BeHa'alosecha: the uplifting break of VaYehi Binsoa

The parsha of "Va'yehi binsoa" (BaMidbar 10:35-36) contextually fits into the description of the camp and its travels, but it appears in our parsha, surrounded by upside-down letter nuns which highlight its being out of place. Our Rabbis explain (Shabbos 115) that the parsha of "Va'yehi binsoa" was inserted here to seperate between two parshiyos which show the Jewish people in a poor light. The parsha before "Va'yehi binsoa" describes the hurry and rush to leave Sinai, "like a child fleeing school", giving the appearance that the Jewish people were afraid to linger lest they would be burdened with even more commandments. The parsha immediately after "Va'yehi binsoa" describes the baseless complaints which emerged on the journey itself.

The reality is that the Jewish people did compound one act of communal poor behavior on top of another. However, as the Alter of Slabodka (Ohr Tzafun III:p.36) explains, the dignity of the people is of such importance that G-d re-arranged the text of Torah to avoid layering criticism on top of crticism. And not just any parsha serves as a break between these criticisms -- the parsha of "Vayehi binsoa" is deliberately placed here for its emphasis on G-d's presence manifest in the camp as the Jewish people are led by the ark. Even when we deserve criticism, G-d reminds us that he remains within our camp, despite our failings.