Then set forward the standard of the camp of the children of Dan, the rear guard of all the camps (Num. 10:25)
Rabbi Michel of Zhlotzov used to begin his prayers very late in the day. He offered an explanation:
When the Jewish people traveled through the desert the tribe of Dan was last, behind all the others. Their job was to pick up and return all the lost items that their brethren had dropped along the way. On the spiritual level, their function was to elevate all the prayers that had been uttered without the proper intentions. I am just following their example.
... Then shall the princes assemble themselves to you (Num. 10:4)
If genuine Jewish unity is the goal, "then shall the princes assemble themselves" - there must first be true unity among our leaders, who must cease infighting and provide a proper example for others. Only then can they demand unity from the rest of the people. (Ta'amei HaMinhagim - Torat Chaim)
For behold, I will bring My servant Tzemach (Branch) (haftorah, Zech. 3:8)
Why is Moshiach referred to by this name? To emphasize that even though it may seem as if the branches of the royal House of David have been cut off, the "root" still exists, and when the proper time arrives, Moshiach, a descendent of King David, will be revealed. In the same way that a root can lie dormant and concealed for many years, yet germinate and develop into an entire tree under the right conditions, so too will Moshiach arise to redeem the Jewish people when G-d determines the right time has come. (Malbim)
For G-d has spoken good upon Israel (Num. 10:29)
The words "spoken good" occur only twice in our Scriptures, here and in Megilat Esther, where we find the phrase "spoken good for the king." According to our commentators this is an allusion to G-d: when a person speaks well of his fellow Jew, it is considered as if he spoke well of the Master of the world. (The Rebbe Rashab)
