Midrash su Deuteronomio 34:7

"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 bracha - that is what the verse says, Many girls have done valiantly, but you have exceeded them all (Mishlei 31:29). What is you have exceeded them all? It speaks of Moshe - since he exceeded them all. How so? Primordial Adam said to Moshe, I am greater than you, for I was created in the image of the Holy Blessed One. From whence? As it is said, And God created Adam in Their image (Bereishit 1:27). Moshe said to Adam, I am more exalted than you: the glory that was given to you was taken from you, as it says Man [adam] does not abide in honour (Tehillim 49:13). But I, the splendour of face that the Holy Blessed One gave me is still with me. From whence? As it says, his eyes had not dimmed nor his vigour fled (Devarim 34:7). Another take: Noach said to Moshe, I am greater than you, for I was saved from the generation of the Flood. Moshe said to him, I am more exalted than you - you saved yourself and were unable to save your generation. But I, I saved myself and I saved the generation who were liable for distruction because of the calf. From whence? As it is said, And God repented of the evil that They had said to do to Their people (Shemot 32:14). To what is the matter similar? To two ships which were in the sea, and had two captains. One of them saved himself but not his ship, and one saved himself and did not save his ship. Who did they praise? Not the one who saved himself and not his ship! So too with Noach, who only saved himself - but Moshe saved himself and his generation. Thus, But you have exceeded them all. ...