Bamidbar (Numbers) Chapter 10

11On the 20th day of the second month of the second year, the cloud rose up from over the Tabernacle of the Testimony.   יאוַיְהִ֞י בַּשָּׁנָ֧ה הַשֵּׁנִ֛ית בַּחֹ֥דֶשׁ הַשֵּׁנִ֖י בְּעֶשְׂרִ֣ים בַּחֹ֑דֶשׁ נַֽעֲלָה֙ הֶֽעָנָ֔ן מֵעַ֖ל מִשְׁכַּ֥ן הָֽעֵדֻֽת:
בַּחֹדֶשׁ הַשֵּׁנִי - [The 20th day] of the second month. You may thus conclude that they spent 12 months less 10 days at Horeb, for they encamped there on 1 Sivan, and they did not depart until 20 Iyar of the following year.   בַּחֹדֶשׁ הַשֵּׁנִי.  נִמְצֵאתָ אַתָּה אוֹמֵר, שְׁנֵים עָשָׂר חֹדֶשׁ חָסֵר עֲשָׂרָה יָמִים עָשׂוּ בְחוֹרֵב, שֶׁהֲרֵי בְּרֹאשׁ חֹדֶשׁ סִיוָן חָנוּ שָׁם וְלֹא נָסְעוּ עַד עֶשְׂרִים בְּאִיָּר לַשָּׁנָה הַבָּאָה:
12The Israelites traveled from the Sinai desert in accordance with their journeying order, and the cloud settled in the Paran desert.   יבוַיִּסְע֧וּ בְנֵֽי־יִשְׂרָאֵ֛ל לְמַסְעֵיהֶ֖ם מִמִּדְבַּ֣ר סִינָ֑י וַיִּשְׁכֹּ֥ן הֶֽעָנָ֖ן בְּמִדְבַּ֥ר פָּארָֽן:
לְמַסְעֵיהֶם - (lit.) On their journeys - means according to the regulations specified for the traveling of their divisions, i.e., who is first and who is last.   לְמַסְעֵיהֶם.  כַּמִּשְׁפָּט הַמְפֹרָשׁ לְמַסַּע דִּגְלֵיהֶם, מִי רִאשׁוֹן וּמִי אַחֲרוֹן:
בְּמִדְבַּר פָּארָֽן - In the Paran desert. Kivrot HaTa’avah was in the Paran desert, and there they encamped after this journey.   בְּמִדְבַּר פָּארָֽן.  קִבְרוֹת הַתַּאֲוָה בְּמִדְבַּר פָּארָן הָיָה, וְשָׁם חָנוּ מִמַּסָּע זֶה:
13This was the first journey at God’s bidding through Moses.   יגוַיִּסְע֖וּ בָּרִֽאשֹׁנָ֑ה עַל־פִּ֥י יְהֹוָ֖ה בְּיַד־משֶֽׁה:
14The banner of the division of Judah traveled first according to their troops. Heading its troop was Nachshon son of Aminadav.   ידוַיִּסַּ֞ע דֶּ֣גֶל מַֽחֲנֵ֧ה בְנֵֽי־יְהוּדָ֛ה בָּרִֽאשֹׁנָ֖ה לְצִבְאֹתָ֑ם וְעַ֨ל־צְבָא֔וֹ נַחְשׁ֖וֹן בֶּן־עַמִּֽינָדָֽב:
15Heading the troop of the tribe of Issachar was Netan’el son of Tzu’ar.   טווְעַ֨ל־צְבָ֔א מַטֵּ֖ה בְּנֵ֣י יִשָּׂשכָ֑ר נְתַנְאֵ֖ל בֶּן־צוּעָֽר:
16Heading the troop of the tribe of Zebulun was Eli’av son of Chelon.   טזוְעַ֨ל־צְבָ֔א מַטֵּ֖ה בְּנֵ֣י זְבוּלֻ֑ן אֱלִיאָ֖ב בֶּן־חֵלֹֽן:
17The Tabernacle was dismantled, and the clan of Gershon and the clan of Merari—who carried the Tabernacle—set out.   יזוְהוּרַ֖ד הַמִּשְׁכָּ֑ן וְנָֽסְע֤וּ בְנֵי־גֵֽרְשׁוֹן֙ וּבְנֵ֣י מְרָרִ֔י נֹֽשְׂאֵ֖י הַמִּשְׁכָּֽן:
