1)

(a)Rebbi Yochanan explains that, on the way to bury Yakov, the Torah give precedence to the Egyptians who accompanied the cortege - because initially, it was they who walked in front; whilst on the return journey, it lists the sons of Yakov first - because it was only after they arrived in Cana'an that the Egyptians came to realize the esteem in which the Bnei Yisrael were held (and that was when they allowed them to go in front).

(b)Rebbi Avahu explains the "Goren ha'Atad" (mentioned in connection with the Hesped that they made on Yakov Avinu) - with reference to Yakov's coffin, which they surrounded with crowns (as we shall now see) until it resembled a granary which is surrounded by thorn-bushes.

(c)The three tribes that hung their crowns on Yakov's coffin were the Bnei Yishmael, the Bnei Esav and the Bnei Keturah (though Rashi does not seem to have the Bnei Keturah in his text). All in all, there were thirty-six crowns hanging on the coffin - those of the twelve princes of the Bnei Yishmael, of the twenty-three rulers of the Bnei Esav (because the two extra ones [Teiman and K'naz] are mentioned twice), and of Yosef.

(d)The Beraisa explains that initially, these three tribes came upon the scene - (not in order to pay homage to Yakov Avinu, but) to fight with the brothers. However, when they saw Yosef's crown hanging on his father's coffin, they took their cue from him and followed suit.

2)

(a)We Darshen from the Pasuk in Va'yechi "Va'yisp'du Sham Misped Gadol ve'Kaved Me'od". According to the Beraisa - even the horses and the donkeys mourned for Yakov.

(b)Rebbi Yitzchak interprets the name 'Kiryas Arba' to mean - the town where four couples are buried: Adam & Chavah, Avraham & Sarah ... .

(c)Esav however, did not seem to agree. When they came to bury Yakov in the Me'aras ha'Machpeilah, Esav protested vehemently - on the grounds that, although he had sold him the birthright, he had not sold him his rights as Yitzchak's son and joint heir together with Yakov. Consequently, he argued, if Yakov had kindly buried Le'ah in his own grave, the remaining grave was his (Esav's).

(d)They answered him with the Pasuk in Vayechi (in connection with Yakov's instructions to Yosef) "be'Kivri Asher Karisi li" (in the grave that I dug for myself), but which Rebbi Yochanan quoting Rebbi Shimon ben Yehotzdak (based on the dialect used in the islands across the sea) translated as 'in the grave that I purchased (from Esav) for myself).

3)

(a)They specifically sent Naftali to Egypt to fetch the deeds of the sale - because he was an exceptionally fast runner (in keeping with his father's Berachah "Naftali Ayalah Sheluchah" [Va'yechi]).

(b)Chushim ben Dan bludgeoned Esav to death with a cudgel - because he considered it a gross disrespect to allow Yakov to remain unburied until Naftali's return.

(c)When Chushim beat Esav on the head, his eyes dropped out of their sockets and rolled onto Yakov's feet.

(d)The Pasuk "Yismach Tzadik Ki Chazah Nakam" - refers to Yakov Avinu, who then opened his eyes and smiled (because he had been avenged).

(e)At that moment, Rifkah's prophecy came true - the prophecy that she would be bereaved of both her twins on the same day (since they were both buried on that day).

(f)The Pasuk attributes the burial of Yakov to Yosef, despite the fact that all the brothers participated - because Yosef was a king, and the brothers themselves authorized him to play the major role in their fathers burial, since this would be a greater Kavod for Yakov.

4)

(a)The Pasuk praises Moshe Rabeinu with the words "Chacham Leiv Yikach Mitzvos" - in connection with his pursuit of the Mitzvah of seeing to the transportation of Yosef's remains whilst everybody else went to 'borrow' money (admittedly, that was a Mitzvah too, but the former was a 'Mes Mitzvah').

(b)The Beraisa comments - that from here we can learn just how precious Mitzvos are in the eyes of Tzadikim.

(c)According to the Tana Kama, Yosef's coffin was buried in the River Nile. Moshe discovered its exact location - by consulting Serach bas Asher, who had been alive at the time of Yosef's death.

(d)The Egyptians buried the coffin in the Nile - so that its waters should be blessed.

5)

(a)Moshe stood on the banks of the Nile and announced that the time had arrived for Hash-m to keep his promise and to redeem Yisrael from Egypt, and for Yisrael to keep their promise to Yosef to carry his bones out with them from Egypt. To encourage Yosef's coffin to float to the surface - he added that unless Yosef would show himself, they were exempt from their oath to him.

