Moshe’s Accounting

The question was asked why it was necessary for Moshe Rabbeinu to give an accounting down to the last detail, as to how all of the contributions to the Mishkan were spent. It seems ludicrous that the man who spent forty days and forty nights with Hashem on three occasions, and without bread and water, that he would have to answer to the people.

We are also taught that Moshe, himself, was a very wealthy man. He received the shavings of the tablets that were worth a great deal.

He had no motivation to take anything that didn’t belong to him. And where would he spend his new found assets. They didn’t exactly have lavish shopping malls in the desert.

This entire episode shows the power of קנאה and שנאה. Jealousy and hatred. Even the greatest man that ever lived was subject to it. Moshe was aware that he had constant detractors who questioned his every move. Rather than stir up a potential controversy or scandal, he preempted this by painstakingly disclosing every expenditure. This is a sad commentary on human nature, but it is a reality that we must live with.