וְהוּרַד הַמִּשְׁכָּן - The Tabernacle was dismantled. Once the division of Judah was about to travel, Aaron and his sons entered the Tabernacle, took down the Curtain and covered the Ark with it, as it says: “When the camp is about to travel, Aaron and his sons must come….” 1 The clan of Gershon and the clan of Merari would then dismantle the Tabernacle, load it onto the wagons and set out, while the Ark and the holy furnishings carried by the clan of Kehat remained standing where they were, covered and placed on poles, until the banner of the division of Reuben traveled, and after that “the clan of Kehat traveled.” 2   וְהוּרַד הַמִּשְׁכָּן.  כֵּיוָן שֶׁנּוֹסֵעַ דֶּגֶל יְהוּדָה, נִכְנְסוּ אַהֲרֹן וּבָנָיו וּפָרְקוּ אֶת הַפָּרֹכֶת וְכִסּוּ בָהּ אֶת הָאָרוֹן, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר "וּבָא אַהֲרֹן וּבָנָיו בִּנְסֹעַ הַמַּחֲנֶה" (במדבר ד'), וּבְנֵי גֵרְשׁוֹן וּבְנֵי מְרָרִי פוֹרְקִין הַמִּשְׁכָּן וְטוֹעֲנִין אוֹתוֹ בָּעֲגָלוֹת, וְהָאָרוֹן וּכְלֵי הַקֹּדֶשׁ שֶׁל מַשָּׂא בְנֵי קְהָת עוֹמְדִים מְכֻסִּין וּנְתוּנִין עַל הַמּוֹטוֹת עַד שֶׁנָּסַע דֶּגֶל מַחֲנֵה רְאוּבֵן, וְאֲחַר כַּךְ "וְנָסְעוּ הַקְּהָתִים" (עי' תנחומא):
18The banner of the division of Reuben set out according to their troops. Heading its troop was Elitzur son of Shedei’ur.   יחוְנָסַ֗ע דֶּ֛גֶל מַֽחֲנֵ֥ה רְאוּבֵ֖ן לְצִבְאֹתָ֑ם וְעַ֨ל־צְבָא֔וֹ אֱלִיצ֖וּר בֶּן־שְׁדֵיאֽוּר:
19Heading the troop of the tribe of Simeon was Shelumi’el son of Tzurishadai.   יטוְעַ֨ל־צְבָ֔א מַטֵּ֖ה בְּנֵ֣י שִׁמְע֑וֹן שְׁלֻֽמִיאֵ֖ל בֶּן־צוּרִֽישַׁדָּֽי:
20Heading the troop of the tribe of Gad was Elyasaf son of De’u’el.   כוְעַ֨ל־צְבָ֖א מַטֵּ֣ה בְנֵי־גָ֑ד אֶלְיָסָ֖ף בֶּן־דְּעוּאֵֽל:
21The clan of Kehat—who carried the holy equipment—set out. They had erected the Tabernacle by the time they had arrived.   כאוְנָֽסְעוּ֙ הַקְּהָתִ֔ים נֹֽשְׂאֵ֖י הַמִּקְדָּ֑שׁ וְהֵקִ֥ימוּ אֶת־הַמִּשְׁכָּ֖ן עַד־בֹּאָֽם:
נֹֽשְׂאֵי הַמִּקְדָּשׁ - (lit.) The carriers of the Sanctury - means here: the carriers of the sanctified objects   נֹֽשְׂאֵי הַמִּקְדָּשׁ.  נוֹשְׂאֵי דְבָרִים הַמְקֻדָּשִׁים:
וְהֵקִימוּ אֶת־הַמִּשְׁכָּן - They had erected the Tabernacle - i.e., the clan of Gershon and the clan of Merari who preceded them, accompanying the traveling of the two divisions, would erect the Tabernacle; when the cloud rested and the signal to make camp was visible over the banner of the division of Judah, they encamped, and while the clan of Kehat was still coming after them with the last two divisions, the clan of Gershon