The Restless Wayfarers | Fear of Reality

In this week’s reading a fundamental change occurs in the direction of the wandering of the Israelites in the wilderness. Up to the beginning of Numbers 20, the Torah tells of events that occurred in the first two years after the exodus from Egypt, whereas from there on it describes what happened in the fortieth year, after the Israelites were commanded to set off towards the land of Canaan (Num. 20:22), saying: “The Israelites arrived in a body at the wilderness of Zin on the first new moon, and the people stayed at Kadesh. Miriam died there and was buried there” (Num. 20:1). From what follows, it becomes clear that the reference was to the first month of the fortieth year.