The Voice of Moses and the March From Rameses to Succoth

"And the children of Israel journeyed from Rameses to Succoth" (Exodus 12:37). From Rameses to Succoth was one hundred and sixty miles, and the voice of Moses traveled the distance of a forty days' journey. And do not be astonished, for it has already been said, "And the LORD said unto Moses and unto Aaron, Take to you handfuls of soot of the furnace" (Exodus 9:8). Now is this not an argument from the lesser to the greater? If dust, whose nature is not to travel, nevertheless traveled the distance of a forty days' journey, then a voice, whose nature is to travel, all the more so. "To Succoth." Rabbi Akiva says: they actually made themselves booths [sukkot] at Succoth. Rabbi Eliezer says: "Succoth" means clouds of glory; they came and encamped over Rameses. They told a parable: to what may the matter be compared? To a bridegroom who brought a bridal canopy to the door of the bride's house so that she might enter under it at once. Rabbi Nechemiah says: "to Succoth" [Suk-kotah], wherever a word requires the letter lamed at its beginning, give it the letter heh at its end [the suffix indicating direction]. "About six hundred thousand." One says it was neither one less nor one more, but in the precise count, what does it say? "Six hundred thousand and three thousand and five hundred and fifty" (Numbers 26:51). Rabbi says: behold it says, "And the men of Ai smote of them about thirty-six men" (Joshua 7:5). Now what were they? If they were thirty-seven, it should have said so; if they were thirty-five, it should have said so. Why does the text say "about thirty-six"? This teaches that they were weighed as equal to all Israel. Likewise you say, "And he brought me into the inner court of the LORD's house, and behold, at the door of the temple of the LORD, between the porch and the altar, were about twenty-five men" (Ezekiel 8:16). Now what were they? If they were twenty-four, it should have said so; if they were twenty-six, it should have said so. Why does the text say "about twenty-five"? This teaches that they were weighed as equal to all Israel. "On foot" [the men of war]. "Men": apart from women. "Beside children." This teaches that those under twenty years of age went up with them [and the like].