THESE ARE THE STAGES. Moses recorded all the journeys of the Israelites when the children of Israel camped in the plains of Moab¹ and stayed there for a number of months, until the afore-mentioned cities² were built. They did not move from there until Aaron died.³

footnotes: ¹ Verse 48. ² The cities mentioned in Num. 32:33-42. ³ This appears to be an error, for Aaron died at Mount Hor before Israel came to the plains of Moab. See Num. 20:22-29. The proper reading should be, until Moses died.

THEIR GOINGS FORTH. How they went from place to place. Therefore their goings forth follows.

BY THE COMMANDMENT OF THE LORD. This is connected to stage by stage.⁴

footnotes: ⁴ Our text should be read: Stage by stage by the commandment of the Lord.

ON THE MORROW AFTER THE PASSOVER. I have explained this,⁵ and with a high hand (Ex. 14:8)⁶ as well.

footnotes: ⁵ See I.E. on Lev. 23:11. ⁶ See I.E. on Lev. 23:11.

UPON THEIR GODS ALSO THE LORD EXECUTED JUDGMENTS. As in the incident with Dagan’s head.⁷ For God said so to Moses.⁸

footnotes: ⁷ I Sam. 5:4. Dagan fell headless, armless, and footless before the ark of God. ⁸ In other words, God executed judgment as he had told Moses he would (Ex. 12:12). I. E. notes this because Scripture does not previously tells us that God actually executed judgment on the Egyptian gods.

AND TURNED BACK. This alludes to the cloud⁹ (and they journeyed) is in the plural. Va-yashav (and turned back) is in the singular. Thus our verse may be rendered: and they journeyed and it turned back. Hence I.E.’s interpretation. or to Israel.¹⁰

footnotes: ⁹ Which accompanied Israel. Va-yisu ¹⁰ According to this interpretation Scripture refers to Israel in the singular.

FROM PENE-HAHIROTH. Pene-hahirot and Pi-hahiroth¹¹ refers to the same place. The mouth is in the face.¹² means mouth of; pene face of. Hence the names Pi-hahiroth and Pene-hahiroth for the same place.

footnotes: ¹¹ See Ex. 14:2. ¹² Pi

THREE DAYS’ JOURNEY. I have already explained this.¹³

footnotes: ¹³ See I.E. on Num. 10:31.

KIBROTH-HATTAAVAH. The latter is in Kadesh-barnea,¹⁴ as I explained.

footnotes: ¹⁴ See I.E. on Num. 20:14.

AND THEY JOURNEYED FROM KADESH. Kadesh is the name of a city.¹⁵

footnotes: ¹⁵ See I.E. on Num. 20:14.

[AND THE CANAANITE…HEARD.] Scripture tells us this here¹⁶ because the Canaanite fought with Israel at Hor ha-Hor.¹⁷

footnotes: ¹⁶ After mentioning Mount Hor. ¹⁷ Following the death of Aaron. See Num. 21:1-3.

ZALMONAH, AND…PUNON. I have explained this.¹⁸

footnotes: ¹⁸ See I.E. on Num. 21:4.

ALMON-DIBLATHAIM. This is a general term for many journeys, as I explained in the Torah portion, This is the statute of the law (Num. 19:2).¹⁹

footnotes: ¹⁹ See I.E. on Num. 21:18.

FROM BETH-JESHIMOTH. This is the valley which looks down upon the wasteland.²⁰ God then commanded Moses to warn Israel²¹ because they were soon to pass over.²²

footnotes: ²⁰ See I.E. on Num. 21:20. ²¹ To drive out the inhabitants of Canaan (v. 55). ²² Into Canaan.

THEIR FIGURED STONES. Maskiyyotam (their figured stones) is similar to ve-even maskit (any figured stone) (Lev. 26:1).

THEIR HIGH PLACES. Bamotam means their high places. Compare, bamate aretz (the high places of the earth) (Is. 58:14).

AND YE SHALL INHERIT THE LAND. Ve-hitnachaltem (and ye shall inherit) is similar to ve-hitavvitem (and ye shall mark out) (Num. 34 :10).²³ and are transitive. Most verbs in the hitpa’el are intransitive. Hence I.E.’s comment. Ha-aretz (the land) is the object.²⁴ is transitive.

footnotes: ²³ Both verbs are in the hitpa’el ²⁴ In other words, ve-hitnachaltem

Scripture mentions to the more ye shall give the more inheritance to connect But if ye will not drive out the inhabitants (v. 55) which comes after it.²⁵

footnotes: ²⁵ In other words, the law commanding Israel to drive out the Canaanites follows the law telling Israel to inherit Canaan, in order to warn Israel that they will not inherit the land if they permit Canaanites to dwell therein.

AS THORNS. Sikkim refers to sharp thorns. It is related to the word mesukkato (hedge thereof)²⁶ in the hedge thereof (Is. 5:5) and the word sakh (hedge) in behold, I will hedge up thy way with thorns (Hos. 2:8).

footnotes: ²⁶ The hedge spoken of in Is. 5:5 was made of sharp thorns.

AND AS PRICKS. The word tzeninim (pricks) is to be explained according to its context. It means the same as u-leshotet be-tziddekhem (a scourge in your sides) (Josh. 23:13), which²⁷ refers to a blow delivered by a whip.²⁸. Thus ve-litzninim be-tziddekhem (and as pricks in your sides) means, and lashes in their sides. On the other hand, the word tzeninim (pricks) might refer to sharp thorns, as in Thorns (tzinnim) and snares in the way of the froward (Prov. 22:5).²⁹ (and for pricks in your sides) means, and for thorns in their sides. Observe, Scripture further explains³⁰ the borders of their inheritance from which they are obligated to expel the inhabitants of the land.

footnotes: ²⁷ According to its context. See Weiser. ²⁸ So too the word tzeninim ²⁹ In this case, ve-litzninim be-tziddekhem ³⁰ In chapter 34.