Bamidbar 21: Flying Solo

Last chapter saw the decree that Moshe would not lead the people into Canaan. Abarbanel’s explanation followed Moshe’s growing impatience with the people and ultimately God’s decision that Moshe was not the leader the people needed to enter Canaan. Besides Abarbanel’s opinion that Moshe was at his wits end, there may be another reason why God decided that Moshe was not the leader the people needed. Perhaps God felt that the people were too reliant on Moshe. From the very beginning of the exodus story, there have small nudges from God to transition the people from a slave mentality of dependance to a free people mentality of independence. It started with the pronouncement that the people will be responsible for certifying the new moon as the very first mitzvah to the people. The problem was the people became too reliant on Moshe. When things went bad, they complained, Moshe prayed on their behalf, but the people showed no remorse. Moshe led them into battle or had some miraculous hand in a fight. Moshe even led the people in song on after the splitting of the sea. But what would happen if Moshe was no longer in the picture? Following chapter 20, God took the risk of removing the safety net and seeing if the people could learn to fly on their own. Would the people be able to fly? In chapter 21, the people responded with a resounding yes. Right off the bat Arad attacks the people and takes POWs. Notice how Moshe is not involved here. The people make a vow to God and God makes the people successful in battle. Next, the people complain again, and God punishes them with snakes. But this time, they go to Moshe and admit they did something wrong. During the battle of Amalek, God has Moshe raise his hands to provide support for the people and to direct their eyes to God. This time, God has Moshe build a snake to focus their thoughts not on Moshe. At the end of the chapter, the people again collectively take the lead against Sichon. Notice how the word “Yisrael” appears over and over again. The greatest contrast comes before the battle with Sichon. When the people crossed the Sea of Reeds, Moshe lead the people in song, “Then Moses and the Israelites sang this song to God” (Exodus 15:1). This time around, the people do not need Moshe to lead them. They can do it themselves. “Then Israel sang this song: Spring up, O well—sing to it—." Moshe is not completely out of the picture. They need him at the end of the chapter to defeat the giant warriors of Og. But if chapter 20 ended with the question of can they do it? Chapter 21 answered yes, they can.