וַיְהִ֗י אַחֲרֵ֛י מ֥וֹת מֹשֶׁ֖ה עֶ֣בֶד יְהוָ֑ה וַיֹּ֤אמֶר יְהוָה֙ אֶל־יְהוֹשֻׁ֣עַ בִּן־נ֔וּן מְשָׁרֵ֥ת מֹשֶׁ֖ה לֵאמֹֽר׃
Sesudah Musa, hamba Yang Mahakekal, wafat, Yang Mahakekal berfirman kepada Yosua bin Nun, abdi Musa:
Ramban
AND THIS IS THE BLESSING WHEREWITH MOSES THE MAN OF G-D BLESSED THE CHILDREN OF ISRAEL BEFORE HIS DEATH. It states the man of G-d in order to indicate that his blessing will be fulfilled because he was the man of G-d, and the prayer of the upright is His delight.1Proverbs 15:8. Now Scripture calls Moses our teacher the man of G-d, and so also the rest of the prophets,2The Sifre, Brachah 342, lists eighteen prophets of whom Scripture speaks as ‘men of G-d.’ Elijah,3I Kings 17:18. and others,4Those not identified by name. Thus: And there came a man of G-d to Eli (I Samuel 2:27), and other similar cases. but it does not state “the man of the Eternal;” instead it says Moses the ‘servant’ of the Eternal.5Joshua 1:1. Moses is the servant of the Eternal Who has created everything, and Moses’ conception of Him was like that of a servant who is afraid to behold his master. Moses was also the man of G-d, since all his deeds and words came by command of the Almighty (Ma’or V’shamesh). The reason is known to every student learned in [the mystic lore of] the Torah. So also by way of the Truth, [the expression ‘v’zoth habrachah’ (and this is the blessing) means that] “v’zoth is the blessing” [as explained further on], for From the Eternal has ‘zoth’ (this) come.6Psalms 118:23. — “By way of the Truth,” another name for the teachings of the Cabala, thus begins a new thought of Ramban. First he intimated that the reason for Scripture stating the man of G-d and not “the man of the Eternal” is known to every student of the mysteries of the Torah. And now he begins to explain, on the basis of the Cabala, the unique expression of v’zoth habrachah. Similarly it is said in the case of Jacob, ‘v’zoth’ (and ‘this’ is) what their father [Jacob] spoke unto them.7Genesis 49:28. It was this blessing that David meant when he said, ‘Zoth’ (this) came to pass unto me, because I have kept Thy precepts,8Psalms 119:56. alluding to Zion the city of David, for there the Eternal commanded the blessing, even life forever.9Ibid., 133:3. The student learned in the mysteries of the Cabala will understand. Our Rabbis meant this secret in their interpretation in Bereshith Rabbah:10Bereshith Rabbah 100:13. “‘v’zoth’ (and this is) what their father spoke unto them.7Genesis 49:28. A man like me is destined to bless you, and, from the very place where I [Jacob] concluded — from there will he begin. At the moment Moses our teacher rose to bless them, he began with ‘v’zoth habrachah’ (and this is the blessing) — from the very place where their father concluded. This then is the meaning of the expression ‘v’zoth’ what their father spoke unto them7Genesis 49:28. [their father Jacob told them that the next blessing they receive would be from a man who will begin with v’zoth — v’zoth habrachah]. He [i.e., the patriarch Jacob] said to them: When will these blessings reach you? From the time you accept the Torah, in which is written, ‘V’zoth’ (And this is) the Law etc. ”11Above 4:44. For this word zoth alludes to the blessing which is the Torah, and this is the covenant, as it is written ‘Zoth’ (this is) My covenant.12Genesis 17:10. I have already mentioned this.13Ibid., 2:20 (Vol. I, p. 79); Exodus 25:3 (Vol. II, pp. 437-438).
Rabbeinu Bahya
A kabbalistic approach: the reason he is called איש האלו-הים is because it is the Torah’s nature to associate the word איש, with the attribute אלו-הים. You will not encounter the word איש ה' anywhere in the Torah. On the other hand, the word עבד is frequently associated with the attribute of Mercy, i.e. עבד ה'. Moses himself (as well as Joshua) is described as עבד ה' in Joshua 1,1 and numerous other verses.
Ibn Ezra
In the phrase deserves flogging the Hebrew word bin is vocalized with a ḥiriq , as it is in the phrases “the son of Nun” [Joshua 1: 1], and “the son of Yaqeh” [Proverbs 30: 1]. It is used in the sense of “a base man” [I Samuel 25: 17] and, similarly, “it was a creature of a night” [Jonah 4: 10]. The reason he deserves to be flogged must be, in my opinion, that he struck his companion.