Songs of Exile/The Death of Moses

by various poets

Layout 2

The Death of Moses

From Midrash Tanchuma

IN the hour when the Holy One, blessed be He, said unto Moses: "Get thee up into this mountain . . . . and die,"—"Now," thought the Angel of Death, "hath the Holy One given me dominion over the soul of Moses." And he appeared and stood before him.

Then spake Moses: "The Holy One, blessed be He, hath promised me that He will not give me over into thine hand."

And the Angel answered: "The Holy One, blessed be He, hath sent me unto thee; for thou shalt pass away this day."

Then said Moses unto him: "Get thee hence; for I seek to extol the Holy One. 'I shall not die, but live, and declare the works of the Lord,'"

"Why vaunt thyself?" spake the Angel, "There be others to sing His praises. Lo! 'the Heavens declare the glory of God.'"

And Moses said: "The Heavens are still when I extol Him, as it is written: 'Give ear, ye Heavens, and I will speak.'"

The Angel of Death again approached unto him, Moses pronounced the tremendous Name, and the Angel fled; as it is said: "For I will proclaim the Name of the Lord."

Once more the Angel of Death drew nigh. Then thought Moses: "It may be that he cometh bid by Heaven, and that I must bow before the just decree. 'The Rock, His work is perfect.'"

The soul of Moses wrestled to go forth; and he restrained her, saying: "O my soul! what sayest thou? For the Angel of Death seeketh to gain dominion over thee."

She spake: "It cannot be. For the Holy One, blessed be He, hath promised me that He will not give me over into his hand."

"Nay, but thou sayest thou hast seen the people weeping, and thou didst weep with them."

She said: "Thou hast delivered my soul from death, mine eyes from tears—"

"But thou fearest to be thrust into the grave."

She said: "and my feet from falling."

And of his soul he asked; "Whither wilt thou take thy flight in realms unknown?"

She answered: "I shall walk before the Lord in the land of the living."

When Moses heard these words, he said unto her: "'Return unto thy rest, O my soul; for the Lord hath dealt bountifully with thee.'"

As he passed away, a voice went up from earth: "Moses commanded us a Law, an inheritance for the assembly of Jacob."

And the Heavens answered: "He executed the justice of the Lord, and His judgments with Israel."

Yea, the Holy One, blessed be He, Himself in His glory proclaimed his praise: "And there hath not arisen a prophet since in Israel like unto Moses."

 

נ֗ת֗ן זמר֗ו֗ת בלילח֠