Pisqa’ 20146H:43;JN1:57-58 1. “Then all of you approached me” (Dt.1:22)— as a confused mob. Elsewhere He says: “Then all the heads of your tribes and elders approached me” (Dt.5:20)— the children respecting the elders, and the elders respecting the leaders. But here He says: “And all of you approached me” (Dt.1:22)— as a confused mob, children shoving the elders, and elders shoving the leaders.147Cf. Sifre Nu 136.
2. “And you said: let us send men in advance to scout the Land for us” (Dt.1:22). Said R. Shimon: What contemptible people! For this is how they requested scouts!148For a similar expression of revulsion, see Pisqa’ 23.1. Moses replied to them: When you were in a deserted land of brush you didn’t request any scouts. Now, when you are entering a good and broad land, a land flowing with milk and honey, you ask for scouts?149Cf. Sifre Nu 82.
3. “And they returned to us with this proposal”150Heb: davar; literally, “word.” (Dt.1:22)— which language do they speak [in the Land]?151Heb: midabrim. The assonance of davar and midaberim, in addition to the shared root, d-b-r, explains this exegesis.
“And the path of our ascent” (Dt. 1:22)— you can find no path without its twists, nor a path without ambushes, nor a path without crossroads, [all of which hinder invasion].
(דברים א כב) וַתִּקְרְבוּן אֵלַי כֻּלְּכֶם וַתֹּאמְרוּ – בְּעִרְבּוּבְיָא. לְהַלָּן הוּא אוֹמֵר (דברים ה כ): ״וַתִּקְרְבוּן אֵלַי כָּל רָאשֵׁי שִׁבְטֵיכֶם וְזִקְנֵיכֶם״, יְלָדִים מְכַבְּדִים אֶת הַזְּקֵנִים, זְקֵנִים מְכַבְּדִים אֶת הָרָאשִׁים, וְכָאן הוּא אוֹמֵר: וַתִּקְרְבוּן אֵלַי כֻּלְּכֶם, וַתֹּאמְרוּ בְּעִרְבּוּבְיָא, יְלָדִים דּוֹחֲפִים אֶת הַזְּקֵנִים, זְקֵנִים דּוֹחֲפִים אֶת הָרָאשִׁים.
Pisqa’ 20146H:43;JN1:57-58
1. “Then all of you approached me” (Dt.1:22)—
as a confused mob.
Elsewhere He says:
“Then all the heads of your tribes and elders approached me” (Dt.5:20)—
the children respecting the elders,
and the elders respecting the leaders.
But here He says:
“And all of you approached me” (Dt.1:22)—
as a confused mob,
children shoving the elders,
and elders shoving the leaders.147Cf. Sifre Nu 136.
וַתֹּאמְרוּ נִשְׁלְחָה אֲנָשִׁים לְפָנֵינוּ וְיַחְפְּרוּ לָנוּ אֶת הָאָרֶץ, אָמַר רַבִּי שִׁמְעוֹן: עֲלוּבִים בְּנֵי אָדָם שֶׁכָּךְ בִּקְשׁוּ לָהֶם מְרַגְּלִים, אָמַר לָהֶם: אִם כְּשֶׁהֱיִיתֶם בְּאֶרֶץ עֲרָבָה וְשׁוּחָה (ירמיה ב ו) – לֹא בִקַּשְׁתֶּם לָכֶם מְרַגְּלִים, עַכְשָׁיו שֶׁאַתֶּם נִכְנָסִים לְאֶרֶץ טוֹבָה וּרְחָבָה, לְאֶרֶץ זָבַת חָלָב וּדְבַשׁ – בִּקַּשְׁתֶּם לָכֶם מְרַגְּלִים?
2. “And you said: let us send men in advance to scout the Land for us” (Dt.1:22).
Said R. Shimon:
What contemptible people!
For this is how they requested scouts!148For a similar expression of revulsion, see Pisqa’ 23.1.
Moses replied to them:
When you were in a deserted land of brush you didn’t request any scouts.
Now, when you are entering a good and broad land,
a land flowing with milk and honey,
you ask for scouts?149Cf. Sifre Nu 82.
וְיָשִׁיבוּ אֹתָנוּ דָּבָר, בְּאֵיזֶה לָשׁוֹן הֵם מְדַבְּרִים.
3. “And they returned to us with this proposal”150Heb: davar; literally, “word.” (Dt.1:22)—
which language do they speak [in the Land]?151Heb: midabrim. The assonance of davar and midaberim, in addition to the shared root, d-b-r, explains this exegesis.
אֶת הַדֶּרֶךְ אֲשֶׁר נַעֲלֶה בָּהּ, אֵין לְךָ דֶרֶךְ שֶׁאֵין בָּהּ עֲקֻמּוֹת, אֵין לְךָ דֶרֶךְ שֶׁאֵין בָּהּ כְּמָנוֹת, אֵין לְךָ דֶרֶךְ שֶׁאֵין בָּהּ פָּרָשׁוֹת.
“And the path of our ascent” (Dt. 1:22)—
you can find no path without its twists,
nor a path without ambushes,
nor a path without crossroads,
[all of which hinder invasion].
וְאֵת הֶעָרִים אֲשֶׁר נָבוֹא אֲלֵיהֶן, לֵידַע בְּאֵיזֶה דֶּרֶךְ אָנוּ בָּאִים עֲלֵיהֶם.
“And the cities by which we shall come upon them” (Dt. 1:22)—
to know by which path we should attack.