NUMBERS XXV:10-XXX:1
MOSHE PLACED HIS HANDS ON JEHOSHUA’S HEAD
Moshe (Moses) did not achieve all of his goals. In addition to freeing the Jewish people from the chains of slavery, Moshewas intended to lead them triumphantly to the Promised Land. He had prepared the people spiritually at Mount Sinai, where they heard the Aseret HaDibrot (Ten Words of God) that frame human behavior indispensable to both personal happiness and the success of society.
God had fought battles for the Hebrew people, as the biblical text says: HaShem yilachem lachem veatem tacharishun. He would surely do it again when the people will find themselves on the borders of the Promised Land: Canaan. The divine design was different. The conquest of Canaan required a different leadership. Moreover, from that moment on, the people would have to fight their own battles. The Aseret HaDibrot of God at Sinai had revealed to them the secret of overcoming, confidence in their own spiritual energy because of an orderly life, respectful of the rights of others.
Our biblical text describes the case of Tselofchad’s daughters, who wanted to inherit from their father. Moshe presents the question to God, who answers that in the absence of sons, daughters inherit from the father, but they must marry a member of the same tribe so that the patrimony does not pass to another tribe. Moshe thought that the case of Tselofchad‘sdaughters was propitious for clarifying the succession in his personal case. Shouldn’t his own sons inherit the rule? Why would Yehoshua (Joshua) be selected for the conquest of Canaan?
A very important lesson was given. While material goods are passed from generation to generation, the world of spirituality and command is not governed by this simple rule. Each person must personally acquire knowledge through study and dedication. Command requires a personality with special characteristics: empathy for the fate of others and the need to gain the trust of the collective.
At the time of the transmission of command, Moshe “placed his hands on the head” of Yehoshua, a Semicha (ordination) ritual that will be used for the appointment of rabbis. According to the Midrash, this Semicha can be compared to lighting a candle by using an already lit candle. Another version compares it to the spillage of a liquid into another receptacle.
An examination of the examples cited highlights one difference: while lighting a candle does not diminish the flame of the first, spilling a liquid reduces the contents of the first receptacle. The second example perhaps refers to social, economic or political command: the leader cedes part or all of his power to whoever succeeds him. On the other hand, in the case of spiritual leadership, the transmission of command does not diminish the inherent quality of the giver, it is like the flame that, when it lights another light, does not lose its energy or effectiveness. On the contrary, the teacher advances intellectually thanks to each disciple he instructs.
In the case of the priesthood, the Kohen inherits the clerical condition from his father. Of course, the Kohen must prepare to assume spiritual leadership, but since it is not an indispensable condition, there were initially cases in history of people not prepared to assume the position of Kohen Gadol (High Priest). In fact, in certain cases, the appointment responded to the political needs of the moment.
Although Yehoshua eventually assumed the position of leadership that had been occupied by Moshe, unlike Moshe, Yehoshua was not a Kohen. Although Aharon had been selected by God for the priesthood, his brother Moshe had held that role at times. So, Moshe did not have to consult with Aharon, because he also had the characteristic of Kohen. Yehoshua, on the other hand, had a lesser leadership than Moshe, because he had to consult with the Urim veTumim carried by Eleazar, Aharon’s successor as Kohen Gadol.
MITZVAH: ORDINANCE OF THE TORAH IN THIS PARSHA
CONTAINS 6 POSITIVE MITSVOT
400. Numbers 27:8 – Laws of inheritance.
401. Numbers 28:2 The daily cremated offering.
402. Numbers 28:9 The additional Shabbat offering .
403. Numbers 28:11-15 The additional offering Rosh Chodesh.
404. Numbers 28:26 The additional offering of Shavuot.
405. Numbers 29:1 Blowing the Shofar on Rosh Hashanah.
