Rabbi Yudan said in the name of Rabbi Shmuel bar Naḥman: This is analogous to a king who had an inner garment and would command his servant to shake it and fold it…12The midrash alludes to this analogy but does not complete the thought, which is presented more fully in Vayikra Rabba 2:4. Rabbi Shmuel bar Naḥman said: This is analogous to a High Priest who was walking along the way, and a non-priest happened before him.
He said to him: ‘Allow me to walk with you.’ He said to him: ‘My son, I am a priest, and I walk on a ritually pure path. My way is not to walk between graves. If you walk with me, fine.
If not, ultimately I will leave you and go on my way.’ So, Moses said to Israel: “As the Lord your God walks in the midst of your camp to deliver you” (Deuteronomy 23:15). What is “to deliver you [lehatzilekha]”? Two amora’im, one said: To protect you; “to be shade [tzel] over your head” (Jonah 4:6), and one said: To empty all the property of all the nations and give it to you, just as it says: “You will despoil [venitzaltem] Egypt” (Exodus 3:22).
For the purpose of: “Your camp shall be holy and He will not see an unseemly matter [devar erva] among you” (Deuteronomy 23:15); unseemly speech [ervat dibur]. Rabbi Shmuel bar Naḥman said: This is obscene speech.