Sin of the Spies

Stories

The twelve spies feature in the books of Numbers and Deuteronomy. They were a group of leaders - one from each tribe - sent by Moses to scout the land of Canaan ahead of the Israelites arrival there. They came back reporting that the land was good, but that it was filled with giants and fearsome enemies. This prompted the Israelites to cry and complain that they did not want to enter the land. Two of the twelve spies, Joshua and Caleb, attempted to assuage their fears and remind the people of God’s commitment that the Israelites’ would enter the land.

Notable Sources

All Sources

Caleb's Faith vs. The Spies' Fear

TANAKH

Caleb's unwavering faith stands in stark contrast to the fear and doubt spread by the other spies. The Book of Numbers recounts the conflicting reports from the spies sent to scout the Promised Land, highlighting Caleb's confidence and the other spies' fear-mongering.

Caleb hushed the people before Moses and said, “Let us by all means go up, and we shall gain possession of it, for we shall surely overcome it.” But the other men who had gone up with him said, “We cannot attack that people, for it is stronger than we.” Thus they spread calumnies among the Israelites about the land they had scouted, saying, “The country that we traversed and scouted is one that devours its settlers. All the people that we saw in it are of great size;

Numbers 13:30-32

From Spies to Destruction

CHASIDUT

The weeping caused by the spies' negative report on the night of Tisha B'Av led to a generational decree of mourning and ultimately the destruction of the Holy Temple. In Likutei Moharan, Nachman of Breslov connects the sin of the spies to the destruction of the Temple, emphasizing the long-lasting impact of their actions.

For it was on account of the sin of the spies that Moshe Rabbeinu pleaded: “Please forgive the iniquity of this people” (Numbers 14:19). And it was the sin of the spies that caused the destruction of the Holy Temple. As our Sages, of blessed memory, taught: God said to them, “You wept without cause; I shall institute for you a weeping for generations” (Taanit 29a). For that night was the evening of Tisha b’Av, on which the Holy Temple was destroyed. It was over this that Moshe Rabbeinu pleaded “Please forgive!” For all transgressions are linked to this sin and fault…

Likutei Moharan, Part II 7:11:2

The Day of Weeping

COMMENTARY

The return of the spies from Canaan on the Ninth of Av established this day as one of mourning for generations. Rashi, the renowned 11th-century biblical commentator, explains the significance of this timing and its impact on Jewish history.

He has proclaimed a gathering against me. A gathering of troops to come against me. And our Rabbis expounded what they expounded. Tammuz of that year was a full month [=30 days], of the second year from their Exodus from Egypt. Therefore, the return of the spies occurred on the night of the ninth of Av, upon which their weeping was established for generations.

Rashi on Lamentations 1:15:2

The Manipulation of the Spies

MUSAR

The spies strategically mentioned Amalek to manipulate the Israelites into fearing the conquest of Canaan. Rabbi Isaiah HaLevi Horowitz’s 17th-century work, Shenei Luchot HaBerit, delves into the psychological tactics used by the spies to instill doubt and fear among the Israelites.

The spies commenced their report very deviously by referring to Amalek, whom they described as inhabiting the South of the land (13,29), thereby hinting at the role promised Joshua at the time he had led the battle against Amalek. What they meant to convey was that since Moses was alive and well, it was clear that the time to attempt to dislodge Amalek had not yet come, since that was to be Joshua's task only after Moses had died. Another reason they did so was that the very name of Amalek conjured up the time Israel had sinned when they had questioned G–d's presence in their midst…

Shenei Luchot HaBerit, Torah Shebikhtav, Sh'lach, Torah Ohr 28

Correcting the Sin of Evil Speech

HALAKHAH

Before redemption can take place, the sin of lashon hara (evil speech) committed by the spies must be corrected. The Chafetz Chaim, Rabbi Yisrael Meir Kagan’s seminal 19th-century work, comprehensively organizes the laws of proper speech, drawing from the Torah, Talmud, and early commentators.

Furthermore, is it not well known that exile had already been decreed upon us because of the act of the spies (viz. Tehillim 106:25-27): "And they murmured in their tents [against the land]. They hearkened not to the voice of the L–rd. And He lifted up His hand [in oath] against them… to scatter them in the lands," as Rashi and the Ramban explain there (Bamidbar 14). And the sin of the spies — was it not that of lashon hara! (viz. Arachin 15a). Therefore, it is imperative that we correct this sin before the redemption can take place.

Chafetz Chaim, Preface 6

The Consequences of Malicious Speech

TALMUD

The punishment of the spies who defamed the land of Israel serves as a powerful lesson on the severe consequences of malicious speech. Rabbi Elazar ben Perata's teaching in the Talmud uses this incident to illustrate the gravity of defaming even inanimate objects and, by extension, the even greater severity of defaming another person.

It is taught in a baraita that Rabbi Elazar ben Perata says: Come and see how great the power of malicious speech is. From where do we derive this? From the punishment received by the spies. And if one who defames the wood and rocks of Eretz Yisrael received such a severe punishment, then with regard to one who defames another person, all the more so will he be punished severely.

