(Numb. 20:22:) THEN SETTING OUT FROM KADESH, THE WHOLE CONGREGATION OF THE CHILDREN OF ISRAEL CAME TO MOUNT HOR. This text is related (to II Chron. 20:37): BECAUSE YOU HAVE JOINED {TO THE WICKED ONE} [WITH AHAZIAH],¹⁵⁵ THE LORD WILL DESTROY YOUR WORK. Similarly, because they made an alliance with this wicked king to pass through his land, they lost this righteous man (i.e., Aaron).¹⁵⁶., Numb. 6:14; Numb. R. 19:16. For that reason the death of Aaron¹⁵⁷ is added immediately after the parashah on the king of Edom. (Numb. 20:21–22:) SO ISRAEL TURNED AWAY FROM THEM. THEN SETTING OUT FROM KADESH, THE WHOLE CONGREGATION OF THE CHILDREN OF ISRAEL CAME TO MOUNT HOR….¹⁵⁸ 1:1 (38ab).

footnotes: ¹⁵⁵ Son of Ahab and a wicked king of Israel (I Kings 22:51-52), with whom Jehoshaphat had allied himself (I Kings 22:44; II Chron. 20:35.) ¹⁵⁶ Tanh ¹⁵⁷ See Numb. 20:28: … AND AARON DIED THERE ON THE TOP OF THE MOUNTAIN. ¹⁵⁸ Cf. yYoma

[(Numb. 20:22:) THE WHOLE CONGREGATION OF THE CHILDREN OF ISRAEL CAME TO MOUNT HOR.] What is the meaning of THE WHOLE CONGREGATION? A complete congregation, a congregation which would be entering the land, since those who had come out from Egypt had died. So these were the ones of whom it is written (in Deut. 4:4): BUT YOU WHO CLUNG TO THE LORD YOUR GOD ARE ALL ALIVE TODAY.

[(Numb. 20:22:) MOUNT (HR) HOR (HR).] What is the meaning of MOUNT HOR? A mountain (HR) on top of a mountain (HR) like a small apple on a large apple. Even though a cloud proceeded before them which lowered the high places and raised up the low, the Holy One left this mountain as a sample,¹⁵⁹ so that they would know what miracles the Holy One had done for them. Now he had not left a mountain in the desert, lest they become weary because of them. Moreover, although the cloud had made all the desert a plain, he left an elevated spot where the tabernacle would have its resting place. He also left three mountains: Mount Sinai for the Divine Presence, Mount Nebo for the burial of Moses, and Mount Hor for the burial of Aaron.

footnotes: ¹⁵⁹ Gk.: deigma.