Audio Summaries of the daily Chumash portions In loving memory of Ousher Zelig ben Myer HaLevi Z”LTo sponsor an episode please visit: https://itistaught.com/support-this-project/To get the daily chumash summaries in your email click here https://substack.com/profile/182692001-sarede-rachel-switzer?utm_source=profile-page.Subscribe on SpotifySubscribe on Apple PodcastsPlease consider leaving a review on the platform of your choice! For comments and inquiries, email itistaught@gmail.comThe Israelites' Journeys and YitroOn the 20th of the month of Iyar in the second year of the Israelites traveling in the desert, the cloud lifted up from the the Mishkan signifying that it was time for them to journey away from Chorev and the Sinai Desert.This means that they spent a year (12 months) minus 10 days in Chorev since they arrived there on the first of the month of Sivan (the third month) the previous year.The tribes stayed arranged in the way they were instructed to (Bamidbar, 4) as they journeyed, headed by the tribal princes (eg. the tribe of Yehuda traveled first with Nachshon the son of Aminadav heading it). Upon arriving at the Desert of Paran, the cloud rested, i.e. they set up camp there. Kivroth Ha'taavah (featuring later on in Bamidbar 11:35) was in this desert.Once the cloud of glory would depart, cuing the division of the tribe of Yehuda to begin traveling, the sons of Gershon and Merari would take apart the Mishkan and load its parts onto wagons. They would then commence traveling with the division of the tribe of Yehudah which was:* The tribe of Yehuda led by Nachson the son of Aminadav* The tribe of Issachar led by Nethanel the son of Zuar* The tribe of Zevulun led by Eliav the son of ChelonThen the sons of Kohath would stand the Ark and its accessories on poles, after which the division of the tribe of Reuven would travel followed by the sons of Kohath. The division of the tribe of Reuven consisted of:* The tribe of Reuven led by Elizur the son of Shedeur* The tribe of Shimon led by Shlumiel the son of Zurishadai* The tribe of Gad led by Eliasaph the son of DeuelThen the division of the camp of Ephraim followed. They consisted of:* The tribe of Ephraim led by Elishama son of Ammihud* The tribe of Menashe led by Gamliel the son of Pedahzur* The tribe of Binyamin led by Avidan the son of GideoniThis was followed by the division of the camp of Dan*. They consisted of:* The tribe of Dan led by Achiezer the son of Ammishaddai* The tribe of Asher led by Pagiel the son of Ochran* The tribe of Naphtali led by Achira the son of Enan*Side note: The Jerusalem Talmud (Eruvin 5:1) teaches that the tribe of Dan traveled at the back since it was so big. Although the tribe of Yehuda had more members, it did not travel at the back as Yehuda was the tribe of royalty.The tribe of Dan was termed "the gatherer for all camps" as they would retrieve any objects lost by other tribes during their journeys. There are two explanations for this corresponding to two different opinions on the shape of the tribes while they traveled:According to one opinion, the tribes traveled in a quadrilateral configuration, with Dan being on the North side of the camp. Since they were so numerous in size, they overflowed into the other sides of the camps and thus were able to return any lost objects to other tribes.According to another opinion, the tribes traveled in a straight line and Dan traveled at the back, which is how he was able to retrieve lost objects.When the Cloud of Glory came to rest, the sons of Gershon and Merari would erect the Mishkan. So when the sons of Kehoth would arrive it would be all set up and they would bring the Ark, Shulchan, Menorah and Atlars into it.Moshe tells his father in law Chovav, the son of Reuel the Midianite (i.e. Yitro*) that very soon (i.e within three days) they will be journeying to the place which G-d promised that He would give to the Israelites. Although G-d had already hinted at the fact that Moshe would not enter the Land together with the nation due to his sin with hitting the rock, this decree was not yet sworn upon, thus it could have still been repealed through prayer. This is why Moshe included himself here in being amongst those who would enter the land. Alternatively, he may not have been aware of the implications of G-d's "hint" in this regard.*Side note: This is confusing since elsewhere Yitro is referred to as both Chovav and Reuel (i.e in Shmos 2:18 Reuel is called the "father" of the girls from amongst whom Moshe took his wife. Rashi resolves this by saying that young children call their paternal grandfather "father").Indeed the Israelites would have entered into the Land three days later had not they sinned regarding inappropriately asking for meat (upcoming in Bamidbar 11:1-3) after which the were forced to journey an extra 30 days, in which time they sent the spies into the Land of Israel which ultimately led to the punishment that their generation die in the ...
