Commentary for Eruvin 125:26

א"ר לוי כל דמותיב מלה קמיה רביה אזיל לשאול בלא ולד שנאמר (במדבר יא, כח) ויען יהושע בן נון משרת משה מבחוריו ויאמר אדוני משה כלאם

But the meaning is that David sent to him<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' And to no other priest.');">⁴⁷</span> his priestly gifts; and this is followed b the text: And there was a famine in the days of David.<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' Ibid. XXI, 1.');">⁴⁸</span> R'Eliezer<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' Var. lec. 'Eleazar'.');">⁴⁹</span> said: He<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' Who gives a legal decision in the presence of his Master.');">⁵⁰</span> is deprived of his greatness - For it is said: And Eleazar the priest said unto the men of war. This is the statute of the law which the Lord hath commanded Moses;<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' Num. XXXI, 21.');">⁵¹</span> although he thus said to them, 'He commanded my father's brother<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' Moses.');">⁵²</span> and not me'<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' Thus acknowledging that the statute he was teaching them was taught to him by his Master Moses.');">⁵³</span> he was nevertheless punished,'<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' For promulgating it in the presence of the Master.');">⁵⁴</span> as it is written: And he<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' Joshua.');">⁵⁵</span> shall stand before Eleazar the priest<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' Num. XXVII, 21, i.e., Joshua will have to submit his doubts and difficulties to Eleazar.');">⁵⁶</span> and yet we do not find that Joshua ever needed his guidance. R'Levi stated: He who answers a word<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' To a question submitted.');">⁵⁷</span> in the presence of his Master goes down to Sheol childless; for it says in Scripture: And Joshua the son of Nun, the minister of Moses from his youth up, answered and said: 'My lord Moses, shall them in'<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' Nun. Xl, 28. 'Kela'em', an answer in one word.');">⁵⁸</span>

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