Va’eschanan 3:28 · EXTRA

EXTRA side-ring · Parashas Va’eschanan · Passuk 3:28

The Complete Passuk

וְצַ֣ו אֶת־יְהוֹשֻׁ֗עַ וְחַזְּקֵ֣הוּ וְאַמְּצֵ֔הוּ כִּי־ה֛וּא יַעֲבֹ֥ר לִפְנֵ֛י הָעָ֥ם הַזֶּ֖ה וְהוּא֙ יַנְחִ֣יל אוֹתָ֔ם אֶת־הָאָ֖רֶץ אֲשֶׁ֥ר תִּרְאֶֽה׃

But charge Yehoshua, and encourage him, and strengthen him; for he shall go over before this people, and he shall cause them to inherit the land which you shall see.

Source Citation

Classical: Sifre / midrashic expansion on the double language of encouragement given to Yehoshua before Moshe’s death.

Core Text of Chazal

Core Text
וְצַו אֶת־יְהוֹשֻׁעַ וְחַזְּקֵהוּ וְאַמְּצֵהוּ — לְלַמֶּדְךָ שֶׁצָּרִיךְ אָדָם לְחַזֵּק אֶת תַּלְמִידוֹ בִּשְׁעַת מְסִירַת הַמַּנְהִיגוּת.

English: “Charge Yehoshua and strengthen him and encourage him” — to teach that one must fortify his disciple at the moment of transferring leadership.

Type of Learning

Custom / Aggadah — the doubled verbs of encouragement as a model for succession.

What Is Learned

When leadership is transferred, the outgoing leader must actively strengthen and encourage the successor; a single charge is not enough.