The Fourth Book and the Fourth Day

            In the introduction to his commentary of Numbers, Netziv writes that the primary content of the fourth book of the Torah is the transformation of the nation of Israel from the supernatural lifestyle of the wilderness to living on a natural level when the nation enters the Promised Land:

The essential content of this book is the distinction between Israel’s experience in the wilderness and upon entering the Land of Israel. The wilderness experience was entirely above nature, while within the Land, the nation must conduct itself on the natural plane, within the secrets of Divine Providence.

            Netziv asserts that this quantum change preceded Israel’s crossing the River Jordan to enter into its Land, beginning in the fortieth year of the exodus, and the Torah provides the exact date: the first (day) of the fortieth year of the exodus. [Numbers 20:1] Netziv comments on the verse:

This date marks the beginning of a new administration of Israel’s national affairs, unlike that which had applied until now. That is the reason the verse specifies the date.

With the nation’s arrival at Kadesh:

they began to imbibe the spirit of settling the Land, and even though they had yet to reach the “the place of rest and the inheritance” [Deuteronomy 12:9] of the Land of Israel, nonetheless, they had reached its borders.

            Our Sages’ homily sees the fourth book of the Torah as parallel to the fourth day of creation:

“And the Lord separated the light from the darkness:” [Genesis 1:4] this is the book of Numbers, which divides between those who left Egypt and those who entered the Land.                          Breishit Rabba 3:5

            Based upon this homily, we can conclude that Israel’s existence outside its Land is parallel to darkness, and only within the Land is the nation able to live in enlightenment.