דברים, פרק ב׳, פסוק ט״ו

The era of wandering in the desert draws to a close through direct divine action, clearing the path for a new generation to enter the land. The fulfillment of the decree against the older generation required active intervention from God [ביאור שטיינזלץ], bringing about a miraculous end [ביאור יש״ר]. To maintain a purely spiritual understanding of God, this intervention is understood not as a physical hand, but as a severe blow directed from His presence [נתינה לגר].

The exact nature of this downfall encompasses more than just physical death. It represents a spectrum of suffering, ranging from complete destruction to deep confusion and scattering [שד״ל]. For some, it was a sudden disaster that completely robbed them of their senses [רש ר הירש]. Beyond the finality of death, the condemned individuals were struck with a profound restlessness, forced to live their final days plagued by illness and deep confusion [אור החיים].

The primary approach among commentators is that the natural passage of time during the years of wandering was not enough for the entire older generation to pass away naturally. To prevent any further delay, God accelerated the process for those who remained, ensuring that their children could begin to inherit the land immediately [רש״י, שפתי חכמים, רלב״ג]. Despite this acceleration, the end did not come in the form of a sudden, mass plague. Instead, each person passed away at their specific time, with a careful measure ensuring that no one died before reaching the age of sixty [שפתי כהן].

This process involved a miraculous separation within the nation itself. The suffering and gradual decline were strictly limited to those who were subject to the original decree, while the rest of the Israelites remained completely unharmed [אור החיים].

The passing of this generation carried a deep spiritual weight for Moses. As long as the condemned individuals, or the mixed multitude among them, were still alive, the nation remained out of divine favor. Because of this, clear prophecy was withheld from Moses, and God communicated with Him only through a softened, indirect manner. It was only after the entire generation had passed that God resumed speaking to Moses with direct and absolute clarity [מלבי״ם, שפתי כהן].