The Ohr HaChaim HaKadosh says that when the passuk says, “Eileh ha’devarim asher diber Moshe” (“These are the words that Moshe spoke”), it is teaching us that these were the kinds of words Moshe spoke his entire life— only words of Torah and mitzvos.
The Tiferes Shlomo asks on this that the Medrash famously says Moshe Rabbeinu was a king in the land of Kush before taking the Yidden out of Mitzrayim. How was it possible for him not to speak any devarim beteilim then? He answers that even when tzadikim seem to be speaking idle words, that is not really the case, because their minds are always completely connected to Hashem with total dveikus.
The Medrash says that “Eileh HaDevarim” is a remez to devorim (bees). Klal Yisroel are like bees. Just as the queen bee goes first and all the bees follow her, so too Klal Yisroel follow the nevi’im and tzadikim in every generation!
The Shelah HaKadosh writes that all the mussar seforim we have, and even the mussar found in the Gemara and Zohar, are hinted to in Moshe Rabbeinu’s mussar shmuess, which is Chumash Devarim!
The Bobover Rebbe, the Kedushas Tzion, once came to the city of Tchebin. While he was there, the famous Tchebiner Rov invited him to the sheva brachos for his son. In the middle of the sheva brachos, the Rebbe turned to his son-in-law and asked him to go out and buy some beer.
The Tchebiner Rov asked, “Why is that necessary? There is more than enough food and drinks here.” The Rebbe answered that Tosafos says a guest should give a drink to his host.
The Tchebiner Rov replied that he did not remember such a Tosafos and asked where it was. The Rebbe did not answer and simply continued serving the beer.
A little while later, the Tchebiner Rov was learning Maseches Kesubos and came across that Tosafos (57b). He remembered what had happened at the sheva brachos and was amazed by the Rebbe’s humility. Even though he knew exactly where the Tosafos was, he did not embarrass the Rav in front of everyone.
The Tchebiner Rav later told this story to his talmidim and said that he was even more amazed by this act of humility than by any mofeis.
The Bobover Rebbe was living the Medrash in this week’s parsha on the passuk, “Penu u’se’u lachem tzafonah” (“Turn and travel north”). Although it literally means to travel north, the Medrash explains that it is a remez that a person should hide himself and not seek honor. (“Hatzpinu atzmechem” — “Hide yourselves.”)
This article was found in Nekuda Tova Issue 90.