בס”ד
- Siddur
| I believe with complete faith that the prophecy of our teacher, Moses, may he rest in peace, was true, and that he was the father of all prophets, —of those who preceded him, and of those who followed him. | אֲנִי מַאֲמִין בֶּאֱמוּנָה שְׁלֵמָה שֶׁנְּ֒בוּאַת משֶׁה רַבֵּֽנוּ עָלָיו הַשָּׁלוֹם הָיְ֒תָה אֲמִתִּית וְשֶׁהוּא הָיָה אָב לַנְּ֒בִיאִים לַקּוֹדְ֒מִים לְפָנָיו וְלַבָּאִים אַחֲרָיו: |
2. Rambam, Mishneh Torah, Hilchot Yesodei HaTorah 8
| The Jews did not believe in Moses, our teacher, because of the wonders that he performed. Whenever anyone’s belief is based on wonders, [the commitment of] his heart has shortcomings, because it is possible to perform a wonder through magic or sorcery. All the wonders performed by Moses in the desert were not intended to serve as proof [of the legitimacy] of his prophecy, but rather were performed for a purpose. It was necessary to drown the Egyptians, so he split the sea and sank them in it. We needed food, so he provided us with manna. We were thirsty, so he split the rock [providing us with water]. Korach’s band mutinied against him, so the earth swallowed them up. The same applies to the other wonders. What is the source of our belief in him? The [revelation] at Mount Sinai. Our eyes saw, and not a stranger’s. Our ears heard, and not another’s. There was fire, thunder, and lightning. He entered the thick clouds; the Voice spoke to him and we heard, “Moses, Moses, go tell them the following:….” Thus, [Deuteronomy 5:4] relates: “Face to face, G-d spoke to you,” and [Deuteronomy 5:3] states: “G-d did not make this covenant with our fathers, [but with us, who are all here alive today].” How is it known that the [revelation] at Mount Sinai alone is proof of the truth of Moses’ prophecy that leaves no shortcoming? [Exodus 19:9] states: “Behold, I will come to you in a thick cloud, so that the people will hear Me speaking to you, [so that] they will believe in you forever.” It appears that before this happened, they did not believe in him with a faith that would last forever, but rather with a faith that allowed for suspicions and doubts. Thus, those to whom [Moses] was sent witnessed [his appointment] as a prophet, and it was not necessary to perform another wonder for them. He and they were witnesses, like two witnesses who observed the same event together. Each one serves as a witness to his colleague that he is telling the truth, and neither has to bring any other proof to his collegue. Similarly, all Israel were witnesses to [the appointment of] Moses, our teacher, at the [revelation] at Mount Sinai, and it was unnecessary for him to perform any further wonders for them. This concept [is alluded to in the interchange between G-d and Moses at the revelation of the burning bush]. At the beginning of his prophecy, the Holy One, blessed be He, gave him the signs [and wonders] to perform in Egypt and told him [Exodus 3:18], “And they will listen to your voice.” Moses, our teacher, knew that one who believes [in another person] because of signs has apprehension in his heart; he has doubts and suspicions. Therefore, he sought to be released from the mission, saying: “They will not believe me” [Exodus 4:1], until the Holy One, blessed be He, informed him that these wonders [were intended only as a temporary measure,] until they left Egypt. After they would leave, they would stand on this mountain and all doubts which they had about him would be removed. [G-d told him:] Here, I will give you a sign so that they will know that I truly sent you from the outset, and thus, no doubts will remain in their hearts. This is what is meant by [Exodus 3:12]: “This will be your sign that I sent you: When you take the people out of Egypt, you will serve G-d on this mountain.” Thus, we do not believe in any prophet who arises after Moses, our teacher, because of the wonder [he performs] alone, as if to say: If he performs a wonder we will listen to everything he says. Rather, [we believe him] because it is a mitzvah which we were commanded by Moses who said: If he performs a wonder, listen to him. Just as we are commanded to render a [legal] judgment based on the testimony of two witnesses, even though we do not know if they are testifying truthfully or falsely, similarly, it is a mitzvah to listen to this prophet even though we do not know whether the wonder is true or performed by magic or sorcery. Therefore, if a prophet arises and attempts to dispute Moses’ prophecy by performing great signs and wonders, we should not listen to him. We know with certainty that he performed those signs through magic or sorcery. [This conclusion is reached] because the prophecy of Moses, our teacher, is not dependent on wonders, so that we could compare these wonders, one against the other. Rather we saw and heard with our own eyes and ears as he did. To what can this be compared? To witnesses who gave testimony concerning a matter to a man who had observed the situation with his own eyes. He will never listen to them and will know for certain that they are false witnesses. Therefore, the Torah states (Deuteronomy 13:3-4) that “[Even] if [such] a sign or wonder will come, you should not listen to the words of that prophet.” He comes to you with signs and wonders to deny what you saw with your own eyes. We believe in a wonder [as evidence of a prophet’s reliability] only because of the mitzvah which Moses commanded us. Therefore, how can a wonder [cause us to] accept this [person] who comes to deny the prophecy of Moses which we saw and heard? | משֶׁה רַבֵּנוּ לֹא הֶאֱמִינוּ בּוֹ יִשְׂרָאֵל מִפְּנֵי הָאוֹתוֹת שֶׁעָשָׂה. שֶׁהַמַּאֲמִין עַל פִּי הָאוֹתוֹת יֵשׁ בְּלִבּוֹ דֹּפִי שֶׁאֶפְשָׁר שֶׁיַּעֲשֶׂה הָאוֹת בְּלָט וְכִשּׁוּף. אֶלָּא כָּל הָאוֹתוֹת שֶׁעָשָׂה משֶׁה בַּמִּדְבָּר לְפִי הַצֹּרֶךְ עֲשָׂאָם. לֹא