His Master’s Voice
This week’s title became the Trademark for RCA Victor Records. The accompanying image was of a dog named ‘Nipper’ from an 1898 painting, listening to the voice of his owner emerge from an old fashioned gramophone horn. The idea is about loyalty and connection to the voice of the Master. I always thought that the dog belonged to a famous singer, but no. This idea of the ‘Master’s Voice’ reminds me of the behavior of the loyal acolyte (Padawan?), Yehoshua in this week’s Torah reading. He only wants to hear God’s word as it emerges from the mouth of Moshe Rabbeinu, his longtime mentor and Rebbe.
What was bothering Yehoshua when Eldad and Medad declared prophecies in the Camp that he declared: K’LA’EM (‘stop them’ or, perhaps, ‘restrain them’, Bamidbar 11:28), and what was Moshe’s reaction? This is the essential question of our story, but there are two side issues. Who are these two characters, and what was the content of their prophecy?
We don’t really know who Eldad and Medad are. However, there are two Midrashim which endeavor to identify them. According to one Midrash, they were leaders in the Tribes of Binyamin and Efraim. Maybe. But the more fascinating Midrash (quoted by Targum Yonatan) is that they are sons of Eltzaphan bar Parnak, whom Yocheved bore to him when Amram her first husband divorced her (because they became aware that nephews can’t marry aunts). I don’t like that approach, because then Moshe might be construed as defending them because they were his half brothers.
The other famous question is: What was the content of the NEVUAH which they communicated? Nobody asked me, but I would have assumed that it was information about a Jewish law. Afterall, almost all the NEVUOT of Moshe were legal (HALACHIC) matters. This idea that NEVUOT are usually predictions is basically a post-Biblical idea.
In any case, the Talmud (Sanhedrin 17a) records three opinions about the NEVUOT: 1. They prophesied about the soon to arrive quail, 2. Moshe would die in the Midbar and Yehoshua will lead the nation into Eretz Yisrael, and 3) There will eventually be a War of Gog and Magog, before the arrival of Mashiach.
If the message was that Moshe would be replaced by Yehoshua before entering the Land, I can well understand the anger of Yehoshua. He wanted to assist and serve his mentor, not replace him. However, if the information communicated was about the quail or the far distant Redemption, why was Yehoshua so upset?
Again, there are many opinions, but I think the most logical one is about the honor of Moshe. Remember the other people who were endowed with Divine Spirit in our story had received this power through the agency of Moshe. As the verse (25) records: The Eternal drew from the spirit upon him (Moshe) and placed it upon the seventy Elders.
So, the prophetic power of everyone else derived from Moshe, and only made him a larger figure in the nation. However, that language of ETZEL (drawing spirit) in regards to Moshe doesn’t appear in connection with Eldad and Medad. Here was spontaneous NEVUA, without connection to Moshe. Yehoshua was outraged.
And what is Moshe’s response to Yehoshua’s urgent plea to restrain these two upstarts? ‘Are you jealous for my sake? If only all the Eternal’s people were prophets!’
Clearly, Moshe is not jealous or upset about the existence of NEVUA outside of him. In my opinion, this is the moment when Moshe the leader becomes Moshe Rabbeinu; Moshe our Mentor.
As our Sages have taught, ‘People are never jealous of children or students!’ (Sanhedrin 115a). That was the moment in which Moshe accepted the entire Jewish nation as his disciples. His role evolved from a burden to a mission at that moment. Did the Jews ever upset him again? Yes, of course, just like our children and students drive us crazy, but he let slip that he viewed the nation as his flock to guide and, eventually, make independent.
This was the moment when Moshe was teaching our ancestors how to ride a bicycle and he removed his hand from the back of the seat.
Remember, Yehoshua is clearly upset that Eldad and Medad are spouting Divine communications. Moshe’s retort is much stronger: Not only do I want them to declaim Divine messages; I want them to be NEVI’IM! Full time communicators with God.
In the words of Rav Shimshon Refael Hirsch:
Moshe’s response to Yehoshua at that moment is a timeless example for all teachers and leaders in Israel. The highest goal is to make their positions superfluous in the community, when all layers of society reach spiritual heights that no longer require teachers and leaders! The teachers who are truly the heirs to the spirit of Moshe understand that their highest goal is to spread Torah in Israel, to make Torah knowledge the foundation of a Jewish life. They have transmitted to all spiritual leaders of the nation the highest directive: Raise up many disciples!
As a retired teacher, I continue to be inspired by that directive. I am so proud when a former student excels and surpasses my modest skills. But Moshe’s response is much greater than Rav Hirsch or I can express or even understand, because he’s inspiring to prophecy, not just Torah skill. It took another prophet, Yoel, to give eloquent expression to Moshe’s fervent wish:
And it shall come to pass afterward that I will pour out My Spirit upon all flesh; and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, your old men shall dream dreams, your young men shall see visions (Yoel 2:28).
To which I respond: Amen!
