English: R’ Simlai expounded: Why did Moshe Rabbeinu desire to enter the Land of Israel? Did he need to eat of its fruit or to be sated from its goodness? Rather, Moshe said: Many mitzvos were commanded to Israel that can be fulfilled only in the Land of Israel; let me enter so that they may be fulfilled through me.
On the daf / in context: The sugya is explaining the depth of Moshe’s request. The desire was not for the physical goodness of the Land but for the opportunity to perform those mitzvos that are geographically bound to it. This reframes the entire petition of 3:23–25 as a longing for full avodah rather than personal comfort.
Type of Learning
Custom (aggadic clarification of Moshe’s motive from the language of the request).
What Is Learned
Moshe’s plea to enter the Land was driven by the desire to fulfill the mitzvos that apply only there; the “good land” is valued first for the opportunity of complete mitzvah observance.