Parshas Shelach recounts the tragic tale
of the Meraglim, the twelve spies sent to scout out Eretz Yisrael ahead of Bnei
Yisrael. Instead of returning with the true praises of Eretz Yisrael and all it
could be for them, the spies returned with negative reports, burying the
goodness of the land under stories of giants, fortified cities, and grave
danger. The nation believed them completely and refused to enter Eretz Yisrael,
even after hearing everything Hashem had told them about how incredible Eretz
Yisrael is and would be. In return for this lack of faith, they were sentenced
to spend a total of forty years wandering in the desert, and none of the adults
alive at the time would make it to Eretz Yisrael.
The question is of course, why were the
spies sent in the first place? The parsha begins with Hashem commanding Moshe to
send the spies; but why would He command them to do that if He had already told
them about how great it was? Rashi explains that the Bnei Yisrael had come to Moshe
asking him if they could send an advance team to check out the land; he thought
it was a good idea and asked Hashem if he could send them. Hashem responds, “שְׁלַח לְךָ֣
אֲנָשִׁ֗ים” “Send out for yourself, men” (Bamidbar 13:2). If
it was up to Me, Hashem says, I wouldn’t do it. But if you want, go ahead!
So now it appears that
it was Moshe’s fault for sending the spies! Why didn’t he tell the Bnei Yisrael
when they asked him not to worry about it, trust in what Hashem has told them
and everything was going to be awesome? And while Moshe spent the same time in
the desert and didn’t enter Eretz Yisrael like everyone else, the pasuk doesn’t
seem to blame him for what happened!
The Ramban explains
that what Bnei Yisrael requested, and what they actually ended up doing, were
two different things. They presented a practical idea to Moshe, that they send
an advance team, not to check out the quality of the land, but to plot a course
of action for conquering it. What the terrain looked like, the layout of the
cities, how prepared the natives were; these were all important ideas that
needed clarification. Moshe heard this idea and decided it was a good one. Hashem
advised him against it, “send for yourself” He told Moshe, but let him go
ahead with it in the end. However, the spies had different ideas. They went not
as an advance team, but instead tried to undermine the entire move into Eretz
Yisrael. That was something Moshe did not intend, and therefore, he did not
receive the blame.
Shabbat Shalom!
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