לְהָבִיא רְאָיָה עַל הַנְּבוּאָה. הָיָה צָרִיךְ לְהַשְׁקִיעַ אֶת הַמִּצְרִיִּים קָרַע אֶת הַיָּם וְהִצְלִילָן בְּתוֹכוֹ. צָרַכְנוּ לְמָזוֹן הוֹרִיד לָנוּ אֶת הַמָּן. צָמְאוּ בָּקַע לָהֶן אֶת הָאֶבֶן. כָּפְרוּ בּוֹ עֲדַת קֹרַח בָּלְעָה אוֹתָן הָאָרֶץ. וְכֵן שְׁאָר כָּל הָאוֹתוֹת. וּבַמֶּה הֶאֱמִינוּ בּוֹ. בְּמַעֲמַד הַר סִינַי שֶׁעֵינֵינוּ רָאוּ וְלֹא זָר וְאָזְנֵינוּ שָׁמְעוּ וְלֹא אַחֵר הָאֵשׁ וְהַקּוֹלוֹת וְהַלַּפִּידִים וְהוּא נִגַּשׁ אֶל הָעֲרָפֶל וְהַקּוֹל מִדַּבֵּר אֵלָיו וְאָנוּ שׁוֹמְעִים משֶׁה משֶׁה לֵךְ אֱמֹר לָהֶן כָּךְ וְכָךְ. וְכֵן הוּא אוֹמֵר (דברים ה ד) “פָּנִים בְּפָנִים דִּבֶּר ה’ עִמָּכֶם”. וְנֶאֱמַר (דברים ה ג) “לֹא אֶת אֲבֹתֵינוּ כָּרַת ה’ אֶת הַבְּרִית הַזֹּאת”. וּמִנַּיִן שֶׁמַּעֲמַד הַר סִינַי לְבַדּוֹ הִיא הָרְאָיָה לִנְבוּאָתוֹ שֶׁהִיא אֱמֶת שֶׁאֵין בּוֹ דֹּפִי שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר (שמות יט ט) “הִנֵּה אָנֹכִי בָּא אֵלֶיךָ בְּעַב הֶעָנָן בַּעֲבוּר יִשְׁמַע הָעָם בְּדַבְּרִי עִמָּךְ וְגַם בְּךָ יַאֲמִינוּ לְעוֹלָם”. מִכְלַל שֶׁקֹּדֶם דָּבָר זֶה לֹא הֶאֱמִינוּ בּוֹ נֶאֱמָנוּת שֶׁהִיא עוֹמֶדֶת לְעוֹלָם אֶלָּא נֶאֱמָנוּת שֶׁיֵּשׁ אַחֲרֶיהָ הִרְהוּר וּמַחֲשָׁבָה: נִמְצְאוּ אֵלּוּ שֶׁשׁוּלַּח לָהֶן הֵם הָעֵדִים עַל נְבוּאָתוֹ שֶׁהִיא אֱמֶת וְאֵינוֹ צָרִיךְ לַעֲשׂוֹת לָהֶן אוֹת אַחֵר. שֶׁהֵם וְהוּא עֵדִים בַּדָּבָר כִּשְׁנֵי עֵדִים שֶׁרָאוּ דָּבָר אֶחָד בְּיַחַד שֶׁכָּל אֶחָד מֵהֶן עֵד לַחֲבֵרוֹ שֶׁהוּא אוֹמֵר אֱמֶת וְאֵין אֶחָד מֵהֶן צָרִיךְ לְהָבִיא רְאָיָה לַחֲבֵרוֹ. כָּךְ משֶׁה רַבֵּנוּ כָּל יִשְׂרָאֵל עֵדִים לוֹ אַחַר מַעֲמַד הַר סִינַי וְאֵינוֹ צָרִיךְ לַעֲשׂוֹת לָהֶם אוֹת. וְזֶהוּ שֶׁאָמַר לוֹ לְהַקָּדוֹשׁ בָּרוּךְ הוּא בִּתְחִלַּת נְבוּאָתוֹ בְּעֵת שֶׁנָּתַן לוֹ הָאוֹתוֹת לַעֲשׂוֹתָן בְּמִצְרַיִם וְאָמַר לוֹ (שמות ג יח) “וְשָׁמְעוּ לְקלֶךָ”. יָדַע משֶׁה רַבֵּנוּ שֶׁהַמַּאֲמִין עַל פִּי הָאוֹתוֹת יֵשׁ בִּלְבָבוֹ דֹּפִי וּמְהַרְהֵר וּמְחַשֵּׁב וְהָיָה נִשְׁמָט מִלֵּילֵךְ וְאָמַר (שמות ד א) “וְהֵן לֹא יַאֲמִינוּ לִי”. עַד שֶׁהוֹדִיעוֹ הַקָּדוֹשׁ בָּרוּךְ הוּא שֶׁאֵלּוּ הָאוֹתוֹת אֵינָן אֶלָּא עַד שֶׁיֵּצְאוּ מִמִּצְרַיִם וְאַחַר שֶׁיֵּצְאוּ וְיַעַמְדוּ עַל הָהָר הַזֶּה יִסְתַּלֵּק הִרְהוּר שֶׁמְּהַרְהֲרִין אַחֲרֶיךָ שֶׁאֲנִי נוֹתֵן לְךָ כָּאן אוֹת שֶׁיֵּדְעוּ שֶׁאֲנִי שְׁלַחְתִּיךָ בֶּאֱמֶת מִתְּחִלָּה וְלֹא יִשָּׁאֵר בְּלִבָּם הִרְהוּר. וְהוּא שֶׁהַכָּתוּב אוֹמֵר (שמות ג יב) “וְזֶה לְּךָ הָאוֹת כִּי אָנֹכִי שְׁלַחְתִּיךָ בְּהוֹצִיאֲךָ אֶת הָעָם מִמִּצְרַיִם תַּעַבְדוּן אֶת הָאֱלֹקים עַל הָהָר הַזֶּה”. נִמְצֵאתָ אוֹמֵר שֶׁכָּל נָבִיא שֶׁיַּעֲמֹד אַחַר משֶׁה רַבֵּנוּ אֵין אָנוּ מַאֲמִינִים בּוֹ מִפְּנֵי הָאוֹת לְבַדּוֹ כְּדֵי שֶׁנֹּאמַר אִם יַעֲשֶׂה אוֹת נִשְׁמַע לוֹ לְכָל מַה שֶּׁיֹּאמַר. אֶלָּא מִפְּנֵי הַמִּצְוָה שֶׁצִּוָּה משֶׁה בַּתּוֹרָה וְאָמַר אִם נָתַן אוֹת (דברים יח טו) “אֵלָיו תִּשְׁמָעוּן”. כְּמוֹ שֶׁצִּוָּנוּ לַחְתֹּךְ הַדָּבָר עַל פִּי שְׁנַיִם עֵדִים וְאַף עַל פִּי שֶׁאֵין אָנוּ יוֹדְעִין אִם הֵעִידוּ אֱמֶת אִם שֶׁקֶר. כָּךְ מִצְוָה לִשְׁמֹעַ מִזֶּה הַנָּבִיא אַף עַל פִּי שֶׁאֵין אָנוּ יוֹדְעִים אִם הָאוֹת אֱמֶת אוֹ בְּכִשּׁוּף וְלָט: לְפִיכָךְ אִם עָמַד הַנָּבִיא וְעָשָׂה אוֹתוֹת וּמוֹפְתִים גְּדוֹלִים וּבִקֵּשׁ לְהַכְחִישׁ נְבוּאָתוֹ שֶׁל משֶׁה רַבֵּנוּ אֵין שׁוֹמְעִין לוֹ וְאָנוּ יוֹדְעִין בְּבֵאוּר שֶׁאוֹתָן הָאוֹתוֹת בְּלָט וְכִשּׁוּף הֵן. לְפִי שֶׁנְּבוּאַת משֶׁה רַבֵּנוּ אֵינָהּ עַל פִּי הָאוֹתוֹת כְּדֵי שֶׁנַּעֲרֹךְ אוֹתוֹת זֶה לְאוֹתוֹת זֶה. אֶלָּא בְּעֵינֵינוּ רְאִינוּהָ וּבְאָזְנֵינוּ שְׁמַעֲנוּהָ כְּמוֹ שֶׁשָּׁמַע הוּא. הָא לְמָה הַדָּבָר דּוֹמֶה לְעֵדִים שֶׁהֵעִידוּ לָאָדָם עַל דָּבָר שֶׁרָאָה בְּעֵינָיו שֶׁאֵינוֹ כְּמוֹ שֶׁרָאָה שֶׁאֵינוֹ שׁוֹמֵעַ לָהֶן אֶלָּא יוֹדֵעַ בְּוַדַּאי שֶׁהֵן עֵדֵי שֶׁקֶר. לְפִיכָךְ אָמְרָה תּוֹרָה שֶׁאִם בָּא הָאוֹת וְהַמּוֹפֵת (דברים יג ד) “לֹא תִּשְׁמַע אֶל דִּבְרֵי הַנָּבִיא הַהוּא”. שֶׁהֲרֵי זֶה בָּא אֵלֶיךָ בְּאוֹת וּמוֹפֵת לְהַכְחִישׁ מַה שֶּׁרָאִיתָ בְּעֵינֶיךָ וְהוֹאִיל וְאֵין אָנוּ מַאֲמִינִים בְּמוֹפֵת אֶלָּא מִפְּנֵי הַמִּצְוֹת שֶׁצִּוָּנוּ משֶׁה הֵיאַךְ נְקַבֵּל מֵאוֹת זֶה שֶׁבָּא לְהַכְחִישׁ נְבוּאָתוֹ שֶׁל משֶׁה שֶׁרָאִינוּ וְשֶׁשָּׁמַעְנוּ |
3. Rambam, Commentary on the Mishna, Sanhedrin 10:1
| The seventh principle The prophecy of Moshe, our teacher – peace be upon him – and that is that we believe that he was the father of all the prophets that were before him and that arose after him, [meaning] that all are below him in [loftiness] and that he is the chosen one from the entire human species. [This is so] since he grasped more of His knowledge than any man who lived and more than any man who will live, and he arrived at an elevation above man – until he reached the level of angels and was included in the domain of the angels. No barrier remained that he did not pierce and go through and no physical impediment impeded him and no defect – whether large or small – was a part of him. And the illusory and physical powers and their perceptions disappeared from him and the power of arousal and desire were separated from him and he remained only intellect. And about this matter, it is stated about him that he would speak with G-d, may He be blessed, without an angelic intermediary. My desire was to elucidate this amazing matter and to open the lock from the verses of the Torah and to explain the meaning of “Mouth to mouth” (Numbers 12:8) and the entire verse besides [this phrase] about this matter. However, I saw that these matters would require very many proofs and that we would have needed many propositions and introductions and parables, and that we first elucidate the existence of angels and the difference in their level from the Creator, G-d – may He be blessed – and that we elucidate the [nature of the] soul and all of its powers. And the circle would be so wide to the point that we would speak about the forms that the prophets spoke about, that are fitting for the Creator and for the angels. And we would enter into this with a full posture and in its context. And a hundred pages would not