How could Moses' authority diminish in the final days of his life when he had reached the highest levels of Divine closeness and understanding? The concept of authority, however, implies the existence of a congregation; in his final days, Moshe transcended any relationship with the terrestrial concerns of a nation. It might be thought, then, that he severed his connection with his people. Therefore Moshe calls the people to him, revealing that even when he withdraws within himself, he and his people are still one. That is why trumpets were not used to gather the people, because the use of trumpets implies that it requires effort to bring the people together.
On this final day of Moshe’s life, there was no need for this compulsion because it was revealed how Moshe and the Jews are intrinsically one. Similarly, the assembly was not done by the kohanim–who draw down G-dliness upon the people, but by the Levites–who elevate the people toward G-d, because the Jewish people had to be elevated to the level of Moshe in his transcendent state on the day of his death, above leadership and authority.
