Know your limits, use strengths wisely

The Midrash (Vayikra Rabba 11:6) records a strange narrative surrounding the appointment of Aharon and his sons as the Kohanim.

Rabbi Yudan in the name of Rabbi Yosi bar Yehuda, and Rabbi Berachia in the name of Rabbi Yehoshua ben Korkha, said that in all the years in the desert, Moshe served as co-Kohen Gadol (based on Tehillim 99:6 or Divrei Hayamim I 23:13-14).

Rabbi Yudan notes that Moshe served for the seven days of the Miluim (Dedication of the Mishkan). Rabbi Sh-muel bar Nachman compares this to the midrashic approach that Moshe conversed with G-d for seven days at the Burning Bush. At that time, G-d spent six days trying to convince Moshe he was the right man for the job. On the seventh day, Moshe said, “Send someone else.”

The midrash claims G-d’s unstated response was, “I swear I will clip your wings [when you want it most].” Rabbi Levi explains that for the first six days of the last Adar of his life, Moshe prayed before G-d that he should be allowed to enter the Land of Israel. On the seventh day of Adar G-d said to him, “You will not cross this river.”

Rabbi Chelbo said the same thing was going on in our parsha. For seven days Moshe served as Kohen Gadol and thought the position was his. On the seventh day, however, he was told, “The job is not yours. It belongs to Aharon your brother.” Thus, “And it was on the eighth day that Moshe called to Aharon and his sons, and told them…” are the instructions that begin our parsha.

The combination of Rabbis Yudan, Shmuel, Levi and Chelbo leaves us wondering: What kind of game is being played in these midrashim? Did G-d really punish Moshe for his hesitation to go before Pharaoh at the Burning Bush? And even if G-d did punish him (see Rashi Shmot 4:14), is this kind of measure for measure really necessary? You, Moshe, played on G-d’s hopes for six days, and then let Him down on day seven, so He is going to play on your hopes for six days and let you down on day seven! Ha! Gotcha! Really?

One piece of this midrash – which stands almost as an aside to the midrash’s narrative – could provide the answer to our question (also in Yerushalmi Yoma 1:1). “Rabbi Tanchum said that Moshe served all seven days as Kohen Gadol, and G-d’s presence was not apparent through his hand.”