במדבר, פרק ל״ג, פסוק מ״א

The journey around the land of Edom, heading toward the Red Sea, marks a highly complex transition period for the Israelites. Following the death of Aaron the High Priest, the camp moves forward under a cloud of grief and unrest.

A close look at the travel records reveals a gap between the detailed list of encampments and the earlier historical narrative. The stops at Zalmonah and Punon are recorded in the complete travel log, yet they are entirely skipped in the earlier story, which notes only that the people traveled from Mount Hor directly to Oboth. This omission reflects a harsh reality on the ground. During this time, the camp was attacked by swarms of venomous snakes, a consequence of the people complaining against God and Moses.

These snakes, along with the copper snake that Moses crafted for healing, remained with the Israelites throughout this entire stretch of the journey. The people carried the copper snake on a pole as they traveled and set up camp at Zalmonah and Punon. Because the plague of snakes did not end until they finally reached Oboth, the earlier record treats the entire painful ordeal from Mount Hor to Oboth as one long, continuous journey [רמב״ן, הטור הארוך].

The name of the encampment at Zalmonah carries a deeper meaning connected to the grief of this period, serving as a tribute to Aaron. The name is understood as a blend of the words for shadow and portion. Throughout his life, Aaron acted as a protective shadow over the camp, providing a steady portion of kindness and leadership. His sudden absence left a deep, lingering mark on the Israelites as they rested at this location [שפתי כהן].