Why does the Torah insert the (otherwise superfluous) words "Vayihyu ba'Chatzeros"?
Seforno: To teach us that they spent some time in Chatzeros, 1 and it was during that time that Miriam spoke against Moshe. 2
Rashbam: To teach us that they remained in Chatzeros until Miriam was cured from her Tzara'as.
Seforno: As in Rus, 1:2 & 4, and in Eikev Devarim, 10:5.
Seforno: And it was because they were still encamped there that Hashem was able to call Moshe, Aharon and Miriam to the Ohel Mo'ed.
Why does the Torah not write 'Vayis'u mi'Kivros ha'Ta'avah Vayachanu ba'Chatzeros', like it does everywhere else?
Rashbam (citing the Mechilta): The Lashon ha'Pasuk implies that they also traveled from Chatzeiros but that they returned there. 1 What happened was that after they traveled from from Kivros ha'Ta'avah to Chatzeiros, Machaneh Yehudah had already left Chatzeiros, only the Mishkan had not yet been dismantled, when the episode with Aharon and Miriam occurred. Moshe, Aharon and Miriam were still in the camp, together with Machaneh Levi'ah, when Hashem summoned Aharon and Miriam, at which point they recalled the camp of Yehudah back to Chatzeiros until after Miriam was cured, when they finally moved from Chatzeros to Midbar Paran. 2
