Commentary for Sotah 66:12

תניא רבי יוסי אומר בשלשה מקומות נשאו כהנים את הארון כשעברו את הירדן וכשהסיבו את יריחו וכשהחזירוהו למקומו

'Behind the way of the coming of the sun' — [this means] the place where the sun sets.<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' [The West, and the verse means far away from the Western towards the Eastern bank of the Jordan.] ');">¹⁸</span> 'In the land of the Canaanites' — i.e., the land of the Hivites. 'Which dwell in the Arabah' — but do they not dwell among mountains and hills!<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' Arabah signifies the plain. ');">¹⁹</span> 'Over against Gilgal' — but they could not see Gilgal!<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' They lived at a distance from it; so why is this mentioned? [Rashi, who seems to have another and preferable text, explains the question: 'but they (these places) are far from Gilgal' Gilgal being East of Jericho (v. p. 165, n. 5), why then mention it, cf. also Rashi on Deut. XI, 30.] ');">²⁰</span> — R. Eliezer b. Jacob says: Scripture has here only the intention of pointing out to them the route for the second [part of the journey] as it had pointed out to them the route for the first [part of the journey].<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' When Israel left Egypt a pillar of fire and cloud directed them; but this ceased on the death of Moses. Scripture therefore gives them directions, and its purpose is not to explain the location of Gerizim and Ebal. ');">²¹</span> 'The way' — [this means], Proceed along the high-road and not through fields and vineyards. 'Which dwell' — [this means], Pass through inhabited territory and not through deserts. 'In the Arabah' — [this means], Pass through the plain and not through mountains and hills. Our Rabbis taught: How did Israel cross the Jordan? Each day [during the journey in the wilderness] the ark journeyed behind two standards,<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' Of the tribes; v. Num. X, 11ff. ');">²²</span> but on this day [of crossing] it journeyed in front; as it is said: Behold, the ark of the covenant of the Lord of all the earth passeth over before you.<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' Josh. III, 11. ');">²³</span> Each day the Levites carried the ark, but on this day the priests carried it; as it is said: And it shall come to pass, when the soles of the feet of the priests that bear the ark of the Lord etc.<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' Ibid. 13. ');">²⁴</span> — It has been taught: R. Jose says: On three occasions the priests carried the ark: when they crossed the Jordan, when they walked round Jericho,<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' Ibid. VI, 6. ');">²⁵</span> and when they deposited it in its place.<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' In Solomon's Temple (I Kings VIII, 3). ');">²⁶</span> —

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