Midrasz do Liczb 20:29

From the parashah (in Numb. 20:25–27): TAKE AARON <AND HIS SON ELEAZAR> […,] AND STRIP AARON [….: SO MOSES DID AS THE LORD COMMANDED. <This parashah> has come to teach you that, even though he had spoken to him a harsh commandment against his brother, he did not hesitate.³See above, Numb. 6:40. The Holy One said to Moses: Say to your brother Aaron: Your time has arrived to pass away from the world. Immediately Moses stood before the Holy One in prayer and said: Sovereign of the World, how shall I say to my brother: Your time has arrived. The Holy One said to him: I have already decreed a decision over him, that has not been decreed over anyone else, in that I will not deliver him into the hand of the angel of death on the same day that he stopped the plague (in Numb. 17:8–13 [6:43–48]). Now their custom was this: Every day the princes would rise and come early to the doorway of Eleazar; Eleazar and the princes < would go> to the doorway of Aaron; and Aaron, Eleazar, and the princes would go early to the doorway of Moses. On this day, however, Moses changed the custom. He along with Eleazar and the Princes went early to the doorway of Aaron. Aaron said to him: Brother Moses, Why did you change the custom? Moses said to him: This is what the Holy One has commanded me. Now this was the order in which they went: Moses in the middle with Aaron to his right and Eleazar to this left. But when Israel saw that, they said to each other: The Holy Spirit has been taken from Moses and given to Aaron! Also Israel loved Aaron more than Moses, because Moses had said: Let justice take its course, while Aaron had brought peace between a person and his friend, also between a husband and his wife. Moreover, if he heard about anyone in the world who wanted to commit some transgression at night, he would go out on the road; and when he found him, he would say to him: My child, why are you walking on the road? People may suspect you of things that are evil. But you, my child, are a good person; and you stem from a good and distinguished family. Thus he would warn him and bring him back from an the evil way. So all Israel, men and women, loved Aaron. Therefore our masters of blessed memory have said (in Avot 1:12): BE ONE OF THE DISCIPLES OF AARON, LOVING PEACE AND PURSUING PEACE, LOVING MORTALS AND DRAWING THEM NEAR TO THE TORAH. For that reason (in Numb. 20:29): THEN ALL THE CONGREGATION SAW THAT AARON HAD DIED, AND THE WHOLE HOUSE OF ISRAEL, men and women, MOURNED AARON FOR THIRTY DAYS. But in reference to Moses, it is written (in Deut. 34:8): AND THE SONS OF ISRAEL, men only, MOURNED MOSES ON THE PLAINS OF MOAB FOR THIRTY DAYS. Now on that day Aaron said to Moses: Tell me, my brother, what do you need from me? He said to him: Wait until we ascend the mountain. After they had ascended, he said to him: My brother, would it be that the Holy one entrusted a deposit with you, and wants it back from you? Aaron said to him: Brother Moses, a tent of meeting and its utensils were entrusted into my hands. Might I have cut back on their liturgy? Moses said to him: The Holy One delivered to you a menorah with its seven lamps. Still, he did not take to heart that he was speaking about his <life> breath (as in Prov. 20:27): A PERSON's BREATH IS THE LAMP OF GOD.⁴The Masoretic text uses the divine name here. When he was not perceptive about the matter, Moses said to him <plainly>: Brother Aaron, your time has arrived to pass away from the world. When he heard that, he put his hands on his head, as he sobbed and wept. Then he recited this scripture (from Ps. 66:5): COME {LOOK AT} [SEE] THE WORKS OF GOD, WHO IS FEARSOME FOR HIS DEEDS AMONG THE CHILDREN OF ADAM. Moreover, when they wanted to enter the cave, Moses said to him: Brother Aaron, there is where Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob died; but since you wear the robes of priesthood, you may defile them. You put on Eleazar's clothes, and let Eleazar put on your clothes. Then you and I will enter the cave. And so they did. When they entered, they saw a burning lamp and a made-up bed. Moses said to him: Brother Aaron, get up into this bed, and he got up. He said to him: Extend your arms, and he extended them. Close your eyes, and he closed them. Close your mouth, and he did so. And in that hour his breath left him. When Moses saw that, he longed for his own death. The Holy One said to him: By your life, like this death, even the death of this man, so shall be your own death. Thus it is stated (in Deut. 32:50): AND YOU SHALL DIE THERE ON THE MOUNTAIN THAT YOU ARE ASCENDING AND SHALL BE GATHERED UNTO YOUR KIN, AS YOUR BROTHER AARON DIED ON MOUNT HOR AND WAS GATHERED UNTO HIS KIN.

