Getting closer to G-d, each on one’s own level

The very last verse in our parsha comes after the concluding and summarizing statement of the sacrifices of the princes. And it seems totally out of place.

“When Moses came into the Ohel Moed (Communion Tent) to speak with [G-d], he would hear the Voice speaking to him from between the two cherubs on the ark cover over the Ark of Testimony. [G-d] thus spoke to him.” (7:29)

There had been no discussion of Moshe and the Ohel Moed. There was no indication of G-d’s presence communicating from the near the Ark. This little anecdote is coming out of left field.

The Alshikh notes the odd placement, how this verse is not connected to what came before it nor to what follows it. “The Rabbis noted (in Tanchuma Behaalotkha 5) the connection between the next parsha and the dedication of the Mizbe’ach (altar). They said that Aharon was thinking and was hurt because all of the tribes had representatives bringing sacrifices and he hadn’t brought anything representing Levi. And G-d told him, ‘Your portion is greater than theirs because B’haalotkha Et HaNerot (when you light the candles) you are doing something none of them can do’.”

With this background tale, the Alshikh notes, the verse about Moshe communicating with G-d in the Ohel Moed only serves as an unnecessary interruption! G-d has to give an answer to Aharon based on what has just happened, not based on Moshe’s ill-placed communication with the Divine!

Rashi notes the strange format of the verb which describes G-d’s speech from between the cherubs. The word in the verse is mee-daber (with the chirik vowel) instead of m’daber (with the double-dotted shva na vowel) which indicates that G-d was speaking to Himself and Moshe was allowed to listen in.

Alshikh finds this problematic, because it makes it seem as if Moshe does not belong there. Moreover, the verse says “Va’y’daber Eilav” (And He spoke to him), which indicates that G-d did speak to Moshe and wasn’t just “conversing” with His own entity.