Pisqa’ 304¹

1. “And HASHEM said to Moses: Indeed, your days are dwindling down to death” (Dt. 31:14). R. Shimon b. Yohai says: Blessed be the True Judge,² the Lord of all redemptive deeds, before Whom there is no injustice or favoritism! And, in this vein, He says: “Do not place your trust in a friend and don’t rely upon a confidante” ³, I rely upon BDB:48. (Mic. 7:5)— [for only the Holy One is trustworthy]

footnotes: ¹ H:293-294;JN2:289-290. ² =M. Ber.9:2. According to the Mishnah, this blessing is recited upon hearing bad news. ³ For the translation of ‘aluf

Master of the world! Since I am departing amidst great portents, show me the trustworthy man who will lead Israel, so that I can take my leave⁴; literally, “go out.” From the root, y-tz-‘. from them in peace!

“One who shall go out⁵ The assonance of two verbs formed from the same root lends to each a shading drawn from the other. As Moses “takes his leave” he also contemplates the needs of “going out” to war. **before them [in war], **and who shall come in before them [in war]”**⁶ (Nu. 27:17).

**Take to yourself Joshua b. Nun” (Nu. 27:18).**⁷ 2. And He says [about Israel’s leadership]: “We have a little sister, who hasn’t yet any breasts” (Song 8:8). Four empires will rule over Israel, yet they will have no sage, nor even a man of insight [to guide them]. Such were the days of Ahab, King of Israel, and the days of Yehoshafat, King of Judah: “All Israel was scattered upon the hills like flocks with no shepherd” (1 Kings. 22:17)— [and this is foreseen by the Torah:] “So that the Congregation of HASHEM will not become like flocks with no shepherd” (Nu. 27:17)

footnotes: ⁴ Heb: ‘eitzei ⁵ Heb: yeitz’ei. ⁶ The insertion of “[in war]” follows the paraphrase of the same verse offered at Sifre Nu. 139. ⁷ Cf. ARNA:17.