Midrasch zu Bamidbar 20:10

(Job 20:6:) EVEN THOUGH ONE'S HEIGHT ASCENDS TO THE HEAVENS. This refers to Moses, when he ascended unto the firmament and drew near unto the Araphel (the lower sky). Moreover, he was like the ministering angels in that he spoke with him (i.e., with the Holy One) face to face and received the Torah from the hand of the Holy One. But when he besought him that he not die, the Holy One said to him: (in Deut. 3:26): DO NOT <EVER> SPEAK <UNTO ME ON THIS MATTER> AGAIN. Why was the Holy One angry with Moses? Because he had rebuked Israel. A parable: To what is the matter comparable? To a king who had a son. He handed him over to a paidagogos.¹This Greek word does not correspond to the English “pedagogue.” Rather it denotes a slave whose task was to accompany a child as a companion to steer him on the right ways of life. The paidagogos was more of a nanny than a teacher. See my chapter, “Ancient Education in the Time of the Early Roman Empire,” in The Catacombs and the Colosseum, edited by S. Benko and J. J. O’Rourke (Valley Forge: Judson, 1971), pp. 139–163, especially p. 144. <When> the paidagogos became angry with him and reprimanded him, the king heard <about the reprimand> and said: By the life of my kingdom, you are not entering my palace.²Palterin. Gk.: praitorion; Lat.: praetorium. Similarly when Moses said to Israel (in Numb. 20:10): LISTEN, YOU REBELS, the Holy One said to him (in Numb. 20:12): THEREFORE YOU SHALL NOT LEAD THIS CONGREGATION <INTO THE LAND THAT I HAVE GIVEN THEM>.

2...

8...