{"id":48725,"date":"2019-02-04T18:25:07","date_gmt":"2019-02-04T16:25:07","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/?p=48725"},"modified":"2022-08-30T09:20:33","modified_gmt":"2022-08-30T06:20:33","slug":"moses-still-has-what-it-takes-as-a-leader","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/en\/moses-still-has-what-it-takes-as-a-leader\/","title":{"rendered":"Matot: Moses Still Has What It Takes As A Leader"},"content":{"rendered":"
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Illustration for Chapter 32:<\/p>\n

The tribes of Reuben and Gad approached Moses, saying: \u201cThe land that the Lord has conquered for the community of Israel is cattle country and your servants have cattle. It would be a favor to us, they continued, if this land were given to your servants as a holding; do not move us across the Jordan\u201d (32:4\u20135). Though these tribes did own much cattle, Moses understood that, being primarily concerned with own possessions and wealth, they wanted to acquire lands without having to cross the Jordan and fight in the ensuing battles. Moses countered angrily: \u201cAre your brothers to go to war while you stay here?\u201d (32:6). Upon hearing his wrathful response, the two tribes realized their mistake and hastened to assure Moses that they would not forsake the other tribes but would cross over the Jordan to help conquer the land of Canaan.<\/span><\/p>\n

Do we have here a hint that Moses did not understand the new generation that grew up in the wilderness or does the story serve to reveal Moses\u2019 still brilliant leadership, where, remembering the faults of the previous generation, he was able to prevent injustices among the tribes?<\/span><\/p>\n

Avner Moriah\u2019s painting speaks to the answer. In the center of the picture we see three bearded figures, representing . \u201cthe Gadites, the Reuvenites, and the half-tribe of Manasseh son of Joseph\u201d (32:33). This central group is marked with two red triangular shapes that seem to point toward Moses on the left standing with Elazar, the High Priest; Joshua son of Nun; and the other Israelite chieftains, portrayed against a yellow mountain.<\/span><\/p>\n

To the right we see the other tribes with their spears behind them, figured as a firmly united assembly, also set against a yellow mountain, which marks \u201c\u2026the land that the Lord has conquered for the community of Israel\u201d (32:4). In contrast, the center group is shown against a gap between the two mountains, which points to the way from the east to the west of the Jordan. At the top of the picture we see a hieroglyphic inset, alluding to the promise the two tribes made to Moses: \u201cWe will build here sheepfolds for our flocks and towns for our children. And we will hasten as shock-troops in the van of the Israelites until we have established them in their home.\u2026We will not return to our homes until every one of the Israelites is in possession of his portion\u201d (32:17\u201318).<\/span><\/p>\n

The rightmost symbol represents sheepfolds for their flocks and only the next symbol is the town for their children. Moses, aware of their blatant materialism, soon corrects them, saying: \u201cBuild towns for your children and sheepfolds for your flocks\u201d (32:24), which is indeed what they do in the end. <\/span><\/p>\n

This chapter reveal Moses\u2019 stature and ability as a leader who knew his people and knew well how to ensure that one group would not exploit the others so that justice would prevail.<\/span><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Artwork by: Avner Moriah, by courtesy of the artist<\/p>\n

Text by: Dr. Shulamit Laderman, who holds a\u00a0<\/span>PhD in Art History and has published extensively on Jewish and Christian influences on biblical interpretive illustration.<\/p>\n

For the entire weekly portion series, please visit: <\/span>https:\/\/avnermoriahprints.com\/collections\/parasha<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","image":{"ID":48726,"id":48726,"title":"Num32-Matot","filename":"Num32-Matot.jpg","filesize":0,"url":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/02\/Num32-Matot.jpg","link":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/en\/moses-still-has-what-it-takes-as-a-leader\/num32-matot\/","alt":"","author":"7","description":"","caption":"","name":"num32-matot","status":"inherit","uploaded_to":48725,"date":"2019-02-04 16:24:32","modified":"2019-02-04 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