Home

After the death of Miriam, Moses' older sister, the Jewish people lost their miraculous traveling well; due to Miriam's great righteousness, the well satisfied Israel's daily water needs for nearly 40 years in the desert (see Rashi 1040-1105, Numbers 20:2). Without water, Israel quarreled with Moses (Numbers 20:4), "Why have you brought God's people to this wilderness to die, us and our animals?"

God commanded Moses and Aaron to take the staff and gather all the children of Israel in front of the rock and then declare that God would bring forth water from the rock (Nahmanides 1194-1270; Numbers 20:8). Moses and Aaron gathered all the Jewish people and proclaimed, "Listen oh rebellious ones, from this rock can we bring forth water?" Moses then hit the rock twice and an abundance of water came forth.

Subsequently, God punished Moses and Aaron by forbidding them from entering the Promised Land "because you (Moses and Aaron) did not believe in Me (God) to sanctify My name in the eyes of the Jewish people" (Numbers 20:12). This episode became known as the "quarrelsome waters."

As Nahmanides explains, (Numbers 20:8) the Torah does not state Moses and Aaron's mistake. How did they not sanctify his name? Nahmanides, following the Tosafist Rabeinu Chananel (11th century; see also Da'as Zekeinim), says Moses could have given even greater praise. Instead of saying "From this rock can we bring forth water?" Moses should have said, "From this rock God will bring forth water." Moses' actual statement could have given the impression that he and Aaron were the ones bringing forth water from the rock. By possibly implying that he and Aaron played a part in the miracle, Moses diminished God's role and was therefore guilty of not sanctifying God's name to the fullest degree.

The greatness of Moses is seen by the degree to which God held him accountable. Moses did sanctify God's name. His only mistake was to use a rhetorical device rather than state explicitly that God alone would perform the miracle. Yet, an action that would be considered a great mitzvah for any of us was held against Moses as a serious error. For 40 years, Moses led the Jews through the desert and to the Promised Land, but he would not be allowed to enter the land. The Jews were forgiven for all their trespasses against God, from the golden calf to Korach's rebellion, but Moses was not forgiven for this one seemingly miniscule transgression.

God does not expect us to rise to Moses' level but to learn from him. Only a person of such extraordinary greatness, humility, and love could ever properly be called "our teacher."

Rabbi Chaim Lobel is the spiritual leader of Young Israel of Aberdeen, www.yiaberdeen.com. He welcomes comments on his articles, and can be reached at rabbi@yiaberdeen.com.