This podcast explores Moses' request to God for a new leader of the Israelite nation, focusing on the desired qualities for this successor. Moses's plea emphasizes the need for a leader who understands and tolerates the diverse individual natures of the people, referring to God as "God of the spirits" to highlight this need for a leader who can connect with and accommodate each person's unique character. Rashi's commentary explains that Moses sought someone tolerant, while God provided Joshua, who possessed the even greater ability to "walk side by side" with each individual, signifying deep empathy. The sources also suggest that Moses recognized this empathetic quality in his brother Aaron, which was crucial for the next generation's leadership. They explain that Joshua's diminished "majesty" compared to Moses allowed for a closer, more empathetic connection with the people, unlike Moses, who was likened to a distant sun.

This shiur focuses on the phrases "And Moab was afraid of the people" and "and Moab was distressed because of the children of Israel."

These diverse interpretations from various commentators and midrashic texts explore the nuances of "was afraid" and "was distressed," with some attributing Moab's fear to Israel's vast numbers, while others suggest it stemmed from Israel's powerful victories over other nations.

We examine the motivations behind Moab's distress, debating whether it was due to physical threat, spiritual animosity, or a perceived curse, ultimately providing a rich tapestry of exegesis on a pivotal moment in the biblical narrative.

We discuss two distinct historical events: the Hamas surprise attack on Israel on October 7, 2023, and interpretations of a biblical passage concerning the death of Aaron and a subsequent attack by the King of Arad.