Saadia's Tafsir on Bamidbar 33 (Parashat Matot-Masei)

Bamidbar 33:1

אֵלֶּה מַסְעֵי בְנֵי-יִשְׂרָאֵל אֲשֶׁר יָצְאוּ מֵאֶרֶץ מִצְרַיִם--לְצִבְאֹתָם בְּיַד-מֹשֶׁה וְאַהֲרֹן

. .

And these are the stages of the sons of Israel when they went out from the land of Egypt, according to their hosts, by the hand of Moses and Aaron.

Bamidbar 33:2

וַיִּכְתֹּב מֹשֶׁה אֶת-מוֹצָאֵיהֶם לְמַסְעֵיהֶם--עַל-פִּי יְהוָה וְאֵלֶּה מַסְעֵיהֶם לְמוֹצָאֵיהֶם

. .

And Moses wrote down their going out, stage by stage, at the word of God. And these are their stages of their going out.

Bamidbar 33:3

וַיִּסְעוּ מֵרַעְמְסֵס בַּחֹדֶשׁ הָרִאשׁוֹן בַּחֲמִשָּׁה עָשָׂר יוֹם לַחֹדֶשׁ הָרִאשׁוֹן מִמָּחֳרַת הַפֶּסַח יָצְאוּ בְנֵי-יִשְׂרָאֵל בְּיָד רָמָה--לְעֵינֵי כָּל-מִצְרָיִם

. . . .

And they set out from Ein Shams (Raamses) in the first month, on the fifteenth day — that being the day after the Passover. The sons of Israel went out with a raised hand, in the presence of all the Egyptians,

Bamidbar 33:4

וּמִצְרַיִם מְקַבְּרִים אֵת אֲשֶׁר הִכָּה יְהוָה בָּהֶם--כָּל-בְּכוֹר וּבֵאלֹהֵיהֶם עָשָׂה יְהוָה שְׁפָטִים

. .

while they were burying those whom God had slain among them — every firstborn — and He had executed judgments upon their deities.

Bamidbar 33:5

וַיִּסְעוּ בְנֵי-יִשְׂרָאֵל מֵרַעְמְסֵס וַיַּחֲנוּ בְּסֻכֹּת

.

And the sons of Israel set out from Ein Shams and encamped at Sukkoth.

Bamidbar 33:6

וַיִּסְעוּ מִסֻּכֹּת וַיַּחֲנוּ בְאֵתָם אֲשֶׁר בִּקְצֵה הַמִּדְבָּר

. .

And they set out from Sukkoth and encamped at Etham, at the edge of the wilderness.

Bamidbar 33:7

וַיִּסְעוּ מֵאֵתָם וַיָּשָׁב עַל-פִּי הַחִירֹת אֲשֶׁר עַל-פְּנֵי בַּעַל צְפוֹן וַיַּחֲנוּ לִפְנֵי מִגְדֹּל

. . .

And they set out from Etham and turned back to the mouth of the Hiroth, which is before Baal-Zephon, and they encamped before Migdol.

Bamidbar 33:8

וַיִּסְעוּ מִפְּנֵי הַחִירֹת וַיַּעַבְרוּ בְתוֹךְ-הַיָּם הַמִּדְבָּרָה וַיֵּלְכוּ דֶּרֶךְ שְׁלֹשֶׁת יָמִים בְּמִדְבַּר אֵתָם וַיַּחֲנוּ בְּמָרָה

. . . .

And they set out from the mouth of the Hiroth and crossed through the midst of the sea into the wilderness; then they traveled a distance of three days in the wilderness of Etham, and encamped at the Bitterness.

Bamidbar 33:9

וַיִּסְעוּ מִמָּרָה וַיָּבֹאוּ אֵילִמָה וּבְאֵילִם שְׁתֵּים עֶשְׂרֵה עֵינֹת מַיִם וְשִׁבְעִים תְּמָרִים--וַיַּחֲנוּ-שָׁם

. . . .

And they set out from the Bitterness and came to Elim — and in it were twelve springs of water and seventy palm-trees — and they encamped there.

Bamidbar 33:10

וַיִּסְעוּ מֵאֵילִם וַיַּחֲנוּ עַל-יַם-סוּף

.

And they set out from Elim and encamped by the Sea of Qulzum (Red Sea).

Bamidbar 33:11

וַיִּסְעוּ מִיַּם-סוּף וַיַּחֲנוּ בְּמִדְבַּר-סִין

.

And they set out from the Sea of Qulzum and encamped in the wilderness of Sin.

