VOLUME 106 NUMBER 4
Sivan 20, 5783
June 9, 2023
PARSHAS BEHA’ALOSCHA
Candlelighting Time 8:09 PM
Moshe was commanded to make two trumpets to herald that the nation was traveling to another location. Ohr HaChaim questions that since the Clouds of Glory would begin to ascend that was a sign that the camp was moving, why was it necessary to blow the trumpets to announce the event? Sforno explains that at this time the people were poised to enter into the Land of Israel and there would be a permanent setup of the nation with Hashem as their King. When the king travels, of course it is with much fanfare and pomp. Hence, the trumpets were used to proclaim this noteworthy occasion. Unfortunately, that plan was short-lived after the debacle of the spies marred that vision.
K’sav V’Kabalah has a fascinating interpretation of the word ‘trumpet.’ It is rooted in the concept to combine or unite. One of the reasons for the trumpets was to announce a gathering of the people and, of course, when the heads of the nation would assemble the blasts from these instruments would announce their meeting. Therefore, the trumpets actually encouraged unity amongst the people. This idea is brought out in much more depth by the Panim Yafos. He cites the Midrash that the trumpets were blown at first to alert the tribes under Yehuda’s pennant that it was time to travel. However, after the first shift of the camp mobilized, then two of the Levite tribes began to dismantle the Mishkan and prepare it for its new encampment. After that division, the next group to travel was under the guidance of Reuven. In order to signal them that it was time to mobilize again the trumpets blasted their sounds. After they moved on, then the Levite family of K’has assembled by the Mishkan and began to gather the remaining items of the Mishkan to carry them to the next campsite. After that, the last two encampments of the nation were informed that it was their turn to begin the trek to the next area. At this juncture, one blast of the trumpets was sufficient for the last two parts of the camp. Clearly, the trumpets were used to create an orderly and unified traveling experience for the entire nation forming a tight and steady alliance between all parts of the people. Perhaps we can associate this back to the original comment by Sforno that the trumpets served as a heralding to lead us into Israel where we would merit the building of the Beis Hamikdash. Would we have maintained our majestic relationship with Hashem, then His kingdom would have been established with all its regal and imperial structure and trappings!
Panim Yafos adds that there were 42 treks made in the desert. This number corresponds to the 42 ascensions that the nation merited in their travels in the desert. Perhaps we may suggest that those 42 elevations that occurred in the desert served to draw them closer to Hashem as they grew and developed in observance of the Torah. Therefore, the words of Sforno actually contain the notion that Hashem’s kingdom was strengthened with the blasts of the trumpets as they coalesced each major part of the nation with its thousands of sub-categories, the people. And perhaps that is the message that we can derive from the trumpets, if we listen carefully enough we can also ‘hear’ our calling to unite and serve Hashem with friendship and camaraderie.
A BYTE FOR SHABBOS
Whenever we find revelation of the Divine Presence, it must be guarded and maintained appropriately. Hence, there was a mitzvah for the Levites to patrol and maintain security around the Beis Hamikdash.
S’FAS EMES
GOOD SHABBOS
