They traveled from Rephidim and came to the Wilderness of Sinai and camped in the wilderness; Israel camped there in front of the mountain.
The Ohr Hachaim asks why the Torah repeats this arrival of theirs to Midbar Sinai. Another question is, why the Torah finds it necessary to tell us that they camped there. Where else would they camp?
The Ohr Hachaim explains that there are three things necessary for a person to accept Torah. Only if we work on these three issues can we accept Torah and Hashem was amenable to giving it to us.
1. Strength and Dedication
The first thing is that a person must strengthen and push himself beyond his perceived limits. Laziness is the fungus that kills off any ability to appreciate Torah. Whenever Hashem mentions the Torah, it is juxtaposed with an expression of strengthening and awakening. The Torah tells us זֹׂאת הַתוֹרָּה אָּדָּם כִּי יָּמוּת בְאֹׂהֶל, and Chazal tell us that this teaches us that a person must apply himself to learning with such dedication that he kills himself for it. Chaal also use these expressions, calling learning Torah by the name of עסק התורה – occupying oneself with Torah. Learning Torah requires total dedication and immersion.
This is the explanation of the possuk וּעְס יַו מֵׁרְ פִּידִּים – and they traveled from Rephidim. Rephidim is based on the word רפו – weakened. Klal Yisroel removed themselves from their weakened state, and strengthened themselves. The possuk does not need to tell us where they traveled from, we knew that from previous pessukim. We learn from here that they uprooted the evils of laziness and weakness from their hearts and psyches, and became energetic and ready to work hard. They were ready for the difficult task of accepting the Torah.
2. Humility
The second issue is that a person cannot appreciate and understand Torah unless he acts with humility. The Torah is like water, which flows to the lowest place.
For this, the Torah writes וַיַחֲנוּ בַמִּדְבָּר – and they encamped at the desert. The desert is an expression of humility, a desert produces nothing and is stepped on by all. A person must allow the world to step on him, with no sense of self as regards others, in order to appreciate Torah.
3. Unity and Companionship
The third thing a person needs to connect to Torah is the company of other Torah seekers. A person who studies alone is destined to make mistakes and confuse matters.
For this, the Torah writes רָּהָּה דֶגֶנ לֵׁאָּרְשִּי םָּש ןַח יַו – and Yisroel encamped there, adjacent to the mountain. Klal Yisroel encamped as one, implying that they were together and not alone.
The lesson for learning Torah is to develop these three talents – energy and strength, humility, and company.
