{"id":52226,"date":"2019-03-26T21:22:44","date_gmt":"2019-03-26T19:22:44","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/?p=52226"},"modified":"2022-10-18T20:46:26","modified_gmt":"2022-10-18T17:46:26","slug":"vayelech-moses-last-day","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/en\/vayelech-moses-last-day\/","title":{"rendered":"Vayelech: Moses’ Last Day"},"content":{"rendered":"
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Parashat Va-Yelekh<\/span><\/i> records Moses\u2019 last day. Now he seems to be at peace with God\u2019s judgment and is forthcoming in regard to both his ebbing strength and his disappointment at being unable to lead the Israelites into the Promised Land. His words to the people are full of encouragement, as he promises them that even though he will not be with them, God will help them conquer the land: \u201cThen Moses called Joshua and said to him in the sight of all Israel \u2018be strong and resolute for it is you who shall go with this people into the land that the Lord swore to their fathers to give them and it is you who shall apportion it to them\u2019\u201d (Deut. 31:7).<\/span><\/p>\n

Joshua had been at Moses\u2019 side for many years: \u201cThe Lord would speak to Moses face to face as one man speaks to another\u2026his attendant Joshua, son of Nun, a youth, would not stir out of the tent\u201d (Exod. 33:11). Moses had chosen Joshua to lead the battle against Amalek (Exod. 17:9). Further, he took Joshua with him up to the mountain of God when he ascended to receive the Torah (Exod. 24:13), and it was Joshua \u00a0who heard the noise of the people celebrating around the Golden Calf (Exod. 32:17). Joshua was also the man who challenged the majority report of the spies (Num. 14). God told Moses: \u201cSingle out Joshua, son of Nun, an inspired man, and lay your hand upon him\u201d (Num. 27:18), which Moses did in front of Elazar the priest and before the whole community. <\/span><\/p>\n

Why then did Moses choose to perform another official ceremony, as described here, on the last day of his life?<\/span><\/p>\n

Avner Moriah visualizes this seemingly redundant ceremony<\/span>. <\/span><\/i>The picture shows an aged Moses leaning on his staff speaking to Joshua, who is standing upright with his arms folded, clearly very attentive and respectful toward his master. There is no \u201claying on of the hands\u201d as in the earlier ceremony. Behind the two men we see a range of brown hills, with a large gap between two of the peaks. The long white extended hand of God is stretched out over the gap, and the Israelites are using it as a bridge to the Promised Land, as it says: \u201cThe Lord your God Himself will cross over before you; and He Himself will wipe out those nations from your path and you shall dispossess them. Joshua is the one who shall cross before you, as the Lord has spoken\u201d (Deut. 31:3).<\/span><\/p>\n

Here, the Israelites are witnessing the close and caring relationship between Moses and Joshua and projecting a sense of unity in their acceptance of Joshua as their new leader. This was an important moment, as many of the earlier episodes in which Joshua was involved occurred during times of disunity and strife. Clearly the people are approving of Joshua and are watching in anticipation as Moses blesses him, saying: \u201cBe strong and resolute\u201d (Deut. 31:7).<\/span><\/p>\n

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

Text by: Dr. Shulamit Laderman, PhD in Art History, publications on Jewish and Christian influences on biblical interpretive illustration.<\/span><\/p>\n

For the entire weekly portion series, please visit:<\/span> https:\/\/avnermoriahprints.com\/collections\/parasha<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","image":{"ID":52227,"id":52227,"title":"52 Vayelech","filename":"52-Vayelech.jpg","filesize":0,"url":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/03\/52-Vayelech.jpg","link":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/en\/vayelech-moses-last-day\/52-vayelech\/","alt":"","author":"7","description":"","caption":"","name":"52-vayelech","status":"inherit","uploaded_to":52226,"date":"2019-03-26 19:22:19","modified":"2019-03-26 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