The Fruits of the Land
Parshat Sh’lach deals with the unfortunate episode of the spies that were sent to scout out the land of Israel. Though the spies brought back the fruits of the land, Yehoshua and Calev refrained from participating in this effort. This Sicha analyzes Rashi’s explanation as to why they abstained, and the significance in one’s service to G-d.
This week’s parsha discusses the sojourn of the spies in the Land of Canaan and their depiction of the land as unconquerable. The Torah expresses the way in which they carried back the enormous fruits of the land in the following depiction:
Text 1
They came to the Valley of Eshkol and they cut a branch with a cluster of grapes. They carried it on a pole between two [people] and [they also took] some pomegranates and figs.
Bamidbar 13:23
Rashi’s commentary on the verse gives detail as to the curious way that these enormous fruits were carried:
Text 2
Eight of them took a cluster [of grapes], one took a fig and one took a pomegranate. Yehoshua and Calev did not take anything, for the intention of the others was to present a slanderous report, [namely,] just as its fruit is extraordinary, so its people are extraordinary.
Rashi, ibid
Though Moshe had commanded the spies to bring back fruit, Yehoshua and Calev refrained from doing so because of the evil intentions of the other spies.
This abstention of Yehoshua and Calev is perplexing though. Moshe had specifically commanded the spies, “You shall be courageous and take from the fruit of the land.” If so, being that they were specifically directed to bring back fruit, how were they able to abstain and ignore a direct command from Moshe?
While Rashi explains that they did not participate due to the fact that the other spies had ill intentions in bringing the fruit, this too is not understood.
Why should the other spies’ intentions affect their own actions? They should have taken the fruit with the proper intention of showing the beauty of the land and fulfill the directive given to them by Moshe.
Send for yourself
This question can possibly be answered through understanding the background behind the mission to scout out the Land of Israel (then known as Canaan).
When G-d allowed Moshe to send spies to the Land of Israel, the Torah uses the expression, “Send out for yourself men who will scout the Land of Canaan, which I am giving to the children of Israel.”
Rashi comments that the reason for this language of “send out for yourself” is because G-d Himself did not actually command Moshe to send spies.
Text 3
According to your own understanding. I am not commanding you, but if you wish, you may send.
Rashi, Bamidbar 13:2
Accordingly, one possibly could explain that because it was not G-d’s command, Yehoshua and Calev felt that it was in their right to abstain from bringing back fruit, as the particulars of the mission were unimportant. Being that it was not a command from G-d but from Moshe, they felt that when there were malicious intentions tied to the fruit, they had the right to refrain from participating.
This, though, obviously cannot be the case, as it is inconceivable that Yehoshua and Calev would ignore a direct command from Moshe.
Being that Moshe did indeed send them and command them to bring back fruit, this detail of bringing back the produce was obviously important to their mission.
If so, it must be understood how they could ignore a clear directive of Moshe and refrain from carrying back the fruits of the land?
The mission was annulled
This answer that Rashi presents concerning Yehoshua and Calev’s nonparticipation (Text 2) is brought in the Talmud as well, but with variations:
Text 4
If you wish I can say [that they did not carry anything] because they were the most distinguished of them, or alternatively that they did not have a share in the plan.
Talmud, Sotah 34a
It seems that the difference between the two answers is whether or not Yehoshua and Calev were still technically bound to the mission or not, at the point when the spies concocted their plot to speak ill of the land.
According to the first reason that is brought in the Talmud, namely, that “they were the most distinguished,” it is understood that technically Yehoshua and Calev should have brought fruit, but they were absolved from their duty because of their stature.
However, they were still bound to fulfill the mission, notwithstanding the evil intent of their fellow spies. The only reason that they were permitted to remove themselves from the mission was not because the mission was not important but because they were important.
According to the second reason brought by the Talmud though, that Yehoshua and Calev did not bring the fruits because “they did not share in the plan,” it would seem that once the spies came up with an evil plan, the mission was no longer, and they were therefore not bound to the specific instructions of the mission.
It would seem that Rashi—who explains that the reason that Yehoshua and Calev did not take fruit was because “the intention of the others was to present a slanderous report,” and does not explain that the reason that they abstained was because of their stature—believes that the mission was nullified and they therefore did not need to bring the fruit.
Problem
Yet, this explanation of the mission being nullified due to the evil intentions of the spies seems highly unlikely according to a simple understanding of the Torah.
For, we see that when Yehoshuah and Calev returned from the land of Canaan they indeed reported regarding the land, and seemed to have therefore fulfilled the mission they had received from Moshe.
Text 5
Calev silenced the people to [hear about] Moshe, and he said, "We can surely go up and take possession of it, for we can indeed overcome it."... They spoke to the entire congregation of the children of Israel, saying, "The land we passed through to scout is an exceedingly good land. If the Lord desires us, He will bring us to this land and give it to us, a land flowing with milk and honey. But you shall not rebel against the Lord, and you will not fear the people of that land for they are [as] our bread. Their protection is removed from them, and the Lord is with us; do not fear them."
Bamidbar 13:30; Bamidbar 14:7-9
Indeed, as Rashi explains, Yehoshua and Calev were the only ones of the spies who fulfilled the mission and they therefore took the place of the others in the land after the Almighty punished the spies who had sinned.
Text 6
They took the spies’ portion in the land, and replaced them in life, as it were.
Rashi, Bamidbar 14:38
It is therefore improbable to say that Yehoshua and Calev did not take fruit due to their belief that the mission had been canceled, as we see that they continued to do all in their power to fulfill the mission.
Between Rashi and the Talmud
This reasoning behind Yehoshua’s and Calev’s abstention can be understood through prefacing...
