Moshe spoke to the heads of the tribes of the Binei Yisroel, saying: This is the thing that Hashem has commanded: [Bamidbor 30:2]
Moshe Rabbeinu said to the Bnei Yisroel concerning the Roshei Hamatos [Heads of the Tribes]. That Yidden should know how to treasure the words of their leaders. For what the leaders say that is the words of Hashem’s command. The words of the Scholars are indeed the words of the Torah. We must heed to their words, as we heed to the words of Hashem.
• Toras Moshe - Der Torah Kvall
...he shall not desecrate his word; according to whatever comes from his mouth he shall do. [Bamidbor 30:3]
He who watches his words that not one word of his is weakened or goes to waste. By such a person it is Kichol hayotzei mipiv yaseh, Hashem Yisborach does, and fulfills, as it goes out of his mouth. His Brochos [Blessings] are fulfilled, and his words are commands that stand. As the Possuk says Vatigzar omer vayokem lecho [I’yuv 22:28]. A Tzadik commands, and Hashem fulfills.
• Di Torah Kvall - Sefer Avodas Yisroel
The Chidushei Harim ZY”A, expounds on this Possuk, “Kichol Ha’Yotzey mipiv yaseh”, with the same Hislahavus - enthusiasm, that he says - he obligates himself, with that same Hislahavus he should fulfill his commitment.
• Mipi Hashmu’oh
And Elozor the Cohen said to the men of war which went to the battle, this is the ordinance of the Torah which Hashem commanded Moshe. {31:21}
After Bnei Yisroel returned from the war with Midyon with the spoils, Moshe taught them the Halochos of Hagolas Keilim, Kashering the utensils through boiling water and fire. The Parsha begins with the words Zos Chukas HaTorah. What is so special about the Halochos of Hagoloh that the Torah uses the strong words Chukas HaTorah? Rav Moshe Feinstein ZY”A answers that from the ability to make treif utensils kosher by boiling them we learn that a person who sullies his Neshomoh with Aveiros can also Kasher it and cleanse it as if he never sinned. This is a pillar of the Torah, as it teaches people never to give up no matter how far they have gone away from the Torah. Moreover, we see that Keilim used in fire need to be Kashered with fire, Libun. And Keilim used in boiling water become Kosher with boiling water. This teaches us that we must do Teshuva the same way we did the Aveiroh. If a person sinned with the burning desire of Ta'avoh, so too must be the Teshuva. And if the Ta’avoh was less passionate, then the Teshuva can be on the same scale.
These are the journeys of the Klall Yisroel, which went forth out of the land of Mitzrayim {Egypt} with their armies under the hand of Moshe and Aaron. {33:1}
In the Loshon Kodesh names of all of the journeys, the letter “Zayin” does not appear, which hints that they did not travel on Shabbos (ז=7, the seventh day). It also indicates that they did not take weapons - כלי זין - on their journeys.
• Baal Haturim
The Chozeh of Lublin ZY”A adds to explain the Possuk "Vichamushim - armed" - Rashi in the beginning of Parshas Beshalach, If so, why did they not make war with the Mitzriyim? To which He answers that it says "Vayitzoku – They called out to Hashem – Tefilloh as we see by Yakov Avienu - Bicharby U'Bikashty to which Targum Onkelos translates – Bitzlusy U'Bi'usy - With my Tefillos and Request from Hashem. So too, did Klall Yisroel wage war, with Tefilloh. The Chasam Sofer explains Rashi, that it was The Atzmos Yosef - The Holy Bones of Yosef Hatzadik that Moshe Rabbeinu brought up with Him from Mitzrayim to bury in Eretz Yisroel {Shchem} that gave Klall Yisroel the status of "Armed". As we see too in Hallel "Hayom Roh Vayonos - The sea saw, and it ran. The Meforshim say, it saw The Aron of Yosef. {Regarding Bilom see Targum Yonoson, Bamidbor 31:8}
The first letters of these four words, foresee the four future exiles of Klall Yisroel, Edom, Modai, Bovel, Yovon. א’דום מ’די ב’בל י’ון
• Der Torah Kvall - Sefer Nachal Kidumim
And Moshe wrote their starting places according to their journeys by the commandment of Hashem; and these are their journeys according to their starting places. {33:2}
Regarding the last half of the Possuk, it reads in the opposite order: ואלה מסעיהם למוצאיהם - “These are their journeys according to their going forth”. The reason for this is that the Klall Yisroel were intent on their freedom from Shiebud Mitzrayim. Therefore, they counted how far they had already gone from Mitzrayim - מסעיהם. Moshe, though, was concerned about how far they still had to go until they reached the Eretz Yisroel, therefore he gave precedence to מוצאיהם.
• The Dubner Maggid
And they departed from Kivross Hatavoh and camped in Chatzeiros. {33:17}
The only way to overcome passion and lust, תאוה, is to remember that we are encamped in - תורצח courtyards, an antechamber to the World-to-Come and in which we shall not reside for long.
• Reb Yitzchok of Vorkeh ZY”A
What is the reason that by the Masoh’os [traveling’s], it does not mention the giving of the Torah at Har Sinai? It seems to say, that one must consider every day as the Torah was given now. Not as an old object that was given long ago at Har Sinai. Rather “Every day it shall be in your eyes as new.” בכל עת יהיו כחדשים] פס"ז ואתחנן ו’ ו’[
• Sefer Dorash Moshe - Rav Moshe Feinstein ZY”A
He, (Rav Shloima Karliner ZY”A) said, He was not able to understand how a Yid eats, until he delved into the forty two Masoh’os (traveling of Klall Yisroel) and then he understood. And after that when a guest came to him, he would already squeeze the food into the guest’s mouth with his holy hands.
• Sefer Birkas Aharon
The greatest Yetzer Hora [evil inclination] is, to forget that we are a Ben Melech - Son of Hashem.
• Rav Shloima Karliner ZY”A
