Daily Chumash Behalosecha Thursday: The travels of Bnei Yisrael

Chamishi

1. The travels of Bnei Yisrael:

• The date: On the 20^th day of the second month of the second year the cloud ascended from the Mishkan and the Jewish people traveled. The cloud rested in the Paran desert.
• The order of the travel: The first to travel was the camp of Yehuda, which included the tribes of Yissachar and Zevulun and their leaders. The Mishkan was then dismantled and the Gershon and Merari family carried the [tapestries and beams of the] Mishkan. The next camp to travel was the camp of Reuvein, which included the tribes of Shimon and Gad and their leaders. The Kehos family then traveled carrying the [vessels of the] Mikdash. The Mishkan was erected prior to their arrival. The next camp to travel was the camp of Ephraim, which included Menashe and Binyamin and their leaders. The final camp to travel was the camp of Dan, which included Asher and Naftali and their leaders.
• Yisro desires to leave: Moshe spoke to Chovav, his father in-law, and told him that they are traveling to the place that Hashem has promised them. Moshe asked Yisro to come along with them and he will be repaid with good. Yisro refused to go and said that he planned to return to his homeland. Moshe implored for him to remain with them and serve as an advisor as he has been until now.
• They traveled from the mountain of Hashem a journey of three days and the Aron of Hashem traveled with them to find them a resting place. The cloud of Hashem accompanied them during the day.