֲנִי עוֹלֶה אֶצְלָן בַּפִּירְבּוֹרִין שֶׁלָּהֶן וְהֵן מִתְיָרְאִין מִמֶּנִּי, מִנַּיִן, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר (תהלים סח, יג): מַלְכֵי צְבָאוֹת יִדֹּדוּן יִדֹּדוּן וגו', לְפִיכָךְ אָמַר שְׁלֹמֹה: רַבּוֹת בָּנוֹת עָשׂוּ חָיִל וגו', אָמַר הַקָּדוֹשׁ בָּרוּךְ הוּא הוֹאִיל וְנִתְעַלָּה מִן הַכֹּל הוּא יְבָרֵךְ אֶת יִשְׂרָאֵל, וְזֹאת הַבְּרָכָה.

“This is the blessing” – that is what the verse said: “Many women have performed valiantly, but you have surpassed them all” (Proverbs 31:29). What is, “but you have surpassed them all”? It is speaking of Moses, because he was exalted over them all. How so? Adam the first man says to Moses: ‘I am greater than you, as I was created in the image of the Holy One blessed be He.’ From where is it derived? It is as it is stated: “God created man in His own image” (Genesis 1:27). Moses says to him: ‘I am more exalted than you, as you, the glory that was given to you was taken from you, as it is stated: “Man [Adam] does not abide in honor” (Psalms 49:13). But I, the radiance of my face that the Holy One blessed be He gave me, it remains with me.’ From where is it derived? It is as it is stated: “His eye had not dimmed, and his vitality had not departed” (Deuteronomy 34:7). Another matter, Noah said to Moses: ‘I am greater than you, as I was delivered from the generation of the Flood.’ Moses said to him: ‘I am more exalted than you, as you saved yourself, but you did not have the ability to save your generation. But I saved myself and saved my generation when they incurred liability to be eradicated due to the [sin of the Golden] Calf.’ From where is it derived? It is as it is stated: “The Lord reconsidered the evil that He had spoken of doing to His people” (Exodus 32:14). To what is the matter comparable? It is to two ships that were at sea, and there were two captains in them. One saved himself but did not save his ship, and one saved himself and his ship. Whom do they laud? Is it not the one who saved himself and his ship? So, Noah saved only himself, but Moses saved himself and his generation. That is, “but you have surpassed them all.” Another matter, Abraham said to Moses: ‘I am greater than you, as I would provide sustenance to the passersby.’ Moses said to him: ‘I am more exalted than you, as you would provide sustenance for uncircumcised people, but I provided sustenance for circumcised people. Moreover, you would provide sustenance in the settled area, and I would provide sustenance in the wilderness.’ Isaac said to Moses: ‘I am greater than you as I extended my neck upon the altar and saw the countenance of the Divine Spirit.’ Moses said to him: ‘I am more exalted than you, as you saw the countenance of the Divine Presence and your eyes dimmed.’ From where is it derived? It is as it is written: “It was when Isaac was old, his eyes dimmed from seeing” (Genesis 27:1). What is “from seeing”? It is from seeing the Divine Presence. ‘But I would speak with the Divine Presence face to face and my eyes did not dim.’ From where is it derived? It is as it is stated: “Moses did not know that the skin of his face was radiant” (Exodus 34:29). Jacob said to Moses: ‘I am greater than you, as I encountered the angel and overcame him.’ Moses said to him: ‘You encountered the angel in your environment, but I ascended to them in their environment, and they fear me.’ From where is it derived? It is as it is stated: “The kings of armies [malkhei tzevaot] flee again and again…” (Psalms 68:13). That is why Solomon said: “Many women have performed valiantly, [but you have surpassed them all].” The Holy One blessed be He said: ‘Since he was exalted above everyone, he will bless Israel’ – “this is the blessing.”