Seder Yomi

Chapter Previewהַקְדָּמָה

In this aliyah, we reach a momentous turning point in the journey of Klal Yisrael through the midbar. On the twentieth of Iyar in the second year, the cloud of glory lifts from the Mishkan, signaling that it is time to travel. We see the beautiful, orderly way the camps set out from the wilderness of Sinai toward Paran, marching under their respective flags exactly as Hashem commanded Moshe Rabbeinu.

We also learn of the warm, heartfelt conversation between Moshe and his father-in-law, Chovav (Yisro). Moshe pleads with him to join the nation on their journey to Eretz Yisrael, promising him a share in the goodness Hashem has in store for them. Although Chovav initially wishes to return to his own land, Moshe urges him to stay and serve as a guide in the wilderness.

All introductions, summaries, and contextual notes are the editor's commentary and are not part of the original text.אַלע הַקְדָּמוֹת, סִכּוּמִים, און הערות זענען דעם רעדאַקטאָר'ס באַמערקונגען און זענען נישט קיין טייל פונעם אָריגינעלן טעקסט.

פָּסוּק א

Pasuk 1

וַיְהִיAnd it wasבַּשָּׁנָהin the yearהַשֵּׁנִיתthe secondבַּחֹדֶשׁin the monthהַשֵּׁנִיthe secondבְּעֶשְׂרִיםon the twentiethבַּחֹדֶשׁof the monthנַעֲלָהliftedהֶעָנָןthe cloudמֵעַלfrom uponמִשְׁכַּןthe Tabernacle ofהָעֵדֻת׃the Testimony

רַשִׁ״י

בחדשIn the monthהשני.the secondנִמְצֵאתָyou findאַתָּהyourselfאוֹמֵר,sayingשְׁנֵיםtwelveעָשָׂר·חֹדֶשׁmonthsחָסֵרlessעֲשָׂרָהtenיָמִיםdaysעָשׂוּthey spentבְחוֹרֵב,in Chorebשֶׁהֲרֵיsinceבְּרֹאשׁon the head ofחֹדֶשׁthe month ofסִיוָןSivanחָנוּthey encampedשָׁםthereוְלֹאand notנָסְעוּdid they journeyעַדuntilעֶשְׂרִיםthe twentiethבְּאִיָּרof Eyarלַשָּׁנָהof the yearהַבָּאָה:the coming

פָּסוּק ב

Pasuk 2

וַיִּסְעוּand they journeyedבְנֵיthe children ofיִשְׂרָאֵלYisraelלְמַסְעֵיהֶםon their journeysמִמִּדְבַּרfrom the wilderness ofסִינָיSinaiוַיִּשְׁכֹּןand it restedהֶעָנָןthe cloudבְּמִדְבַּרin the wilderness ofפָּארָן׃Paran

רַשִׁ״י

למסעיהם.for their journeysכַּמִּשְׁפָּטaccording to the ruleהַמְפֹרָשׁthat is explainedלְמַסַּעfor the journey ofדִּגְלֵיהֶם,their bannersמִיwhoרִאשׁוֹןis firstוּמִיand whoאַחֲרוֹן:is last

רַשִׁ״י

במדברIn the wilderness ofפארן.ParanקִבְרוֹתKibrothהַתַּאֲוָהhattavahבְּמִדְבַּרin the wilderness ofפָּארָןParanהָיָה,wasוְשָׁםand thereחָנוּthey encampedמִמַּסָּעfrom the journeyזֶה:this

פָּסוּק ג

Pasuk 3

וַיִּסְעוּAnd they journeyedבָּרִאשֹׁנָהin the firstעַלbyפִּיthe word ofיְהוָהHashemבְּיַדby the hand ofמֹשֶׁה׃Moshe

פָּסוּק ד

Pasuk 4

וַיִּסַּעAnd traveledדֶּגֶלthe banner ofמַחֲנֵהthe camp ofבְנֵיthe children ofיְהוּדָהYehudahבָּרִאשֹׁנָהfirstלְצִבְאֹתָםaccording to their legionsוְעַלand overצְבָאוֹits legionנַחְשׁוֹןNachshonבֶּןthe son ofעַמִּינָדָב׃Amminadav

