“Send for yourself spies to spy out the land of Canaan” (13:2).
The Ohr HaChaim teaches that Chazal’s statement that a person’s agent is considered his representative, shlucho shel odom kemoso, is seen in the opposite way in the episode of the spies.
First, the Ohr HaChaim discusses the ramifications of the meforshim and Chazal that all the spies were in fact Tzaddikim, all leaders and heads of their tribes. Where did their sin come from? He concludes that the negative and evil intentions of those who sent the spies on their behalf were transferred to the spies themselves, influencing them and transforming them into evil people. Just as those who send agents for the purpose of performing a mitzva infuse their shluchim with sanctity, so the opposite occurred here. Although the spies were initially Tzaddikim, because they were sent as spies – for a negative purpose – this influenced them and transformed them. They became like those who sent them on their mission and they therefore spoke against Hashem and advised Klal Yisrael against entering the Land.
Praises for the Ohr HaChaim HaKodosh
Segula for Pure Thoughts and Yiras Shomayim
The Skulener Rebbe, Rav Eliezer Zisha, used to have the minhag to study the commentary of the Ohr HaChaim HaKodosh with every new chosson on the pasuk kemaasei Eretz Mitzrayim, which admonishes us against following the licentious behavior of the Egyptians. He said that it was a segula for Yiras Shomayim and pure thoughts. (Kadsheini Bemitzvosecha p. 12)
He Saves Whoever Studies His Sefer Regularly
Rav Chaim Palagi writes that it is recorded that during the wars in Poland, the holy Alshich revealed himself to a wise sage who had studied his seforim regularly. “It was revealed to me in a dream that this is also true regarding the holy sefer Ohr HaChaim HaKodosh by Rav Chaim ben Attar [that the author will stand by whoever studies it regularly and save him in times of trouble and need]. (Kaf HaChaim by Rav Chaim Palagi 31:55)
