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Numbers 13:26 - Spies report: land's bounty, but...

Hebrew Text

וַיֵּלְכוּ וַיָּבֹאוּ אֶל־מֹשֶׁה וְאֶל־אַהֲרֹן וְאֶל־כָּל־עֲדַת בְּנֵי־יִשְׂרָאֵל אֶל־מִדְבַּר פָּארָן קָדֵשָׁה וַיָּשִׁיבוּ אוֹתָם דָּבָר וְאֶת־כָּל־הָעֵדָה וַיַּרְאוּם אֶת־פְּרִי הָאָרֶץ׃

English Translation

And they went and came to Moshe and to Aharon, and to all the congregation of the children of Yisra᾽el, to the wilderness of Paran, to Qadesh; and brought back word to them, and to all the congregation, and showed them the fruit of the land.

Transliteration

Vayelchu vayavo'u el-Moshe ve'el-Aharon ve'el-kol-adat bnei-Yisrael el-midbar Paran Kadesha vayashivu otam davar ve'et-kol-ha'edah vayar'um et-pri ha'aretz.

Hebrew Leining Text

וַיֵּלְכ֡וּ וַיָּבֹ֩אוּ֩ אֶל־מֹשֶׁ֨ה וְאֶֽל־אַהֲרֹ֜ן וְאֶל־כׇּל־עֲדַ֧ת בְּנֵֽי־יִשְׂרָאֵ֛ל אֶל־מִדְבַּ֥ר פָּארָ֖ן קָדֵ֑שָׁה וַיָּשִׁ֨יבוּ אֹתָ֤ם דָּבָר֙ וְאֶת־כׇּל־הָ֣עֵדָ֔ה וַיַּרְא֖וּם אֶת־פְּרִ֥י הָאָֽרֶץ׃

Parasha Commentary

Context in the Torah

This verse (Bamidbar 13:26) describes the return of the twelve spies sent by Moshe to scout Eretz Yisrael. They arrive in the wilderness of Paran, specifically at Kadesh, and present their report to Moshe, Aharon, and the entire congregation of Bnei Yisrael, along with the fruit of the land.

Rashi's Commentary

Rashi notes that the phrase "וַיֵּלְכוּ וַיָּבֹאוּ" ("And they went and came") seems redundant. He explains that just as their return was with evil intent (as they planned to deliver a negative report), their initial departure was also with evil intent—indicating their lack of faith from the outset (Rashi on Bamidbar 13:26).

The Wilderness of Paran and Kadesh

The location, מִדְבַּר פָּארָן קָדֵשָׁה ("the wilderness of Paran, to Kadesh"), is significant. The Midrash (Bamidbar Rabbah 16:5) connects Paran to the place where Yishmael dwelled (Bereishit 21:21), suggesting a thematic link to strife and discord, foreshadowing the spies' divisive report.

The Fruit of the Land

The spies showed "פְּרִי הָאָרֶץ" ("the fruit of the land") to the people. The Talmud (Sotah 34a) elaborates that the enormous size of the grapes (carried on a pole between two men) was meant to demonstrate the land's exceptional quality—but the spies twisted this into a reason for fear, claiming its inhabitants were giants.

Rambam's Perspective

Rambam (in Moreh Nevuchim 1:32) discusses how the spies' failure was rooted in a lack of trust in Hashem. Despite witnessing miracles in Mitzrayim and at the Yam Suf, they relied on their own assessment rather than divine assurance—a fundamental error in emunah.

Lessons from the Spies' Report

  • Emunah vs. Human Calculation: The episode underscores the danger of prioritizing human reasoning over faith in Hashem's promises (based on Ramban's commentary).
  • Speech's Power: The spies' negative words incited fear, teaching the destructive potential of lashon hara (as discussed in Arachin 15a).
  • Leadership Failure: Except for Yehoshua and Calev, the spies—who were leaders—misused their influence, highlighting the responsibility of leadership (Sforno on Bamidbar 13:2).

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: What is the significance of the spies bringing back fruit from the Land of Israel?
A: The fruit served as physical proof of the land's fertility, fulfilling Hashem's promise that it was 'a land flowing with milk and honey' (Exodus 3:8). However, Rashi explains that the enormous size of the fruit (carried on a pole between two men) was also meant to test the Israelites' faith - would they focus on the land's goodness or see it as intimidating?
Q: Why did the spies report to Moshe, Aharon AND the entire congregation?
A: The Talmud (Sotah 35a) teaches that the spies first gave an honest report to Moshe and Aharon in private, but then gave a negative, fear-mongering report to the public. This teaches the danger of speaking negatively (lashon hara) and how leaders must be careful with their words, as they influence masses.
Q: What lesson can we learn from the spies going to the Wilderness of Paran?
A: The Midrash (Bamidbar Rabbah 16:5) notes that Paran is associated with the word 'pe'erah' (wildness), hinting that the spies acted wildly and independently rather than following Moshe's instructions properly. This teaches the importance of staying true to our missions and not letting personal biases distort reality.
Q: How does the story of the spies apply to us today?
A: The Rambam (Hilchot De'ot 2:3) derives from this episode that we must judge situations fairly and not exaggerate negatives. Just as the spies' distorted report caused needless fear, we must avoid speaking or believing exaggerated claims without proper evidence, especially about the Land of Israel.