Komentaryong Sumisipi para sa Mga Bilang 10:25

AND THE CAMPS THAT LIE ON THE SOUTH SIDE SHALL SET FORWARD. Scripture explained the purpose of the two t’ruoth,¹⁰²A t’ruah is a succession of nine tremulous or quavering sounds. A t’kiah is a continuous plain sound. The sh’varim are broken disconnected sounds, but they are not as broken as those of the t’ruah. The three broken sounds of the sh’varim are equal [in length of time] to the nine quavering sounds of the t’ruah. the first one being [the sign] for those encamped eastward to go forward, and the second one for those encamped southward to set out on the journey. And it states [in the verse before us], a ‘t’ruah’¹⁰²A t’ruah is a succession of nine tremulous or quavering sounds. A t’kiah is a continuous plain sound. The sh’varim are broken disconnected sounds, but they are not as broken as those of the t’ruah. The three broken sounds of the sh’varim are equal [in length of time] to the nine quavering sounds of the t’ruah. they shall blow for their journeys, meaning that they should blow [this quavering alarm] for all their journeys, that is to say, they should blow a third t’ruah for the camps on the west side to set forth, and a fourth one for the camps on the north side to set out on the journey, for each standard journeyed by itself, as He explains: And the standard of the camp of the children of Ephraim set forward;¹⁰³Further, Verse 22. And the standard of the camp of the children of Dan set forward.¹⁰⁴Ibid., Verse 25. And thus it is taught in the Beraitha of the Work of the Tabernacle.¹⁰⁵Beraitha of M’lecheth Hamishkan, Chapter 13. But in the Sifre the Rabbis have taught:¹⁰⁶Sifre Beha’alothcha 73. “I might think that just as he blows for the camps in the east and the south to set forward [as Scripture clearly explains], so he is to blow for [those that were encamped in] the west and the north; Scripture therefore states [in the verse before us], a ‘t’ruah’ they shall blow for their journeys, that is, one blowing for the two [remaining standards]. And some Rabbis say that there were three [sounds, i.e., t’kiah, t’ruah, t’kiah]¹⁰²A t’ruah is a succession of nine tremulous or quavering sounds. A t’kiah is a continuous plain sound. The sh’varim are broken disconnected sounds, but they are not as broken as those of the t’ruah. The three broken sounds of the sh’varim are equal [in length of time] to the nine quavering sounds of the t’ruah. for [the camps in] each and every direction.” Thus far [the language of the Sifre], and such indeed is the plain meaning of Scripture, that they should blow [for the camps] in each direction, as I have explained.

יאספך Shall be thy rereward. Comp. מאסף rereward (Num. 10:25). And thy righteousness shall go, etc. Thus, there will be protection from all sides.

The way they camped. This is according to the view that they traveled in the shape of a box. The explanation of the term “gatherer for all of the camps” (Bamidbar 10:25), that is written concerning Don, means that if anyone from the tribes who had already traveled lost something, Don would return it to them. However, Rashi does not mean to say that the banner of the tribe of Don was the very last of all the banners, in accordance with the opinion that they traveled in the shape of a beam.

for...goes before you Two things at the end of this verse explain two things in its beginning, [viz.] For not with haste shall you go forth. What is the reason? For the Lord goes before you to lead you on the way, and one whose agent advances before him to lead him on the way his departure is not in haste. And not in the flurry of flight shall you go, for your rear guard is the God of Israel. He will follow you to guard you from any pursuer. Comp. (Num. 10:25) “And the division of the camp of Dan shall travel, the rear guard of all the camps.” Whoever goes after the camp is called מְאַסֵּף, the rear guard, because he waits for the stragglers and the stumblers. Similarly, Scripture states in Joshua (6: 13): “And the rear guard was going after the Ark.”