“Twins of a gazelle” – Rabbi Yehoshua of Sikhnin in the name of Rabbi Levi: Just as these twins, when one of them withdraws from the breast, the breast is blocked, so it is written: “I will eliminate the three shepherds in a single month” (Zechariah 11:8).⁸²This is a reference to Moses, Aaron, and Miriam. But is it not so that they died only within the same year?⁸³They died in one year, but not in the same month. Rather, in a single month, the decree was issued regarding the three of them. That is what is written: “The great ones of the people were gathered” (Psalms 47:10).
Rabbi Yosei says: Three great providers arose for Israel, and these are: Moses, Aaron, and Miriam. Through their merit, three great gifts were given to them: The well, the manna, and the clouds of glory. The manna, through the merit of Moses; the well through the merit of Miriam; and through the merit of Aaron, the clouds of glory. Miriam died and the well ceased, and they said: “Not a place of seed, fig [and pomegranate, and there is no water to drink]” (Numbers 20:5). But it was restored due to the merit of Moses and Aaron. Aaron died, and the clouds of glory disappeared. That is what is written: “The entire congregation saw [vayiru] that Aaron had perished” (Numbers 20:29). Do not read it as “they saw [vayiru],” but rather as “they feared” [vayire’u].”⁸⁴They were afraid because the protection of the clouds of glory had disappeared. They were restored through the merit of Moses. Moses died and all three of them disappeared and they were not restored. The hornet did not cross the Jordan with them⁸⁵God promised to send hornets to assist in expelling the Canaanite nations (see Exodus 23:28). However, in the absence of Moses they did not cross the Jordan and assisted with Israel’s battles only east of the Jordan. and Israel did not experience peace of mind from that time forward.
“That graze [haro’im] among the lilies” – Shmuel bar Naḥmani said: Miriam and Yokheved were the midwives of Israel, and they would provide for [ro’ot] Israel as their hearts were as soft as lilies. Where was the pasture of Israel? It was in Egypt until the Red Sea.⁸⁶It was there that Miriam and Yokheved tended to the needs of the birthing mothers and their offspring.

Rabban Gamaliel, the son of R. Jehudah, said: Not to Moses alone did He show loving-kindness, but also to Aaron. For when they went up Mount Hor all the tribes of Israel were contending and saying, Moses and Eleazar have left Aaron on Mount Hor and have gone down (by themselves). They did not believe that he was dead. To show loving-kindness to him, what did the Holy One, blessed be He, do? He took Aaron's coffin and brought it above the camp of Israel, and all Israel saw Aaron's coffin flying and moving in the air. They then believed that he was dead, and they showed loving-kindness to him, as it is said: || "And all the congregation saw that Aaron was dead" (Num. 20:29). Only the men showed loving-kindness to Moses, as it is said, "And the sons of Israel wept for Moses" (Deut. 34:8). The men and the women and the children showed loving-kindness to Aaron.

Why (was this)? Because he loved peace and pursued peace, and passed daily through the entire camp of Israel and promoted peace between a man and his wife, and between a man and his neighbour; therefore all Israel showed loving-kindness to him, as it is said, "And when all the congregation saw that Aaron was dead, they wept for Aaron thirty days, even all the house of Israel" (Num. 20:29).

20 (Numb. 20:29) “Then all the congregation saw that Aaron had died”: When Moses and Elazar came down [from the mountain], the whole congregation assembled themselves against them and said, “Where is Aaron?” They said to them, “He is dead.” They said to them, “How could the angel of death hurt him, a man who has halted the angel of death and held him back?” It is so stated (in Numb. 17:13), “So he (i.e., Aaron) stood between the dead and the living, and the plague was halted.” They said to them, “If you bring him [back], well and good; but if not, we will stone you [to death].” At that time Moses rose in prayer. He said, “Master of the world, bring us out from [this] suspicion.” Immediately the Holy One, blessed be He, opened the [burial] cave and showed him to [the congregation] for them. It is so stated (in Numb. 20:29), “Then all the congregation saw that Aaron had died.” What is written after this (in Numb. 21:1)? “When the Canaanite king of Arad, [who dwelt in the Negeb], heard.” You find that once Aaron died, the clouds of glory withdrew, and they appeared like an unkempt woman. And who was this king of Arad? This [was Amalek, since it is stated (in Numb. 13:29), “Amalek dwells in the land of the Negeb […].” Now he dwelt in the gap (in the border), and when he heard that Aaron was dead and that the clouds of glory had departed, he immediately engaged them in battle. (Numb. 21:1, cont.) “By way of Atharim (a place name interpreted as coming from twr),”⁷⁰The actual root is ’TR. [meaning] the great scout (rt.: twr) that had scouted (rt.: twr) the way for them. It is so stated (in Numb. 10:33), “and the ark of the covenant of the Lord traveled ahead of them [three days' journey to seek (rt.: twr) out a resting place for them].” (Numb. 21:1, cont.) “He fought against Israel”: If that was Amalek, why did [Scripture] call him a Canaanite? Because Israel was forbidden to fight with the children of Esau, of whom it is stated (in Deut. 2:5), “Do not engage them in battle [...].” When Amalek came and engaged in battle with them a second time, the Holy One, blessed be He, said to them, “This [nation] is not forbidden like the children of Esau. Just look. They are like Canaanites, of whom it is stated (in Deut. 20:17), ‘Rather you shall utterly destroy them, [the Hittites, the Amorites, the Canaanites].’” For that reason he was called a Canaanite. From time immemorial Amalek has been a strap for the punishment of Israel. You find that when they said (in Exod. 17:7), “Is the Lord amongst us or not,” immediately (in Exod. 17:8), “And Amalek came.” [And also (in Numb. 14:4),] “And they said – one man to his brother – let us appoint a head and return to Egypt,” [is followed by (Numb. 14:45),] “And the Amalekites and the Canaanites [...] came down [and dealt them a shattering blow at Hormah].” And here (in Numb. 20:29,) “Then all the congregation saw that Aaron had died,” [is followed by (Numb 21:1),] “When the Canaanite, king of Arad heard.” You find that, when Aaron died, Amalek went out against them; and Israel retreated back seven stages [of their journey]. Thus it is stated (in Deut. 10:6), “Then from the wells of Bene-Jaakan the Children of Israel journeyed to Moserah; there Aaron died.” Did Aaron die there? Did he not die on Mount Hor, as stated (in Numb. 20:28) “and Aaron died there on Mount Hor?”⁷¹yYoma 1:1 (38ab); ySot. 1:10 (17d); cf. Mekhilta deRabbi Ishmael, Wayassa‘ 1, on Exod. 15:22. And [so] the verses are evidence of seven stages backwards (from Mount Hor to Moserah) to teach you that [Israel] had retreated.

