In last week's Parsha, we learned about how the Jewish people knew when to stop and go as they traveled in the desert... and about some more miraculous food that fell from the sky! This week, Moses sends spies to go ahead of everyone and check out the land of Israel. What will they find? And what will happen when they report back to the rest of the people?
Spies!
"My fellow Jews," Moses announced. "The moment we have all been waiting for is drawing near. In just a few days, we will enter the Land of Israel - Eretz Yisrael!"
Shouts of joy rang out through the crowd of thousands. But not everyone was happy.
"We're in for big trouble! How will we ever conquer a land that is filled with so many mighty nations? We're much too weak to win battles against them. Perhaps it's better if we don't even try!"
Someone said, "Hey, I have an idea. Let's send spies ahead of us to check things out. They can report back to us about how strong the enemy is, and tell us what would be the best way to attack."
The idea caught on quickly.
"Yes! Let's send spies!"
"Spies! Yes! Let's go tell Moses right now!"
They crowded around Moses, all talking at once.
"Spies, did you say?" asked Moses. "What do we need spies for? God promised us the land of Israel and will fight our battles for us! We have nothing to be afraid of."
"We want spies! We want spies! We want spies!" the people chanted.
"Well... let me ask God."
Your Mission, Should You Choose to Accept It...
Moses asked, and God answered, "If they really want to do this, then let them do it. You will choose twelve spies - the best person from each tribe."
So Moses chose a good and holy person from every tribe except Levi. (One explanation is that since Levi would not be getting a piece of the land, the people of the tribe of Levi did not think sending spies was important for them. Another possibility is that the people from the tribe of Levi simply had more faith in God than the other tribes.)
Moses gathered all twelve of them together and gave them a pep talk.
"Listen up! You are being sent on an important mission. Is everybody listening?"
There was a lot of whispering and chatting.
"Attention! I am giving you important instructions!"
There was a lot of fidgeting and rustling. Only Joshua, the representative from the tribe of Ephraim, and Caleb, from the tribe of Judah, seemed to be paying attention to Moses's words.
"First of all, you should enter at the southern part of the land and work your way northward."
Moses knew that the land of Israel was extremely fruitful. Even the southern part, which was less fruitful than the rest of the land, was far more abundant than Egypt. Think of how impressed the spies would be when they first entered Israel and saw how much produce there was... and then, when they traveled north, the land would keep getting better and better!
Moses really wanted the spies to bring back a glowing report about the land. That way, the Jewish people would be encouraged and would continue confidently on their journey.
Moses continued, "Find out what kinds of people live there, and see what type of land it is. Don't forget to bring back some sample fruit for everyone to see!"
Joshua and Caleb nodded. The other ten spies looked restless.
"Last but not least, check out where the people of the land live. Make a note of where the big cities are. That way we'll be able to plan where to send our armies."
"We will take care of everything," answered the spies. And with that, they were off.
The Adventure Begins!
As planned, the spies entered Israel from the south. They had no trouble crossing the border. No one seemed to notice them, and no one tried to attack them. And they weren't even in disguise! They just casually strolled right in, as if they were just taking a walk in the park.
But where was everyone? Surely someone should have noticed that these twelve strangers looked a bit... suspicious. What was going on?
Actually, it was a miracle that they were left alone. God made it happen that wherever the spies went, a plague caused a king or a queen to pass away just in time. That way, everyone in town was too busy going to the royal funeral to notice that there were spies lurking around!
Meanwhile, the spies had a chance to snoop and poke around to check out the land. They tiptoed over hills, peeked out from behind trees... and boy, were they impressed! There were giant fruits growing everywhere! It really was a "land flowing with milk and honey!"
There was just one little problem. The spies really didn't want to get excited about how wonderful and fruitful the land was. They planned to bring back a discouraging report to the rest of the Jewish people - because they were afraid to go to war! What if they were killed in battle against the mighty nations of Canaan (Israel)?
The spies didn't trust that God would be with them and help them win their wars against the enemy nations. So, somehow they would have to make those fantastic fruits seem like bad news...
Give Me Strength!
Only two of the spies trusted in God.
One was Caleb, the other was Joshua.
The spies moved forward until they reached Hebron, where the Tomb of The Patriarchs, known as the Cave of the Machpaila is. (We read about the Cave of Machpaila way back in the Book of Bereishit. That's where the forefathers and foremothers of the Jews are buried.)
Caleb excused himself from the rest of the spies and ducked into the cave.
He started to pray to God: "Please, let me be strong and not go along with the evil plans of my fellow spies, who want to bring back a bad report! I know that You have given us this land, and we will be successful!"
The Fruits of Their Labor
After the stop at the cave, the spies were back in business, scoping things out.
They were walking along, peering around corners, over fences, and under rocks. When they passed a field of fruit trees, they decided to pick some samples to bring back to show Moses, as he had requested.
It wasn't easy. One person carried an enormous pomegranate. Another carried a gigantic fig. And it took eight people to carry a colossal bunch of grapes! The spies planned to bring the fruits back to Moses and the people, and scare them out of entering the land.
"We'll tell everyone that this land is not meant for ordinary people. It's for giants! This fruit is proof of that!" Joshua and Caleb heard what the others were saying, and they didn't approve. They said, "If you plan to use these incredible fruits for your evil plan, I don't want any part of it, and I won't help carry any fruit. Count me out!"
A BIG Problem!
Suddenly, the spies came face to face (well, more like face to foot) with the shock of their lives... GIANTS!
"Look up! There really are giants!" they said.
Towering way above the trees, three giants looked down at the spies.
"Hey!" said one. "Those little creatures down there are taking our fruit! What are those creatures anyway... grasshoppers?"
"No," said another. "They're ants, I think."
TM by O. Werner © 1998 Parshas Shlach Yossi & Co. is brought to you by Ohr Somayach
