Le Deutéronome 34:7 Midrash : Ein Yaakov (Glick Edition), Midrash Tanchuma & Devarim Rabbah

"Who is greater than Moses among all Israel, who was attended at his death by God himself, as it is said (Deut. 34, 6) And He buried him in the land of Moab, opposite, Beth-Pe'or, etc. (Ib. 6, 25) And the Lord said unto us, 'Let it suffice thee.'" Said R. Levi: With the word Rab did Moses inform others, [of grave tidings.] And with the word Rab he himself was informed [of grave tidings]; i.e., with the word Rab did he inform others, as it is written (Numb. 16, 7) You assume too much [Rab] ye sons of Levi, and he was in turn informed by the word. And the Lord said unto me, '(Rab lack) let it suffice thee:' in another way may Rab be explained, thou hast a Rabbi whose name is Joshua. Still in another way may Rab be explained. Let it suffice to thee so that people should not say, "How rigorous the teacher [Lord] is and how persistent is the scholar." And why did the Lord act so rigorously against Moses? In the academy of R. Ishmael it was explained: According to the camel is his load [the greater the man the greater is his responsibility]. (Deut. 31, 2) Moses said unto them: 'I am one hundred and twenty years old today.' He need not say today, [if there is no special significance]. What does he mean by the word to-day? This means that today have my days been completed; from this we may infer that the Holy One, praised be He, grants the righteous the fulfillment of the years of their life to the very month and day, as it is said (Ex. 23, 26) The number of thy days will I make full. (Deut. 31, 2) I am not able any more to go out and come in. What does that mean, to go out and come in? Shall we take it literally? Behold it is written further (Ib. 34, 7) And Moses was one hundred and twenty years old when he died; his eyes were not dimmed, and his natural strength has not abated, and again it is written (Ib., ib., ib.) And Moses went up from the plains of Moab to the Mount of Nebo. Concerning which we are taught in a Baraitha the following explanation: There were twelve stairs to the Mount and Moses surmounted them all in one step. [Hence we see that Moses was healthy and strong up to his death?] Said R. Samuel b. Nachmeni in the name of R. Jonathan: "To come forth, refers to the discussions of the Torah, from which it may be inferred that the wellsprings of wisdom were shut up for him." (Ib. 13, 14) Moses and Joshua went and placed themselves in the tabernacle of the congregation. We are taught that that particular Sabbath was a Sabbath of Transmittance of office by two. The office was taken irom one (Moses) and given to the other (Joshua). [Hence both served on the same day].

However, we find that he did not live the same number of years as Moses, our teacher. It is written about Moses: And Moses was one hundred and twenty years old when he died (Deut. 34:7), while Joshua passed away at the age of one hundred and ten years. Why did he live ten years less? Because he spoke ten words before Moses, his master, spoke, as it is said: And Joshua the son of Nun, the minister of Moses from his youth up, answered and said: “My lord Moses, shut them in” (Num. 11:28). That is why He shortened his life ten years. From this verse you learn that no pupil is permitted to speak before his master, and that anyone who teaches anything before his master does, or even if he does not teach but simply tells others what the law is before his master has stated it, will find his life’s span shortened. Another explanation of the verse The wise shall inherit honor. This alludes to Aaron and his sons, through whom the priesthood was established.

“This is the blessing” – that is what the verse said: “Many women have performed valiantly, but you have surpassed them all” (Proverbs 31:29). What is, “but you have surpassed them all”? It is speaking of Moses, because he was exalted over them all. How so? Adam the first man says to Moses: ‘I am greater than you, as I was created in the image of the Holy One blessed be He.’ From where is it derived? It is as it is stated: “God created man in His own image” (Genesis 1:27). Moses says to him: ‘I am more exalted than you, as you, the glory that was given to you was taken from you, as it is stated: “Man [Adam] does not abide in honor” (Psalms 49:13). But I, the radiance of my face that the Holy One blessed be He gave me, it remains with me.’ From where is it derived? It is as it is stated: “His eye had not dimmed, and his vitality had not departed” (Deuteronomy 34:7).
Another matter, Noah said to Moses: ‘I am greater than you, as I was delivered from the generation of the Flood.’ Moses said to him: ‘I am more exalted than you, as you saved yourself, but you did not have the ability to save your generation. But I saved myself and saved my generation when they incurred liability to be eradicated due to the [sin of the Golden] Calf.’ From where is it derived? It is as it is stated: “The Lord reconsidered the evil that He had spoken of doing to His people” (Exodus 32:14). To what is the matter comparable? It is to two ships that were at sea, and there were two captains in them. One saved himself but did not save his ship, and one saved himself and his ship. Whom do they laud? Is it not the one who saved himself and his ship? So, Noah saved only himself, but Moses saved himself and his generation. That is, “but you have surpassed them all.”
Another matter, Abraham said to Moses: ‘I am greater than you, as I would provide sustenance to the passersby.’ Moses said to him: ‘I am more exalted than you, as you would provide sustenance for uncircumcised people, but I provided sustenance for circumcised people. Moreover, you would provide sustenance in the settled area, and I would provide sustenance in the wilderness.’ Isaac said to Moses: ‘I am greater than you as I extended my neck upon the altar and saw the countenance of the Divine Spirit.’ Moses said to him: ‘I am more exalted than you, as you saw the countenance of the Divine Presence and your eyes dimmed.’ From where is it derived? It is as it is written: “It was when Isaac was old, his eyes dimmed from seeing” (Genesis 27:1). What is “from seeing”? It is from seeing the Divine Presence. ‘But I would speak with the Divine Presence face to face and my eyes did not dim.’ From where is it derived? It is as it is stated: “Moses did not know that the skin of his face was radiant” (Exodus 34:29). Jacob said to Moses: ‘I am greater than you, as I encountered the angel and overcame him.’ Moses said to him: ‘You encountered the angel in your environment, but I ascended to them in their environment, and they fear me.’ From where is it derived? It is as it is stated: “The kings of armies [malkhei tzevaot]⁸This is being interpreted as referring to angels. flee again and again…” (Psalms 68:13). That is why Solomon said: “Many women have performed valiantly, [but you have surpassed them all].” The Holy One blessed be He said: ‘Since he was exalted above everyone, he will bless Israel’ – “this is the blessing.”