?Vayis?u mi?Succos Vayachanu be?Eisam?. Why does the Torah need to mention every location where they encamped?
Rashi: Refer to 33:1:1:2.
R. Bachye #1 (in his introduction to the Parshah): So that a. the people of that generation, who were aquainted with the places and who knew that not even one person could possibly survive there for even a day, would acknowledge the wonders of Hashem who sustained a nation of six hundred thousand for forty years in those very locations, and b. so that they would pass it on to their children and children?s children. 1
R. Bachye #2: To teach us that Hashem led them according to the their behavior - When they performed His will, He led with with Midas ha?Rachamim, 2 and when they did not, He led them with Midas ha?Din. 3
R. Bachye #3 (on Pasuk 2, citing the Tanchuma): All these places are mentioned 4 because they accepted Yisrael, and ultimately Hashem will give them their reward. 5 6
R. Bachye: As a matter of fact, their entire existence in the desert was by way of miracles, via the Cloud and the two redeemers, Moshe and Aaron.
R. Bachye: As is hinted in Pasuk 23- ?Vayachanun be?Har Shafer? and in Pasuk 28 - ?Vayachanun be?Miskah?, both with positive connotations.
R. Bachye: As is hinted in Pesukim 24 - ?Vayachanu ba?Charadah?, 12 ?Vayachanu be?Dafkah? and 5 - ?Vayachanu be?Marah?, all with negative connotations.
See R. Chavel?s footnotes, note #35.
R. Bachye: As the Navi writes in Yeshayah 35:1 & 2.
And how much more so will Hashem reward whoever welcomes a Talmid-Chacham into his home. See R. Bachye , end of Dibur.
