1)

Whereabouts exactly did Yisrael now encamp?

1.

Rashi: They encamped on the north of Mo'av, on a strip of territory that extended from the Emori as far as the River Arnon which belonged to Mo'av.

2.

Ramban: They encamped in an area that belonged to the Emori, north of Arnon, a town on the northern border of Mo'av, which was situated on streams that flowed from it.

3.

Seforno: They encamped beside the section of the River Arnon that bordered the Emori (Sichon) but not Mo'av, 1 because the section that bordered Mo'av belonged to Mo'av (which they had no intention of capturing).

4.

Targum Onkelos: They encamped on the other (north) side of the River Arnon in the desert, on the border of the Emori.

5.

Targum Yonasan: They encamped on the far side of the River Arnon, on the pass in the desert that jutted out from the Emori. 2


1

See Oznayim la'Torah who adds that they encamped in a section of desert and not in an inhabited area.

2

Targum Yonasan: Because Arnon, which was the border of Mo'av and which divided between Mo'av and the Emori, was the residence of the idolatrous priests.

2)

Why does the Torah go out of its way to describe their current location?

1.

Rashi #1: Because Mo'av had refused them entry into their territory, 1 so the Torah informs us that the location where they now encamped did not belong to Mo'av.

2.

Rashi #2 (in Pasuk 15): To relate the miracles that are about to unfold. 2


1

Rashi: As Yiftach explained to the king of Amon in Shoftim, 11:17.

2

Refer to 21:15:2:1.

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