The Paradigm of Israel's Encampment

And the Lord spoke to Moses and Aaron, saying: The Children of Israel shall encamp according to their father’s houses, every man by his flag, according to the ensigns, at a distance round about the Tent of Meeting.                                                 Numbers 2:1-2

During the forty years of wandering in the desert, the Children of Israel encamped around the Tabernacle. As well, when the Israelites journeyed, it was with the Tabernacle at the center, as we read: “… as they encamp so shall they journey.” [Numbers 2:17]

The Torah does not merely describe the historical fact of how Israel journeyed through the wilderness, but presents this format as the guideline and blueprint for all of the nation’s journeys throughout history: Jews must journey with Torah as our focal point. Just as Israel camped around the Ark, moved by it and with it, so must our journeys through the “wilderness of nations” be with Torah as our central point and as our guide. Throughout Israel’s long journey, Torah was the beacon which illuminated our darkness, and indeed that which allowed us to survive and ultimately overcome all our enemies., It was the fact of Israel’s marching with Torah as our guide which allowed us to survive throughout our journey in the wilderness of the nations.

Israel’s journey of destiny from Egypt led first to Mount Sinai, to receive the national constitution, and with its constitution in hand, Israel entered the Promised Land. (Israel’s nationhood and peoplehood began at Mount Sinai, when we accepted God’s Torah, to teach that our nationhood does not depend upon our Land, rather upon Torah.) The journey was completed only 480 years later, when King Solomon dedicated the Temple, following the paradigm of the journey through Sinai. Our Sages teach that Jerusalem is the center of the world, and the center of Jerusalem is the Holy of Holies, which held the Ark. Thus, Torah was placed at the center of Israel’s encampment in its own Land.