and the clan of Merari erected the Tabernacle; and when the clan of Kehat arrived, they would find it properly set up and place the Ark, the Table, the Candelabrum, and the Altars in their correct locations. This, then, is the meaning of the verse: “they” – i.e., those who would erect the Tabernacle – “erected” it “by the time” the clan of Kehat “had arrived.”   וְהֵקִימוּ אֶת־הַמִּשְׁכָּן.  בְּנֵי גֵרְשׁוֹן וּבְנֵי מְרָרִי שֶׁהָיוּ קוֹדְמִים לָהֶם מַסַּע שְׁנֵי דְגָלִים, הָיוּ מְקִימִין אֶת הַמִּשְׁכָּן כְּשֶׁהָיָה הֶעָנָן שׁוֹכֵן, וְסִימַן הַחֲנִיָּה נִרְאֶה בְּדֶגֶל מַחֲנֵה יְהוּדָה, וְהֵם חוֹנִים וַעֲדַיִן בְּנֵי קְהָת בָּאִים מֵאַחֲרֵיהֶם עִם שְׁנֵי דְגָלִים הָאַחֲרוֹנִים, הָיוּ בְנֵי גֵרְשׁוֹן וּבְנֵי מְרָרִי מְקִימִין אֶת הַמִּקְדָּשׁ; וּכְשֶׁבָּאִים בְּנֵי קְהָת מוֹצְאִים אוֹתוֹ עַל מְכוֹנוֹ, וּמַכְנִיסִין בּוֹ הָאָרוֹן וְהַשֻּׁלְחָן וְהַמְּנוֹרָה וְהַמִּזְבְּחוֹת, וְזֶהוּ מַשְׁמָעוּת הַמִּקְרָא — וְהֵקִימוּ מְקִימֵי הַמִּשְׁכָּן אוֹתוֹ עד טֶרֶם באם שֶׁל בְּנֵי קְהָת:
22The banner of the division of Ephraim set out, according to its troops. Heading its troop was Elishama son of Amihud.   כבוְנָסַ֗ע דֶּ֛גֶל מַֽחֲנֵ֥ה בְנֵֽי־אֶפְרַ֖יִם לְצִבְאֹתָ֑ם וְעַ֨ל־צְבָא֔וֹ אֱלִֽישָׁמָ֖ע בֶּן־עַמִּיהֽוּד:
23Heading the troop of the tribe of Manasseh was Gamli’el son of Pedahtzur.   כגוְעַ֨ל־צְבָ֔א מַטֵּ֖ה בְּנֵ֣י מְנַשֶּׁ֑ה גַּמְלִיאֵ֖ל בֶּן־פְּדָהצֽוּר:
24Heading the troop of the tribe of Benjamin was Avidan son of Gid’oni.   כדוְעַ֨ל־צְבָ֔א מַטֵּ֖ה בְּנֵ֣י בִנְיָמִ֑ן אֲבִידָ֖ן בֶּן־גִּדְעוֹנִֽי:
25Then, the banner of the division of Dan set out, according to its troops, as the collector for all the other divisions. Heading its troop was Achiezer son of Amishadai.   כהוְנָסַ֗ע דֶּ֚גֶל מַֽחֲנֵ֣ה בְנֵי־דָ֔ן מְאַסֵּ֥ף לְכָל־הַמַּֽחֲנֹ֖ת לְצִבְאֹתָ֑ם וְעַל־צְבָא֔וֹ אֲחִיעֶ֖זֶר בֶּן־עַמִּֽישַׁדָּֽי:
מְאַסֵּף לְכָל־הַמַּֽחֲנֹת - The collector for all the other divisions. It says in Talmud Yerushalmi: 3 Since the population of the tribe of Dan was large, it would travel last, and thus, whoever had lost an article, the tribe of Dan would return it to him. There is an opinion that they proceeded in the formation of a box, and it is derived from: “just as they camp, so must they travel.” 4 Another opinion is that they proceeded in the formation of a beam, and it is derived from: “the collector for all the other divisions.”   מְאַסֵּף לְכָל־הַמַּֽחֲנֹת.  תַּלְמוּד יְרוּשַׁלְמִי: לְפִי שֶׁהָיָה שִׁבְטוֹ שֶׁל דָּן מְרֻבֶּה בְּאֻכְלוֹסִים, הָיָה נוֹסֵעַ בָּאַחֲרוֹנָה, וְכָל מִי שֶׁהָיָה מְאַבֵּד דָּבָר הָיָה מַחֲזִירוֹ לוֹ; אִית מַאן דַּאֲמַר כְּתֵבָה הָיוּ מְהַלְּכִין, וּמַפִּיק לָהּ מִן "כַּאֲשֶׁר יַחֲנוּ כֵּן יִסָּעוּ", וְאִית דְּאָמְרֵי כְּקוֹרָה הָיוּ מְהַלְּכִין, וּמַפִּיק לָהּ מִן "מְאַסֵּף לְכָל הַמַּחֲנֹת" (תלמוד ירושלמי ערובין ה'):