suffice just for this matter – and even if it was greatly shortened. And therefore I will leave it for its place, whether in the book of homilies that I have projected to write or in the books of prophecy that I am involved with or in the book that I will write to elucidate these principles. And I will return to the understanding of this seventh principle and I will say that the prophecy of Moshe, our teacher – peace be upon him – is distinct from the prophecy of all [other] prophets in four ways: The first one is that any prophet that existed was only spoken to by G-d, may He be blessed, through an intermediary. And Moshe was without an intermediary, as it states, “Mouth to mouth will I speak to him.” And the second matter is that any [other] prophet would not get prophecy except when he was sleeping – as it is stated in many places, “in a dream at night,” “in an apparition at night” and many like this – or during the day after falling into a trance in such a way that all of his feelings disappear from him and his [faculty of] thought becomes [fully] available, like in the matter of a dream. And this matter is called an apparition or a vision and about it, it is stated, “the vision of G-d.” And the [divine] speech would come to Moshe during the day and he would be standing between the two cherubs (of the tabernacle), as G-d, may He be blessed, testified about it, “And I will meet you there” (Exodus 25:22). And G-d, may He be blessed, said (Numbers 12:6-8), “if you will have prophecies, etc. Not so is my servant, Moshe […] Mouth to mouth I will speak to him, etc.” And the third matter is that when a prophecy comes to [another] prophet – even though it is in a vision and through an angel – his powers weaken and his frame shrinks and a very great fear comes upon him; [so much so] that his spirit almost leaves him, as it is stated in Daniel 10:8-16, when [the angel,] Gavriel spoke with him, he said, “and there remained no strength in me and my expression changed upon me to destruction and I retained no strength,” and he said, “and I was asleep on my face and my face was to the ground,” and he said, “my pains have turned upon me.” But Moshe, peace be upon him – was not like this; since the [divine] word would come upon him and fear and trembling would not come upon him in any way; as it is stated (Exodus 33:11), “And the L-rd would speak to Moshe, face to face, as a man would speak to his fellow”; which is to say, just like the speech of his friend does not cause trembling to a person, so [too] was Moshe – peace be upon him – that he would not tremble from the [divine] word, and even though he was face to face. And this is because of the strength of his intellect’s cleaving [to G-d], as we have mentioned. And the fourth matter is that the spirit of prophecy did not rest upon all of the [other] prophets according to their will, but only according to the will of G-d, may