The word “Vayeilech” “וַיֵּלֶךְ” (and he went) has a profound meaning in our Parasha, our Sages say that Moshe “walked” into each and every tent among Bnei-Yisrael’s camp, to teach the Torah. Some say Moshe went to each tribe section to deliver his final message. The year is 2488 on the month of Adar, on the 7th day, Moshe’s last day, which was also was his birthday. The Zohar says that very few Tzadikim merit to be born and die on the same day, as King David, who was born and died on Shabbat. Moshe went to each member of Bnei-Yisrael and proclaimed that Yehoshua is now in-charge as he (Moshe) will no longer be leading them. This was an act of leadership transfer by Moshe to Yehoshua as HaShem commanded him. As the verse says: “יְהוֹשֻׁעַ, הוּא עֹבֵר לְפָנֶיךָ, כַּאֲשֶׁר, דִּבֶּר יְהוָה” “Yehoshua will be leading them…” Moshe is compared to the self-illuminating sun and Yehoshua is compared to the moon, which only receives and reflects the light of the sun (Bava Batra). Moshe was the “Man of God,” while Yehoshua was Moshe’s “right-hand man” and devoted student. From the first three words of Parashat Nitzavim, “אַתֶּם נִצָּבִים הַיּוֹם”, we notice a numerical code alluding to Moshe’s age as well. The last letters of these three words are three “Mem” (“ם”), which each letter equal to 40 in Gematria totaling of 120. We also learned that Moshe went up to Mount Sinai three times, and each time was a 40-day period. HaShem rewarded him a year for each day.
Moshe went to deliver these “Devarim” (“הדברים” – words) to the entire congregation of Bnei-Yisrael. We know that when HaShem spoke to Moshe on Mount Sinai at the Burning Bush event, He gave him “Devarim” to be spoken to Bnei-Yisrael. Only after Moshe complained that “they wouldn’t listen to me”, HaShem gave him a set of Miracles to be performed with his staff and his hand. Moshe’s main sins were his speaking and the lack of speaking, as they are also called Devarim. We know that HaShem asked Moshe to speak (teach Torah) to the Rock, to speak to Pharaoh, and to Bnei-Yisrael. On his last day on earth, Moshe was doing just that; he is speaking these Devarim to each and every member of Bnei-Yisrael.
Moshe, Miriam and Aharon passed on the same year. Moshe is now 120 years of age and he was telling Bnei-Yisrael that he can no longer “come and go”, meaning he cannot teach them Torah anymore. The Midrash says that Moshe always “went out” to learn Torah and came back to teach Bnei-Yisrael. The words “come and go” allude to what Moshe was really telling Bnei-Yisrael; the word “come” meant to say that his time has come for him to pass away; the word “go” meant to say that he will not be going with them to Eretz Yisrael. Before his passing Moshe went to all the Beit-Midrash around the camp and strengthen the people of Israel before their entrance to the Promised Land.
The Midrash says that Moshe wrote thirteen Torah scrolls, with the help of HaShem, in the last thirty-six days of his life. Twelve Torah Scrolls were given to each tribe and one was placed at the Holy Ark in the Tabernacle. Later on this Torah scroll was placed at the first Beit-Hamikdash that was built by King Solomon. Moshe told Bnei-Yisrael that “Hayom” (today), the seventh of Adar, is his last day and that it is also his birthday, but he cannot study or teach Torah, nor can he lead them to war. Moshe said that even though he is physically capable of doing so, HaShem forbade Moshe from entering the land of Israel. We know that Moshe tried five hundred and fifteen times to change HaShem’s decree (515 prayers) but he wasn’t granted entry. Yet, he promised Bnei-Yisrael that HaShem will be “walking before them”, meaning he will win their wars upon entering the Promised Land.
Moshe told Bnei-Yisrael that Yehoshua will lead them and win all wars with HaShem’s help, as he passed several tests sanctifying HaShem’s Holy name. Yehoshua fought against the sinners of the Golden-Calf and the Spies, and he always protected Moshe and HaShem’s name. HaShem was very pleased with Yehoshua as he added the letter “Yud” (as HaShem’s name) to his original name of Hoshea. The Midrash says that Moshe shined a light upon Yehoshua just as the sun lights up the moon. Yehoshua was appointed to be the new leader and guiding light of Bnei-Yisrael. Moshe taught Yehoshua a profound leadership lesson (verse 31:7), “in the sight of all Israel: “Be strong and of good courage” (“לְעֵינֵי כָל-יִשְׂרָאֵל חֲזַק וֶאֱמָץ”). He hinted to Yehoshua that be “strong and have courage”, only with Beni-YIsrael, but not with HaShem. Essentially he provided him with the prophecy of other kings who would not take such advice, and their demise.
Moshe promised Bnei-Yisrael, on several occasions, that HaShem will “walk with them” and “walk before them” (verses 3 and 6); this comes to teach us the prophecy of the first and second Beit-HaMikdash, as HaShem will forgive Bnei-Yisrael and will “walk” with them in the future providing they do Teshuvah. Moshe also said that regardless of the sins they will commit in the future and HaShem’s punishments, He will always be “walking in front” of Bnei-Yisrael (verse 31:8). We know that throughout history HaShem always forgave Bnei-Yisrael and stayed with us during the harshest of times, just as Moshe promised. From the teachings of the Zohar we learn about beautiful equalities between judgment and mercy. We see that with the exile to Mitzrayim came redemption, with Amalek came Torah, with the Holocaust came the establishment of the state of Israel, with the Independent War came Israel Independence. The Gemara teaches us that for every “punishment” that Hashem brings upon Bnei-Yisrael, he first prepares the Yeshuah (“ישועה” – help), the cure. We see here that after every sin, HaShem gives Bnei-Yisrael the merit of doing Teshuvah, or the offering of sacrifices in the Mishkan to atone for their sins and to accept their Teshuvah. As it is written “וּבָא לְצִיּוֹן גּוֹאֵל, וּלְשָׁבֵי פֶשַׁע בְּיַעֲקֹב–נְאֻם, יְהוָה”, And a redeemer will come to Zion, and unto them that turn from transgression in Yaakov, says HaShem (Yeshyahu 59:20).
Moshe tried to convince HaShem for the last time to allow him to enter the Land of Israel in order to teach the Torah to “His sons”, Bnei-Yisrael, but HaShem pointed to Yehoshua saying “Lo Yarpe”, meaning I wouldn’t let go of Bnei-Yisrael. They had to accept the fact that this young leader Yehoshua would now be their new leader, in place of Moshe. Hashem will continue to be Israel’s true shepherd; leaders such as Yehoshua will merely be the ones to carry out HaShem’s instructions. Moshe presented Yehoshua to Bnei-Yisrael as their new leader. He emphasized to Bnei-Yisrael that Yehoshua is strong both in spiritual belief and physical strength and he will be the one to bring them into the Promised Land.
The appointment of Yehoshua was done very publicly, as it says (Dvarim 31:7), “before the eyes of all of Israel” (“לעיני כל ישראל”). This is a very different way as with the appointment of Elazar as Kohen Gadol in place of his father Aharon. Elazar assumed the position atop the mountain, far from the eyes of Israel, where Moshe removed Aharon’s priestly garments and then placed them on Elazar as HaShem instructed. The event was carried out modestly, amidst strong and mixed emotions of the sadness among Bnei-Yisrael of separating from Aharon and the joy of continuity and peace.
