Parshat Hashavua Rabbi Michael Laitner If you have comments please feel free to e-mail Rabbi Laitner at: michael@southhampstead.org

‘These are the journeys of the Children ofIsrael who left Egypt according to their configuration, by the hand of Moses and Aaron.’ (Bemidbar/Numbers 33:1)

Some questions:1.Why does the Torah introduce these journeys and go on to write an extensive list of all of the journeys of Bnei Yisrael (the Children of Israel)? 2. Why are there so many journeys? 3. Why are they described as leaving Egypt according to their ‘configurations’ (letzivotam in Hebrew) and what does this add to the description of their leaving? 4. Finally, why does the Torah use the phrase ‘by the hand of Moses and Aaron’? These are some of the questions that we can ask about this pasuk (verse). 

We will look at the first question.

 Rashi , the major commentator and a first port of call, answers question 1 and provides some material to consider question 2 as well.  Rashi initially suggests that this listing is to show the kindness of G-d. Rashi explains that despite the decree of wandering in the desert, G-d did not move the people continually around the desert.  Out of 42 journeys in total, only 20 took place during the 38 years after the sin of the scouts/spies (Bemidbar/Numbers chapters 13 and 14) which precipitated the decree of wandering.  This explanation is based on the commentary of one of Rashi’s teachers.  

From a different perspective, Rabbi Ovadia Seforno (aka Seforno) writes that the listing of all of these journeys gives credit to Bnei Yisrael, as they used the 38 years in the desert in a beneficial way to prepare for entering the Land, not repeating the mistakes of the earlier generation.   This opinion is thought-provoking in light of the sinful episodes related in the book of Bemidbar prior to and during the years of wandering.   These sinful episodes were outweighed by the positive progress that Bnei Yisrael made to be ready to enter the Land.

Rambam (Maimonides) in the Moreh Nevuchim (Guide to the Perplexed) 3:50, which is cited by fellow commentator Ramban (Rabbi Moshe ben Nachman) provides a very different answer.   Rambam writes that it was extremely important to list all of the journeys to show proof that both these travels and the events in the various places took place.   Whilst those who saw the events knew about them, there may be those in the future who would deny them.  

This may even have been a problem in the time of the Tanach (Bible) itself as we are studying in chapter 2 of the Shabbat afternoon shiur (class) in Sefer Shofetim (the Book of Judges).

Rambam states that the listing of all of these places testifies to G-d’s care for Bnei Yisrael in miraculously sustaining an entire nation of people for 40 years in a desert, as well as testifying to the other events that took place in the desert.

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