במדבר, פרק ל״ג, פסוק ו׳

The journey from Sukkot to Etham marks a dramatic geographic turning point for the Israelites. It is the moment they sever their final ties with the settled world and step toward the barren wasteland. This encampment represents the ultimate departure from the land of Egypt and the fertile region of the Nile River, whose branches extended much further east in ancient times than they do today [ביאור שטיינזלץ].

The specific location is pinpointed as being right at the edge of the wilderness. Identifying this exact spot is necessary because there may have been other cities sharing the name Etham. Furthermore, it highlights a deliberate shift in direction, as it was from this location that God began to guide the people directly into the desert [העמק דבר]. Standing at the edge does not mean they had reached the end of the desert; rather, it marks the very beginning of the great and terrifying wasteland, also known as the Wilderness of Shur [חזקוני].

Arriving at this frontier was not a peaceful transition, but rather a time of severe crisis and distress. The encampment at Etham was filled with sorrow and intense anxiety, as the Israelites came face to face with giant snakes, described as being as massive as the heavy wooden beams used in an olive press. Because of the overwhelming terror they experienced at the border of the wilderness, God altered their route, turning them back toward Pi-hahiroth [אלשיך].