By Rabbi Shlomo Zargari:(24,13) … ×•×™×§× ×ž×©×” ויהושע משרתו
Rashi writes: What was the reason for Yehoshua to be there? He must have followed his master all the way to the limits of the mountain where he could no longer climb. The Talmud in Yoma 75b, brings a Pasuk in Tehillim (78,25) connected to this event, “…×œ×—× ××‘×™×¨×™× ×כל ×יש”
“The bread of the brave did the man eat…”
The Talmud explains: It teaches us that for Yehoshua the Manna came down opposite all of the nation of Yisrael. Harav Hayim Shmuelovitz זצוק״ל asked, “Why would Yehoshua need so much food to eat??! Surely the intention is not the quantity, so what are we talking about?”
Because of his extreme commitment and connection to Moshe, Yehoshua accompanied his master Moshe all the way to the mountain border where he was not permitted to climb anymore. He didn’t want to miss learning and studying from Moshe even for a moment, on the way to the mountain and even on the way back. He remained there throughout the 40 days so as not to miss those precious moments. The truth is that the distance wasn’t much, when Moshe returned, Yehoshua could hear the sound of partying from his location, that means he was 15 or 20 minutes away…and yet he wouldn’t give it up.
The Manna came down for the nation as a collective merit of the whole group. The individual received the portion through the merit of the group. Near the mountain there was no Manna. When one distances himself from the group even a short distance, he needs merits “opposite the whole nation of Yisrael†so that he can receive the Manna, even though it’s for his sustenance and he deserves it… So we are talking about a lot of זכויות, merits.
Rabbi Shmuelovitz added, “We saw this occurrence during the horrific escape from the Germans ימח ×©×ž× throughout Europe and Russia and finally when we arrived at Shanghai… Those who stuck with the Yeshiva, were safe, nothing happened to them. They all made it through the war safe. But those who left, even briefly to say farewell to family or friends, and intended to return shortly, unfortunately didn’t make it…”
He added, “Understandably a group of individuals is not a group, in order to be counted as a group they need to be united as one, that’s when they will have that merit…”
Shabbat Shalom!