פּירוש אויף במדבר 33:40

“The Canaanite heard” [33:40]. This means, the Canaanite heard that Aaron died in the month of Ab and he came to wage war against Israel.⁸Rashi, Numbers, 33:40.

וישמע הכנעני AND THE CANAANITE HEARD This is stated here to tell you that Aaron’s death was indeed the news he heard — that the clouds of glory that until now had protected Israel had departed, and he therefore believed that liberty was now given to wage war against Israel. It is on this account that this is again recorded here (see Rashi on Numbers 21:1) (Rosh Hashanah 3a).

וישמע הכנעני, this too was a credit for them in that this time they did not say: “let us appoint a new leader and return to Egypt.” (Compare Numbers 14,4 when they did) This time they were not afraid of facing war and battle.