Arakhin 15a:11

Moshe's Personal Loss

COMMENTARY

The sin of the spies not only affected the Israelites but also had a profound impact on Moshe's personal fate and his vision for entering the land of Canaan. Rabbi Francis Nataf's analysis delves into Moshe's personal sense of loss and the broader implications of the spies' sin.

Moshe’s agreement to the scouting mission was a bet on the Jews getting it right. When they did not, he was left with little to look forward to. As such, he would expect nothing more than the same fate that was sealed for the generation that left Egypt. Moshe understood that the spy episode had been the gamble that forever dashed his plan to enter the land. For even if the Jews conquered the land, as they eventually did, it would be done in a mundane way that would no longer be in line with his vision. Perhaps a shadow of Moshe could go into the land this way…

Redeeming Relevance; Deuteronomy, CHAPTER 1 Moshe's Obsession with the Spies 51

Pre-existing Skepticism

MIDRASH

The Israelites' skepticism and derision towards God existed even before the incident of the spies. The medieval midrash Bamidbar Rabbah, an 11th-century midrash on the book of Numbers, reveals that God was aware of the Israelites' tendencies but allowed Moses to send the spies upon his request.

When they said to Moses: “Let us send men before us,” Moses began standing and pondering, he said: ‘Is it possible for me to do anything until I consult with the Holy One blessed be He?’ He went and consulted. He said to Him: ‘Your children are requesting such and such.’ The Holy One blessed be He said to him: ‘This is not a first for them. While they were still in Egypt, they derided Me,’ as it is stated: “This was their derision in the land of Egypt” (Hosea 7:16). ‘They are accustomed to this. I need not test them,’ as it is written: “He knows what is in the darkness…

Bamidbar Rabbah 16:8

Leadership Crisis in the Wilderness

JEWISH THOUGHT

The breakdown in leadership among Moses' senior authorities led to the failure of the scouting mission and a subsequent insurgence among the Israelites. Dr. Erica Brown's analysis in 'Leadership in the Wilderness' delves into the events of Bamidbar Rabbah, an 11th-century midrash on the book of Numbers, exploring themes of faith, leadership, and communal responsibility.

The repeated lapses of leadership signal a change among Moses’ most senior and veteran authorities. In Numbers 12, Miriam and Aaron complained about Moses’ level of prophecy and his family life. It is little surprise that one chapter later, twelve of Moses’ choicest leaders failed miserably in their assignment and that the core group of ten of these leaders expanded into the 250 officials who challenged Moses and Aaron only a few chapters later with Korah at their head. The breakdown in leadership was fast gaining momentum and reached agonizing proportions when the camp refused to advance…

Leadership in the Wilderness; Authority and Anarchy in the Book of Numbers, Part II, Chapter 8; Betraying the Vision 11

From Righteousness to Defeat

COMMENTARY

The Israelites' moral and spiritual status dramatically shifted after their lack of faith, leading to their defeat and prolonged wandering. Rabbi Chaim ibn Attar's 18th-century commentary, Or HaChaim, delves into the spiritual consequences of the Israelites' actions during the episode of the scouts.

At the time of the Exodus as well as at the time when they despatched the spies about 15 months later, the Israelites were on the level of perfectly righteous people. Although they had sinned during the episode of the golden calf, they had been punished for that sin and had regained their status as צדיקים גמורים, as perfectly righteous people. The "echo" of that sin was not strong enough to deprive them of that title especially vis-a-vis the Emorites. In Sanhedrin 110 Rabbi Eliezer describes the people at that time as pious, quoting Psalms 50…

Or HaChaim on Genesis 15:16:6

The Strategy of Slander

TALMUD

The necessity of beginning slander with a truthful statement to make it credible is a fascinating insight into human behavior and communication. The Talmudic tractate Sotah discusses the spies' report about the land of Canaan, explaining why they began with praise before expressing their concerns.

The Torah states: “And they told him, and said: We came to the land to which you sent us, and it also flows with milk and honey” (Numbers 13:27), and then it is written: “However the people that dwell in the land are fierce” (Numbers 13:28). Why did the spies praise the land and then slander it? Rabbi Yoḥanan says three statements in the name of Rabbi Meir, represented by the mnemonic device: Truth, alone, borrowing. The first statement answers this question: Any slander that does not begin with a truthful statement ultimately does not…

Sotah 35a:2

The Psychological Impact of Fear

COMMENTARY

Fear can distort rational thinking and lead to irrational actions, even when we know better. Rabbi Jonathan Sacks delves into the psychological and emotional factors that influenced the spies' perception and decision-making in the story from the Book of Numbers.

“The heart is deceitful above all things and desperately wicked; who shall know it?” said Jeremiah (17:9). One of the blessings and curses of human nature is that we use our power of reason not always and only to act rationally, but also to rationalise and make excuses for the things we do, even when we know we should not have done them. That, perhaps, is one of the lessons the Torah wishes us to draw from the story of the spies. Had they recalled what God had done to Egypt, the mightiest empire of the ancient world, they would not have said, “We cannot attack those people…

Essays in Ethics; A Weekly Reading of the Jewish Bible, Shelah; Assembling Reminders 15

The Goodness of the Promised Land

COMMENTARY

The spies' report, often seen as negative, also contains a positive affirmation about the goodness of the land God is giving to the Israelites. Rabbi Adin Steinsaltz's modern translation and commentary on the Hebrew Bible offers a fresh perspective on the episode of the twelve spies, emphasizing the positive aspects of their report.