(b)If a metal object was able to float for Elisha, who was a disciple of Eliyahu, who was, in turn, a disciple of Moshe (who learned from his works, or, if Eliyahu was Pinchas, from Moshe directly) - then we reckon, it could certainly float for Moshe.

(c)According to Rebbi Nasan, Yosef was buried in a royal sepulcher. Moshe discovered which was Yosef's coffin - when, after Moshe had applied the same tactics as described by the Tana Kama, the coffin shuddered.

6)

(a)What is noteworthy about the way in which Yosef's coffin traveled during the forty years in the desert - is the fact that it traveled alongside the Aron of the Shechinah which housed the Luchos.

(b)It is perfectly befitting for the coffin containing a dead person to travel alongside the Aron containing the Shechinah (and the Luchos) - as long as it can be said that 'The one kept what was written in the other.

(c)The significance of the following Pesukim (all written in connection with Yosef) "ha'Sachas Elokim Ani"; "es ha'Elokim Ani Yarei"; "Chei Paroh", and "u'Tevo'ach Tevach ve'Hachein" is - that they incorporate the first four of the ten commandments ('Onochi', 'Lo Yiheyeh', 'Lo Sissa' & 'Zachor es Yom ha'Shabbos'), respectively), which Yosef kept scrupulously (together with the remaining six).

(d)The other two Mitzvos concerning man and man that we list among those that Yosef observed, besides "Lo Sikom ve'Lo Sitor", are "Lo Sisna es Achicha bi'Levavecha" and "ve'Chei Achicha Imach".

7)

(a)Once the Torah records that Moshe saw to Yosef's bones - because even Klal Yisrael agreed that it would be a greater Kavod for such a great man to do so; once that it was Klal Yisrael - because when Moshe died, even his family agreed that it would be a greater Kavod for the community at large to take over the Mitzvah; and once, that it was his family - because, presumably, when it came to the actual burial, it was up to the family to perform the Mitzvah.

(b)According to Rebbi Chama b'Rebbi Chanina, they made a point of burying Yosef in Sh'chem - because that is where they stole him from.

(c)And to reconcile the Pasuk in Yehoshua "ve'es Atzmos Yosef Asher He'elu Bnei Yisrael ... " with the Pasuk in Beshalach "Va'yikach Moshe es Atzmos Yosef Imo" - he explains that a Mitzvah is always ascribed to the one who concludes it.

(d)Rebbi Elazar learns that a person who fails to conclude a Mitzvah that he began is demoted - from Parshas Vayeshev, where Yehudah lost his leadership of the brothers, for saving Yosef from death by suggesting that they rather sell him, but who did not complete the Mitzvah by returning him to his father.

(e)Whereas Rebbi Shmuel bar Nachmani learn that he also buries his wife and children - from the Parshah that follows, shortly after the sale of Yosef, Yehudah's wife and two sons died.

8)

(a)According to Rav Yehudah Amar Rav, Yosef deserved ...

1. ... to be called bones even whilst he was still alive (as the Torah writes "Ve'ha'alisem es Atzmosai mi'Zeh Itchem") - for hearing the brothers refer to their father as "Avd'cha Avinu" a number of times, and not reacting.

2. ... to die before all his brothers (Some cite this in the name of Rebbi Chama b'Rebbi Chanina, and not Rav) - before he conducted himself like a ruler (see Agados Maharsha, Berachos).

(b)Rebbi Elazar interprets the Pasuk "ve'Yosef Hurad Mitzraymah" - as if it had written "ve'Yosef Horid Mitzraymah", which we explain to mean that he lowered the prestige of the astrologers (through his ability to interpret Paroh's dream, which they were unable to do).

(c)Rav discusses the name 'Potifera'. In his opinion, Potifar's chief motive in purchasing the good-lookingYosef - was for immoral purposes.

(d)"Seris Paroh" means Paroh's valet (see Agados Maharsha), or that he was a eunuch (already before Yosef arrival upon the scene). The Torah first refers to Paroh's valet as "Potifar" and then as "Potifera" - because the angel Gavriel protected Yosef by castrating Potifar still further (as is implied by the word 'Pera').