"And they wept for Aaron thirty days, all the House of Israel" (Numbers 20:29): What is stated about Aaron is greater than what is stated about Moses. As regarding Moses, only the men wept for him, but regarding Aaron, the men and the women wept for him - since he was one that pursued peace and loved peace, and restored peace between a man and his wife, and between a man and his fellow. This is [the meaning of] that which is written (Malachi 2:6), "He walked with Me in peace and justice, and brought many back from iniquity." And what did Aaron do? When he heard that two men or a man and his wife were arguing, he would go to one of them and say to him, "Your fellow came to me and is distraught in his heart that he angered you; so he cajoled me that I should come to you [and get your forbearance], so that he [can] come to you and be forgiven by you." And Aaron would not leave from there until he would remove all the hatred in his heart and bring peace between them. Then he would leave. And when he (the one with which Aaron had spoken) met his fellow, they would immediately love and embrace each other and kiss each other. And so was it during all the days of Aaron, peace be upon him; and such was his trait. When he heard that there was an argument between a man and his wife, he would not leave them until they made peace. Hence the men and the women wept for Aaron, but only the males wept for our teacher Moses, peace be upon him. And also [because] Moses would say, "Let justice pierce the mountain," whereas Aaron would bring a compromise between two litigants.

37) (Vayikra 10:4): "And Moses called to Mishael and Eltzafan, the sons of Uziel, the uncle of Aaron": From (Shemoth 6:18) "And the sons of Kehoth: Amram and Yitzhar and Chevron and Uziel" do I not know that Uziel is the uncle of Aaron? Why, then, need it be stated? The deportment of Uziel is being likened to the deportment of Aaron. Just as Aaron was a pursuer of peace in Israel, so, Uziel. Where is it seen that Aaron was a pursuer of peace in Israel? It is written (Bamidbar 20:29): "And the entire congregation saw that Aaron had died, and the entire house of Israel mourned Aaron thirty days." And in respect to Moses it is written (Devarim 34:8): "And the children of Israel mourned Moses, etc." Why is it that the entire house of Israel mourned Aaron for thirty days and the house of Israel (but not the entire house of Israel) mourned Moses? For Aaron never told a man or a woman: You have offended; but Moses, because he reproved them, it is written of him "And the children of Israel, (but not all) mourned Moses." And thus does Scripture apply (the following verse) to Aaron in the tradition (Malachi 2:5): "My covenant was with him, the life and the peace" — he pursued peace in Israel; "and I gave him fear and he feared Me" — he took upon himself all the words of Torah in awe and trembling and trepidation; "and before My name he cowered": What is the intent of this? When Moses spilled the anointment oil on Aaron's head, he recoiled and fell backwards, saying: Woe unto me for defiling the anointment oil! (He feared that too much of it had been spilled and that he may have derived benefit from it), whereupon he was reassured by the Holy Spirit (Tehillim 133:1): "Behold, how good and how pleasant is the dwelling of brothers together, (Tehillim 133:2) as the precious oil upon the head, running down upon the beard, the beard of Aaron, running down over his garments, (Tehillim 133:3) as the dew of Chermon running down upon the hills of Zion" — Just as the dew is not defiled, the oil of anointment is not defiled.