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 to discuss a fascinating topic:
What was it really like to travel in the desert for forty years?
Welcome to this week’s portion. Everything you want to know is
in here - from “when they went” to “what they ate” and much more. Accordingly, instead
of using my regular method of two comments on the portion, I resort to the more
interesting format of an imaginary Q&A between a reader and the story
teller. For readers who are interested in a less-religious commentary, I also
offer one at the end of each answer.
Life in the Desert: Frequently Asked Questions
Q: Did they actually travel every day?
A: No, the traveling was not performed on a daily basis. The
organizing principle, of course was the following: “According to God the People
of Israel would go, and according to God they shall make camp.” (Numbers 9:18;
and again, 9:23). Accordingly, they first parked, for nearly a full year, near
Mt. Sinai. (Num. 10:11). After that, they followed the divine cloud: whenever
it rested over Ohel Mo’ed, the holy tent in which the Mishkan resides, they
rested; and whenever it lifted, they traveled. At times, the cloud rested for
days, even “many days,” while at other times it rested for shorter periods
(Id., 9:17-20). In other times, the travel was done daily as the “cloud [rested]
from evening until the morning, and was lifted during the day, and then they
traveled.” (Id., 9:21). In some cases, however, the Israelites traveled at
night as well. In other cases, they walked for 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 arrangements. A good
pattern is to move every day, and to rest during the night, but that pattern
has to yield to the various needs and objective requirements. Hence the
frequent variations.
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” – usually in the military
context, such the he or she is ready to run first to battle, even in the face
of enemy fire). Then two other tribes (Yissaschar and Zvuloun), with their
commanders. Then the Mishkan - always in
front, but never exposed. 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. (Num. 10:11-28)
NRE: Clearly, considerations of safety and utility
played an important role in devising the correct order of travel. Thus, back
then (much like today), the strongest part of the army was always in the lead;
this has been a winning 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. Another great
example of Moshe’s superior organizational skills at work.
Q: What did they eat?
A: Despite the widely-spread myth about the plentiful “Manna
from Heaven” and how well it was received, the Israelites never hesitated to
complain about the narrow selection and its uniformed taste (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 well
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 front of 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 issues of its own – widespread food poisoning, for example, or other
issues. (See Numbers 11:33-34).
NRE: Constant (purified) water and food supplies are
by far the hardest part of the entire exodus 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 entire 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 limited
resources and the People’s complaints – so he provided them meat (and other
options) every now and again, only to prove them, once again, that the Manna is
really the only thing to come straight 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. Thus, his father-in-law provided him with an advice to devise a
well-structured legal system based on himself as the entire Supreme Court and
other adequate people (see the post there) as judges below him. But today, we
learn that his executive powers, too, were hard to handle over a group
of such size, and for that long a duration. After pleading with God (See Num.
11:12 for a wonderful text: “Did I conceive this entire People?”), Moshe
receives assistance in the form of 70 elderly wise men who help him in carrying
his executive mission. 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 branches – Moshe leaves to God (and himself, by
delegation) the sole authority of 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 don’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 (Num.
11:1-3); second, as we noted earlier, a food poisoning leaves several
casualties behind (Num. 11:33-34); and finally, a mysterious skin condition
afflicts Miriam, Moshe’s sister, perhaps in response to a bizarre derogatory
comment she made in relation to her sister-in-law, Moshe’s black-skinned wife.
(Num. 12:1, 10) All these – and naturally,
many others – are issues Moshe had to contend with on a daily basis, with the
help of God, of course.
NRE: I believe these incidents, deliberately reported
and included in the text forever, are only the tip of the iceberg in terms 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 huge
group of people who were never used to long-term camping, those occasional
catastrophes were probably part and parcel of the 40-year desert expedition.
The fact that Moshe successfully brought all of them to the Promised Land is a
true testament to his fantastic leadership skills – not only from the religious
perspective, but also – and perhaps primarily – 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 some more like him today as well.
Shabbat Shalom.
Doron
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