約書亞記 24:32的托塞夫塔

Joseph merited the bones of his father (Gen. 50:7); so too, none other than Moses occupied himself with [Joseph's bones], as it is said (Ex. 13:19), "And Moses took the bones of Joseph with him." It teaches that the entire nation was occupying itself with [gathering] spoils, and he was occupying himself with [fulfilling] a mitzvah, as it is said (Prov. 10:8), "The wise-hearted accepts mitzvot, etc." [But] if Moses had not occupied himself with with it, would [the Children of] Israel not have occupied themselves with it? What does it say, but (Josh. 24:32), "And the bones of Joseph that the Children of Israel had brought up from Egypt, were buried in Shechem." Rather, as soon as as Israel saw Moses occupying himself with it, they said, "Leave it, for the honor of the great ones is more than that of the small ones" (i.e., it is a greater honor for Joseph's bones to be carried by Moses than by us; see Sot. 13a:11). And if Moses and [the Children of] Israel had not occupied themselves with it, would his own children not have occupied themselves with it? What does the verse say, but (Josh. 24:32), "and [the bones of Joseph] became a heritage for the children of Joseph." Rather, as soon as his children saw that Moses and Israel were occupying themselves with it, they said, "Leave it, for the honor of the multitudes is more than that of the few."