In this week’s Parsha Hashem told Moshe to take revenge on Midyan and afterwards it is time for Moshe to die. The girls of Midyan had caused many Jews to sin. They had been sent by the people of Midyan. Therefore Hashem commanded Moshe that the Jews should take revenge on Midyan.
But Hashem added something. We all know that Moshe hit the rock instead of talking to the rock and therefore wouldn’t merit to enter Eretz Yisrael. Hashem told Moshe that before he dies he has to take revenge and go to war with Midyan.
The Midrash explains that Hashem hinted to him that as long as he never fulfilled this Mitzvah he wouldn’t die.
Moshe had an opportunity to live another twenty or thirty years until he takes revenge on Midyan. But Hashem immediately gathered Klal Yisrael and prepared for war.
Furthermore, the Jews were aware of this condition and they didn’t want to go to war. They didn’t want Moshe to die. But Moshe forced them to fulfill Hashem’s commandment.
The reason is written in the Passuk. Moshe never told Klal Yisrael to take revenge for what the Midyanites had done to the Jews. Moshe told Klal Yisrael to take revenge for Hashem. Yes, Midyan started up with Klal Yisrael. But they had done something much worse. The whole world knew that Klal Yisrael was the chosen Nation of Hashem. The whole world saw all the miracles Hashem did for Klal Yisrael. Yetzias Mitzrayim, Kriyas Yam Suf, Mattan Torah and so much more. Starting up with Klal Yisrael was a direct offense and insult to Hashem.
Moshe explained to Klal Yisrael that they can forgive their honor but they cannot forgive the insult to Hashem’s honor and they cannot push it off either.
Without any choice Klal Yisrael had to go to war against Midyan even though they knew that Moshe Rabbeinu’s life was at stake.
Now if we’re to imagine who led Klal Yisrael to war it would be obvious, Moshe Rabbeinu himself. He received the commandment and was willing to give up his life to fulfill Hashem’s commandment immediately.
By Rabbi Dovid Caro
