It is brought in the Asarah Maamarot: “Eileh Mas’ey (These are the journeys) of the Israelites” (Numbers 33:1) —because they sinned with “Eileh (This is) your god, Israel” (Exodus 32:4), as a result the Israelites journeyed.
We see, then, that all a person’s journeys are because of a blemish in faith—i.e., an aspect of idolatry. For if he had believed with a perfect faith that God could provide him with all his needs <at home>, he would <certainly> not have set out on any journey. Consequently, the journey [indicates] a blemish in faith—i.e., an aspect of idolatry.
<And> by virtue of his wandering, he rectifies the wandering he caused Above, as it were. As it is written (Isaiah 28:20), “and the cover is too narrow for curling up.”
Also as a result of idolatry, rain does not fall, as is written (Deuteronomy 11:16,17), “[Take care not]… to serve others gods… for there will be no rain [and the ground will not yield its produce].” And when there is no rain, there is no satiation. And when there is no satiation, there is no peace, as Rashi explains the verse (Psalms 72:3), “Let mountains bear peace for the nation.” For when peace is lacking, then people do not help one another, so that each has to journey and wander from place to place to earn his livelihood.
Another cause of exile is the interruption of Torah study, as is written (Isaiah 5:13), “My nation has been exiled, for they lack knowledge.” And idolatry brings drought, and when there is no flour, there is no Torah (Avot 3:17).
לְשׁוֹן רַבֵּנוּ זִכְרוֹנוֹ לִבְרָכָה אִיתָא בַּעֲשָׂרָה מַאֲמָרוֹת: "אֵלֶּה מַסְעֵי בְּנֵי יִשְׂרָאֵל – בִּשְׁבִיל שֶׁחָטְאוּ בְּאֵלֶּה אֱלֹקֶיךָ יִשְׂרָאֵל, בִּשְׁבִיל זֶה יִסְעוּ בְּנֵי יִשְׂרָאֵל".
It is brought in the Asarah Maamarot: “Eileh Mas’ey (These are the journeys) of the Israelites” (Numbers 33:1) —because they sinned with “Eileh (This is) your god, Israel” (Exodus 32:4), as a result the Israelites journeyed.
נִמְצָא, כָּל הַנְּסִיעוֹת שֶׁל אָדָם, הוּא בִּשְׁבִיל קִלְקוּל הָאֱמוּנָה, הַיְנוּ בְּחִינַת עֲבוֹדַת אֱלִילִים, כִּי אִם הָיָה מַאֲמִין בֶּאֱמוּנָה שְׁלֵמָה, שֶׁיָּכוֹל הַקָּדוֹשׁ־בָּרוּךְ־הוּא לְהַזְמִין לוֹ כָּל צָרְכּוֹ, לֹא הָיָה נוֹסֵעַ שׁוּם נְסִיעָה. נִמְצָא, כִּי הַנְּסִיעָה הִיא קִלְקוּל אֱמוּנָה, הַיְנוּ בְּחִינַת עֲבוֹדַת אֱלִילִים.
We see, then, that all a person’s journeys are because of a blemish in faith—i.e., an aspect of idolatry. For if he had believed with a perfect faith that God could provide him with all his needs <at home>, he would <certainly> not have set out on any journey. Consequently, the journey [indicates] a blemish in faith—i.e., an aspect of idolatry.
וְזֶה שֶׁכָּתוּב בְּעֲבוֹדַת אֱלִילִים (ישעיהו ל׳:כ״ב): צֵא תֹּאמַר לוֹ. צֵא, זֶה בְּחִינַת נְסִיעָה וְטִלְטוּל:
This is what is written of idolatry: “Tell him, ‘Get out!’” (Isaiah 30:22). It is an aspect of journeying and wandering.
גַּם עַל־יְדֵי טִלְטוּל, מְתַקֵּן אֶת הַטִּלְטוּל שֶׁגָּרַם כִּבְיָכוֹל לְמַעְלָה, כְּמוֹ שֶׁכָּתוּב (שם כח): וְהַמַּסֵּכָה צָרָה כְּהִתְכַּנֵּס.
<And> by virtue of his wandering, he rectifies the wandering he caused Above, as it were. As it is written (Isaiah 28:20), “and the cover is too narrow for curling up.”
גַּם עַל־יְדֵי עֲבוֹדַת אֱלִילִים נִמְנָע הַמָּטָר, כְּמוֹ שֶׁכָּתוּב (דברים יא): וַעֲבַדְתֶּם אֱלֹהִים אֲחֵרִים וְכוּ' וְלֹא יִהְיֶה מָטָר. וּכְשֶׁאֵין מָטָר, אֵין שׂבַע, וּכְשֶׁאֵין שׂבַע, אֵין שָׁלוֹם. כְּמוֹ שֶׁכָּתוּב (תהלים עב): יִשְׂאוּ הָרִים שָׁלוֹם לָעָם, כְּמוֹ שֶׁפֵּרֵשׁ רַשִׁ"י. וּכְשֶׁאֵין שָׁלוֹם, אֲזַי אֵין אִישׁ עוֹזֵר לַחֲבֵרוֹ, וְכָל אֶחָד צָרִיךְ לִנְסֹעַ וְלִטַּלְטֵל מִמָּקוֹם לְמָקוֹם, בִּשְׁבִיל פַּרְנָסָתוֹ.
Also as a result of idolatry, rain does not fall, as is written (Deuteronomy 11:16,17), “[Take care not]… to serve others gods… for there will be no rain [and the ground will not yield its produce].” And when there is no rain, there is no satiation. And when there is no satiation, there is no peace, as Rashi explains the verse (Psalms 72:3), “Let mountains bear peace for the nation.” For when peace is lacking, then people do not help one another, so that each has to journey and wander from place to place to earn his livelihood.
גַּם הַגָּלוּת בָּא עַל בִּטּוּל תּוֹרָה, כְּמוֹ שֶׁכָּתוּב (ישעיה ה): גָּלָה עַמִּי מִבְּלִי דָּעַת. וְעַל־יְדֵי עֲבוֹדַת אֱלִילִים בָּא עֲצִירַת גְּשָׁמִים, וּכְשֶׁאֵין קֶמַח, אֵין תּוֹרָה (אבות פ"ג):
Another cause of exile is the interruption of Torah study, as is written (Isaiah 5:13), “My nation has been exiled, for they lack knowledge.” And idolatry brings drought, and when there is no flour, there is no Torah (Avot 3:17).