[ויקרבו ימי ישראל למות]. זש"ה אין אדם שליט ברוח לכלוא את הרוח ואין שלטון ביום המות (קהלת ח ח). אמר ר' יהושע דסכנין בשם ר' לוי חצוצרות שעשה משה במדבר, כיו שנטה למיתה גנזן הקב"ה כדי שלא יהא תוקע בהם אדם והן באין אצלו, לקיים מה שנאמר ואין שלון ביום המות. [(Genesis 47:29:) THEN, WHEN THE DAYS FOR ISRAEL TO DIE DREW NEAR.] This text is related (to Eccl. 8:8): NO HUMAN HAS CONTROL OVER THE WIND TO CONTAIN THE WIND, NOR IS THERE CONTROL ON THE DAY OF DEATH. Joshua of Sikhnin said in the name of R. Levi: In regard to the trumpets which Moses made in the desert (according to Numb. 10:1-10) when he was at the point of death, the Holy One hid them lest he blow on them (the trumpets) for them (the Israelites) to come to him. < This act was > to fulfill what is stated (in Eccl. 8:8): < NO HUMAN HAS CONTROL OVER THE WIND TO CONTAIN THE WIND >, NOR IS THERE CONTROL ON THE DAY OF DEATH.6Tanh., Gen. 12:2; Gen. R. 96:3; Numb. R. 15:15; Eccl. R. 8:8:1.
וכיון שעשה זמרי אותו מעשה מה כתיב, ויבא אחר איש ישראל אל הקב"ה וגו' (במדבר כה ח) ואיכן היה פנחס מדבר לפני משה, לקיים מה שנאמר ואין שלטיון ביום המות, [ואין מות] אלא לשון השפלה ניתנה הישועה לפנחס והשפיל את משה. And when Zimri committed that act (of whoredom), what is written (in Numb. 25:8): THEN HE (Phinehas) WENT AFTER THE MAN OF ISRAEL INTO THE CHAMBER < AND PIERCED BOTH OF THEM >. But how did Phinehas come to speak before Moses? In order to fulfill what is stated (in Eccl. 8:8) NOR IS THERE CONTROL ON THE DAY OF DEATH.7Cf. the parallel in Tanh., Gen. 12:2: “So where was Moses? And was not Phinehas speaking before Moses? It was simply in order to fulfill….” So also Gen. R. 96:3. I.e., since Moses’ death was drawing near, another was already assuming his authority. [Now "death" is nothing] but a word of humiliation. The saving act was given to Phinehas, and he humiliated Moses.
ואף דוד כתיב בו והמלך דוד זקן (מ"א א א), וכיון שנטה למות מה כתיב, ויקרבו ימי דוד למות (שם ב א), המלך דוד אין כתיב כאן, אלא ויקרבו ימי דוד, ואף יעקב כיון שנטה למיתה התחיל משפיל עצמו אצל יוסף, ואמר אם נא מצאתי חן בעיניך (בראשית מז כט), אימתי כיון שקרב למיתה ויקרבו ימי ישראל למות. And also in the case of David, it is written of him (in I Kings 1:1): NOW KING DAVID WAS OLD. Then, when he was about to die, what is written (in I Kings 2:1)? THEN, WHEN THE DAYS FOR DAVID TO DIE DREW NEAR. "King David" is not written here but THEN, WHEN THE DAYS FOR DAVID < TO DIE > DREW NEAR.8I.e., David lost the royal title shortly before his death. Deut. R. 9:3. And also in the case of Jacob, when he was at the point of death, he began humiliating himself with Joseph and said (in Gen. 47:29): PLEASE, IF I HAVE FOUND FAVOR IN YOUR EYES. When? When he was approaching death (according to the beginning of the verse): THEN, WHEN THE DAYS FOR ISRAEL TO DIE DREW NEAR.