From where were Moshe and the elders 'gathered'?
Rashi: He and the Zekenim went from the entrance of the Ohel Mo'ed back to the camp (They went home). 1
R. Bachye: " ? Hu ve'Ziknei Yisrael" - He accompanied the Zekenim back to the camp (He accompanied them to their houses) - in order to honor them - and the punishment only began after the Zekenim had arrived home.
Rashi: As in Ki Seitzei Devarim, 22:2 and in Tehilim, 39:7.
Why does the Torah need to mention that Moshe and the Zekenim went home?
Rashi: To teach us that Hashem only sent the punishment after all the Tzadikim had gone home. 1
As the Navi writes in Yeshayah, 57:1 "Ki Mipnei ha'Ra'ah Ne'esaf ha'Tzadik". See Oznayim la'Torah