Bamidbar 33:12

וַיִּסְעוּ מִמִּדְבַּר-סִין וַיַּחֲנוּ בְּדָפְקָה

.

And they set out from the wilderness of Sin and encamped at Dophkah.

Bamidbar 33:13

וַיִּסְעוּ מִדָּפְקָה וַיַּחֲנוּ בְּאָלוּשׁ

.

And they set out from Dophkah and encamped at Alush.

Bamidbar 33:14

וַיִּסְעוּ מֵאָלוּשׁ וַיַּחֲנוּ בִּרְפִידִם וְלֹא-הָיָה שָׁם מַיִם לָעָם לִשְׁתּוֹת

. . .

And they set out from Alush and encamped at Rephidim; and there was no water there for the people to drink.

Bamidbar 33:15

וַיִּסְעוּ מֵרְפִידִם וַיַּחֲנוּ בְּמִדְבַּר סִינָי

.

And they set out from Rephidim and encamped in the wilderness of Sinai.

Bamidbar 33:16

וַיִּסְעוּ מִמִּדְבַּר סִינָי וַיַּחֲנוּ בְּקִבְרֹת הַתַּאֲוָה

.

And they set out from the wilderness of Sinai and encamped at the Graves of the Desirous.

Bamidbar 33:17

וַיִּסְעוּ מִקִּבְרֹת הַתַּאֲוָה וַיַּחֲנוּ בַּחֲצֵרֹת

.

And they set out from the Graves of the Desirous and encamped at Hazeroth.

Bamidbar 33:18

וַיִּסְעוּ מֵחֲצֵרֹת וַיַּחֲנוּ בְּרִתְמָה

.

And they set out from Hazeroth and encamped at Rithmah.

Bamidbar 33:19

וַיִּסְעוּ מֵרִתְמָה וַיַּחֲנוּ בְּרִמֹּן פָּרֶץ

.

And they set out from Rithmah and encamped at Rimmon-Perez.

Bamidbar 33:20

וַיִּסְעוּ מֵרִמֹּן פָּרֶץ וַיַּחֲנוּ בְּלִבְנָה

.

And they set out from Rimmon-Perez and encamped at Libnah.

Bamidbar 33:21

וַיִּסְעוּ מִלִּבְנָה וַיַּחֲנוּ בְּרִסָּה

.

And they set out from Libnah and encamped at Rissah.

Bamidbar 33:22

וַיִּסְעוּ מֵרִסָּה וַיַּחֲנוּ בִּקְהֵלָתָה

.

And they set out from Rissah and encamped at Kehelath.

Bamidbar 33:23

וַיִּסְעוּ מִקְּהֵלָתָה וַיַּחֲנוּ בְּהַר-שָׁפֶר

.

And they set out from Kehelath and encamped at Mount Shepher.

Bamidbar 33:24

וַיִּסְעוּ מֵהַר-שָׁפֶר וַיַּחֲנוּ בַּחֲרָדָה

.

And they set out from Mount Shepher and encamped at Haradah.

Bamidbar 33:25

וַיִּסְעוּ מֵחֲרָדָה וַיַּחֲנוּ בְּמַקְהֵלֹת

.

And they set out from Haradah and encamped at Makheloth.

Bamidbar 33:26

וַיִּסְעוּ מִמַּקְהֵלֹת וַיַּחֲנוּ בְּתָחַת

.

And they set out from Makheloth and encamped at Tahath.

Bamidbar 33:27

וַיִּסְעוּ מִתָּחַת וַיַּחֲנוּ בְּתָרַח

.

And they set out from Tahath and encamped at Terah.

Bamidbar 33:28

וַיִּסְעוּ מִתָּרַח וַיַּחֲנוּ בְּמִתְקָה

.

And they set out from Terah and encamped at Mithkah.

Bamidbar 33:29

וַיִּסְעוּ מִמִּתְקָה וַיַּחֲנוּ בְּחַשְׁמֹנָה

.

And they set out from Mithkah and encamped at Hashmonah.

Bamidbar 33:30

וַיִּסְעוּ מֵחַשְׁמֹנָה וַיַּחֲנוּ בְּמֹסֵרוֹת

.

And they set out from Hashmonah and encamped at Moseroth.

Bamidbar 33:31

וַיִּסְעוּ מִמֹּסֵרוֹת וַיַּחֲנוּ בִּבְנֵי יַעֲקָן

.

And they set out from Moseroth and encamped at Bene-Yaakan.

