1)

What is the difference between "Motzo'eihem" and "Mas'eihem"?

1.

Rashi (in Mas'ei Sh'mos, 40:38) and Rashbam: "Motzo'eihem" means 'the places where they encamped' ('their encampments'

1

Rashi Ibid.: Though "Mas'ei" on its own - as in Pasuk 1, can also refer to the places where they encamped.

2

Refer also to 33:2::2:3.

2)

Why does the Torah insert "be'Yad Moshe ve'Aharon"?

1.

Targum Yonasan: It is referring to the miracles that Moshe and Aharon performed during their travels in the desert.

3)

Why does the Pasuk switch "Motzo'eihem" and "Mas'eihem"?

1.

Seforno 1 : Because sometimes their destination was a bad one, whereas the place that they had left was good, 2 and sometimes the opposite was the case. 3

2.

Oznayim la'Torah #1 Although Moshe transcribed the events that took place on each journey, here, he mentioned the journeys, and by mentioning the journey, the reader remembers what happened there - for better or for worse. 4

3.

Oznayim la'Torah #2: "Motzo'eihem le'Mas'eihem al-Pi Hashem" refers to where they journeyed by Divine instruction to travel from Egypt to Eretz Cana'an, whereas "Mas'eihem le'Motzo'eihem" refers to where they lost faith and traveled back towards Egypt. 5

1

See also Ba'al ha'Turim.

2

And encamping was difficult. Refer to 33:1:1:5.

3

In which case it was breaking camp that was difficult.

4

Oznayim la'Torah: And e followed the same pattern at the beginning of Devarim, as Rashi explains there.

5

See Oznayim la'Torah, who cites a number of examples of this.

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