163. The man began by saying, "And Hashem spoke to Moses face to face, as a man speaks..." (Shemot 33:11). In this verse the beginning does not fit the end nor does the end the beginning; a word does not fit with another. For at first it says, "And Hashem spoke to Moses face to face," which is good. Then it says, "And he turned back to the camp" (Ibid.), WHICH IS NOT CONNECTED WITH, "AND HASHEM SPOKE..." Then, "but his servant Joshua, the son of Nun, a young man..." (Ibid.). What does that mean? IT HAS NO CONNECTION TO, "AND HE TURNED BACK TO THE CAMP." Rabbi Elazar said, Surely the Holy One, blessed be He, wishes to honor us, for now we are connected with the Shechinah, who shall not leave us. Whoever opened this opening, let him speak.

164. He said, "And Hashem spoke to Moses face to face." With many supernal, precious grades Moses the faithful prophet was distinguished from all other prophets in the world, who were all before him as a monkey before man. The other prophets used to look at the non-shining mirror, yet they did not lift up their faces to behold, but, as it is written, "I was in a deep sleep on my face, and my face towards the ground" (Daniel 10:9). Moreover, these things were not in the open for them.

165. Moses the faithful prophet was not so, for he beheld the shining mirror and stood his ground. Furthermore, he used to lift up his head to look, as one saying to his neighbor, Lift up your head and let your face gaze at mine, so you shall know what I am saying. So did Moses do, who lifted up his head face to face without fear. His face was lifted UPWARDS and he was beholding the supernal, precious radiance. His mind and countenance did not change like other prophets, since OTHER PROPHETS, if they looked when prophesying, went out of their mind, their countenance changed, and they knew nothing of this world.

166. Moses was not so, since Moses used to behold that very highest grade, WHICH IS ZEIR ANPIN, and did not lose his mind, because when he beheld the precious supernal radiance, immediately, "he turned back to the camp" and talked with them about their needs. His mind was settled as before, and even more so. Hence, AFTER, "HASHEM SPOKE TO MOSES FACE TO FACE," it is said, "And he turned back to the camp." THEN IT IS SAID, "but his servant Joshua, the son of Nun, a young man..." Surely he received from the tent, for he was studying how to observe through the Holy Spirit, as it is written, "And the child Samuel ministered to Hashem" (I Shmuel 3:1).

167. Come and see, as long as Joshua was with Moses, he used to study and be nourished from within the tent, WHICH IS MALCHUT, and have no fear. After he separated from Moses and was on his own, it is written, "And Joshua fell on his face to the earth, and bowed down" (Joshua 5:14), because he could not look. This was before a messenger; all the more so from another place.

168. THIS IS LIKENED to a man with whom the king deposited vessels of gold and precious stones. As long as it was with him, the servant of the house used to touch them and look at them. Once that man died, the king left nothing with the servant but came and took his keepsake. The servant said, Woe to me that I lost ALL THESE PRECIOUS THINGS. When my master was alive, they were all at my disposal.

169. Such was Joshua. When Moses was alive he used to be nourished daily from the tent, WHICH IS MALCHUT, and had no fear. After MOSES died, "Joshua fell on his face." And I, since I am among you, may look at words of Torah without fear. After withdrawing from you, I cannot look on my own.