Мидраш к Бамидбар 32:37

We are taught in a Baraitha, R. Juda said: "Were it not for the passage, it would have been impossible to know where Moses died? In the part of Reuben. (Ib. 34, 1) And Moses went up from the plains of Mo'ab unto the Mt of Nebo, and the Mt. of Nebo was situated in the section of Re'uben, as it is written (Num. 32, 37) And the children of Reuben built Heshbon, El'aleh, Kiryathayim, Nebo, and Baa'l-me'on. And where was Moses buried? In the section of Gad; as it is written (Ib. 33, 21) Because there is the field of the Law-Giver hidden. The distance between the part of land belonging to Reuben to that of Gad is about four miles. Now by whom was Moses brought the distance of these four miles? From this it may be inferred that when Moses died, he was placed on the wings of the Shechina [by which means he was carried away these four miles], surrounded by ministering angels, saying (Ib., ib., ib.) He executed the justice of the Lord and His judgment with Israel. And what did the Holy One, praised be He, Himself say at that time? (Ps. 94, 16) O who will rise up before Me against evil-doers, or who will stand up against Me with the worker of wicked-doers." But Samuel said: "The Lord said the following, (Ecc. 8, 1) "Who is like the wise and who knoweth as well the explanation of a thing?" R. Jochanan said: "The Lord said the following, (Job 28, 12) But wisdom, where shall she be found? Where is the place of understanding?" R. Nachman b. Isaac said: "The Lord said the following, (Deut. 34, 5) And Moses the servant of the Lord died there." Samalian said: And Moses died there, means "The great Scribe of Israel."

(Bamidbar 12:14) "And the L-rd said to Moses: Now if her father had spat in her face, etc." R. Achi b. R. Yoshiyah said: There were "two rebukes," viz.: If her father of flesh and blood had rebuked her, she would (sit) in shame (sequestered) for seven days, does it not follow that if (her Father) He who spoke and brought the world into being (rebuked her), (she should be sequestered) fourteen (days)! But "it suffices that what is derived from an argument a fortiori be as that which it is derived from" — Just as her father, seven; so, He who spoke and brought the world into being, seven. (Ibid.) "Let her be sequestered seven days outside the camp, and then let her be gathered in.": The Holy One Blessed be He sequestered her, and the Holy One Blessed be He declared her tamei and the Holy One Blessed be He declared her clean. (Ibid. 12:15) "And the people did not journey until Miriam had been gathered in": to teach that "with the measure that a man measures, so is he measured." Miriam waited for Moses a short while, viz. (Shemot 2:4) "And his sister stationed herself at a distance, etc."; therefore, the Shechinah, the ark, the Cohanim, the Levites, and the seven clouds of glory did not journey until Miriam had been gathered in. Joseph merited taking the bones of his father (for burial), and there were none among his brothers greater than he, viz. (Bereshit 50:7-9) "And Joseph went up to bury his father … and there went up with him both chariots and riders." Who was greater among us than Joseph, only Moses meriting bringing him to burial. And there is none in Israel greater than he, viz. (Shemot 13:19) "And Moses took the bones of Joseph with him." Who is greater among us than Moses, none but the Holy One Blessed be He bringing him to burial, viz. (Devarim 34:6) "And He buried him in the valley of the land of Moav": R. Yehudah says: If it (the above) were not an explicit verse, it would be impossible to say it. Where did Moses die? In the portion of Reuven, viz. (Ibid. 1) "And Moses went up from the steppes of Moav to Mount Nevo." This is the territory of the sons of Reuven, viz. (Bamidbar 32:37-38) "And the sons of Reuven built Cheshbon and Elalei and Kiryathayim and Nevo." And he was buried only in the territory of Gad, viz. (Devarim 33:20-21) "And to Gad he said: Blessed be he who broadens Gad … and he saw the best for himself. For there the portion of the lawgiver (Moses) is hidden." From the portion of Reuven to that of Gad is four mils. Those four mils — Who carried him"? We are hereby taught that Moses was (carried) in the "hand" of the Holy One Blessed be He the four mils from the portion of Reuven to that of Gad, while the ministering angels extolled him in song, (Ibid.) "He wrought the righteousness of the L-rd and His judgments with Israel." And He thus gathers in not only Moses, but all of the righteous, as it is written (Isaiah 58:8) "And your righteousness shall go before you, and the glory of G-d will gather you in." (Bamidbar, Ibid. 16) "And afterwards the people journeyed from Chatzeiroth": This journey was after Miriam was gathered in.