פָּסוּק ה

Pasuk 5

וְעַלand overצְבָאthe army ofמַטֵּהthe tribe ofבְּנֵיthe children ofיִשָׂשכָרYissacharנְתַנְאֵלNethanelבֶּןson ofצוּעָר׃Zuar

פָּסוּק ו

Pasuk 6

וְעַלand overצְבָאthe army ofמַטֵּהthe tribe ofבְּנֵיthe children ofזְבוּלֻןZevulunאֱלִיאָבEliabבֶּןthe son ofחֵלוֹן׃Chelon

פָּסוּק ז

Pasuk 7

וְהוּרַדAnd was taken downהַמִּשְׁכָּןthe Tabernacleוְנָסְעוּand journeyedבְנֵיthe sons ofגֵרְשׁוֹןGershonוּבְנֵיand the sons ofמְרָרִיMerariנֹשְׂאֵיthe carriers ofהַמִּשְׁכָּן׃the Tabernacle

רַשִׁ״י

והורדAnd was taken downהמשכן.the TabernacleכֵּיוָןAs soon asשֶׁנּוֹסֵעַjourneyedדֶּגֶלthe division ofיְהוּדָה,YehudahנִכְנְסוּenteredאַהֲרֹןAharonוּבָנָיוand his sonsוּפָרְקוּand took downאֶת—הַפָּרֹכֶתthe Partition Vailוְכִסּוּand coveredבָהּwith itאֶת—הָאָרוֹן,the Arkשֶׁנֶּאֱמַרas it is said"וּבָאand shall comeאַהֲרֹןAharonוּבָנָיוand his sonsבִּנְסֹעַwhen setting forwardהַמַּחֲנֶה"the campבמדברBamidbarד'chapter 4,וּבְנֵיand the sons ofגֵרְשׁוֹןGershonוּבְנֵיand the sons ofמְרָרִיMerariפוֹרְקִיןdismantledהַמִּשְׁכָּןthe Tabernacleוְטוֹעֲנִיןand loadedאוֹתוֹitבָּעֲגָלוֹת,on the wagonsוְהָאָרוֹןand the Arkוּכְלֵיand the vessels ofהַקֹּדֶשׁthe Sanctuaryשֶׁלofמַשָּׂאthe burden ofבְנֵיthe sons ofקְהָתKehasעוֹמְדִיםremainedמְכֻסִּיןcoveredוּנְתוּנִיןand placedעַלuponהַמּוֹטוֹתthe polesעַדuntilשֶׁנָּסַעset outדֶּגֶלthe division ofמַחֲנֵהthe camp ofרְאוּבֵן,Reuvenוְאַ"כַּand after that"וְנָסְעוּand set forwardהַקְּהָתִים"the Kohathitesעי'seeתנחומאTanchuma:

פָּסוּק ח

Pasuk 8

וְנָסַעAnd set outדֶּגֶלthe banner ofמַחֲנֵהthe camp ofרְאוּבֵןReuvenלְצִבְאֹתָםaccording to their legionsוְעַלand overצְבָאוֹits legionאֱלִיצוּרElitzurבֶּןson ofשְׁדֵיאוּר׃Shedeur

פָּסוּק ט

Pasuk 9

וְעַלand overצְבָאthe host ofמַטֵּהthe tribe ofבְּנֵיthe children ofשִׁמְעוֹןShimonשְׁלֻמִיאֵלShelumielבֶּןthe son ofצוּרִיTzuriשַׁדָּי׃Shaddai

פָּסוּק י

Pasuk 10

וְעַלand overצְבָאthe host ofמַטֵּהthe tribe ofבְנֵיthe children ofגָדGadאֶלְיָסָףEliasaphבֶּןthe son ofדְּעוּאֵל׃Deuel

פָּסוּק יא

Pasuk 11

וְנָסְעוּAnd they journeyedהַקְּהָתִיםthe Kehathitesנֹשְׂאֵיthe carriers ofהַמִּקְדָּשׁthe sacred objectsוְהֵקִימוּand they set upאֶת—הַמִּשְׁכָּןthe Mishkanעַדbyבֹּאָם׃their arrival

רַשִׁ״י

נשאיthe bearers ofהמקדש.the Sanctuaryנוֹשְׂאֵיthe bearers ofדְבָרִיםthingsהַמְקֻדָּשִׁים:that are holy