He be blessed. As behold, [it would happen that] a prophet would remain for days or years and not receive prophecy. And he would remain and request from the Creator, G-d – may He be blessed – that he inform him about something in prophecy and he would wait until he prophesied, for days or months, or He would not inform him in any regard. And there were among them groups that would prepare themselves and purify their thoughts – as Elisha did, as it is written (II Kings 3:15), “And now get me a musician” – and prophecy would come to him. But it was not necessarily [the case] that he would prophesy at the time that he prepared for it. But Moshe, our teacher – peace be upon him – [could receive prophecy] at any time that he wanted: He said (Numbers 9:8), “Wait and I will hear what the L-rd commands for you”; and it is stated (Leviticus 16:2), “speak to your brother Aharon, that he should not come at any time to the Holy” – the sages, may their memory be blessed, said (Sifra on Leviticus 16:2), “Aharon is [in the category of] ‘he should not come [at any time],’ but Moshe is not [in the category of] ‘he should not come.’ | היסוד השביעי נבואת משה רבינו ע”ה והוא שנאמין כי הוא אביהם של כל הנביאים אשר היו מלפניו ואשר קמו מאחריו כלם הם תחתיו במעלה והוא היה הנבחר מכל מין האדם אשר השיג מידיעתו יתברך יותר מכל מה שהשיג או ישיג שום אדם שנמצא או שימצא וכי הוא ע”ה הגיע התעלותו מן האנושות עד המעלה המלאכותית ונכלל במעלת המלאכים לא נשאר מסך שלא קרעו ונכנס ממנו ולא מנעו מונע גופני ולא נתערב לו שום חסרון בין רב למעט ונתבטלו ממנו הכחות הדמיונות והחושיות והשגותיו ונבדל כח המתעורר המשתוקק ונשאר שכל בלבד ועל הענין הזה נאמר עליו שהיה מדבר עם הש”י בלא אמצעיות מן המלאכים. רצוני היה לבאר זה הענין הנפלא ולפתוח המנעול ממקראות התורה ולפרש טעם פה אל פה וכל הפסוק בזולתו מענינו לולא שראיתי שאלה הענינים יצטרכו לראיות רבות מאד והיינו צריכין להצעות רבות והקדמות ומשלים ושנבאר בתחילת מציאות המלאכים ושנוי מעלותיהן מן הבורא הש”י ושנבאר הנפש וכל כחותיה ויתרחב העגול עד שנדבר בצורות שזכרו הנביאים שראוי לבורא ולמלאכים ויכנס בזה שיעור קומה וענינו ולא יספיק בענין זה לבדו ואפילו יהיה מקוצר בתכלית הקצור מאה דפים ולפיכך אניח אותו למקומו אם בספר הדרשות שיעדתי לחברו או בספרי הנבואה שאני מתעסק בו או בספר שאחבר אותו בפירושי אלו היסודות: ואחזור לכוונת זה היסוד השביעי ואומר שנבואת משה רבינו ע”ה נבדלת מנבואת כל הנביאים בארבעה דברים. הראשון כי איזה נביא שהיה לא דבר לו הש”י אלא על ידי אמצעי ומשה בלא אמצעי שנאמר פה אל פה אדבר בו. והענין השני כי כל נביא לא תבא לו הנבואה אלא כשהוא ישן כמו שאמר במקומות בחלום הלילה בחזיון לילה ורבים מענין זה או ביום אחר שתפול תרדמה על האדם בענין שנתבטלו ממנו כל הרגשותיו ונשאר מחשבתו פנויה כענין חלום וענין זה נקרא מחזה ומראה ועליו נאמר במראות אלקים ומשה יבא אליו הדבור ביום והוא עומד בין שני הכרובים כמו שיעידו הש”י ונועדתי לך שם ואמר הש”י אם יהיה נביאכם וגו’ לא כן עבדי משה פה אל פה אדבר בו וגו’. הענין השלישי כי הנביא כשתבא אליו הנבואה ואע”פ שהוא במראה וע”י מלאך יחלשו כחותיו ויתקלקל בניינו ויגיע