Halakhah zu Schir haSchirim 8:6

The other homiletical passage deals with the imminent death of Moses.¹⁴Deuteronomy Rabbah 9: 9. When God told Moses to call his successor Joshua (Deut. 31:14), Moses said to God, "Master of the Universe, let Joshua take over my office and I will continue to live." Whereupon God replied, "Treat him as he treats you." Immediately Moses arose early and went to Joshua's house, and Joshua became frightened. Moses said to Joshua: "My teacher came to me," and they set out to go, Moses walking on the left of Joshua as a disciple walks on the left of his teacher. When they entered the Tent of Meeting (Ohel Moed) the pillar of cloud came down and separated them. When the pillar of cloud departed, Moses approached Joshua and asked him, "What was revealed to you?" Joshua replied, "When the word was revealed to you did I know what God spoke with you?" At that moment Moses exclaimed: "Better to die a hundred times than to experience envy, even once." Solomon has expressed this clearly: "For love is strong as death, jealousy is evil as the grave" (Song of Songs 8:6). This refers to the love wherewith Moses loved Joshua, and the jealousy of Moses toward Joshua. A life of envy and jealousy is not worth living for a man of the ethical stature of our Teacher, Moses.