Midrash sur L’Exode 3:5

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(Jud. 18, 3) And they turned in thither and said unto him who brought thee hither (halom), and what dost thou in the place and whom has thou there (Poh)? They said this to him: "Are you not a descendant of Moses, of whom it is written (Ex. 3, 5) Draw not nigh hither (halom)? Are you not a descendant of Moses, of whom it is written (Ib.) What is that in your hand (Ma ze)? And are you not a descendant of Moses, of whom it is written (Deut. 5, 28) But as for thee, remain thou here (Poh)?" And he answered: "Thus have I a tradition from the house of my grand-father: A man should rather hire himself out to idolatry than to be dependent on men." He thought it meant real idolatry, but in reality it means "for labor strange to him" (below his dignity), just as Rab said to Cahana: "Flay a carcass in the street [and earn a living if you are in need] and say not I am a noble priest, [and it does not befit me]." As soon as David saw that he was so fond of money he appointed him treasurer for the government, as it is said (I Chron. 26, 24) Shebuel, the son of Gershom, the son of Menashe, superintendent of the treasuries. Was then his name Shebuel? Behold, it was Jonathan. R. Jochanan said: "This means that he repented to God with all his heart."

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.

[(Gen. 2:4:) THESE ARE THE GENERATIONS OF THE HEAVENS AND THE EARTH.]³⁵See Mekhilta de Rabbi Ishmael, Pisha 1; Tanh., Exod. 3:5; Gen. R. 1:15; Lev. R. 36:1; Ker. 6:9. In every place you find Moses preceding Aaron, but where is it shown that both of them were equal? Where it is stated (in Exod. 6:26): IT IS THE SAME AARON AND MOSES. In every place you find Joshua preceding Caleb, but where is it shown that both of them are equal? Where it is stated (in Numb. 32:12): EXCEPT CALEB BEN JEPHUNNEH THE KENIZZITE AND JOSHUA BEN NUN. In every place you find the father's honor preceding the mother's honor, but where is it shown that both of them are on a par? Where it is stated (in Lev. 19:3): EACH ONE SHALL FEAR HIS MOTHER AND HIS FATHER. In every place you find the heavens preceding the earth, but where is it shown that they are on a par? Where it is stated (in Gen. 2:4, end): IN THE DAY THAT THE LORD GOD MADE EARTH AND HEAVEN. {So it is written.}

(Exod. 3:5:) AND HE SAID: DO NOT COME NEAR HERE. REMOVE YOUR SANDALS FROM YOUR FEET…. It is written with reference to Joshua (in Josh. 5:15): REMOVE YOUR SANDALS, and it is written with reference to Moses (in Exod. 3:5): REMOVE YOUR SANDALS.⁷¹Exod. R. 2:6 adds that, since one removes sandals in the Divine Presence, priests ministered barefooted in the Temple. See also PRE 40.

And he said: “Moses, Moses.” and he said: “Here am I” (Exod. 3:4). What is the meaning of Here am I? R. Joshua the son of Karha held: Here am I implies: “I am ready for priesthood and for kingship.” The Holy One, blessed be He, said: You stand in the place of one of the pillars of the world, (for) Abraham has said Here am I, and now you are saying Here am I. Draw not nigh hither (ibid., v. 5). The word hither alludes to kingship, as it is said: Whom am I, O Lord God, and what is my house, that Thou hast brought me hither? (II Sam. 7:18). Similarly it states: Is there yet a man come hither? (I Sam. 10:22). With reference to Joshua it is written: Put off thy shoe from off thy foot (Josh. 5:15), and it is also written concerning Moses: Put off thy shoes from off thy feet (Exod. 3:5). And He said: I am the God of thy father, the God of Abraham (ibid., v. 6). He appeared to him through the voice of his father, Amram, lest he become frightened. Thereupon Moses rejoiced, exclaiming: “My father, Amram, still lives.” The Holy One, blessed be He, said to him: I am the God of thy father, the God of Abraham, I came to you enticingly so that you would not be terrified. Forthwith, Moses hid his face. Be assured, the Holy One, blessed be He, said to him, because you honored Me, I will cause you to be honored by all Israel. Hence, they were afraid to come nigh him (Exod. 34:30), for it is written of him: For he was afraid (ibid. 3:6). Because you did not wish to look—therefore the similitude of the Lord doth he behold (Num. 12:8). Because you hid your face, the children of Israel were afraid to look upon the face of Moses, for The skin of his face sent forth beams, and they were afraid to come nigh him (Exod. 34:30). And now, behold, the cry of the children of Israel is come (ibid. 3:9). This teaches us that the Holy One, blessed be He witnessed their labors and their afflictions.

And he led the flock until he came to Horeb, as it is said, "And he led the flock to the back of the wilderness, and came to the mountain of God, unto Horeb" (Ex. 3:1). There the Holy One, blessed be He, was revealed unto him from the midst of the thorn-bush. Moses saw the bush burning with fire, and the fire did not consume the bush, and the bush did not extinguish the flames of fire. Now the bush does not grow in the earth unless it has water beneath it. Moses saw and was wondering very much in his heart, and he said: What kind of glory is there in its midst? He said: I will now turn aside and see this great sight, why the thorn-bush is not burnt. The Holy One, blessed be He, said to him: Moses ! Stand where thou art standing, for there in the future will I give the Torah to Israel, as it is said, "And he said, Draw not nigh hither; put off thy shoes from off thy feet, for the place whereon thou standest is holy ground" (Ex. 3:5). The Holy One, blessed be He, said to him: Go. Hence (the sages) said: Anyone who enters the Temple must remove || his shoe, for thus spake the Holy One, blessed be He, to Moses: "Put off thy shoes from off thy feet" (ibid.).