Importance of a Road Map (Parsha Matot-Masei)

(2) The reason why we find sometimes the objective mentioned first and other times the place of departure, is due to the fact that sometimes the people were glad to get away from a certain place where unpleasantness had occurred, whereas other times they were merely glad to arrive at a new destination hoping for a pleasant stay in their new encampment. One of the most vexing aspects of all these journeys was that the new objective had never been announced beforehand, so that the people were always in the dark about what the next day would bring. In spite of all these uncertainties they never refused to follow the cloud and break camp at a moment’s notice when required. The reason that both the breaking of camp and the making of camp are mentioned separately is because both entailed a considerable amount of discomfort.

(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.

...

(32) They set out from Bene-jaakan and encamped at Hor-haggidgad. (33) They set out from Hor-haggidgad and encamped at Jotbath. (34) They set out from Jotbath and encamped at Abronah. (35) They set out from Abronah and encamped at Ezion-geber. (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.

It was indeed most necessary that these should be written. For miracles are only convincing to those who witnessed them; whilst coming generations, who know them only from the account given by others, may consider them as untrue. But miracles cannot continue and last for all generations; it is even inconceivable [that they should be permanent]. Now the greatest of the miracles described in the Law is the stay of the Israelites in the wilderness for forty years, with a daily supply of manna. ...All these miracles were wonderful, public, and witnessed by the people.

But God knew that in future people might doubt the correctness of the account of these miracles. in the same manner as they doubt the accuracy of other narratives; they might think that the Israelites stayed in the wilderness in a place not far from inhabited land, where it was possible for man to live ...

In order to remove all these doubts and to firmly establish the accuracy of the account of these miracles, Scripture enumerates all the stations, so that coming generations may see them, and learn the greatness of the miracle which enabled human beings to live in those places forty years.