Yehudah's Bones in the Desert

Yehudah had placed a ban on himself when he said to Yaakov, "If I do not bring Binyamin back to you, then I will have sinned against you for all time" (Bereishis 43:9). Because of this, it is told, throughout the years that Yisroel was in the desert, Yehudah's bones rolled about in their coffin.

Moshe came and prayed for mercy, in effect releasing Yehudah from the ban, and his limbs came together again. But he was not admitted to the heavenly yeshivah until Moshe prayed, "Bring him to his people" (Devarim 33:7).

Once in the heavenly yeshivah, Yehudah did not know how to discuss halacha with the Sages until Moshe prayed, "His hands shall contend for him" (Devarim 33:7). Still, his halachic rulings were not correct, so Moshe prayed, "You shall be a help against his adversaries" (Devarim 33:7) (Sotah 7b).