Is there a Chidush in "l'Molich Amo ba'Midbar"?
Radak: It was a place where no man passed; there was no road. Hashem led them with a cloud during the day and a pillar of fire at night, and showed them the path. Also, He supplied all their needs in a dry desert.
Malbim: Via this, they learned Hashem's ways and his Torah, and cast from their hearts the evil images that they 'inherited' from the Egyptians. Via going in the Midbar and being pained 1 , the land of Sichon and Og was added to them. The next verses discuss striking great kings and giving their land for inheritance. Also wandering in the Midbar, which was from harsh Midas ha'Din 2 , was due to His Chesed and mercy.
It says "va'Y'ancha va'Yar'ivecha" (Devarim 8:3). However, Malbim's coming words imply that he refers to the exertion of traveling, like Rashi explains "va'Tiktzar Nefesh ha'Am ba'Derech" (Bamidbar 21:4) (PF).
I.e. it was a punishment for heeding the evil Meraglim. (PF)
