Midrash sur L’Exode 17:11

(Fol. 29) MISHNAH: (Ex. 17, 11) And it came to pass when Moses held up his hand, Israel prevailed, etc. Do then the hands of Moses cause war to be waged or to cease? But the passage means to teach this lesson: VThen the Israelites looked upward and pledged their hearts to their Father in heaven, they prevailed; but when they ceased to do so, they failed. We find a similar instance also in (Num. 21, 8) Make unto thee a fiery serpent and set it on a pole, and every one that is bitten, when he looketh upon it shall live. Could, then, the serpent kill or bring to life? But the passage means to teach this lesson: When the Israelites looked upward for aid and pledged their hearts to their Father in heaven, they were healed; but when they did not, they perished.

(Exod. 17:11:) AND IT CAME TO PASS THAT, WHEN MOSES HELD UP <HIS HAND, ISRAEL PREVAILED>…. What happened in the end? (Vs. 13:) AND JOSHUA OVERTHREW (wayyahalosh, rt.: HLSh) <AMALEK AND HIS PEOPLE>…. R. Berekhyah the Priest said: He cast lots over them. <A lot> is called by four names: goral, pur, hevel, holesh (rt.: HLSh).¹⁴The verb wayyahalosh (rt.: HLSh) can have two meanings. The first is “overthrow” or some such word. The second is “cast lots.” Although the first meaning better fits the context of Exodus, R. Berekhyah adopts the second.

Another explanation of The wise shall inherit honor. This refers to Joshua, who inherited honor from Moses, our master, when the Holy One, blessed be He, said to him: As I was with Moses, so I will be with thee (Josh. 1:5). The Holy One, blessed be He, said to Moses: Put off thy shoes from off thy feet (Exod. 3:5), and to Joshua He said: Put off thy shoe from off thy foot (Josh. 5:15). Concerning Moses it is written: Then sang Moses and the children of Israel (Exod. 15:1), and about Joshua it is said: Then spoke Joshua to the Lord, in the day when the Lord delivered (Josh. 10:12). Moses led them out of Egypt, while Joshua led them into the Holy Land. Moses slew Sihon and Og, while Joshua slew thirty-one kings. Moses halted the revolution of the sun in the war with Amalek, as it is said: And Moses lifted up his hand (Exod. 17:11). The word lifted up refers to his halting of the revolution of the sun, as it is said: The deep uttereth its voice, and lifteth up its voice on high (Hab. 3:10). Joshua did likewise, as is said: Sun, stand thou still upon Gibeon; and thou, moon, in the valley of Aijalon (Josh. 10:12). Moses erected an altar, as it is said: And Moses built an altar (Exod. 17:15), and Joshua did likewise: Then Joshua built an altar (Josh. 8:3). Moses wrote the law, as is said: And Moses wrote this law (Deut. 31:9), and Joshua did also, as it is said: And Joshua wrote these words in the book of the law of God (Josh. 24:26). And so this was in every instance.