37. Moses and Other Prophets

Yesodei HaTorah 7:5

Those who aspire to achieve prophecy are called “disciples of the prophets.” They may focus their attention but there’s no guarantee that God’s Spirit will rest upon them; one might or might not ever receive a prophecy.

Yesodei HaTorah 7:6

All the things we have said about prophecy do not apply to Moses, who was the greatest of the prophets. For example, Moses could receive a prophecy while awake. Numbers 7:89 tells us, “When Moses went into the Tent of Meeting to speak to Him, he heard the Voice speaking to him.” Additionally, other prophets received their messages from an angel, so they saw only symbolic images. Moshe, on the other hand, did not require an angel as an intermediary; Numbers 12:8 says, “I speak to him mouth to mouth.” Similarly, Exodus 33:11 says, “God spoke to Moses face to face.” Numbers 12:8 tells us “He gazes upon the image of God,” meaning that Moses needed no metaphors; he could perceive a matter in its entirety, without symbolic imagery. Numbers 12:8 says, “I speak with him plainly, without allegory.” Only Moses could receive an undiluted prophecy and appreciate the message; the other prophets were overwhelmed and terrified by the prophecies they received. Moses, however, could speak with God “as a man speaks to his friend" (Exodus 33:11). Just as a person would not be overwhelmed by hearing his friend's words, Moses was able to receive words of prophecy and remain fully composed.

Another way in which Moses was different was that other prophets could not receive prophecies on demand. Moses, on the other hand, could receive a prophecy whenever he so desired. He did not have to focus his attention to prepare himself, because his mind was always focused and ready, like the angels are. Therefore, he could receive a prophecy at any time, as we see from Numbers 9:8, “Stand and hear what God will command you.” Moses was told to expect this in Deuteronomy 5:27-28, “Go tell them: ‘return to your tents,’ but you stay here with Me.” When prophecy departs from other prophets, they return to their tents, meaning their normal business. Therefore, prophets need not separate themselves from their wives. Moses, on the other hand, was never “off duty,” so he never returned to his own business. Accordingly, he was obligated to separate himself from his wife and from other physical concerns so that he could stay perpetually connected to God. This was the reason Moses’ face shone: because he had become holy like an angel.

A prophet might receive a prophecy for his own sake alone, to expand his mind and to increase his knowledge so that he would better understand spiritual matters. However, the prophet might also be sent to a particular city or country to deliver a message about something they should do, or to stop them from performing some act of evil. When a prophet is sent on a mission, he is given a sign to show the people that God really sent him. However, not everyone who gives signs or performs wonders should be accepted as a prophet. A prophet must be someone who was previously acknowledged as a potential prophet because of his exceptional wisdom and good deeds. If he pursues prophecy, separating himself from worldly things, then later gives a sign or performs a wonder saying that he was sent by God, then it is a mitzvah to listen to him, as per Deuteronomy 18:15, “Listen to him.” A sign or wonder alone does not make one a prophet; there could be another explanation. Nevertheless, it is a mitzvah to listen to him because he is a wise and prominent person, worthy of receiving prophecy. An analogy to this matter is the case of witnesses. Two witnesses could be lying but if we know them to be worthy, we assume that they are not and act accordingly.

Regarding matters such as these, Deuteronomy 29:28 tells us that “Hidden things are for Hashem, our God; that which is revealed is for us and our children.” Similarly, I Samuel 16:7 says, “Man sees what the eye can see, but God can see into the heart.”