They took in their hand from the fruit of the land and brought it down to us; they brought back word to us, and said: The land that the Lord our God is giving to us is good. According to the parallel account in Numbers, after the spies admitted that the land was good, they added other comments which ruined what would otherwise have been a positive report. However, in this speech, Moses is generally not interested in emphasizing private sins. He therefore highlights the positive aspect of the spies’ report.

Steinsaltz on Deuteronomy 1:25

The Fate of the Spies

TALMUD

The spies who spread an evil report about Canaan are said to have no share in the World-to-Come. The Talmud in Tractate Sanhedrin interprets the phrase “died by plague before the Lord” to mean both in this world and the World-to-Come.

The spies who spread an evil report of their visit to Canaan have no share in the World-to-Come, as it is stated: “And those men who spread the evil report about the land died by plague before the Lord” (Numbers 14:37). “And…died” indicates in this world; “by plague” indicates for the World-to-Come.

Sanhedrin 108a:2

The Three Types of Sin

CHASIDUT

The sins committed by the Israelites are categorized into three distinct types, each with enduring consequences across generations. Rabbi Shmuel Bornsztain, the second Sochatchover Rebbe, in his early 20th-century Hasidic discourses, explores these categories and their implications.

However, an act of the Satan succeeded. As at Mount Sinai, they made the [golden] calf, such that the sin of idolatry is a sin of the intellect. At the Tent of Meeting, there was the sin of the scouts when they rejected the precious land, and [exhibited] fear of the seven nations – such that all of this was a sin of the soul, the seat of which is in the heart. The Plains of Moav was the sin of the daughters of Moav, which was with the body. And some from each of these remained for [all] the generations…

Shem MiShmuel, Shavuot 3:22

Divine Retribution and Salvation

SECOND TEMPLE

The immediate divine retribution that befell the ten cowardly spies and those who shared their disbelief contrasts sharply with the salvation of Joshua and Caleb due to their obedience to God's commands. Philo of Alexandria, in his work blending Jewish tradition with Hellenistic philosophy, recounts the biblical story of the twelve spies sent by Moses to scout the land of Canaan.

[236] This roused their ruler’s indignation, who, at the same time, feared lest some scourge should descend upon them from God for their senseless disbelief in His utterances. This actually happened. For the ten cowardly spies perished in a pestilence with those of the people who had shared their foolish despondency, while the two who alone had advised them not to be terrified, but hold to their plan of settlement, were saved, because they had been obedient to the oracles, and received the special privilege that they did not perish with the others.

On the Life of Moses, Book I 42:6

Mercy Despite Transgressions

TARGUM

Despite the Israelites' repeated provocations, which included the infamous sin of the spies, God's mercy and the divine covenant prevented their total destruction. The Targum Jerusalem, an Aramaic translation and interpretation of the Hebrew Bible, provides a comprehensive recounting of the Israelites' past transgressions and God's continued mercy.

These are the words that Mosheh, spake with all Israel, reproving them, while as yet they were situate beyond the Jordan. Mosheh answering said to them: Was it not in the wilderness at Mount Sinai, that the law was given to you? And on the plains of Moab was shown you what miracles and mighty acts the Word of the Lord had wrought on your behalf. When you stood by the Weedy Sea, the sea was divided before you, and there were made twelve ways of one way, (a path) for each tribe. Yet you provoked Him at the sea, and rebelled at the Sea of Suph…

Targum Jerusalem, Deuteronomy 1:1

The Consequence of the Spies' Sin

HALAKHAH

Tisha B'Av marks five significant events that transpired on this date. Among them, God's punishment of the Israelites for their lack of faith in the episode of the spies, resulting in their exclusion from entering the Land of Israel, stands prominently. These events collectively shape a narrative of divine retribution and historical tragedy commemorated on this solemn occasion.

Traditionally, five events occurred on this date: God punished the Israelites who participated in the sin of the spies, decreeing that they would not enter the Land of Israel. In 586 BCE, the First Temple was destroyed by the soldiers of Nebuchadnezzar, king of Babylon. In 70 CE, the Second Temple was destroyed by the Romans, under Titus. The city of Beitar was destroyed following the failure of the Bar Kochba Revolt, in 135 CE. The Romans plowed over the city of Jerusalem after the Bar Kochba Revolt…

From Sinai to Ethiopia, Shulhan haOrit; The Halakhah of Ethiopian Jewry, Then and Now, 4 Holidays and Festivals 28:18-23

Stamp of Israel - Festivals 5715, with inscription on tab: "the land... it floweth with milk and honey" Numbers 14, 8. Designer: G. Hamori, Issued: September 8, 1954, Israeli postage stamp catalog, Catalog Number: 125

Relatedראו גם

Moses' Death and Burial

Joshua

Deuteronomy

Generation of the Desert

Sheetsדפי מקורות

Related Sheets