Behalothecha: The yoke of ascent

Behalothecha: The yoke of ascent

The name of the parsha is a long word with a two letter root,עַל, ayin lamed, to ascend.  Since Rashi interprets the word Behalothecha ( which Onkelos translates as "when you  kindle") as coming from the idea that the flame ascends  ( or that the Cohen ascended a step to light the menorah), the centrality of this root is established.in tradition. 

This parsha seems to form the core of the  S Agnon mood.  The difficulties with Aliyah are featured.  When Moshe offers his father-in -law to join the people, the word עַל,ayin lamed is used to signify what the people are doing.  They are ascending, making aliyah.

The first journey away from Sinai brings strife.  The demand for meat. The slav.  The most dramatic section of the Torah. Moshe sees the other side of ascent. Ayin lamed,עַל, is also the root of ol, the yoke, the traveling burden. Moshe reports that this burden is too heavy for him.  He expresses a (conditional) suicidal wish.  He would rather die than see the evil. 

יד  לֹא-אוּכַל אָנֹכִי לְבַדִּי, לָשֵׂאת אֶת-כָּל-הָעָם הַזֶּה:  כִּי כָבֵד, מִמֶּנִּי.	14 I am not able to bear all this people myself alone, because it is too heavy for me.
טו  וְאִם-כָּכָה אַתְּ-עֹשֶׂה לִּי, הָרְגֵנִי נָא הָרֹג--אִם-מָצָאתִי חֵן, בְּעֵינֶיךָ; וְאַל-אֶרְאֶה, בְּרָעָתִי.  {פ}	15 And if Thou deal thus with me, kill me, I pray Thee, out of hand, if I have found favour in Thy sight; and let me not look upon my wretchedness.' {P}

Even more dramatic: Moshe doubts Gd's capabilities!

כא  וַיֹּאמֶר, מֹשֶׁה, שֵׁשׁ-מֵאוֹת אֶלֶף רַגְלִי, הָעָם אֲשֶׁר אָנֹכִי בְּקִרְבּוֹ; וְאַתָּה אָמַרְתָּ, בָּשָׂר אֶתֵּן לָהֶם, וְאָכְלוּ, חֹדֶשׁ יָמִים.	21 And Moses said: 'The people, among whom I am, are six hundred thousand men on foot; and yet Thou hast said: I will give them flesh, that they may eat a whole month!
כב  הֲצֹאן וּבָקָר יִשָּׁחֵט לָהֶם, וּמָצָא לָהֶם; אִם אֶת-כָּל-דְּגֵי הַיָּם יֵאָסֵף לָהֶם, וּמָצָא לָהֶם.  {פ}	22 If flocks and herds be slain for them, will they suffice them? or if all the fish of the sea be gathered together for them, will they suffice them?'

Travel and change generate doubt.  All assumptions are questioned. Maybe questioning is OK?

Ascent is burdensome. Don't get crushed.