יחזקאל, פרק ל״ט, פסוק י״ד

The aftermath of a massive war leaves behind a staggering number of casualties, requiring a long-term, highly organized national operation to cleanse the land. What begins as a massive public effort to bury the dead eventually transitions into a careful and precise search mission.

To manage this overwhelming task, the Israelites appoint permanent, dedicated teams. These individuals constantly travel throughout the country to locate and bury the scattered bodies. The primary approach among commentators [רש״י, רד״ק, מצודת דוד, ביאור שטיינזלץ] suggests that these dedicated teams do not work alone along the main roads. They are assisted by regular travelers passing through. Since bodies often block the travel routes, the passersby help bury them to clear their own path. Taking a different perspective, [מלבי״ם] explains that the wandering travelers are actually the casualties themselves—the soldiers of Gog's army who roamed the land, died from the plague, and were left exposed in the fields.

Beyond the main roads, the operation addresses remote and isolated areas. Because regular travelers never reach these distant locations, the dedicated teams must handle the burials there entirely on their own [רש״י]. Every effort is driven by a single, clear goal: to completely cleanse the land from impurity.

This massive undertaking unfolds in distinct stages. For the first seven months, the entire nation participates in burying the bodies that are clearly visible. Only after this seven-month period ends does the operation shift into a meticulous search phase [מצודת דוד, אברבנאל]. The search teams begin scanning hidden and overgrown places, looking deeply into thorns and bushes [רש״י]. By this time, the flesh of the fallen has decomposed or been consumed by wild animals, meaning the searchers are primarily looking for remaining bones [מלבי״ם].

When a searcher finds a bone in the brush, they do not bury it on the spot. Instead, they set up a distinct marker beside it. This system allows designated burial crews who follow behind to easily spot the remains, collect them, and bring them to a centralized burial site in the Valley of Hamon Gog [אברבנאל].