במדבר, פרק כ״א, פסוק י׳

The Israelites' journey through the desert enters its final, decisive phases as they skirt the borders of neighboring nations on their way to the Promised Land. A seemingly brief travel update actually condenses a much longer route, carrying both geographical and spiritual significance regarding the relationship between the desert generation and God.

The primary approach among commentators is that this travel sequence is a direct continuation of the departure from Mount Hor, following a route designed to bypass the land of Edom from the south and east. The narrative intentionally compresses the journey, leaving out intermediate stops. Based on detailed travel logs found elsewhere in the Torah, two specific locations, Zalmonah and Punon, the site of the snake plague, were visited before reaching the current encampment. These stops are bypassed here to present a broad, concise overview of the progress made until the people reached the outer edge of Edom and the beginning of Moabite territory [ביאור יש״ר, העמק דבר, הכתב והקבלה, אברבנאל].

Beyond the simple geography, the omission of a clear starting point and the skipped stops reveal a deeper layer of meaning hidden in the name of their destination. Many interpret the location's name as stemming from the concept of enemies, suggesting a tragic reality where the Israelites had essentially become enemies of God [רבנו בחיי, שפתי כהן, הדר זקנים, העמק דבר]. This hostility symbolizes the entirety of their thirty-eight years of wandering since leaving Kadesh. It was an era defined by sins, complaints, and constant disputes that provoked divine strictness.

Offering a completely different angle, another perspective links the name of the encampment to the concept of willingness or desire. Rather than a reminder of past rebellion, this interpretation views the arrival at this location as a deeply positive turning point. It marks the moment when the people finally became willing to accept and follow the leadership of Moses [שפתי כהן].