Pisqa’ 14¹¹⁷

1. “And you urged me on, saying: “What you propose to do is good” (Dt. 1:14). You might have said: O, Master Moses! From whom is it most proper to learn Torah— from you, or from your disciple, or from your disciple’s disciple? Wouldn’t it be preferable to learn from you, since you suffered for it? This conforms with what is said: “And he stayed there with HASHEM for forty days and forty nights, eating no bread and drinking no water.” (Ex. 34:28). And, moreover: “I remained on the mountain for forty days and forty nights, eating no bread and drinking no water” (Dt. 9:9). But, I know what you concealed from me! You actually were thinking: Now he’ll appoint over us 80,000¹¹⁸ judges, give or take! And if I am not among them, then my son! And if not my son, then my grandson! Let us, then, bring [such an appointee] a gift, so that he’ll favor us in court! This is why it is said: “And you urged me on” (Dt. 1:14)— for when I delayed action on the issue, you urged: Let the matter be quickly done!

footnotes: ¹¹⁷ H:38; JN1:47-48. ¹¹⁸ The figure of 80,000 judicial appointees is consistent throughout the parallels: B. San.18a, Y. San,1:3,19c, Y.San.10:2, 28d. F:23, n.15, derives the figure from the number of tribal commanders appointed as candidates for positions on Moses’ Sanhedrin (see Dt. 1:15-16).