Moshe took Yosef’s bones with him, for he had firmly adjured the Bnei Yisrael, saying, “You shall bring up my bones from here with you.”[2]
Isn’t there somewhat of an internal contradiction here? Yosef had his generation swear that they would take his remains to Israel. That responsibility devolved upon everyone equally. Yet the pasuk offers the oath as the reason for Moshe’s activity. How could a task that was given to an entire generation be the reason for Moshe acting on his own?
Furthermore, Chazal[3] praise Moshe’s conduct with words from Mishlei:[4] “The wise at heart take mitzvos.” What wisdom was there in Moshe taking the initiative with Yosef’s remains? Perhaps it was a form of tzidkus, to occupy himself with this mitzvah while the rest of the people were enriching themselves by asking their Egyptian neighbors for valuables – something, by the way, that they were asked to do by Hashem Himself. But what wisdom was involved?
Furthermore, when a mitzvah cannot be performed by everyone, it certainly honors the mitzvah maximally when great people are the ones to perform it. The people were correct in stepping aside and allowing Moshe the distinction of fulfilling the promise to Yosef.
Lastly, Chazal speak of Moshe visiting Serach bas Asher to learn the secret whereabouts of Yosef’s remains. Was this really necessary? Yosef had effectively made his disinterment the responsibility of all the Bnei Yisrael. Wouldn’t there have been elders in every generation who would have kept alive the sacred trust, and preserved the knowledge of where Yosef’s bones remained hidden? And if somehow Serach bas Asher’s prophetic services were necessary, did Moshe really have to go to her, rather than dispatching a messenger in his place?
All these questions taken together suggest a solution. Indeed, it was appropriate for the Gadol to perform the mitzvah rather than a less distinguished person. But we should recall that Moshe excelled in humility. He refused to accept the adulation of the people; he wished to be treated not as the accepted Gadol, but as a commoner. On the other hand, he longed to perform a once-in-a-lifetime mitzvah.
He thus proceeded with wisdom and cunning. He waited until the all the people were energetically occupied with collecting valuables. Whatever he did would escape attention. No one would notice; no one would remark that the Gadol Hador by acclamation had honored the oath to Yosef. He did not seek an answer from the elders of the community. Nor did he delegate a surrogate to ask Serach for directions. He went himself – probably furtively, at a time when others would not notice. He did all of this to avoid being put on a pedestal.
Moshe indeed displayed much chochmah in locating Yosef’s remains, while at the same time hiding his status as the Gadol.