After Kalev and Pinchas returned from their mission to Yericho, the navi relates that Yehoshua was filled with enthusiasm for his mission to enter Eretz Yisrael, aiming to bring a tikkun to the world. Rising early the next morning, he journeyed from Shitim to the banks of the Jordan River, leading the Bnei Yisrael. Yet, they didn't proceed to cross immediately; they opted to spend the night by its banks.
וישכם יהושע בבקר ויסעו מהשטים ויבאו עד־הירדן הוא וכל־בני ישראל וילנו שם טרם יעברו
The pasuk interestingly describes their departure from Shitim with an added letter: "השטים", or "The Shitim". The Mishbetzos Zahav explains that to truly enter Eretz Yisrael, Bnei Yisrael had to leave behind all that Shitim symbolized. It was in Shitim where the incident with the Bnos Moav occurred. By leaving "The Shitim," they were purifying themselves, shedding the past, and preparing to step into Eretz Yisrael with renewed kedusha.
Additionally, the Gra1 teaches that thi…
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