Parashat Matot-Masei not only marks the end of Bamidbar but also that of the mainstream, standard Torah. Next week, we will begin Devarim, the fifth book of the Pentateuch and one different in character and nature. Devarim differs from the previous parts, both in terms of the perspective (Moshe’s first person, vs Hashem’s third person), content (Mishne Torah vs the OG), and perhaps authorship (Moshe Rabbeinu with God’s command [see Abarbanel] vs God Himself). As such, it wou