26Heading the troop of the tribe of Asher was Pag’i’el son of Ochran.   כווְעַ֨ל־צְבָ֔א מַטֵּ֖ה בְּנֵ֣י אָשֵׁ֑ר פַּגְעִיאֵ֖ל בֶּן־עָכְרָֽן:
27Heading the troop of the tribe of Naphtali was Achira son of Einan.   כזוְעַ֨ל־צְבָ֔א מַטֵּ֖ה בְּנֵ֣י נַפְתָּלִ֑י אֲחִירַ֖ע בֶּן־עֵינָֽן:
28This was the traveling order of the Israelites according to their troops. They traveled.   כחאֵ֛לֶּה מַסְעֵ֥י בְנֵֽי־יִשְׂרָאֵ֖ל לְצִבְאֹתָ֑ם וַיִּסָּֽעוּ:
אֵלֶּה מַסְעֵי - (lit.) These were the journeys - means here: “this was their order of travel.”   אֵלֶּה מַסְעֵי.  זֶה סֵדֶר מַסְעֵיהֶם:
וַיִּסָּֽעוּ - They traveled - i.e., they traveled on that day.   וַיִּסָּֽעוּ.  בַּיּוֹם הַהוּא נָסְעוּ:
29Moses said to Chovav, the son of Re’u’el, the Midianite, Moses’s father-in-law, “We are traveling to the place about which God said, ‘I will give it to you.’ Come with us and we will be good to you, for God has spoken of good fortune for Israel.”   כטוַיֹּ֣אמֶר משֶׁ֗ה לְ֠חֹבָ֠ב בֶּן־רְעוּאֵ֣ל הַמִּדְיָנִי֘ חֹתֵ֣ן משֶׁה֒ נֹֽסְעִ֣ים | אֲנַ֗חְנוּ אֶל־הַמָּקוֹם֙ אֲשֶׁ֣ר אָמַ֣ר יְהֹוָ֔ה אֹת֖וֹ אֶתֵּ֣ן לָכֶ֑ם לְכָ֤ה אִתָּ֨נוּ֙ וְהֵטַ֣בְנוּ לָ֔ךְ כִּֽי־יְהֹוָ֥ה דִּבֶּר־ט֖וֹב עַל־יִשְׂרָאֵֽל:
חֹבָב - Chovav - is Jethro, as it says: “from the descendants of Chovav, father-in-law of Moses.” 5 Why then does Scripture state: “They came to Re’u’el, their father”? 6 It teaches that small children also call their grandfather “father.” Jethro had many names: “Jethro,” because he added (יִתֵּר) a section to the Torah; “Chovav,” because he cherished (חִבֵּב) the Torah, etc.   חֹבָב.  הוּא יִתְרוֹ שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר "מִבְּנֵי חֹבָב חֹתֵן מֹשֶׁה" (שופטים ד'), וּמַה תַּלְמוּד לוֹמָר "וַתָּבֹאנָה אֶל רְעוּאֵל אֲבִיהֶן"? מְלַמֵּד שֶׁהַתִּינוֹקוֹת קוֹרִין לַאֲבִי אֲבִיהֶן אַבָּא; וְשֵׁמוֹת הַרְבֵּה הָיוּ לוֹ, "יִתְרוֹ" עַל שֵׁם שֶׁיִּתֵּר פָּרָשָׁה אַחַת בַּתּוֹרָה, "חוֹבָב" עַל שֶׁחִבֵּב אֶת הַתּוֹרָה וְכוּ' (ספרי):