רַשִׁ״י

והקימוAnd they set upאת—המשכן.the Tabernacleבְּנֵיthe sons ofגֵרְשׁוֹןGershonוּבְנֵיand the sons ofמְרָרִיMerariשֶׁהָיוּwho wereקוֹדְמִיםprecedingלָהֶםthemמַסַּעthe journey ofשְׁנֵיtwoדְגָלִים,divisionsהָיוּthey wouldמְקִימִיןerectאֶת—הַמִּשְׁכָּןthe Tabernacleכְּשֶׁהָיָהwhenהֶעָנָןthe cloudשׁוֹכֵן,restedוְסִימַןand the sign ofהַחֲנִיָּהthe encampingנִרְאֶהwas seenבְּדֶגֶלover the division ofמַחֲנֵהthe camp ofיְהוּדָה,Yehudahוְהֵםand theyחוֹנִיםencampedוַעֲדַיִןand while stillבְּנֵיthe sons ofקְהָתKehasבָּאִיםwere comingמֵאַחֲרֵיהֶםafter themעִםwithשְׁנֵיthe twoדְגָלִיםdivisionsהָאַחֲרוֹנִים,the lastהָיוּwereבְנֵיthe sons ofגֵרְשׁוֹןGershonוּבְנֵיand the sons ofמְרָרִיMerariמְקִימִיןerectingאֶת—הַמִּקְדָּשׁ;the Sanctuaryוּכְשֶׁבָּאִיםand when cameבְּנֵיthe sons ofקְהָתKehasמוֹצְאִיםthey foundאוֹתוֹitעַלuponמְכוֹנוֹ,its foundationוּמַכְנִיסִיןand they broughtבּוֹinto itהָאָרוֹןthe Arkוְהַשֻּׁלְחָןand the Tableוְהַמְּנוֹרָהand the Menorahוְהַמִּזְבְּחוֹת,and the altarsוְזֶהוּand this isמַשְׁמָעוּתthe meaning ofהַמִּקְרָאthe verse—וְהֵקִימוּand they erectedמְקִימֵיthe erectors ofהַמִּשְׁכָּןthe Tabernacleאוֹתוֹitעדuntilטֶרֶםbeforeבאםtheir arrivalשֶׁלofבְּנֵיthe sons ofקְהָת:Kehas

פָּסוּק יב

Pasuk 12

וְנָסַעAnd set outדֶּגֶלthe banner ofמַחֲנֵהthe camp ofבְנֵיthe children ofאֶפְרַיִםEphraimלְצִבְאֹתָםby their legionsוְעַלand overצְבָאוֹits legionאֱלִישָׁמָעElishamaבֶּןson ofעַמִּיהוּד׃Ammihud

פָּסוּק יג

Pasuk 13

וְעַלand overצְבָאthe host ofמַטֵּהthe tribe ofבְּנֵיthe children ofמְנַשֶּׁהMenasheגַּמְלִיאֵלGamlielבֶּןthe son ofפְּדָהPedahצוּר׃zur

פָּסוּק יד

Pasuk 14

וְעַלAnd overצְבָאthe host ofמַטֵּהthe tribe ofבְּנֵיthe children ofבִנְיָמִןBinyaminאֲבִידָןAvidanבֶּןson ofגִּדְעוֹנִי׃Gidoni

פָּסוּק טו

Pasuk 15

וְנָסַעAnd set outדֶּגֶלthe standard ofמַחֲנֵהthe camp ofבְנֵיthe children ofדָןDanמְאַסֵּףthe rear guardלְכָלfor allהַמַּחֲנֹתthe campsלְצִבְאֹתָםby their divisionsוְעַלand overצְבָאוֹits divisionאֲחִיעֶזֶרAchiezerבֶּןthe son ofעַמִּישַׁדָּי׃Ammishaddai

רַשִׁ״י

מאסףthe gathererלכלof allהמחנת.the campsתַּלְמוּדTalmudיְרוּשַׁלְמִי:Yerushalmiלְפִיbecauseשֶׁהָיָהthat wasשִׁבְטוֹthe tribeשֶׁלofדָּןDanמְרֻבֶּהabundantבְּאֻכְלוֹסִים,in troopsהָיָהit wasנוֹסֵעַtravelingבָּאַחֲרוֹנָה,at the rearוְכָלand anyoneמִיwhoשֶׁהָיָהthat wasמְאַבֵּדlosingדָּבָרa thingהָיָהhe wouldמַחֲזִירוֹreturn itלוֹ;to himאִיתthere isמַאןoneדַּאֲמַרwho saysכְּתֵבָהlike a boxהָיוּthey wereמְהַלְּכִין,travelingוּמַפִּיקand he derivesלָהּitמִןfrom"כַּאֲשֶׁרjust asיַחֲנוּthey encampכֵּןsoיִסָּעוּ",shall they journeyוְאִיתand there isדְּאָמְרֵיthose who sayכְּקוֹרָהlike a beamהָיוּthey wereמְהַלְּכִין,travelingוּמַפִּיקand he derivesלָהּitמִןfrom"מְאַסֵּףthe gathererלְכָלof allהַמַּחֲנֹת"the campsתלמודTalmudירושלמיYerushalmiערוביןEruvinה'chapter five:

פָּסוּק טז

Pasuk 16

וְעַלand overצְבָאthe host ofמַטֵּהthe tribe ofבְּנֵיthe children ofאָשֵׁרAsherפַּגְעִיאֵלPagielבֶּןson ofעָכְרָן׃Ochran

פָּסוּק יז

Pasuk 17

וְעַלand overצְבָאthe host ofמַטֵּהthe tribe ofבְּנֵיthe children ofנַפְתָּלִיNaftaliאֲחִירַעAchiraבֶּןson ofעֵינָן׃Einan

פָּסוּק יח

Pasuk 18

אֵלֶּהTheseמַסְעֵיwere the journeys ofבְנֵיthe children ofיִשְׂרָאֵלYisraelלְצִבְאֹתָםaccording to their legionsוַיִּסָּעוּ׃and they journeyed

רַשִׁ״י

אלהThese areמסעי.the journeys ofזֶהthis isסֵדֶרthe order ofמַסְעֵיהֶם:their journeyings

רַשִׁ״י

ויסעו.And they journeyedבַּיּוֹםon the dayהַהוּאthatנָסְעוּ:they traveled

פָּסוּק יט

Pasuk 19

וַיֹּאמֶרAnd saidמֹשֶׁהMosheלְחֹבָבto Chovavבֶּןson ofרְעוּאֵלReuelהַמִּדְיָנִיthe Midianiteחֹתֵןfather-in-law ofמֹשֶׁהMosheנֹסְעִיםare journeyingאֲנַחְנוּweאֶלtoהַמָּקוֹםthe placeאֲשֶׁרwhichאָמַרsaidיְהוָהHashemאֹתוֹitאֶתֵּןI will giveלָכֶםto youלְכָהgoאִתָּנוּwith usוְהֵטַבְנוּand we will do goodלָךְto youכִּיforיְהוָהHashemדִּבֶּרhas spokenטוֹבgoodעַלconcerningיִשְׂרָאֵל׃Yisrael

רַשִׁ״י

חבב.ChovavהוּאheיִתְרוֹYisroשֶׁנֶּאֱמַרas it is said"מִבְּנֵיfrom the sons ofחֹבָבChovavחֹתֵןfather-in-law ofמֹשֶׁה"MosheשופטיםShoftimד'four,וּמַהand whyתַּ"לdoes the verse teach"וַתָּבֹאנָהand they cameאֶלtoרְעוּאֵלReuelאֲבִיהֶן"?their fatherמְלַמֵּדit teachesשֶׁהַתִּינוֹקוֹתthat childrenקוֹרִיןcallלַאֲבִיthe father ofאֲבִיהֶןtheir fatherאַבָּא;fatherוְשֵׁמוֹתand namesהַרְבֵּהmanyהָיוּwereלוֹ,to him"יִתְרוֹ"Yisroעַלonשֵׁםaccount ofשֶׁיִּתֵּרthat he addedפָּרָשָׁהa parshaאַחַתoneבַּתּוֹרָה,in the Torah"חוֹבָב"Chovavעַלonשֶׁחִבֵּבaccount that he lovedאֶת—הַתּוֹרָהthe Torahוְכוּ'etceteraספריSifrei:

