Moshe’s Final Days

The Book of Devarim is actually a thirty-seven day farewell address from Moshe Rabbeinu to the Jewish people. It began on Rosh Chodesh Shvat, and continued until his death on the seventh day of Adar.

The Midrash also tells us that Moshe Rabbeinu personally wrote thirteen Torahs during this period. He gave one to each of the tribes, and one was placed on a shelf connected to the Holy Ark.

There is a further lesson to be learned from Moshe’s final days. He was able to rebuke the Jewish people in a manner that they took his words seriously.

The Alshich suggests that he had greater credibility at that time, because he personally defeated the giants, Sichon and Og, and inherited their land.

A further point is that תוכחה, rebuke, given on one’s death bed, has a greater impact than is usual. Moshe Rabbeinu was in perfect health until his 120th birthday, but it was clear to all that he would soon pass away, as did his brother, Aharon, and his sister, Miriam, earlier that year.

His message was simple and clear. The Jewish people would remain strong as a nation, if they stayed close to Hashem by studying His Torah and doing acts of kindness.

Moshe’s final days were quite remarkable. But what else could we expect from the greatest man who ever lived!