ונסב לכם הגבול מנגב למעלה עקרבים ועבר צנה (מסעי לד:ד)

During his last summer, around two and a  half months before the Brisker Rav zt’’l passed away, because of his great weakness, he lay in his bed in his room.On Shabbos Parshas Matos-Massai,when Baal Korah read the parsha out loud, the Brisker Rav listened with his last bit of strength, concentrating on every word.  When the Baal Korah read the passuk ונסב לכם הגבול מנגב למעלה עקרבים ועבר צנה -he pronounced the word “צנה”  as “צנ-ה”. Suddenly, they heard the Brisker Rav say that it needs to be read “צ-נה” – those in the room were shocked.  How is it possible that those standing near the Baal Korah didn’t hear the mistake, and the Brisker Rav, from his sick bed, did pick up on it?  

After davening, the Brisker Rav explained: There is a big difference between the word “צ-נה” and “צנ-ה” – when you read it the first way, it translates to the ‘place that is called Zin’ – when you put the emphasis on the “נ” it translates to ‘one who protects’ as it says in Tehilim (צא-ד), the word צנה meaning protector – “צנה וסחרה אמתו” – and that doesn’t belong here in the Parsha.