רַשִׁ״י

נסעיםWe are journeyingאנחנוweאלtoהמקום.the placeמִיָּדimmediately—עַדwithinשְׁלֹשָׁהthreeיָמִיםdaysאָנוּweנִכְנָסִיןare enteringלָאָרֶץ,the Landשֶׁבְּמַסָּעfor on journeyזֶהthisהָרִאשׁוֹןthe firstנָסְעוּthey journeyedעַלonמְנָתconditionלִכָּנֵסto enterלְאֶרֶץthe Land ofיִשְׂרָאֵל,Yisraelאֶלָּאbutשֶׁחָטְאוּthat they sinnedבְּמִתְאוֹנְנִים;with the complainersוּמִפְּנֵיand because ofמָהwhatשִׁתֵּףdid associateמֹשֶׁהMosheעַצְמוֹhimselfעִמָּהֶם?with themשֶׁעֲדַיִןbecause stillלֹאnotנִגְזְרָהwas decreedגְזֵרָהa decreeעָלָיוupon himוּכְסָבוּרand he believedשֶׁהוּאthat heנִכְנָסwould enterעי'seeשםthere:

פָּסוּק כ

Pasuk 20

וַיֹּאמֶרAnd he saidאֵלָיוto himלֹאnotאֵלֵךְwill I goכִּיbutאִםratherאֶלtoאַרְצִיmy landוְאֶלand toמוֹלַדְתִּיmy birthplaceאֵלֵךְ׃will I go

רַשִׁ״י

אלToארציmy landואלand toמולדתי.my birthplaceאִםwhetherבִּשְׁבִילfor the sake ofנְכָסַי,my propertyאִםwhetherבִּשְׁבִילfor the sake ofמִשְׁפַּחְתִּי:my family

פָּסוּק כא

Pasuk 21

וַיֹּאמֶרAnd he saidאַלdo notנָאpleaseתַּעֲזֹבleaveאֹתָנוּusכִּיbecauseעַל·כֵּןthereforeיָדַעְתָּyou knowחֲנֹתֵנוּour campingבַּמִּדְבָּרin the wildernessוְהָיִיתָand you shall beלָּנוּfor usלְעֵינָיִם׃as eyes

רַשִׁ״י

אלDo notנאpleaseתעזב.leaveאֵיןThere is notנָאpleaseאֶלָּאbutלְשׁוֹןan expression ofבַּקָּשָׁה,entreatyשֶׁלֹּאso that notיֹאמְרוּthey will sayלֹאnotנִתְגַּיֵּרconvertedיִתְרוֹYisroמֵחִבָּה,out of loveסָבוּרbelievingהָיָהhe wasשֶׁיֵּשׁthat there isלַגֵּרִיםfor the convertsחֵלֶקa portionבָּאָרֶץ,in the Landעַכְשָׁוnowשֶׁרָאָהthat he sawשֶׁאֵיןthat there is notלָהֶםfor themחֵלֶק,a portionהִנִּיחָםhe left themוְהָלַךְand wentלוֹhis wayשםthere:

רַשִׁ״י

כיbecauseעל·כןthereforeידעתyou knowחנתנוour encampmentsבמדבר.in the wildernessכִּיforנָאֶהit is fittingלְךָfor youלַעֲשׂוֹתto doזֹאת,thisעַלbecauseאֲשֶׁרof thatיָדַעְתָּyou have knownחֲנוֹתֵנוּour encampmentsבַּמִּדְבָּרin the wildernessוְרָאִיתָand you sawנִסִּיםmiraclesוּגְבוּרוֹתand mighty deedsשֶׁנַּעֲשׂוּthat were doneלָנוּ:for us

רַשִׁ״י

כיForעל·כןbecauseידעת.you knewכְּמוֹlikeעַל·אֲשֶׁרbecauseיָדַעְתָּ,you knewכְּמוֹlike"כִּיforעַל·כֵּןbecauseלֹאnotנְתַתִּיהָI gave herלְשֵׁלָהto Shelahבְנִי"my sonבראשיתBereishisל"ח38,"כִּיforעַל·כֵּןbecauseעֲבַרְתֶּם"you have passedבראשיתBereishisי"ט19,"כִּיforעַל·כֵּןbecauseבָּאוּ"they have comeבראשיתBereishisי"ט19,"כִּיforעַל·כֵּןbecauseרָאִיתִיI have seenפָנֶיךָ"your faceבראשיתBereishisל"ג33:

