?es Betzer ba?Midbar be?Eretz ha?Mishor ? ?. Having given one sign in connection with Ramot ('Gil'ad') and Golan ('Bashan'), why does the Torah give two signs by Betzer?
Oznayim la'Torah: To distinguish between Betzer and another town (in Edom) with the similar sounding name Batzrah - to prevent a Rotze'ach from making the same mistake as the angel of Edom (Sama?el - R. Bachye) will make, when, in the time of Mashi'ach, he will try to escape judgement by fleeing to Batzrah. 1 2
?es Betzer ba?Midbar be?Eretz ha?Mishor la?Re?uveni?. Why was the first Ir Miklat built in the territory of Re?uven??
R. Bachye (citing Makos 10a): Because Reuven was the first to save someone (his brother Yosef) from death - as the Torah records in Bereishis 37:21 ?Vayishma Reuven Vayatzileihu mi?Yadam?. 1
See R. Bachye.