לו מורא גדול מאד כמעט שתצא רוחו ממנו כמו שאמר בדניאל [יוד] כשדבר גבריאל עמו במראה אמר ולא נשאר בי כח והודי נהפך עלי למשחית ולא עצרתי כח ואומר ואני הייתי נרדם על פני ופני ארצה ואומר במראה נהפכו עלי צירי ומשה ע”ה לא היה כן אבל יבא אליו הדבור ולא ישיגוהו רתת ורעדה בשום פנים כמו שנאמר (שמות ל״ג:י״א) ודבר ה’ אל משה פנים אל פנים כאשר ידבר איש אל רעהו כלומר כמו שלא יארע לאדם חרדה מדבור חבירו כן היה הוא משה ע”ה לא היה חרד מן הדבור ואע”פ שהוא היה פנים בפנים וזה לחוזק דבקותו בשכל כמו שזכרנו: |
4. Numbers 12:6-8
| and [G-d] said, “Hear these My words: When prophets of ה’ arise among you, I make Myself known to them in a vision, I speak with them in a dream. Not so with My servant Moses; he is trusted throughout My household. With him I speak mouth to mouth, plainly and not in riddles, and he beholds the likeness of ה’. How then did you not shrink from speaking against My servant Moses!” | וַיֹּ֖אמֶר שִׁמְעוּ־נָ֣א דְבָרָ֑י אִם־יִֽהְיֶה֙ נְבִ֣יאֲכֶ֔ם ה’ בַּמַּרְאָה֙ אֵלָ֣יו אֶתְוַדָּ֔ע בַּחֲל֖וֹם אֲדַבֶּר־בּֽוֹ׃ לֹא־כֵ֖ן עַבְדִּ֣י מֹשֶׁ֑ה בְּכׇל־בֵּיתִ֖י נֶאֱמָ֥ן הֽוּא׃ פֶּ֣ה אֶל־פֶּ֞ה אֲדַבֶּר־בּ֗וֹ וּמַרְאֶה֙ וְלֹ֣א בְחִידֹ֔ת וּתְמֻנַ֥ת י ה’ יַבִּ֑יט וּמַדּ֙וּעַ֙ לֹ֣א יְרֵאתֶ֔ם לְדַבֵּ֖ר בְּעַבְדִּ֥י בְמֹשֶֽׁה׃ |
5. Malbim, loc. cit.
| And [G-d] said, “hear My words. When prophets arise amongst you, etc.: The Sages have already explained (in Sifrei), that G-d was informing them of the loftiness of the prophecy of Moses, which was different from all other prophets. For the perception of prophecy by all other prophets was akin to seeing through an unclear lens, while that of Moses, of blessed memory, was akin to seeing through a clear lens. I have explained (regarding the vision of the burning bush and in parshat Ki Tissa), that Moses had two aspects to his soul. For the level of the “unclear lens”-type prophecy, Moses was naturally receptive to as an expression of his basic nature, without any need for preparation. However, in order to receive the “clear lens”-type prophecy, Moses had to prepare himself; it did not come naturally to him. | ויאמר שמעו נא דברי, אם יהיה נביאכם ה’ כבר בארו בספ’ שבא להודיעם מעלת נבואת משה שנבדלה מכל הנביאים שכלם נבאו באספקלריא שאינה מאירה ומשה ע”ה נבא באספקלריא המאירה. ולפי דרכנו הנה בארתי (בפי’ מראה הסנה ובפ’ תשא), שמשה היה פי שנים ברוחו, שלנבואה באספקלריא שאינה מאירה היה מוכן בטבע מבלי שום הכנה, אמנם לנבואה באספקלריא המאירה לא היה מוכו בטבע והיה צריך לזה הכנה בין מעצמו בין מזכות ישראל |
6. Sifrei, Numbers 153b
| “This is the thing [that G-d commanded], etc.”, the verse tells us that while Moses also prophesied on the level of, “thus says G-d…” (the “unclear lens”), like all other prophets, he exceeded all other prophets with the level of “this is the thing…” (the “clear lens”). | זה הדבר – מגיד שכשם שנתנבא משה בכה אמר – כך נתנבא נביאים בכה אמר, ומוסיף עליהם זה הדבר |
By Rabbi Tani Burton
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