Beha’alotcha 5786

By Rabbi Margie Cella

We read this week of the departure of the nation from Mount Sinai, beginning their journey to Canaan. After camping at the foot of the mountain for two years while they constructed all the elements of the mishkan, including the holy ark for housing the tablets, before setting out on the journey, Moses transmitted God’s specific instructions for the formation and order in which the tribes were to march: six tribes preceded the ark, and six followed it, always keeping the ark in a protected place at the center. Each tribe had its designated location.

The tribe of Dan was delegated to come last; the phrase used to describe them [Numbers 10:25] is “me’aseh l’chol hamachanot,” translated in the biblical text as “the rear guard of all the divisions.” Chizkuni explains that if anyone from another tribe fell behind due to fatigue, the Danites would include them in their tribe so that they would not be left behind.

Rashi translates this phrase as, “The one who gathered in everything belonging to all the camps.” He explains that this tribe was at the back because they were “more numerous than all the other tribes,” thus they would find anything that had been lost by anyone in the tribes that preceded them, and return it to its rightful owner.

The Etz Chaim commentary explains that the tribe of Dan was “chosen for this role because, even though its members were weak in religious faith, … they were strong in their love for their fellow Israelites.” The text then sums up all of these ideas by saying, “There is a need in today’s community for people who expose their religious faith by caring for the left behind.”

Oseh Shalom, Maker of Peace, may we all strive to be like the people of Dan.