“Who is this ascending from the wilderness like columns of smoke, perfumed with myrrh and frankincense, and with all the powders of the merchant?” (Song of Songs 3:6). “Who is this ascending from the wilderness,” its ascent was in the wilderness;40Israel was elevated in the wilderness, as the midrash goes on to explain. its removal 41The division of the camp based on tribal units, which would eventually become the basis of the distribution of the Land of Israel to the tribes. was in the wilderness; its death was in the wilderness, just as it says: “In this wilderness they will cease to exist” (Numbers 14:35).
Torah [was given] from the wilderness, the Tabernacle from the wilderness, Sanhedrin from the wilderness, priesthood from the wilderness, Levites from the wilderness, royalty from the wilderness, as it is stated: “You will be for Me a kingdom of priests” (Exodus 19:6); and all the fine gifts that the Holy One blessed be He gave to Israel were from the wilderness. Rabbi Shimon ben Yoḥai said: In the wilderness they loaded,42They received the Torah. and in the wilderness they unloaded.43When they sinned. Prophecy is from the wilderness. That is, its ascent is from the wilderness.