Bamidbar 33:32

וַיִּסְעוּ מִבְּנֵי יַעֲקָן וַיַּחֲנוּ בְּחֹר הַגִּדְגָּד

.

And they set out from Bene-Yaakan and encamped at Hor-Haggidgad.

Bamidbar 33:33

וַיִּסְעוּ מֵחֹר הַגִּדְגָּד וַיַּחֲנוּ בְּיָטְבָתָה

.

And they set out from Hor-Haggidgad and encamped at Yotbathah.

Bamidbar 33:34

וַיִּסְעוּ מִיָּטְבָתָה וַיַּחֲנוּ בְּעַבְרֹנָה

.

And they set out from Yotbathah and encamped at Abronah.

Bamidbar 33:35

וַיִּסְעוּ מֵעַבְרֹנָה וַיַּחֲנוּ בְּעֶצְיֹן גָּבֶר

.

And they set out from Abronah and encamped at Ezion-Gaber.

Bamidbar 33:36

וַיִּסְעוּ מֵעֶצְיֹן גָּבֶר וַיַּחֲנוּ בְמִדְבַּר-צִן הִוא קָדֵשׁ

.

And they set out from Ezion-Gaber and encamped in the wilderness of Zin — that is Reqem.

Bamidbar 33:37

וַיִּסְעוּ מִקָּדֵשׁ וַיַּחֲנוּ בְּהֹר הָהָר בִּקְצֵה אֶרֶץ אֱדוֹם

. .

And they set out from Reqem and encamped at Mount Hor, at the edge of the land of Edom.

Bamidbar 33:38

וַיַּעַל אַהֲרֹן הַכֹּהֵן אֶל-הֹר הָהָר עַל-פִּי יְהוָה--וַיָּמָת שָׁם בִּשְׁנַת הָאַרְבָּעִים לְצֵאת בְּנֵי-יִשְׂרָאֵל מֵאֶרֶץ מִצְרַיִם בַּחֹדֶשׁ הַחֲמִישִׁי בְּאֶחָד לַחֹדֶשׁ

. . . .

And Aaron the imām ascended to Mount Hor, and died there at the command of God, in the fortieth year of the going out of the sons of Israel from the land of Egypt, on the first day of the fifth month.

Bamidbar 33:39

וְאַהֲרֹן בֶּן-שָׁלֹשׁ וְעֶשְׂרִים וּמְאַת שָׁנָה בְּמֹתוֹ בְּהֹר הָהָר

. .

And Aaron was a hundred and twenty-three years old when he died there.

Bamidbar 33:40

וַיִּשְׁמַע הַכְּנַעֲנִי מֶלֶךְ עֲרָד וְהוּא-יֹשֵׁב בַּנֶּגֶב בְּאֶרֶץ כְּנָעַן--בְּבֹא בְּנֵי יִשְׂרָאֵל

.

Then the Canaanite, the king of Arad — who was dwelling in the south in the land of Canaan — heard of the coming of the sons of Israel.

Bamidbar 33:41

וַיִּסְעוּ מֵהֹר הָהָר וַיַּחֲנוּ בְּצַלְמֹנָה

.

Then they set out from Mount Hor and encamped at Zalmonah.

Bamidbar 33:42

וַיִּסְעוּ מִצַּלְמֹנָה וַיַּחֲנוּ בְּפוּנֹן

.

And they set out from Zalmonah and encamped at Punon.

Bamidbar 33:43

וַיִּסְעוּ מִפּוּנֹן וַיַּחֲנוּ בְּאֹבֹת

.

And they set out from Punon and encamped at Oboth.

Bamidbar 33:44

וַיִּסְעוּ מֵאֹבֹת וַיַּחֲנוּ בְּעִיֵּי הָעֲבָרִים בִּגְבוּל מוֹאָב

. .

And they set out from Oboth and encamped at Iye ha-Maʿaz, on the border of Moab.

Bamidbar 33:45

וַיִּסְעוּ מֵעִיִּים וַיַּחֲנוּ בְּדִיבֹן גָּד

.

And they set out from Iye ha-Maʿaz and encamped at Dibon-Gad.

Bamidbar 33:46

וַיִּסְעוּ מִדִּיבֹן גָּד וַיַּחֲנוּ בְּעַלְמֹן דִּבְלָתָיְמָה

.

And they set out from Dibon-Gad and encamped at Almon-Diblathaimah.