נֹֽסְעִים אֲנַחְנוּ אֶל־הַמָּקוֹם - We are traveling to the place - immediately, and within three days we will enter the land; for on this first journey, they traveled intending to enter the Land of Israel directly. But they sinned by seeking a pretext to complain, resulting in a delay, as detailed further. And why did Moses include himself among them? For it had not yet been decreed upon him that he would not enter the land, and he thought that he would enter it.   נֹֽסְעִים אֲנַחְנוּ אֶל־הַמָּקוֹם.  מִיָּד — עַד שְׁלֹשָׁה יָמִים אָנוּ נִכְנָסִין לָאָרֶץ, שֶׁבְּמַסָּע זֶה הָרִאשׁוֹן נָסְעוּ עַל מְנָת לִכָּנֵס לְאֶרֶץ יִשְׂרָאֵל, אֶלָּא שֶׁחָטְאוּ בְּמִתְאוֹנְנִים; וּמִפְּנֵי מָה שִׁתֵּף מֹשֶׁה עַצְמוֹ עִמָּהֶם? שֶׁעֲדַיִן לֹא נִגְזְרָה גְזֵרָה עָלָיו וּכְסָבוּר שֶׁהוּא נִכְנָס (עי' שם):
30He said to him, “I will not come, for I must go to my land and my family.”   לוַיֹּ֥אמֶר אֵלָ֖יו לֹ֣א אֵלֵ֑ךְ כִּ֧י אִם־אֶל־אַרְצִ֛י וְאֶל־מֽוֹלַדְתִּ֖י אֵלֵֽךְ:
אֶל־אַרְצִי וְאֶל־מֽוֹלַדְתִּי - To my land and my family - i.e., whether for the sake of managing my property or for the sake of providing for my family.   אֶל־אַרְצִי וְאֶל־מֽוֹלַדְתִּי.  אִם בִּשְׁבִיל נְכָסַי, אִם בִּשְׁבִיל מִשְׁפַּחְתִּי:
31He said, “Please do not leave us, because you are familiar with our encampments in the desert and you have been an eyewitness for us.   לאוַיֹּ֕אמֶר אַל־נָ֖א תַּֽעֲזֹ֣ב אֹתָ֑נוּ כִּ֣י | עַל־כֵּ֣ן יָדַ֗עְתָּ חֲנֹתֵ֨נוּ֙ בַּמִּדְבָּ֔ר וְהָיִ֥יתָ לָּ֖נוּ לְעֵינָֽיִם:
אַל־נָא תַּֽעֲזֹב - Please do not leave. נָא here is none other than an expression of request, i.e., Moses was concerned that people not say that Jethro did not become a convert out of love for God, but because he imagined that converts receive a portion in the land, and now that he saw that they have no portion, he abandoned them and left.   אַל־נָא תַּֽעֲזֹב.  אֵין נָא אֶלָּא לְשׁוֹן בַּקָּשָׁה, שֶׁלֹּא יֹאמְרוּ לֹא נִתְגַּיֵּר יִתְרוֹ מֵחִבָּה, סָבוּר הָיָה שֶׁיֵּשׁ לַגֵּרִים חֵלֶק בָּאָרֶץ, עַכְשָׁו שֶׁרָאָה שֶׁאֵין לָהֶם חֵלֶק, הִנִּיחָם וְהָלַךְ לוֹ (שם):
כִּי עַל־כֵּן יָדַעְתָּ חֲנֹתֵנוּ בַּמִּדְבָּר - Because you are familiar with our encampments in the desert - means: for (כִּי) it would be fitting for you to do this, since (עַל כֵּן) you know how we camped in the desert and you saw the miracles and the mighty acts that were performed for us.   כִּי עַל־כֵּן יָדַעְתָּ חֲנֹתֵנוּ בַּמִּדְבָּר.  כִּי נָאֶה לְךָ לַעֲשׂוֹת זֹאת, עַל אֲשֶׁר יָדַעְתָּ חֲנוֹתֵנוּ בַּמִּדְבָּר וְרָאִיתָ נִסִּים וּגְבוּרוֹת שֶׁנַּעֲשׂוּ לָנוּ:
