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[The spies come back with a giant cluster of grapes from Kenaan.]
Synopsis of the Parashiyot
Key Verse:
ב שְׁלַח-לְךָ אֲנָשִׁים וְיָתֻרוּ אֶת-אֶרֶץ כְּנַעַן אֲשֶׁר-אֲנִי נֹתֵן לִבְנֵי יִשְׂרָאֵל: אִישׁ אֶחָד אִישׁ אֶחָד לְמַטֵּה אֲבֹתָיו תִּשְׁלָחוּ--כֹּל נָשִׂיא בָהֶם
Shlach-lecha anashim veyaturu et-eretz Kena’an asher-ani noten livnei Yisra’el ish echad ish echad lemateh avotav tishlachu kol nasi vahem.
Bamidbar 13:2 "Send for yourself men who shall scout the land of Kenaan, which I am giving to the Benei Yisrael. You shall send one man for each tribe of his fathers, every one a leader among them."
The consequences stemming from this initial command - including the spies' reports, the people's reaction, and G-d's judgment - form the core of Parashat Shlach's narrative and lessons. Thus, this verse acts as the foundation for the parashah's exploration of themes like faith, leadership, and the consequences of one's actions.
Personalities:
Moshe: The leader of the Benei Yisrael who sends out the spies on G-d's command.
Yehoshua (son of Nun): One of the twelve spies, from the tribe of Efrayim. He and Kalev give a positive report.
Kalev (son of Yefuneh): Another of the twelve spies, from the tribe of Yehudah. He joins Yehoshua in giving a favorable report.
The Ten other Spies: Though not all named individually in the parashah, they give the negative report that discourages the people.
The Benei Yisarel: Their reaction to the spies' reports is a crucial part of the story.
G-d: Though not a physical character, G-d's Presence and Reactions are central to the narrative.
Some other noteworthy figures mentioned include:
Aharon: Moshe's brother, who is present during these events.
Miriam: Mentioned briefly at the end of the previous parashah, her absence due to tzara'at provides context.
The Amaleki and Kenaani: Mentioned as inhabitants of the land.
The man gathering wood on Shabbat: An unnamed figure in a separate incident narrated in this parashah.
Parashah Summary:
Parashat Shlach primarily focuses on the episode of the twelve spies sent to scout the land of Kenaan. The key events and themes include:
The Mission of the Spies: G-d instructs Moshe to send twelve men, one from each tribe, to explore Kenaan.
The Exploration: The spies spend 40 days scouting the land, observing its inhabitants, fertility, and defenses. After 40 days, the spies return with samples of the land's bounty, including a large cluster of grapes. They report that the land indeed flows with milk and honey but warn of powerful inhabitants and fortified cities. Ten of the spies express fear and doubt, claiming that conquering the land would be impossible.
Kalev and Yehoshua's Response: Kalev and Yehoshua, two of the twelve spies, disagree with the majority. Kalev asserts that they should proceed to take possession of the land, confident that they can succeed with G-d's help. Yehoshua supports Kalev's optimism.
People's Reaction: The Benei Yisrael, react with despair and rebellion, lamenting their fate and wishing to return to Egypt. They express a lack of faith in G-d's promise and contemplate appointing a new leader to take them back, even threatening to stone Yehoshua and Kalev.
Divine Punishment: G-d becomes angry with the Benei Yisrael's lack of faith. Moshe intercedes on their behalf, and G-d forgives them but decrees that the current generation, except for Kalev and Yehoshua, will not enter the Promised Land. Instead, they will wander in the desert for 40 years until a new generation arises.
The Fate of the Spies: The ten spies who brought the negative report are struck down by a plague and die. Kalev and Yehoshua are spared for their faithfulness.
Additional Laws: The parashah concludes with laws regarding offerings, the importance of distinguishing between intentional and unintentional sins, and the commandment to wear tzitzit on the corners of garments as a reminder of G-d's commandments.
The Shabbat Violator: A brief narrative about a man executed for gathering wood on the Shabbat is included.
This parashah explores themes of faith, leadership, consequences of actions, and the tension between fear and trust in G-d's promises. It serves as a pivotal moment in the Benei Yisrael's journey from Egypt to the Eretz Yisrael.
Insights:
The tragedy of the spies was not in their seeing giants, but in seeing themselves as grasshoppers.
The spies' failure can be understood as a state of the Kabbalistic concept mochin de-katnut (constricted consciousness), where their consciousness was constricted by fear and lack of faith. Despite physically seeing the abundance of the land, their limited spiritual perception caused them to focus on the challenges and dangers. In Kabbalah, these states of mind profoundly affect our perception and interpretation of reality.
True vision comes not just from our physical senses, but from our spiritual and emotional state. It implies that had the spies been in a state of mochin de-gadlut (expanded consciousness), with their consciousness expanded by faith and divine connection, they would have perceived the true nature of the Promised Land and their own capacity to inhabit it.
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