Chukas 21:1 · unit 3 — the way of the Atharim — the great scout had died

Parashas Chukas · Passuk 21:1

The Complete Passuk

וַיִּשְׁמַ֞ע הַכְּנַעֲנִ֤י מֶֽלֶךְ־עֲרָד֙ יֹשֵׁ֣ב הַנֶּ֔גֶב כִּ֚י בָּ֣א יִשְׂרָאֵ֔ל דֶּ֖רֶךְ הָאֲתָרִ֑ים וַיִּלָּ֙חֶם֙ בְּיִשְׂרָאֵ֔ל וַיִּ֥שְׁבְּ ׀ מִמֶּ֖נּוּ שֶֽׁבִי׃

And the Canaanite, the king of Arad, who dwelt in the Negev, heard that Yisrael had come by the way of the Atharim, and he fought against Yisrael and took some of them captive.

Chabad.org — 21:1

Source Citation

Torah Temimah: Yerushalmi Yoma 1:1

Sefaria — Yerushalmi Yoma 1:1

Core Text of Chazal

Core Text

מַהוּ דֶּרֶךְ הָאֲתָרִים – שָׁמַע שֶׁמֵּת הַתַּיָּר הַגָּדוֹל שֶׁהָיָה תָּר לָהֶם אֶת הַדֶּרֶךְ וּבָאוּ וְנִתְגָּרוּ בָּהֶם.

English: What is “the way of the Atharim”? He heard that the great scout who had spied out the way for them had died, and they came and attacked them.

Type of Learning

Derash on Atharim as related to touring/scouting.

What Is Learned

With Aharon gone, the enemy sensed Yisrael lacked their great guide.

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