Why Nachshon Didn’t Allow “Nasi” To Be Written About Him

NACHSHON ARGUED ABOUT [THE TITLE] “NASI – LEADER,” AND MOSHE INSISTED ON [WRITING THE SMALL] “ALEF.”

THE DAILY CHIZZUK BY RABBI ELIEZER BERLAND SHLIT”A – THURSDAY, 11 AV 5784

About Nachshon, it’s not written “Nasi.”  He didn’t allow “Nasi” to be written about him.  “Moshe, don’t write about me ‘Nasi.’  I won’t allow you.”

Moshe says, “What is this?  About Reuven, I write ‘Nasi.’  About Shimon, I write ‘Nasi.’  About the tribe of Gad, I write ‘Nasi.’  Ephraim – the Nasi is Elishama ben Amihud.”  About each one, he would write “Nasi.”

Why does Nachshon deserve this special treatment?  What is this privilege?  Why is he different than everyone else?

Moshe said to him: “What arrogance you have!  Are you that arrogant?  You won’t allow ‘Nasi’ to be written about you?  You want to be the only who doesn’t have ‘Nasi’ written about him?”

Nachshon responded, “You will not write ‘Nasi.’  I won’t let you.”  Again Moshe began to disparage him, to put him down, to tell him, “You are arrogant.  What does it matter to you if I write ‘Nasi’?”

“No!  You will not write ‘Nasi.’  In no way whatsoever will I allow you.”  In the end, “Nasi” wasn’t written.

It’s not right that Nachshon argued with Moshe Rabbeinu.  After all, it’s written “Nasi” for each one.  Suddenly, Nachshon comes along and says, “I don’t want you to write ‘Nasi’ about me.”  What [is your] privilege!?  What arrogance!  What makes you special?  What entitles you to this?  For what?”

Nachshon and Moshe argued over the word “Nasi,” because Moshe didn’t want to write the letter “Alef” of “Vayikra.”  Hashem told him to write Vav – Moshe wrote Vav.  Moshe didn’t write by memory.  The Torah was not written through Moshe summarizing the shiur with the Holy One Blessed is He.  Hashem said to Moshe to write Vav, so he wrote Vav.  “Write Yud” – he wrote Yud.  “Kuf” – he wrote Kuf.  “Reish” – he wrote Reish.  He reached “Alef” and stopped and said, “I won’t write this.  I won’t write Alef.”  Stubborn, stubborn.

In the end, Moshe wrote a tiny Alef, so tiny.  But in the merit of the small Alef, he merited to the entire Torah.

So it comes out the Moshe Rabbeinu did not want to write the Alef, and Nachshon did not want him to write the word “Nasi.”

https://vimeo.com/998893723