Bamidbar 33:47

וַיִּסְעוּ מֵעַלְמֹן דִּבְלָתָיְמָה וַיַּחֲנוּ בְּהָרֵי הָעֲבָרִים לִפְנֵי נְבוֹ

. .

And they set out from Almon-Diblathaimah and encamped at the mountains of the Hebrews, before Nebo.

Bamidbar 33:48

וַיִּסְעוּ מֵהָרֵי הָעֲבָרִים וַיַּחֲנוּ בְּעַרְבֹת מוֹאָב עַל יַרְדֵּן יְרֵחוֹ

. .

And they set out from the mountains of the Hebrews and encamped in the open country of Moab, by the Jordan of Jericho.

Bamidbar 33:49

וַיַּחֲנוּ עַל-הַיַּרְדֵּן מִבֵּית הַיְשִׁמֹת עַד אָבֵל הַשִּׁטִּים בְּעַרְבֹת מוֹאָב

. .

And they encamped by the Jordan, from Beth-Jeshimoth to the meadow of the Acacias — that being in the open country of Moab.

Bamidbar 33:50

וַיְדַבֵּר יְהוָה אֶל-מֹשֶׁה בְּעַרְבֹת מוֹאָב עַל-יַרְדֵּן יְרֵחוֹ לֵאמֹר

.

And God spoke to Moses in the open country of Moab, by the Jordan of Jericho directly.

Bamidbar 33:51

דַּבֵּר אֶל-בְּנֵי יִשְׂרָאֵל וְאָמַרְתָּ אֲלֵהֶם כִּי אַתֶּם עֹבְרִים אֶת-הַיַּרְדֵּן אֶל-אֶרֶץ כְּנָעַן

.

Command the sons of Israel and say to them: You are crossing the Jordan into the land of Canaan.

Bamidbar 33:52

וְהוֹרַשְׁתֶּם אֶת-כָּל-יֹשְׁבֵי הָאָרֶץ מִפְּנֵיכֶם וְאִבַּדְתֶּם אֵת כָּל-מַשְׂכִּיֹּתָם וְאֵת כָּל-צַלְמֵי מַסֵּכֹתָם תְּאַבֵּדוּ וְאֵת כָּל-בָּמוֹתָם תַּשְׁמִידוּ

. . .

And drive out all the inhabitants of the land from before you, and destroy all their ornaments and their graven idols; and their temples of worship you shall demolish.

Bamidbar 33:53

וְהוֹרַשְׁתֶּם אֶת-הָאָרֶץ וִישַׁבְתֶּם-בָּהּ כִּי לָכֶם נָתַתִּי אֶת-הָאָרֶץ לָרֶשֶׁת אֹתָהּ

.

And when you have driven them out, settle the land — for I have given it to you that you may possess it.

Bamidbar 33:54

וְהִתְנַחַלְתֶּם אֶת-הָאָרֶץ בְּגוֹרָל לְמִשְׁפְּחֹתֵיכֶם לָרַב תַּרְבּוּ אֶת-נַחֲלָתוֹ וְלַמְעַט תַּמְעִיט אֶת-נַחֲלָתוֹ--אֶל אֲשֶׁר-יֵצֵא לוֹ שָׁמָּה הַגּוֹרָל לוֹ יִהְיֶה לְמַטּוֹת אֲבֹתֵיכֶם תִּתְנֶחָלוּ

. . .

And you shall apportion it by equal shares among your clans: for the numerous enlarge his portion, and for the few reduce it. To whomever his share falls, in whatever place it may be, that shall be his; according to the tribes of your fathers you shall apportion it.

Bamidbar 33:55

וְאִם-לֹא תוֹרִישׁוּ אֶת-יֹשְׁבֵי הָאָרֶץ מִפְּנֵיכֶם--וְהָיָה אֲשֶׁר תּוֹתִירוּ מֵהֶם לְשִׂכִּים בְּעֵינֵיכֶם וְלִצְנִינִם בְּצִדֵּיכֶם וְצָרְרוּ אֶתְכֶם--עַל-הָאָרֶץ אֲשֶׁר אַתֶּם יֹשְׁבִים בָּהּ

. . . . .

But if you do not drive out the inhabitants of the land from before you, then whatever you leave of them shall become like fine needles in your eyes and like thick thorns in your sides, and they shall press hard upon you in the land in which you are settled.

Bamidbar 33:56

וְהָיָה כַּאֲשֶׁר דִּמִּיתִי לַעֲשׂוֹת לָהֶם--אֶעֱשֶׂה לָכֶם

.

And it shall be: just as I intended to do to them, so shall I do to you.