רַשִׁ״י

והייתAnd you shall beלנוto usלעינים.for eyesלְשׁוֹןan expression ofעָבָר,pastכְּתַרְגּוּמוֹ;like its Targumדָּ"אַ:another explanationלְשׁוֹןan expression ofעָתִידfuture—כָּלeveryדָּבָרmatterוְדָבָרand matterשֶׁיִּתְעַלֵּםthat will be hiddenמֵעֵינֵינוּ,from our eyesתִּהְיֶהyou will beמֵאִירenlighteningעֵינֵינוּ;our eyesדָּ"אַ:another explanationשֶׁתְּהֵאthat you shall beחָבִיבbelovedעָלֵינוּupon usכְּגַלְגַּלlike the eyeballעֵינֵינוּ,of our eyesשֶׁנֶּאֱמַרas it is saidדבריםDevarimי'ten"וַאֲהַבְתֶּםand you shall loveאֶת—הַגֵּר"the strangerספריSifrei:

פָּסוּק כב

Pasuk 22

וְהָיָהand it shall beכִּיifתֵלֵךְyou goעִמָּנוּwith usוְהָיָהand it shall beהַטּוֹבthe goodnessהַהוּאthatאֲשֶׁרwhichיֵיטִיבwill do goodיְהוָהHashemעִמָּנוּwith usוְהֵטַבְנוּand we will do goodלָךְ׃to you

רַשִׁ״י

והיהAnd it shall beהטובthe goodnessההוא.thatמַהwhatטּוֹבָהgoodnessהֵטִיבוּdid they doלוֹ?to himאָמְרוּ,they saidכְּשֶׁהָיוּwhen wereיִשְׂרָאֵלYisraelמְחַלְּקִיןdividingאֶת—הָאָרֶץ,the landהָיָהwasדֻּשְׁנָהּthe fertile partשֶׁלofיְרִיחוֹYerichoת"קfive hundredאַמָּהcubitsעַלbyת"קfive hundredאַמָּהcubitsוְהִנִּיחוּהוּand they left itמִלַּחֲלֹק,from dividingאָמְרוּthey saidמִיwhoeverשֶׁיִּבָּנֶהthat will be builtבֵּיתthe House ofהַמִּקְדָּשׁthe Sanctuaryבְּחֶלְקוֹin his portionהוּאheיִטְּלֶנּוּ,shall take itוּבֵיןand betweenכָּךְthisוּבֵיןand betweenכָּךְthatנְתָנוּהוּthey gave itלִבְנֵיto the children ofיִתְרוֹYisroלְיוֹנָדָבto Yonadavבֶּןthe son ofרֵכָבRechavשֶׁנֶּאֱמַרas it is said"וּבְנֵיand the children ofקֵינִיthe Keniteחֹתֵןfather-in-law ofמֹשֶׁהMosheעָלוּwent upמֵעִירfrom the city ofהַתְּמָרִים"the palmsוְגוֹ'etceteraשופטיםShoftimא'one:

פָּסוּק כג

Pasuk 23

וַיִּסְעוּAnd they journeyedמֵהַרfrom the mountain ofיְהוָהHashemדֶּרֶךְa journey ofשְׁלֹשֶׁתthreeיָמִיםdaysוַאֲרוֹןand the Ark ofבְּרִיתthe covenant ofיְהוָהHashemנֹסֵעַwas journeyingלִפְנֵיהֶםbefore themדֶּרֶךְa journey ofשְׁלֹשֶׁתthreeיָמִיםdaysלָתוּרto search outלָהֶםfor themמְנוּחָה׃a resting place

רַשִׁ״י

דרךA journey ofשלשתthreeימים.daysמַהֲלַךְa distance ofשְׁלֹשֶׁתthreeיָמִיםdaysהָלְכוּthey wentבְיוֹםin a dayאֶחָד,oneשֶׁהָיָהbecause wasהַקָּבָּ"הthe Holy Oneחָפֵץdesiringלְהַכְנִיסָםto bring themלָאָרֶץinto the LandמִיָּדimmediatelyספריSifrei:

