Parshat Pinchas; Numbers 25:1 30:1 by Rabbi Denise L. Eger
It is this week that Moses is instructed by God about his end. Previously, God told Moses that he would not enter the Promised Land. This week’s parsha announces that the time has come. He will not cross into the Promised Land. Rather Moses will climb the heights of Abaraim (Traditionally, known as Mt. Nebo in Jordan) and there he will be “gathered to your kin, just like your brother Aaron was. (Num. 27:13)”. Moses will look down upon Eretz Yisrael but will not touch it. How disappointing for the great leader of the people. He has taken them to this point only to be told that he will not finish the task.
In Numbers 27:15 it says, “Moses spoke to Adonai,” and our tradition interprets this in two different ways. One is that Moses argues his case before God to continue in his duties. He has argued with God before. He has even changed God’s mind. The rabbis imagine Moses trying to change God’s mind once again.
The other tradition says, that Moses spoke in resignation, worrying about who will take over and who will lead the people. Moses has been clearly weary of his leadership role with little patience as was demonstrated at the waters of Meribath-Kadish. In Numbers 20, Moses brings the water from the rock by striking it rather than speaking to it. This is the reason given by God to Moses for his removal as leader of the people. Moses has lost the patience that leadership demands. Certainly as the Children of Israel cross the Jordan and try and settle Eretz Yisrael, different skills and lots of patience will be required.
Moses tells God “appoint someone over the community who shall go out before them and come in before them, and who shall take them out and bring them in, so that Adonai community may not be like sheep that have no shepherd.” (Num. 16-17). Moses still shows his love for the People Israel and their welfare. He doesn’t want to have come this far without making sure that they will be successful in the next phase and Moses knows they need focus and a leader.
God picks Joshua who has been Moses loyal lieutenant throughout this journey. It is as if he has been training for this day. Joshua accompanied Moses up Mt. Sinai. It was Joshua who was one of the two of the advance team who refused to participate in the lies about the land. Joshua inherits the mantle of leadership from Moses literally and figuratively.
Moses brings Joshua before the people and the High Priest Eleazar just as God commands. Making Joshua’s anointing not only the private selection but also a public celebration to be blessed by the priest, Moses, God and the people! For the Israelites must see that Moses willingly passes the baton of leadership to Joshua. God tells Moses, “Invest him with some of your authority, so that the whole Israelite community may obey.” (Num.17: 20).
Leaders must not be chosen only by back-room dealing but a component of leadership transition must be in plain view for the group to bless and honor the new authority. In a healthy transition the old guard gives way willingly to the new guard and with the old guard’s blessing. In this case the new authority of Joshua. Moses must be seen with him and bless him as well. Moses presented Joshua to Eleazar and the priest laid his hands upon him and ordained him the new leader. This insures a smooth transition and allows the People Israel to follow Joshua the same as they did Moses.
Posted by Lee at July 17, 2006 08:48 AM
