Derasha 1 on Behaalosecha 12:3

Parashas Behaalosecha · Aliyah 6 · Passuk 3

The Complete Passuk

וְהָאִ֥ישׁ מֹשֶׁ֖ה עָנָ֣יו מְאֹ֑ד מִכֹּל֙ הָֽאָדָ֔ם אֲשֶׁ֖ר עַל־פְּנֵ֥י הָאֲדָמָֽה׃

Chabad.org — English translation + Rashi

Source Citation

Torah Temimah citing Nedarim 38a (pointer only — not TT’s gloss). R. Yochanan: the Shechinah rests only on one who is mighty, wealthy, wise, and humble — all derived from Moshe.

Core Text of Chazal

Core Text
אָמַר רַבִּי יוֹחָנָן: אֵין הַקָּדוֹשׁ בָּרוּךְ הוּא מַשְׁרֶה שְׁכִינָתוֹ אֶלָּא עַל גִּבּוֹר וְעָשִׁיר וְחָכָם וְעָנָיו, וְכוּלָּן מִמֹּשֶׁה. עָנָיו — דִּכְתִיב: ״וְהָאִישׁ מֹשֶׁה עָנָיו מְאֹד״.

English: R. Yochanan said: the Holy One rests His Shechinah only on one who is mighty, wealthy, wise, and humble — and all of them from Moshe; humble — as it is written “and the man Moshe was very humble.”

Type of Learning

Prerequisites of prophecy — humility is listed with the other virtues drawn from Moshe’s life.

What Is Learned

The verse that names Moshe’s anavah becomes the proof-text for the standing required for lasting divine presence.