"Va'Yasa Moshe" is a verb in the causative (Hif'il). Why did Moshe need to force Yisrael to travel?
Rashi: Because the Egyptians had adorned their horses with gold and silver ornaments and with precious stones, 1 which Yisrael found in the sea and were busy collecting. 2
Refer to 15:9:151:2.
Rashi: Because the booty of the sea exceeded that of Egypt, as the Pasuk hints in Shir ha'Shirim 1:11. (Everyone left Egypt with ninety laden donkeys. How could they take more than this from what was on the horses? This is in order according to the opinion that there were fifteen hundred Egyptians for each Yisrael - Refer to 14:7:2:3*. Or if the booty of the sea (silver, gold and gems) was worth more than that of Egypt, which was mostly clothing. - PF )
"Vayeilchu el Midbar hur". What is the significance of Midbar Shur'? Why is it called by that name?
R. Bachye #1: Its real name was 'Midbar Eisam' ? as the Torah calls it in Mas'ei Bamidbaar 33:8, and it was called 'Midbar Shur' because they delved deeply with wisdom 1 into the miracles that they witnessed at the Yam-Suf. 2
R. Bachye #2 (citing Sh'mos Rabah #1): It is so-called because they desired a camp of flags comprising rows and rows (of tents).
R. Bachye #3: (citing Sh'mos Rabah #2): It is so-called because, with reference to Yisrael, who er about to receive the Torah, it refers to the world, which resembled a desert before the Torah was given, and a wall ('Shur') after it was given. 3
R. Bachye: From the Lashon "Ashurenu ve'Lo Atah" (Bamidbar 23:9). Indeed,that is why Yisrael ar called 'Yeshurun' in Devarim 33>5.
R. Bachye: After having perceived the Kavod Shechinah there.
And so the Navi wrote about Tziyon in the time of Mashi'ach in Zecharyah 2:9.
Why did the people complain about not having water, only after three days?
R. Bachye #1, Da'as Zekenim #1, Hadar Zekenim, Rosh and Targum Yonasan,: 'Water' refers to Torah 1 (Mitzvos - Targum Yonasan). After three days without Torah, they complained (rebelled ? Da'as Zekenim). 2
R. Bachye #2 (citing R. he Chananel): The Torah means that they traveled a journey of three days in one day - Otherwise it would have bbeen impossible to survive, particularly bearing in mind the many children and women, many of them pregnant and feeding,.
R. Bachye #3: The water that they collected as they crossed the Yam-Suf now came to end (after three days).
Da'as Zekenim #2: Because they took water from Egypt, and after three days 3 it ran out.
Bava Kama 82a: As the Pasuk writes, "Hoy Kol Tzamei L'chu la'Mayim" (Yeshayah 55:1). See Torah Temimah, note 34 DH 'Vedarshu.'
Bava Kama (ibid.): That is why the Chachamim enacted to read the Torah publicly on Monday, Thursday and Shabbos, so that three days should not pass without Torah. See Torah Temimah, note 34, who elaborates.
Presumably, the Da'as Zekemim means three days after they crossed the Yam-Suf. .
The Gemara (Bava Kama 82a) expounds that the reason Bnei Yisrael became weary, was because they had gone three days without the study of Torah! Why did this occur?
Maharal (Tif'eres Yisrael, end Ch. 56, p. 172): Torah is the Tzurah of Yisrael. Once three days passed without Torah, they were left without Tzurah. As such, they tended towards being Chomer - such that outside influences had an effect on them, and they became weary and thirsty. 1 That is why they instituted regular Torah reading. 2
Maharal frequently uses these terms, "Chomer" and "Tzurah." Chomer (raw material) is open to receiving a Tzurah (a function-defined form); the Tzurah takes hold in the Chomer, bringing it out from potential to actualization. For example, in a knife, the raw iron is its Chomer, and its sharp-edged shape is the Tzurah is that allows it to utilize its potential, and fulfill its function. Maharal writes that Torah is the Tzurah of Yisrael. It seems to me that the source for this is the language of the Gemara (loc. cit.),"Once they had travelled for three days, they became weary (Nil'u)" - implying that when Yisrael lack Torah, they lose their Tzurah; they are unable to function. (EK) Why did this occur specifically due to [a hiatus of] three days? See Maharal in other contexts (Netzach Yisrael, beg. Ch. 26, p. 130) - A distance of less than three days' journey is not considered "Rachok" (distant); see examples there. Maharal (Derech Chayim p. 186, to Avos 4:14) - The Aron ha'Bris travelled in front of Bnei Yisrael by three days' distance (and no more), so as not to lose the connection between the Torah and Yisrael (up to three days is not considered distant). Maharal (Ohr Chadash, p. 57) - A space of less than three is not considered a separation; e.g., the Din of Lavud (see more in Maharal Chidushei Agados Vol. 4, p. 110, to Chulin 91b).
Maharal (Chidushei Agados Vol. 3, p. 12, to Bava Kama 82a): Keri'as ha'Torah was instituted specifically on Yom Sheni and Chamishi, which are days of Din; see there.
