Parashat Be'ha'a'lot'cha, Numbers 8:1-12:16

This week’s portion, Be’ha’a’lot’cha – literally, “when you raise” (here in the unusual use of “when you raise the candles against the Menorah”) – provides us with a rare opportunity.  Ever wondered what it is like to wonder the desert for forty years? Welcome to this portion of the week. From “when they went” to “what they ate” – it is all there. Accordingly, this week’s post would be a bit different: instead of commenting on two points appearing in the text, we’ll have a quick Q&A on life in the desert.  For the readers who are interested in a less-religious commentary, I also offer a one at the margin of each answer.

Life in the Desert: Frequently Asked Questions

Q: Did they actually travel every day?

A: Not always, but generally yes.  The big principle, of course was that: “According to God the People of Israel would go, and according to God they shall make camp.” (Numbers 9:18; and again, 9:23).  At times, the divine cloud rested over camp several days, and then they would remain in that place.  But generally speaking, that cloud resided over the Mishkan in the evening, and was lifted in the morning – signaling that it would be ok to travel during the day. In some cases, they Israelites travel at night time as well. At times they walked three days straight.

Non Religious Explanation: Life in the desert is tough.  Different terrain, changing weather, and continuing issues with this enormously large traveling group (over 600,000 grown up men) require flexibility in moving arrangement. A good pattern is to move every day, and to rest during the night, but that pattern has to yield to the changing circumstances.

Q: Was there a special order of traveling?

A: Yes. First in the group was the tribe of Judah, with their military commander (Nachshon – a name and title that, until today, signals (in Hebrew) “he who dares to stand in front” of the army, and to run into battle.) Then two other tribes, with their commanders. Then the Mishkan itself. Then the tribes of Re’uven, Shimon, and Gad. Then, separately from the Mishkan, the Kahaties – those in charge of actually erecting and dismantling the Mishkan each time the People made camp.  Then the other tribes. And then, at the very end – as sweep – the tribe of Dan and its commander.

NRE: Clearly, considerations of safety and utility are well utilized here. The notion that the strongest part of the army is in the front has been a leading strategy for the Israelis since those days and until today. The strategic placement of the Mishkan – at the top of the group, but not the very top, as well as the separation between the Mishkan and its workers, all guarantee a smooth operation and quick set-up and breakdown. Great work by Moshe here.

 Q: What did they eat?

A: Despite the widely-spread myth of “Manna from Heaven,” the Israelites complained at times about the narrow selection (nothing new here, either).  This week, their complaint is especially detailed (and visual, I may add): “[And the People] cried and said:  Who would provide us with meat? We all remember the sea-food that we have eaten in Egypt for free, and the squash, the water melons, the leek, the onions, and the garlic; and now our soles are dried – there is nothing but the Manna in our eyes.” (Numbers 11:5-6).  In response, occasionally, Moshe would provide some other culinary choices, such as meat. But that, in turn, would create some issue of its own – widespread food poisoning, etc. (See Numbers 11:33-34).  

NRE: Water and food supplies are easily the hardest part of this entire operation. The great thing about the Manna was its freshness – every day the people would only get enough for the next day (except for Shabbat, when they collected for the weekend in advance). Those who dared to collect more were severely punished – sometimes by God, sometimes by a severe food poisoning. Every deviation from this strict diet had its consequences, but Moshe had to balance between his needs and the People’s complaints – so he provided them meat (and other options) every now and again, only to prove them, once again, that Manna is really from Heaven.

Q: Was Moshe the only person in charge?

A: We know, from many portions ago (Yitro, Exodus 18:18), that Moshe could not handle his judicial power obligations all on his own, so his father-in-law provided him with a structured legal system based on himself as the sole Justice of the Supreme Court (see there for details). But today, we learn that his executive powers, too, were hard to handle with a group of that size and for that duration. After pleading with God (a wonderful one, btw – check out Numbers 11:12), Moshe receives assistance in the form of 70 elderly wise men, who help him in carrying the load. Later, this number would form the basis for the famous Sanhedrin, a joint legislative-executive body of the small Jewish community in Israel. (Note that despite his hardships in the Article II and III issues – executive and judiciary departments – Moshe leaves to God (and himself, by delegation) the sole authority on legislation.)

NRE: Clearly, the model of a single leader as the only legislator, executive, and judge is unattainable; but it is interesting to note that the request for help comes from Moshe himself – not from the people (who doesn’t seem to mind) or from God (who is apparently content with channeling all three branches to one person). Empirically speaking, it seems, the separation of powers is not only a wise poly-sci choice (just ask Motesquieu and then the Founding Fathers, who read him closely), but also a necessary fact of life.

Q: What about the Occasional Catastrophe?

A: This week’s portion alone tells us the story of three emergencies/mini-catastrophes: First, a fire consumes part of the camp’s edge (Num. 11:1-3). Second, as we have seen earlier, many people die due food poisoning, following the People’s demand for meat (Num. 11:33-34). And finally, a mysterious skin disease afflicts Miriam, Moshe’s sister, perhaps in response to a bizarre derogatory comment she made against Moshe’s black-skinned wife. (Num. 12:1, 10)  All that are issues Moshe had to contend with on a daily basis, with the help of God, of course.

NRE: I believe these incidents, who were reported and then included in the text forever, are only a tip of the iceberg of what Moshe had to deal with on a daily basis. With no medical facilities (or much knowledge, for that matter), no sanitation, harsh conditions, and a people who was never used to long-term camping, those occasional catastrophes were probably a part of the people’s daily routine.  The fact that Moshe successfully brought them all to the Land of Israel is a testament to his fantastic leadership skills – not only from the religious perspective, but also – and perhaps mainly – from the pragmatic, day-to-day leadership perspective. Not for naught does this portion concludes with the following compliment:  “And the person Moshe is very humble – more than any other person on earth.” Indeed, we had a very humble leader then. I wish we had more of those today.

Shabbat Shalom.