| And now... here's
a recap of the travels through the Midbar.
On the 15th of Nissan, 2448,
the Bnei Yisroel gathered in the Egyptian city of "Ramses"
to prepare for departure. Moshe led the Bnei Yisroel
to their first stop, "Sukkot," in the desert. Here the Cloud of
Glory descended upon Bnei Yisroel, protecting them from
their enemies for the next 40 years.
Next they traveled to "Aisam"
and cut back into Mitzrayim where they camped in "Pi
HaChirot," an area near the temple of the Egyptian idol Baal Tzafon
in a play to fool the Egyptian pursuants.
At "Mara," the Bnei Yisroel
complained about the bitter water. Here, the Bnei Yisroel
are taught the Mitzvah of Shabbat, among
other Mitzvot.
Next the Bnei Yisroel
traveled to "Eilam" where Hashem provides springs of
water for each Shevet. The Bnei Yisroel traveled
until they were trapped by the edge of the "Yam Suf." As the Egyptian
army approached, Hashem split the sea and the Bnei
Yisroel walked across the dry sea bed in safety. The Egyptian
army followed in hot pursuit. But Hashem cooled them
off with a swim under the sea. The water walls collapsed and the
entire Egyptian army drowned.
The Bnei Yisroel now
trekked through the wilderness of "Sinn" where they made a stop
at "Dafka," which means "beat." Here the Bnei Yisroel's
hearts beat fast when they panicked about their food supply running
out.
Next at "Alush," Hashem
providedMann for the first time.
At "Refidim," Amalek attacks,
and the Bnei Yisroel win their first battle.
Next stop... "Har Sinai." At
the foot of the mountain the Bnei Yisroel received the
Torah. At this point the wilderness of "Sinn" was renamed
"Sinai." Here they built the Mishkan.
At "Kivrot Hata'ava" the Eirev
Rav incited Bnei Yisroel to complain about a lack
of meat. Hashem responded with a thick flock of birds
- Slav - which were eaten by the nation... All the complainers
died horrible deaths. The Tzadikim, however, enjoyed
Slav throughout the entire period in the Midbar.
At "Chatzerot," Miriam spoke
Lashon hora about Moshe and was stricken with tzaraat,
the Lashon hora disease.
"Risma" should have been the
last encampment in the desert before entering Eretz Yisroel,
but the Bnei Yisroel panicked and ask Moshe to send out
spies to Canaan. The trek went downhill from here. After the bad
report, Hashem sentenced this generation to die in the
desert.
For the next 38 years the Bnei
Yisroel spent an average of two years per encampment.
First stop is "Rimon Peretz,"
then "Livna, Rissa and Kehailasa," where Korach and 200 men rebelled
against Moshe.
The next 13 stops were: "Har
Shefar," named for a mountain of beautiful fruits, "Charada,"
"Makhelot, Tachat, Terach, Miska, Chashmona, Moserot, Bnei Yaakan,
Chor Hagidgad, Yatvata, Avrona and Etzyon Gever."
At "Kadesh", where the Bnei
Yisroel stayed for nineteen years, Moshe's sister, Miriam,
died. The stream of water that had provided water for 40 years
in the desert went dry. Hashem commanded Moshe to talk
to a rock and ask it to spring forth water. Moshe hit the rock
and was told that he and Aharon would not be allowed to enter
Eretz Yisroel
At "Hor Hahar," Aharon died
and Elazar, his son, became Kohain Gadol.
Next, the Bnei Yisroel
camp at "Tzalmona." "Punon" was the place where the Eirev
rav complained about the Mann. The rebels were punished
with a swarm of snakes that bit them. Moshe's copper snake was
the key to repentence and life in this case.
The next three stops were "Avot,
Iyim and Divon Gad."
"Almon Divlasayma," (originally
called Nachaliel), "Haray Ha'avarim" comes next. Finally the Bnei
Yisroel travelled from "Bait Hayeshimot" to "Avel Hashittim"
in the land of Moav.
Here the daughters of Midyan
caused the deaths of 24,000 Bnei Yisroel in a terrible
plague. It was also here that Midyan was wiped out and the Bnei
Yisroel took possession of its first stretch of land.
In the book of Bamidbar, Bnei Yisroel has been forged into
a well-oiled traveling body proud to serve Hashem and keep
His commandments. The spies and the Eirev Rav have managed
to set back the plan 38 years but Bnei Yisroel is finally
ready to enter Eretz Yisroel.
As Bamidbar finishes, Moshe is preparing a twelve week
speech... lots of Mitzvot... lots of reminiscing... lots
of advice from the top beginning in the next exciting episode of:
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