רַשִׁ״י

וארוןAnd the Ark ofבריתthe covenant ofה'Hashemנסעtraveledלפניהםbefore themדרךa distance ofשלשתthreeימים.daysזֶהThisהָאָרוֹןis the Arkהַיּוֹצֵאthat went outעִמָּהֶםwith themלַמִּלְחָמָהto the warוּבוֹand in itשִׁבְרֵיthe broken pieces ofלוּחוֹתthe Tabletsמוּנָחִים,were placedוּמַקְדִּיםand it precededלִפְנֵיהֶםbefore themדֶּרֶךְa distance ofשְׁלֹשֶׁתthreeיָמִים,daysלְתַקֵּןto prepareלָהֶםfor themמְקוֹםa place ofחֲנִיָּהencampmentשם;thereתלמודTalmudירושלמיYerushalmiשקליםShekalimו'chapter six:

פָּסוּק כד

Pasuk 24

וַעֲנַןAnd the cloud ofיְהוָהHashemעֲלֵיהֶםwas over themיוֹמָםby dayבְּנָסְעָםin their journeyingמִןfromהַמַּחֲנֶה׃the camp

רַשִׁ״י

וענןAnd the cloud ofה'Hashemעליהםwas upon themיומם.by dayשִׁבְעָהSevenעֲנָנִיםcloudsכְּתוּבִיםare writtenבְּמַסְעֵיהֶם,in their journeysאַרְבָּעָהfourמֵאַרְבַּעfrom the fourרוּחוֹת,directionsוְאֶחָדand oneלְמַעְלָה,aboveוְאֶחָדand oneלְמַטָּה,belowוְאֶחָדand oneלִפְנֵיהֶםbefore themמַנְמִיךְwhich leveledאֶת—הַגָּבוֹהַּthe highוּמַגְבִּיהַּand raisedאֶת—הַנָּמוּךְthe lowוְהוֹרֵגand killedנְחָשִׁיםsnakesוְעַקְרַבִּיםand scorpionsספרי;SifreiמכילתאMekhiltaשמותShemosי"ג13:

רַשִׁ״י

מןFromהמחנה.the campמִמְּקוֹםfrom the place ofחֲנִיָּתָן:their encamping

Chapter Summaryסִכּוּם

The aliyah details the precise order of the journey, beginning with the division of Yehudah, followed by the dismantling of the Mishkan by the Gershonites and Merarites. Next came the division of Reuven, followed by the Kohathites carrying the holy vessels, then the division of Ephraim, and finally the division of Dan as the rear guard. The section concludes with the nation traveling a three-day distance from Har Hashem, led by the Aron HaBris which searched out a resting place for them, all while the cloud of Hashem shielded them from above by day.

לְמַעֲשֶׂהWhat To Take Home

Look at how beautifully organized the journey of Klal Yisrael was in the midbar. When the cloud lifted, they did not run in a chaotic rush. Every single shevet had its designated place, its leader, and its specific holy task. The Gershonites and Merarites carried the heavy structure of the Mishkan, while the Kohathites carried the sacred vessels, moving in perfect coordination so that the home for Hashem's presence would be rebuilt the very moment they arrived. Even in the middle of a dusty, unpredictable wilderness, there was a beautiful order, a sacred structure.

My dear friend, our daily lives can often feel like a chaotic trek through a wilderness. We are pulled in a dozen different directions by our parnassah, our families, and our daily obligations, and it is easy to feel overwhelmed and disorganized. But the Torah is teaching us a profound lesson in avodah: holiness requires order. When we bring structure to our day—setting fixed times for learning, preparing for our tefillos, and handling our responsibilities with calm deliberation rather than frantic rushing—we create a vessel for the Shechinah to rest in our lives, even when we are on the move.

When we live with a plan, we are not just reacting to the world; we are marching with purpose under the cloud of Hashem. Like the Kohathites and Gershonites, we must know what our specific job is in this moment and do it with care and order.

Today, choose one area of your daily routine—whether it is your morning tefillah, your set time for learning Torah, or your preparation for Shabbos—and bring a new level of calm, deliberate order to it, refusing to let it be rushed or chaotic.