במדבר, פרק ל״ג, פסוק י׳

The journey of the Israelites from Elim leads them to a surprising encampment back on the shores of the sea. This unexpected stop raises questions about their exact travel route and highlights differences between this detailed travel log and the earlier historical narrative.

Commentators offer different perspectives on how the Israelites arrived at this seaside location. One approach suggests that the nation never traveled backward. After their initial crossing, they simply moved along the length of the sea, traveling parallel to the coastline. The body of water extended toward the desert they were entering, specifically in the area between Elim and the Desert of Sin [חזקוני]. According to this view, even during earlier stops like Marah, the Israelites remained close to the shore [הכתב והקבלה].

In contrast, a midrashic tradition presents a completely different picture, suggesting that the Israelites actually retreated a distance of three full journeys. This backward movement is understood as more than just a geographic detour; it represents an act of rebellion. By retreating, the people essentially turned their backs on Moses while still in the sea, an act of defiance for which they later received a harsh rebuke [הכתב והקבלה].

The inclusion of this seaside encampment in the travel log also draws attention to a gap in the earlier biblical record. In the book of Exodus, this specific stop is not mentioned at all; the narrative skips directly from Elim to the Desert of Sin and Rephidim. This omission occurs because the earlier account chose to summarize the journey, grouping these intermediate stops into the general arrival at the Desert of Sin. The current travel log, however, is designed to record every single encampment with absolute precision [חזקוני].