Leadership Qualities

Rashi explained that there is a direct connection between the story of the daughters of Tzlofchad, and Moshe Rabbeinu’s request for a proper successor. Rashi goes even further to claim that Moshe’s initial request was that his own son would succeed him.

He soon realized that worthiness was going to be the only factor in choosing the new leader of the Jewish people. And this was the reason why Joshua was chosen.

This worthiness was based on absolute loyalty to Moshe Rabbeinu. Joshua was referred to as משרת משה, the servant of Moshe. The Midrash tells a story to demonstrate this loyalty.

Joshua was mocked for his daily routine of setting up the benches in the Beit Midrash of Moshe Rabbeinu. The other elders felt that it should have been beneath his dignity, to do such a menial task.

This humility also contributed to the merits of Joshua as to why he was the logical choice to succeed Moshe. It was now clear that the leader of Israel, must be the one who had the greatest merits, and demonstrated loyalty and humility. The world would be a much better place today, if these were the criteria in choosing a leader.