This sheet on Numbers 33 was written by Molly Morris for 929 and can also be found here
Is it a chicken and egg question? Or ends versus means?
In Chapter 33, verse 2, we learn that Moses reflected on the journey of the Israelites and “wrote their goings forth according to their journeys at the bidding of God”. And then, the very same sentence concludes with “and these were their journeys according to their going forth.” Why say it twice, and why the reversal of order of “going forth” and “journeys”?
Rabbi Shimshon Raphael Hirsch distinguishes between the two phrases this way: “goings forth” refers to the purpose - the “end” of the Israelites’ journey, both physical and spiritual, from slavery in Egypt until now. That purpose is reaching their destiny as the chosen people in the Land of Israel. But “journey” refers to the physical steps along that path to destiny. And Rabbi Hirsch points out that at some point during each step of their journey the Israelites became dissatisfied with their current conditions and expressed (often through complaining) their yearning to move on to their next step.
The expression “goings forth according to their journeys” is, according to Rabbi Hirsch, the Godly perspective, emphasizing the end before the means. While the second version of “journeys according to their going forth” puts the emphasis on the means to the end, which is the perspective of the Israelites.
It was Moses’ job, as the leader, to continually remind the Israelites of their end-goal, while respecting that front and centre in his followers minds was the means, the journey, through which they could reach that goal. And the nuanced phrasing we read in this chapter reminds us that the means is as important as the end - an idea critical to good leadership and reflected in one of my favourite verses (and popular songs) from Pirkei Avot, the Ethics of the Fathers: “It is not your duty to complete the work. Not up to you to finish it. But neither are you free to desist from it.” It’s not all about the goal - the journey is just as important.
In Chapter 33, verse 2, we learn that Moses reflected on the journey of the Israelites and “wrote their goings forth according to their journeys at the bidding of God”. And then, the very same sentence concludes with “and these were their journeys according to their going forth.” Why say it twice, and why the reversal of order of “going forth” and “journeys”?
Rabbi Shimshon Raphael Hirsch distinguishes between the two phrases this way: “goings forth” refers to the purpose - the “end” of the Israelites’ journey, both physical and spiritual, from slavery in Egypt until now. That purpose is reaching their destiny as the chosen people in the Land of Israel. But “journey” refers to the physical steps along that path to destiny. And Rabbi Hirsch points out that at some point during each step of their journey the Israelites became dissatisfied with their current conditions and expressed (often through complaining) their yearning to move on to their next step.
The expression “goings forth according to their journeys” is, according to Rabbi Hirsch, the Godly perspective, emphasizing the end before the means. While the second version of “journeys according to their going forth” puts the emphasis on the means to the end, which is the perspective of the Israelites.
It was Moses’ job, as the leader, to continually remind the Israelites of their end-goal, while respecting that front and centre in his followers minds was the means, the journey, through which they could reach that goal. And the nuanced phrasing we read in this chapter reminds us that the means is as important as the end - an idea critical to good leadership and reflected in one of my favourite verses (and popular songs) from Pirkei Avot, the Ethics of the Fathers: “It is not your duty to complete the work. Not up to you to finish it. But neither are you free to desist from it.” It’s not all about the goal - the journey is just as important.
(ב) וַיִּכְתֹּ֨ב מֹשֶׁ֜ה אֶת־מוֹצָאֵיהֶ֛ם לְמַסְעֵיהֶ֖ם עַל־פִּ֣י יְהֹוָ֑ה וְאֵ֥לֶּה מַסְעֵיהֶ֖ם לְמוֹצָאֵיהֶֽם׃
(2) Moses recorded the starting points of their various marches as directed by the LORD. Their marches, by starting points, were as follows:
Molly Morris holds a Masters degree in Leadership and Community Engagement. Molly participates in the 929 initiative with a dedicated group from the Beth Avraham Yoseph of Toronto congregation.
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