1)

What did Moshe mean when he said, "... b'Yad Tishlach!"?

1.

Rashi #1: He meant Aharon, who is accustomed to being sent.

2.

Rashi #2: Rather send someone who will be able to finish the job; since Moshe would not take them into Eretz Yisrael 1 or redeem them in the future. 2

3.

Targum Yonasan: Rather send Pinchas, who (in the guise of Eliyahu ha'Navi) is destined to lead Yisrael in the days of Mashi'ach.

4.

Ramban #1 (citing Targum Onkelos) and Seforno: Why not send someone whose diction is clear, rather than a person with a speech defect, through whose mouth You will have to speak to Pharaoh. 3

5.

Ramban #2: 'Send anybody other than me, because whoever You send will be a more fitting Shali'ach than me.'

6.

Rashbam: Send whoever you want to send, but not me.

7.

Da'as Zekenim: If you want me to go, send with me a letter to advocate for me, for I am not eloquent.

8.

Oznayim la'Torah: Since, as Hashem just told him, speech and all the other faculties are in Hashem's Hands, everyone is eligible to serve as Hashem's Shali'ach. In which case, Hashem may as well send someone who has better credentials than he to begin with.

9.

Ba'al ha'Turim to (3:11): Moshe had requested kingship for himself and his seed. He said "Mi Anochi" (3:11), like David (Shmuel II 7:18) said when he was promised this. Hashem told Moshe that kingship will not pass to his seed - therefore, Moshe said to send someone else.


1

Refer to 3:9:1:3*.

2

Rashi: Since Hashem is not short of Sheluchim.

3

Ramban: As it is not Kavod that Your Shali'ach should be someone whose speech is unclear, seeing as the people will not hear when he speaks with the king. The fact that a person with such a defect is Hashem's Shali'ach, will in itself be degrading in their eyes.

QUESTIONS ON RASHI

2)

Rashi writes: "[Moshe argued,] ... For in any case, I am not destined to bring them into the Land!" But this had not yet been decreed! (Even as late as Parshas Beha'alosecha (see Bamidbar 10:29 with Rashi), Moshe implies that he is going along, when he invites Yisro to join him!)

1.

Riva: Moshe knew that he would not lead Bnei Yisrael into Eretz Kena'an, but he thought that he himself would enter.

2.

Moshav Zekenim #1 (to Bamidbar 10:29): Moshe said so lest Yisrael [despair, and] say, 'The one who took us out of Mitzrayim and did all these miracles will not enter the land, how will we enter?!'

3.

Moshav Zekenim #2 (to Bamidbar 10:29): Moshe said so due to Yisro (lest Yisro not want to go with Yisrael, if he knows that Moshe will not enter).

4.

Gur Aryeh: Even now, Moshe was aware, as a Navi, that it was Hashem's decree that he not enter the Land. 1 He thought, however, that he could annul that decree through Teshuvah and Tefilah. When Moshe spoke with others (e.g. Yisro), he spoke optimistically (i.e., that he would merit to enter). 2 But when he spoke with Hashem, it was fitting that he accept the truth of His decree. 3


1

Also refer to 3:1:1.2:5 and 3:1:1.2:5 2

.

3

See Gur Aryeh (to Bamidbar 10:29) - The decree had not yet been publicized. Also refer to 6:1:152:2.

4

The same is the case when Moshe spoke prophetically; his words reflected the decree as it stood currently (e.g. at Shiras ha'Yam, he said, "You will bring them and plant them on your holy mountain" (Shemos 15:17) - and not 'us.') Also see Gur Aryeh to Bamidbar 20:12.

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