9)

(a)Rebbi Levi links the Pasuk "Rav Lachem Bnei Levi"(that Moshe said to Korach and his men) to that of "Rav Lach, Al Tosef Daber Elai Od ba'Davar ha'Zeh" (that Hash-m said to him) in that - Hash-m confronted Moshe with the latter due to the fact that he confronted the Bnei Levi with the former (Midah K'neged Midah).

(b)Others explain the Pasuk to mean that Moshe should stop praying to enter Eretz Yisrael, because he had a Rav - Yehoshua, whose time had arrived to succeed him.

(c)And according to yet others, Hash-m had 'personal' reasons in insisting that Moshe stop asking to enter Eretz Yisrael - because (since for reasons that only He knows, Moshe could not possibly have entered Eretz Yisrael) He did not want people to remark 'how patient is the Talmid and how cruel is the Master'.

(d)They ascribe Hash-m's strict treatment of Moshe to the principle cited by Tana de'Bei Rebbi Yishmael 'le'Fum Gamla, Shichna' - meaning that one loads a camel according to its strength. Similarly, Hash-m treats Tzadikim much more harshly than he does ordinary people (because they are able to carry the load), That is why He sometimes deals with them with the Midas ha'Din without a trace of mercy (in return for which they will receive a full measure of reward in the World to Come).

10)

(a)In Parshas Va'yeilech, Moshe Rabeinu said "ben Me'ah ve'Esrim Shanah Anochi ha'Yom" - implying that that day was his hundred and twentieth birthday.

(b)We learn from the Pasuk "es Mispar Yamecha Amalei" - that 'Hashem fills the years and the months of Tzadikim from day to day' (i.e. that they die on the same date as they are born).

(c)Seeing as the Torah testifies that on the last day of his life he had not aged, Rebbi Shmuel bar Nachmani Amar Rebbi Yonasan explains Moshe's statement "Lo Uchal Od La'tzeis ve'La'vo" to mean - that he was no longer able to 'come and go' in words of Torah, because the fountains of wisdom were now closed to him.

(d)In support of the Torah's testimony - he ascended the twelve steps from the Plains of Mo'av to Har Nevo in one step (see Agados Maharsha).

11)

(a)We learn from the Pasuk "Va'yeilech Moshe vi'Yehoshua Va'yisyatzvu be'Ohel Mo'ed" - that this was the Shabbos on which Yehoshua attained equality with Moshe (because it was the first time that he was allowed to enter the Ohel Mo'ed [see Agados Maharsha]).

(b)

1. Har Nevo (the mountain on which Moshe died) is situated - in Reuven's territory ...

2. ... whereas Moshe is buried - in the territory of Gad.

(c)The distance from one to the other is four Mil.

(d)Hash-m buried Moshe and the angels accompanied the cortege.

12)

(a)

1. The angels declared "Tzidkas Hash-m Asah, u'Mishpatav im Yisrael".

2. Hash-m declared "Mi Yakum Li Im Merei'im, Mi Yisyatzev Li Im Po'alei ha'Aven".

(b)According to others, Hash-m declared "Mi ke'ha'Chacham, u'Mi Yodei'a Pesher Davar" (Koheles) or "ha'Chochmah me'Ayin Timatzei" (Iyov) or "va'Yamas Sham Moshe Eved Hash-m" (ve'Zos ha'Berachah), and some add to that 'Safra Raba de'Yisrael'.

1. "Mi Yakum Li Im Merei'im" - means 'Who will (now) rebuke the sinners le'Shem Shamayim'?

2. "u'Mi Yodei'a Pesher Davar" - means 'Who (like Moshe) knows how to arbitrate between Hash-m and Yisrael?

(c)One opinion maintains that Moshe did not really die. He learns from the 'Gezeirah-Shavah' "Va'yamas Sham Moshe", "Va'yehi Sham Im Hash-m" - that he continues to serve Hash-m (studying Torah as diligently as ever).

13)

(a)What is remarkable about the Pasuk "Va'yikbor Oso ba'Gai, be'Eretz Mo'av Mul Beis Pe'or" is - the fact that in spite of such detailed instructions, the Torah continues "ve'Lo Yada Ish es Kevuraso ad ha'Yom ha'Zeh".

(b)The Romans (with the help of the local governors) went to great lengths to try to discover the exact location of Moshe's grave. However, when they stood on top of Har N'vo, it appeared to be at the bottom, when they stood at the bottom it appeared to be at the top, and when they divided into two groups, each one seemed to see it at the other extremity.