Biblical Parallels Index – Devarim 3/0

Biblical Parallels Index – Devarim 3

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Introduction

This index is meant to help the reader explore Biblical parallels, be they two accounts of the same event or law, stories with similar motifs and themes, or units of text which are linguistically similar and perhaps alluding one to the other. The page includes links to tools that aid in comparison, primary sources that touch upon the parallels, and summaries of and links to articles which analyze them in depth.

Battles of Moshe and Yehoshua

Many of the events of Sefer Yehoshua parallel events during the period of Moshe’s leadership. Among other things, both leaders miraculously split waters, send spies, and engage in battles of conquest for the land. There are several points of contact between the battles of Sichon and Og described in our chapter and Yehoshua's initial battles in Yericho and Ai.

Tools

• Use the Tanakh Lab to compare the descriptions of the battles of Sichon and Yericho.  There are not many linguistic parallels between the two, but in both stories, Hashem promises the leder to give thenemey "into his hands", and both cities are in fact "utterly destroyed" ( וַנַּחֲרֵם אֶת כָּל עִיר / וַיַּחֲרִימוּ אֶת כָּל אֲשֶׁר בָּעִיר).

Articles

• See סיפורי שבח והצלחה - השוואה בין יהושע למשה, by Dr. Yehoshua Reiss, for a comparison of the splitting of the sea to the splitting of the Jordan, and the battles of Sichon and Og to the battles of Yericho and Ai, which demonstrates the sense in which Yehoshua represents a continuation of Moshe’s leadership.
• See Moshe and Yehoshua for a more general comparison of the two leaders, which notes many of the content and linguistic parallels between the stories of the two luminaries. The article concludes that perhaps the many similarities in the way the story both unfolded and is told are meant to demonstrate that, despite the difficulty inherent in being the successor to a leader of Moshe's caliber, Yehoshua was in fact able to fill Moshe's shoes.

Battle Against Og

Makbilot Bamikra demonstrates that the war with Og is described previously in Bemidbar 21.  

Tools

• Use the Tanakh Lab compare the chapters to each other, here.

Articles

• See Battles with Sichon and Og in Bemidbar and Devarim for a comparison of the account of the battle in Bemidbar and Moshe's retelling of it in Devarim.  In contrast to most of the other stories in Sefer Devarim which are shorter than the original, here there are numerous additions.  Many of these can be accounted for in light of Moshe's goal in the retelling - to instill confidence in the nation that they will be successful in conquering the Land of Israel.

The Request of Reuven, Gad, and Menashe

The story of the request to stay on the other side of the Jordan, which appears first in Bemidbar 32 and again in Devarim 3, echoes elements of other narratives in which members of the nation distanced themselves from the community. It recalls both the decisions of Lot and Esav to opt out of being part of Israel and its covenantal relationship with Hashem and also the later episode involving the two and half tribes discussed in Yehoshua 22 where their building of an altar on the Jordan is initially similarly viewed as a rebellion and attempt to disassociate from the rest of Israel.

Articles

• See "Shall your Brothers Go Into Battle While You Remain Here?": An Analysis of Numbers 32, by Rabbi Nathaniel Helfgot, which explores the story of Reuven, Gad, and Menashe in the context of the Torah’s previous narratives of acceptance and rejection. He notes that each of Reuven, Gad, and Menashe lost out on their first born status to others and questions whether they and their request to stay on the eastern side of the Jordan should be compared to Lot and Esav who, in their desire for the riches of cattle, choose to distance themselves from Jewish destiny.

• See Petition of the Two and a Half Tribes for analysis of whether the tribe's request was appropriate and how commentators have viewed it throughout the ages. The topic also speaks of the later episode in Yehoshua to see how each story might shed light on the other. According to some commentators, in both stories it is the leaders who misjudge the people who had no ill intentions; According to others, the tribes really were problematic, but Moshe's outburst leads them to change their ways, and in Yehoshua they prove that they have learned their lesson.

Yehoshua’s Appointment as Leader

Yehoshua’s appointment is described here and in Bemidbar 27. His selection as well as his transition into leadership can be better understood in the context of narratives throughout Torah and Sefer Yehoshua which speak of him.

Tools

• Use the concordance to find all mentions of Yehoshua in Tanakh.

Articles

• See מידת הענווה של יהושע, by R. Itamar Eldar, for analysis of Yehoshua’s challenges in assuming the mantle of leadership from Moshe, and how Moshe’s humility served as a model for Yehoshua and enabled his success. 
• See יהושע: ממשרת למנהיג, by Dr. Yael Ziegler, for analysis of Yehoshua’s actions and personality throughout Torah and why he is chosen over Calev to succeed Moshe. As Moshe’s loyal student, Yehoshua is selected to bring Moshe’s uncompleted mission to its culmination.  Yehoshua’s continuation of Moshe’s legacy is contrasted to the relationship of Eliyahu and Elisha.  
• See משה ויהושע - דמותו של יהושע בתורה, by R. David Nativ, for several suggestions as to why Moshe does not specifically ask for Yehoshua to be chosen as leader in Bemidbar 27 and Devarim 3, and of the challenges facing Yehoshua. 

Moshe Ascends the Mountain

The Torah recounts several times how Moshe is told that he may not enter the land but will instead ascend the mountain of Avarim and view it from there.

Tools

• Makbilot BaMikra points out that the description of Moshe’s ascent of the mountain appears in Bemidbar 27 and Devarim 32 as well.
• Use the Tanakh Lab to compare Bemidbar 27 and Devarim 32 here and to compare Bemidbar 27 to Devarim 3 here. Though Bemidbar is somewhat similar to the account in Devarim 32, there are significant linguistic and thematic differences between it and Devarim 3.

Articles

• See משה על הר נבו - תראה ולא תבא, by R. Tamir Granot, for comparison and contrast of the three accounts.  He notes that the narratives in Parashat Pinechas and Parashat Ha'azinu share many points in common, while Moshe’s own telling in our chapter takes a different perspective.  The narrative in Devarim 3 includes parallels to the story of Avraham, presents Moshe’s view of the land as an act of religious significance, and does not mention Moshe’s sin and punishment, thus conveying a more positive view of the spiritual meaning of the episode.