כִּי עַל־כֵּן יָדַעְתָּ - עַל כֵּן יָדַעְתָּ has the same meaning as עַל אֲשֶׁר יָדַעְתָּ “because you are aware,” similar to: “for (כִּי) she did this because (עַל כֵּן) I did not give her to my son Shelah”; 7 “for (כִּי) this I ask of you since (עַל כֵּן) you have honored me by visiting”; 8 “for (כִּי) this I ask of you because (עַל כֵּן) they have come”; 9 “for (כִּי) it is proper that you accept my gift since (עַל כֵּן) I have beheld your face.” 10   כִּי עַל־כֵּן יָדַעְתָּ.  כְּמוֹ עַל אֲשֶׁר יָדַעְתָּ, כְּמוֹ "כִּי עַל כֵּן לֹא נְתַתִּיהָ לְשֵׁלָה בְנִי" (בראשית ל"ח), "כִּי עַד כָּאן בָּאוּ" (שם י"ט), "כִּי עַל כֵּן רָאִיתִי פָנֶיךָ" (שם ל"ג):
וְהָיִיתָ לָּנוּ לְעֵינָֽיִם - And you have been an eyewitness for us - The verb is in the past tense, as Onkelos translates it. Another explanation: The verb is in the future tense: Regarding every matter that will be hidden from our eyes, you will enlighten us about it. Yet another explanation: You will be as cherished for us as the pupil of our eyes, as it says: “You must love the convert.” 11   וְהָיִיתָ לָּנוּ לְעֵינָֽיִם.  לְשׁוֹן עָבָר, כְּתַרְגּוּמוֹ; דָּבָר אַחֵר: לְשׁוֹן עָתִיד — כָּל דָּבָר וְדָבָר שֶׁיִּתְעַלֵּם מֵעֵינֵינוּ, תִּהְיֶה מֵאִיר עֵינֵינוּ; דָּבָר אַחֵר: שֶׁתְּהֵא חָבִיב עָלֵינוּ כְּגַלְגַּל עֵינֵינוּ, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר (דברים י') "וַאֲהַבְתֶּם אֶת הַגֵּר" (ספרי):
32If you come with us, then we will bestow on you the good land that God grants us.”   לבוְהָיָ֖ה כִּֽי־תֵלֵ֣ךְ עִמָּ֑נוּ וְהָיָ֣ה | הַטּ֣וֹב הַה֗וּא אֲשֶׁ֨ר יֵיטִ֧יב יְהֹוָ֛ה עִמָּ֖נוּ וְהֵטַ֥בְנוּ לָֽךְ:
וְהָיָה הַטּוֹב הַהוּא - [We will bestow on you] the good that [God grants us]. What specific good thing did they do for him? Our sages said: When the Israelites were dividing the land, there was the fertile part of Jericho, an area of 500 cubits by 500 cubits, which they left undivided, saying: “The tribe in whose territory the Holy Temple will be built will receive it.” In the interim they gave it to the descendants of Jethro, to Yonadav son of Rechav, as it says: “And the descendants of Keni, father-in-law of Moses, came up from the city of palm-trees….” 12   וְהָיָה הַטּוֹב הַהוּא.  מַה טּוֹבָה הֵטִיבוּ לוֹ? אָמְרוּ, כְּשֶׁהָיוּ יִשְׂרָאֵל מְחַלְּקִין אֶת הָאָרֶץ, הָיָה דֻּשְׁנָהּ שֶׁל יְרִיחוֹ ת"ק אַמָּה עַל ת"ק אַמָּה וְהִנִּיחוּהוּ מִלַּחֲלֹק, אָמְרוּ מִי שֶׁיִּבָּנֶה בֵּית הַמִּקְדָּשׁ בְּחֶלְקוֹ הוּא יִטְּלֶנּוּ, וּבֵין כָּךְ וּבֵין כָּךְ נְתָנוּהוּ לִבְנֵי יִתְרוֹ לְיוֹנָדָב בֶּן רֵכָב שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר "וּבְנֵי קֵינִי חֹתֵן מֹשֶׁה עָלוּ מֵעִיר הַתְּמָרִים" וְגוֹ' (שופטים א'):
