Rav Simlai said that we should learn how to daven from Moshe Rabeinu. And he brings Moshe's prayer for himself "Ebra Nu V'ereh Es Ha'aretz". But this Tefilah was not answered! Rav Simlai himself said in Sotah 14a that the reason Moshe wanted to enter Eretz Yisroel was because many mitzvos could only be kept in E.Y.
So why would R' Simlai bring a proof of how to daven, from a Tefilah that was not successful?
He could bring this proof from Chana. She also began by saying "Hash-m Tzevokos" before asking for her personal request. And she WAS answered.
Thank you for considering my question.
Alex Lebovits, Toronto, canada
Great question!
The Pnei Yehoshua asks it and answers based on the conclusion of the Gemara that you mentioned in Sotah and a concept mentioned in Mesechta Shabbos.
1. The Gemara in Sotah concludes that the reasonn why Moshe Rabeinu yearned to enter Eretz Yisrael was not in order to eat its sweet fruits, but rather he wanted to merit the spiritual reward (Sechar) for performing Mitzvos connected with Eretz Yisrael. This request was granted to him by Hash-m.
2. Rav Asi in Shabbos (63a) states that a person who tries his best to do a Mitzvah but circumstances beyond his control ("Ones") prevent him from carrying out his desire merits the same reward as if he had done the Mitzvah. The Pnei Yehoshua proposes, however, that the performance of a Mitzvah only in one's mind cannot be counted as if he did it in practice, because no one -- even Moshe Rabeinu -- can fully understand the Mitzvos.
According to this, explains the Pnei Yehoshua, Moshe's prayer was to enter Eretz Yisrael in order to do, physically, all of the Mitzvos connected with the land in order to receive full Sechar and not receive only a portion of the reward by only understanding and yearning.
Hash-m answered his prayers and said to him, "Alei Rosh ha'Pisgah..." - "Go up to the top of the mountain and see with your eyes...." "Seeing with your eyes" means that you will get full Sechar for your yearning as if you physically entered the land.
In short: You asked why does the Gemara bring proof that Hash-m answered Moshe's prayers when, in essence, he was not answered at all. The answer is that his request was really only to get the Sechar of Mitzvos, and this indeed was granted to him.
Shevach Pepper
P.S. I only wrote above the second answer of the Pnei Yehoshua. Refer there to see his first answer.