Masaot--The journeys of the Israelites
(1) These were the marches of the Israelites who started out from the land of Egypt, troop by troop, in the charge of Moses and Aaron.
(3) They set out from Rameses in the first month, on the fifteenth day of the first month. It was on the morrow of the passover offering that the Israelites started out defiantly, in plain view of all the Egyptians.
(5) The Israelites set out from Rameses and encamped at Succoth. (6) They set out from Succoth and encamped at Etham, which is on the edge of the wilderness. (7) They set out from Etham and turned about toward Pi-hahiroth, which faces Baal-zephon, and they encamped before Migdol. (8) They set out from Pene-hahiroth and passed through the sea into the wilderness; and they made a three-days’ journey in the wilderness of Etham and encamped at Marah. (9) They set out from Marah and came to Elim. There were twelve springs in Elim and seventy palm trees, so they encamped there. (10) They set out from Elim and encamped by the Sea of Reeds. (11) They set out from the Sea of Reeds and encamped in the wilderness of Sin. (12) They set out from the wilderness of Sin and encamped at Dophkah. (13) They set out from Dophkah and encamped at Alush. (14) They set out from Alush and encamped at Rephidim; it was there that the people had no water to drink. (15) They set out from Rephidim and encamped in the wilderness of Sinai. (16) They set out from the wilderness of Sinai and encamped at Kibroth-hattaavah. (17) They set out from Kibroth-hattaavah and encamped at Hazeroth. (18) They set out from Hazeroth and encamped at Rithmah. (19) They set out from Rithmah and encamped at Rimmon-perez. (20) (36) They set out from Ezion-geber and encamped in the wilderness of Zin, that is, Kadesh. (37) They set out from Kadesh and encamped at Mount Hor, on the edge of the land of Edom. (38) Aaron the priest ascended Mount Hor at the command of the LORD and died there, in the fortieth year after the Israelites had left the land of Egypt, on the first day of the fifth month.
(40) And the Canaanite, king of Arad, who dwelt in the Negeb, in the land of Canaan, learned of the coming of the Israelites. (41) They set out from Mount Hor and encamped at Zalmonah. (42) They set out from Zalmonah and encamped at Punon. (43) They set out from Punon and encamped at Oboth... (48) They set out from the hills of Abarim and encamped in the steppes of Moab, at the Jordan near Jericho; (49) they encamped by the Jordan from Beth-jeshimoth as far as Abel-shittim, in the steppes of Moab. (50)
Some events were skipped, other unimportant ones were included. Certain momentous occasions were remembered, other times just hinted. One things is eminently clear in this parsha--they kept going forward. Perhaps this is the reason for a dry 'log report' style parsha of Masei--no matter what, we keep going forward!
Even in tragedy and adversity the response of righteous ones has been--keep going forward!
The Death of Aaron's Sons
(1) Now Aaron’s sons Nadab and Abihu each took his fire pan, put fire in it, and laid incense on it; and they offered before the LORD alien fire, which He had not enjoined upon them. (2) And fire came forth from the LORD and consumed them; thus they died at the instance of the LORD. (3) Then Moses said to Aaron, “This is what the LORD meant when He said: Through those near to Me I show Myself holy, And gain glory before all the people.” And Aaron was silent.
Leviticus 16:1-4
(1) The LORD spoke to Moses after the death of the two sons of Aaron who died when they drew too close to the presence of the LORD. (2) The LORD said to Moses: Tell your brother Aaron that he is not to come at will into the Shrine behind the curtain, in front of the cover that is upon the ark, lest he die; for I appear in the cloud over the cover. (3) Thus only shall Aaron enter the Shrine: with a bull of the herd for a sin offering and a ram for a burnt offering.— (4) He shall be dressed in a sacral linen tunic, with linen breeches next to his flesh, and be girt with a linen sash, and he shall wear a linen turban. They are sacral vestments; he shall bathe his body in water and then put them on
The Tragedy of the Spies
(25) At the end of forty days they returned from scouting the land. (26) They went straight to Moses and Aaron and the whole Israelite community at Kadesh in the wilderness of Paran, and they made their report to them and to the whole community, as they showed them the fruit of the land. (27) This is what they told him: “We came to the land you sent us to; it does indeed flow with milk and honey, and this is its fruit. (28) However, the people who inhabit the country are powerful, and the cities are fortified and very large; moreover, we saw the Anakites there. (29) Amalekites dwell in the Negeb region; Hittites, Jebusites, and Amorites inhabit the hill country; and Canaanites dwell by the Sea and along the Jordan.” (30) Caleb hushed the people before Moses and said, “Let us by all means go up, and we shall gain possession of it, for we shall surely overcome it.”
Moshe's Sin and his Reaction
(11) And Moses raised his hand and struck the rock twice with his rod. Out came copious water, and the community and their beasts drank. (12) But the LORD said to Moses and Aaron, “Because you did not trust Me enough to affirm My sanctity in the sight of the Israelite people, therefore you shall not lead this congregation into the land that I have given them.” (13) Those are the Waters of Meribah—meaning that the Israelites quarrelled with the LORD—through which He affirmed His sanctity. (14) From Kadesh, Moses sent messengers to the king of Edom: “Thus says your brother Israel: You know all the hardships that have befallen us;
We are Never Defined by Failure but by our Ability to Rise Again
(16) Seven times the righteous man falls and gets up, While the wicked are tripped by one misfortune.
Even our Worst Tragedies we Look to Change and Rebuild
(19) Thus said the LORD of Hosts: The fast of the fourth month, the fast of the fifth month, the fast of the seventh month, and the fast of the tenth month shall become occasions for joy and gladness, happy festivals for the House of Judah; but you must love honesty and integrity.
We Choose to Dwell in Darkness or Journey towards the Light
(8) Do not rejoice over me, O my enemy! Though I have fallen, I rise again; Though I sit in darkness, the LORD is my light.