33They traveled a distance of three days from the mountain of God. The ark of God’s Covenant traveled at a distance of three days ahead of them, to prepare for them a place to settle.   לגוַיִּסְעוּ֙ מֵהַ֣ר יְהֹוָ֔ה דֶּ֖רֶךְ שְׁל֣שֶׁת יָמִ֑ים וַֽאֲר֨וֹן בְּרִֽית־יְהֹוָ֜ה נֹסֵ֣עַ לִפְנֵיהֶ֗ם דֶּ֚רֶךְ שְׁל֣שֶׁת יָמִ֔ים לָת֥וּר לָהֶ֖ם מְנוּחָֽה:
דֶּרֶךְ שְׁלשֶׁת יָמִים - A distance of three days. They miraculously traveled the distance of three days’ journey in one day, because the Holy One, blessed be He, desired to bring them into the land immediately.   דֶּרֶךְ שְׁלשֶׁת יָמִים.  מַהֲלַךְ שְׁלֹשֶׁת יָמִים הָלְכוּ בְיוֹם אֶחָד, שֶׁהָיָה הַקָּדוֹשׁ בָּרוּךְ הוּא חָפֵץ לְהַכְנִיסָם לָאָרֶץ מִיָּד (ספרי):
וַֽאֲרוֹן בְּרִֽית־ה' נֹסֵעַ לִפְנֵיהֶם דֶּרֶךְ שְׁלשֶׁת יָמִים - The ark of God’s Covenant traveled at a distance of three days ahead of them. This was the ark that went out with them to war, in which were placed the broken pieces of the first set of tablets. It preceded them a distance of three days to prepare a suitable place for them to camp.   וַֽאֲרוֹן בְּרִֽית־ה' נֹסֵעַ לִפְנֵיהֶם דֶּרֶךְ שְׁלשֶׁת יָמִים.  זֶה הָאָרוֹן הַיּוֹצֵא עִמָּהֶם לַמִּלְחָמָה וּבוֹ שִׁבְרֵי לוּחוֹת מוּנָחִים, וּמַקְדִּים לִפְנֵיהֶם דֶּרֶךְ שְׁלֹשֶׁת יָמִים, לְתַקֵּן לָהֶם מְקוֹם חֲנִיָּה (שם; תלמוד ירושלמי שקלים ו'):
34The cloud of God was above them by day when they traveled from the campsite.   לדוַֽעֲנַ֧ן יְהֹוָ֛ה עֲלֵיהֶ֖ם יוֹמָ֑ם בְּנָסְעָ֖ם מִן־הַמַּֽחֲנֶֽה:
וַֽעֲנַן ה' עֲלֵיהֶם יוֹמָם - The cloud of God was above them by day. Seven times the word עָנָן “cloud” is written regarding their journeys, alluding to four clouds on the four sides, one above, one below, and another that went ahead of them, which would flatten the high ground, raise the depressions, and kill snakes and scorpions in their path.   וַֽעֲנַן ה' עֲלֵיהֶם יוֹמָם.  שִׁבְעָה עֲנָנִים כְּתוּבִים בְּמַסְעֵיהֶם, אַרְבָּעָה מֵאַרְבַּע רוּחוֹת, וְאֶחָד לְמַעְלָה, וְאֶחָד לְמַטָּה, וְאֶחָד לִפְנֵיהֶם מַנְמִיךְ אֶת הַגָּבוֹהַּ וּמַגְבִּיהַּ אֶת הַנָּמוּךְ וְהוֹרֵג נְחָשִׁים וְעַקְרַבִּים (ספרי; מכילתא שמות י"ג):
מִן־הַמַּֽחֲנֶֽה - (lit.) From the camp - means from the place where they had camped.   מִן־הַמַּֽחֲנֶֽה.  מִמְּקוֹם חֲנִיָּתָן: