Commento su Numeri 33:49

מבית הישמת עד אבל השטים [AND THEY ENCAMPED] … FROM BETH-JESIMOTH EVEN UNTO ADEL-SHITTIM — Here it tells you that the extent of Israel’s camp was twelve miles, for Rabba bar bar Chana said: “I myself have seen that place etc., and it is three Parsangs (12 miles) square” (Eruvin 55b).

ויחנו על הירדן...בערבות מואב. There, וידבר ה' אל משה בערבות מואב על ירדן יריחו

ויחנו על הירדן מבית הישימות עד אבל השטים בערבות מואב, “they made camp by the river Jordan, from Bet Yeshimot until the plains of Shittim in the wilderness of Moav. The Torah describes the length of the camp, i.e. 12 “mils” (13,5 km.) We have the personal testimony of Rabbi Bar bar Chanah who was shown this site (Eiruvin 55). This is when G’d gave the direct order to disinherit (exterminate) the people residing in the land of Canaan at that time, as the people had now come very close to carry out this directive by crossing the river.

The measure of the Israelite camp. For the three parsa'os from Beis Yeshimos until Aveil Hasheetim were equivalent to twelve mils.

V. 49. מבית הישימת עד אבל השטים, nach Joma 75 a eine Strecke von 3 מיל 12 = פרסאות, daher das תחום-Mass von 12 מיל, nach der Ansicht, dass תחומין דאורי (siehe zu Schmot 16, 29).

Once the people had come to this location, they gradually spread out in different directions on that plain.

אבל השטים — The plain of Shittim had the name אבל (cf. Rashi on Genesis 14:6).

The Plain of Sheetim was entitled “Aveil.” However, the meaning of “Aveil” is not “plain.” In Parshas Lech Lecha (Bereishis 14:6) Rashi comments on this matter at length. [Though] the Targum renders Aveil as מישור ["plain"], this explanation is according to the context and the term.