Pinchas 27:12–27:17 · EXTRA 1 — the righteous put the public first even at death

Parashas Pinchas · EXTRA side-ring · Passuk 27:15

The Complete Passuk

וַיְדַבֵּר מֹשֶׁה אֶל־יְהֹוָה לֵאמֹר׃

Moshe spoke to Hashem, saying:

Chabad.org — 27:15

Source Citation

Sifrei Bamidbar 138

Sefaria — Sifrei Bamidbar 138

Core Text of Chazal

Core Text
וַיְדַבֵּר מֹשֶׁה אֶל ה׳ לֵאמֹר – לְהוֹדִיעַ שִׁבְחָן שֶׁל צַדִּיקִים, שֶׁכְּשֶׁהֵם נִפְטָרִים מַנִּיחִים עַצְמָן וְעוֹסְקִין בְּצֹרֶךְ צִבּוּר.

English: “Moshe spoke to Hashem, saying” — to make known the praise of the righteous: when they are about to depart they set themselves aside and occupy themselves with the needs of the community.

Type of Learning

Virtue of public-minded leadership at the end of life.

What Is Learned

Moshe’s last request is for a successor, not for himself.