What is the significance of the Lashon "Vayedaber Moshe el Hashem ... " - the only place in the Torah where this Lashon is used.
Ba'al ha'Turim: Moshe was reminding Hashem of all the times that Hashem commanded him (with a Lashon of "Vayedaber") and he obeyed. 1
What are the connotations of the (otherwise superfluous) word "Leimor"?
Rashi (on Bamidbar, 12:13): This is one of four places 1 where Moshe asked Hashem to answer him - as to whether He would fulfill his ensuing request or not.
R. Bachye (citing a Midrash): To portray the greatness of Moshe Rabeinu by comparing him to Hakadosh-Baruch-Hu ? ?Just as Hashem spoke to Moshe with Dibur and Amirah, so too did he speak to Hashem with Dibur and Amirah?.
Refer to 12:13:1:1*.
What is the significance of the fact that Moshe requested that Hashem appoint a leader to replace him at this juncture?
Rashi #1: It teaches us the praiseworthiness of (Moshe and all) Tzadikim, who, before they leave this world, ignore their personal needs 1 and concern themselves with the needs of the Tzibur.
Rashi #2: Because, now that Hashem instructed him to give Tzlafchad's portion to his daughters, he thought 2 that perhaps the time had come to claim his own needs, and by the same token, his sons would inherit his position. 3
Refer to 12:13:1:1*. Refer also to 27:16:1:1, where Rashi seems to contradict what he writes here.
Rashi: But Hashem replied that it was his faithful servant Yehoshua, who did not move from the tent, who would reap the benefits of his service and take over the mantle of leadership from him - as Shlomo said in Mishlei, 27:18 "The one who takes care of the fig-tree will eat its fruit!"
