Question
Why was Moses forbidden to enter the Promised Land?
Answer
The Midrash Tanchuma on Deut. Ch. 3 points out that Moses sinned six times: (1-2) By saying “Send whomever You send” (Ex. 4:13) and “From the time I came to Pharaoh to speak in Your Name, he has done badly by this people, and You have not saved Your people” (Ex. 5:23); in these two instances, Moses doubted G-d. (3-4) By saying “G-d did not send me …and if G-d makes a special creation” (Num. 16:29-30); in these two, Moses doubted himself. (5-6) By saying “Hear, rebellions ones” (Num. 20:10) and “You have risen up in place of your fathers, a culture of sinful men” (Num. 32:14); in these two, Moses doubted the Jewish people.