כז וכבר שלחה מלכות הרשעה אצל
27 And he said unto them, I am an hundred and twenty years old this day.<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' Deut. XXXI, 2. ');"><sup>24</sup></span> Why does the text state 'this day?' [The meaning is], This day are my days and years completed.<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' It was his birthday. ');"><sup>25</sup></span> Its purpose is to teach you that the Holy One, blessed be He, completes the years of the righteous from day to day, and from month to month; for it is written: The number of thy days I will fulfil.<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' Ex. XXIII, 26. ');"><sup>26</sup></span> I can no more go out and come in<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' Deut. XXXI, 2. ');"><sup>24</sup></span> — what means 'go out and come in'? If it is to be understood literally, behold it is written: And Moses was an hundred and twenty years old when he died; his eye was not dim, nor his natural force abated;<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' Deut. XXXIV, 7. ');"><sup>27</sup></span> it is also written: And Moses went up from the plains of Moab unto mount Nebo;<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' Ibid. 1. ');"><sup>28</sup></span> and it has been taught: Twelve steps were there, but Moses mounted them in one stride! — R. Samuel b. Nahmani said in the name of R. Jonathan: [It means] to 'go out and come in' with words of Torah, thus indicating that the gates of wisdom were closed against him. And Moses and Joshua went, and presented themselves in the tent of meeting.<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' Deut. XXXI, 14. ');"><sup>29</sup></span> A Tanna taught: That was a Sabbath when two teachers [gave discourses] and the authority was taken from one to be transferred to the other. It has further been taught: R. Judah said: Were it not for a Scriptural text, it would be impossible to utter the following. Where did Moses die? In the portion of Reuben, for it is written: And Moses went up from the plains of Moab unto mount Nebo, and Nebo was located in the portion of Reuben, for it is written: And the children of Reuben built … and Nebo etc.<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' Num. XXXII. 37f. ');"><sup>30</sup></span> — It was called Nebo because three prophets [nebi'im] died there, viz. Moses, Aaron, and Miriam. — And where was Moses buried? In the portion of Gad, for it is written: And he provided the first part for himself etc.<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' Deut. XXXIII, 21. It continues, For there was the lawgiver's portion reserved. ');"><sup>31</sup></span> Now what was the distance between the portion of Reuben and that of Gad? Four <i>mil</i>.<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' A mil equalled 2,000 cubits, or 3,000 feet. ');"><sup>32</sup></span> Who carried him those four <i>mil</i>? It teaches that Moses was laid upon the wings of the <i>Shechinah</i>, and the Ministering Angels kept proclaiming, He executed the justice of the Lord, and His judgments with Israel,<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' Ibid. ');"><sup>33</sup></span> and the Holy One, blessed be He, declared: Who will rise up for Me against the evil-doers? Who will stand up for Me against the workers of iniquity?<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' Ps. XCIV, 16. I.e., now that Moses is dead. ');"><sup>34</sup></span> Samuel<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' The Rabbi of that name. ');"><sup>35</sup></span> said [that God declared], Who is as the wise man? and who knoweth the interpretation of a thing?<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' Eccl. VIII, 1. ');"><sup>36</sup></span> R. Johanan said [that God declared], Where shall wisdom be found?<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' Job XXVIII, 12. ');"><sup>37</sup></span> R. Nahman said [that God announced], So Moses died there etc.<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' Deut. XXXIV, 5. ');"><sup>38</sup></span> Semalyon<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' Rashi explains it as the name of a wise man. Others take it as the designation of an angel who made the proclamation, v. Aruch. ');"><sup>39</sup></span> said: So Moses died there, the great Sage of Israel.<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' [ [H]. Lit., 'the Great Scribe'. Moses is so designated because he wrote the Torah (Maharsha). Krauss, S., (Hagoren, VII, p. 32ff) attempts to connect this appellation with the mythological idea of a heavenly Scribe by the side of the Deity determining the fate of nations and individuals]. ');"><sup>40</sup></span> It has been taught: R. Eliezer the Elder said: Over an area of twelve <i>mil</i> square, corresponding to that of the camp of Israel, a <i>Bath Kol</i> made the proclamation, 'So Moses died there', the great Sage of Israel. Others declare that Moses never died; it is written here, 'So Moses died there', and elsewhere it is written: And he was there with the Lord.<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' Ex. XXXIV, 28. The word there is common to both verses. ');"><sup>41</sup></span> As in the latter passage it means standing and ministering, so also in the former it means standing and ministering. And He buried him in the valley in the land of Moab over against Beth-peor.<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' Deut. XXXIV, 6. ');"><sup>42</sup></span> R. Berechyah said: Although [Scripture provides] a clue within a clue, nevertheless no man knoweth of his sepulchre.<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' Deut. XXXIV, 6. ');"><sup>42</sup></span> The wicked Government once sent to