Why does the Torah need to inform us that Bnei Yisrael arrived at Midbar Sinai, in the third month after they left Egypt?
Yerushalmi Rosh Hashanah, 1:1: To teach us that one counts the months based on Yetzi'as Mitzrayim - that Nisan is the first month (and not Tishrei). 1
Oznayim la'Torah: Since it was not just the third month of the year, but the third month after they actually left Egypt.
See Torah Temimah, note 1.
Why does the Torah begin with "Ba'Chodesh ha'Shelishi ... Ba'u Midbar Sinai," and only in the next Pasuk does it insert "Va'Yis'u me'Refidim" (usually the Torah tells us first 'va'Yis'u,' and then 'va'Yachanu,' as in 16:1)?
Ramban: Because the Torah wants to stress the great joy that they felt at arriving at Midbar Sinai, which they had eagerly awaited from the moment they left Egypt. 1
Moshav Zekenim (at the end of Perek 18): In order to juxtapose "ba'Chodesh ha'Shelishi" to Yisro's departure. this alludes to the Din of a Giyores, Meshuchreres or Shevuyah waiting three months before marrying. Refer to 19:1:151:1.
To which day is "ba'Yom ha'Zeh" referring?
Which was a Monday. Refer to 19:15:1:1* .
Shabbos 86b: Which we learn from the Gezerah Shavah, "ha'Zeh" from "ha'Chodesh ha'Zeh ... " in Parshas Bo, Shemos 12:2. See Torah Temimah, note 2.
See also Ba'al ha'Turim.
Why does the Torah write "ba'Yom ha'Zeh," and not 'ba'Yom ha'Hu'?
Rashi: To hint that the words of Torah should be fresh in our minds, as if they had been given to us on that day. 1
Moshav Zekenim: Because Hashem's promise to Moshe, "Ta'avdun Es Ha'Elokim Al ha'Har ha'Zeh" (Shemos 3:12), was about to be fulfilled.
Refer to 19:1:2:1** .
Moshav Zekenim: We learn this primarily from the word "ba'Chodesh" - which is like 'Chadash.' See also Sifsei Chachamim.
Why does the Torah call Midbar Sinai by a number of different names?
Shabbos 89a & b: It is called 'Midbar Tzin' 1 - because Yisrael were commanded (Nitztavu) 2 on it - the Aseres ha'Dibros; 'Midbar Kadeish' 3 - because they were sanctified on it; 'Midbar Kedeimos' 4 - because the Torah which preceded the world (Kadmah l'Olam) was given on it; 5 'Midbar Paran' 6 - because they increased on it ('Paru v'Ravu Alav') 7 and 'Midbar Sinai' - because it brought the hatred of the nations upon us.
In Parshas Chukas (Bamidbar 20:1).
The Torah Temimah suggests that it ought to read 'she'Nitztayenu' (they excelled ... ), since there is no clear connection between "Tzin" and "Nitztavu."
See Torah Temimah, note 4.
See Torah Temimah, note 5.
What is Har Sinai's real name?
Shabbos 89b: Its real name is 'Har Choreiv.' 1
In Shemos 3:1.
Why did Matan Torah take place in the third month?
Rosh and Hadar Zekenim #1: Because a Giyores, a captive or a freed slave must wait three months 1 before marrying 2 or becoming betrothed. All three of these applied to Yisrael and Matan Torah was like Yisrael's marriage 3 to Hashem. 4
Hadar Zekenim #2: Everything about Matan Torah was three-fold: the third month; the [written] Torah will consist of Torah, Nevi'im and Kesuvim; Yisrael contains Kohanim, Levi'im and Yisraelim; Moshe was the third born to his parents - from Levi, the third tribe; there are three letters in his name, and he was hidden until his third month.
Hadar Zekenim #3: Hashem delayed until the third month to bestow good on Yisrael, so that they will recognize His power and take pleasure during this time. 5
Hadar Zekenim #4: In the third month, Mazal Te'omim (twins) is the first Mazal to rise during the day. Hashem therefore waited for Esav, Yaakov's twin, to do Teshuvah and to accept the Torah. 6
Rosh: Hashem should have waited three full months. Amidst dearness [of Yisrael to Hashem], He gave the Torah on the sixth of the third month. (If we count from leaving Egypt, it was less than two full months! Perhaps the Rosh counts from Rosh Chodesh Nisan, when the first Mitzvah was given to Yisrael. - PF). Hashem was so keen to give the Torah to Yisrael that he counted part of the first month and part of the third month as full months ('Miktzas ha'Chodesh k'Kulo').
This is an Asmachta. Chachamim decreed so to avoid Sefekos of lineage. Any child born more than six months after the three month wait was conceived in Kedushah from the new husband. Any child born within six months is is not from the new husband. (However, if a captive gave birth within nine months of being captured, it is a Safek if the child is from her husband or the captor. - PF)
Moshav Zekenim: Everything about Matan Torah was like a marriage. Moshe took out Yisrael, like they take the Chasan to the Kalah. The clouds of glory were the Chupah. Moshe and Aharon were the Shushbinim (close friends). The Luchos were the Kesuvah. We give to a virgin Kalah twelve months to prepare for Chupah - Matan Torah was exactly 12 months from the first day that Hashem spoke to Moshe at the Seneh (unlike Eduyos 2:10, which says that the Egyptians were punished for 12 months - PF).
The last Mishnah in Ta'anis.
The This can be compared to a king who wanted to betroth a woman, and found her naked. He waited until she was beautiful and adorned. So Hashem found Yisrael weary and blemished from slavery. He waited three months for the beauty to return to their faces.
Hadar Zekenim #4: But Eisav was not interested.
Why was the Torah given in the desert, and not in Eretz Yisrael?
Moshav Zekenim 1 #1 and Pa'ne'ach Raza: To prevent the nations from complaining why Hashem did not give the Torah to them.
Moshav Zekenim #2: Because; like the desert, Torah is Hefker for anyone [to acquire. 2 It is not an inheritance for Yisrael only. 3
Moshav Zekenim #3: Because once they were in Eretz Yisrael, everyone would be busy in their fields, and Torah would be neglected. In the desert however, everyone was free [to engage in Torah study]. 4
Tosfos ha'Shalem (7, He'arah 1) fixes the text of Moshav Zekenim, and says that the source is from the Mechilta.
Avos 2:12: 'Prepare yourself to learn Torah. It is not an inheritance [that comes without effort].'
Until Yisrael accepted it and all the nations rejected it, after which the Torah writes, "Torah Tzivah Lanu Moshe, Morashah Kehilas Ya'akov" (Devarim 33:4).
Hence the Chachamim said, 'Torah was given only to those who ate the Manna' (Mechilta).
