Torah Commentary - Shelach
*Commentary courtesy of Menahem Me-Zahav
Our Sidrah is named after one word in its beginning: “Shelach Lecha – Send men on your own will to scout the (promised) Land” (13:2). Having left Egypt just two years earlier, the Israelites were preparing to enter the Promised Land. God tells Moses that he should consider sending some men to scout the land. The words “Shelach Lecha” - “Send on your own will” interprets as God saying: “I (God), I am not ordering you. If you (Moses) want to then do send, if not - don’t send”. The idea that God leaves the decision up to Moses is also supported by the famous teaching that “God helps those who help themselves”. Hillel The Elder (Circa 50 BCE) a great Talmudic Scholar came up with a remarkable statement “If I am not for (helping) myself who will" (Hebrew: Im Ein Anni li Mi Li etc). Moses then sends twelve scouts, one from each tribe directing them to collect information regarding the land, its people, its cities’ fortifications, its fruit, its soil, its armies’ strength and anything else that they may deem important. “And Moses said: Ascend the mountain and see the Land…and the people…are they strong or weak, are they many or few…Do they live in tents or in fortified cities…Is the land fertile or lean…And be brave and bring some fruit with you” (13:17-20).
The twelve scouts/spies – a missed opportunity. The scouts tour the land for forty days. They circumvent their basic obligation of reporting directly to Moses. The twelve went straight to the people and told them the land is exactly what they were told “Of milk and Honey” (13:27), they also add “It is so well protected and its inhabitants are all ‘Giants’ making it impossible to overpower them”. Joshua and Caleb, two of the scouts insist that they should go to war and with God’s help they will prevail. A most serious rebellion takes place. The Israelites suggested that they should return to Egypt. God swears that He will punish the offending people. They will not see the Promised Land and their children will be the ones to accomplish this dream after another 38 additional years of wandering through the desert. “All the men that saw my God’s glory in Egypt and in the desert, yet they have tested me and have not heeded to my voice…Surely, they will not see the land that I promised to their fathers” (14:22-23). In a desperate move the condemned Israelites try to fight their way upwards on the hilly land but are beaten back with many casualties.
A variety of laws are presented in the remainder of the Sidrah: (a) Few offerings supplementing the ones listed in Leviticus are mentioned. (b) Setting aside a portion of the dough (1/24-th). It must be given to the Kohanim in the Sanctuary. This custom named Challah is still being observed today by all Kosher Bakery the Challah portion is burnt away. (c) Newcomers (immigrants) are to be treated equally as native-born Jews. (d) The Sidrah concludes with the law of Tzitzit. Tassels - Fringes are to be added to every dress. This law has found its application in the form of the Tallit that we wear daily during the Shacharit prayers.
Haftarah: Joshua 2:1-24, Page 635
Our Haftarah is taken from the book of Joshua. The Israelites have just crossed the Jordan River into the Promised Land and they find themselves camped not far from the city of Jericho. Jericho’s strategic proximity to the Jordan River with its heavily fortified walls is chosen as the first city to be taken over. Taking Jericho will bolster the Israelites’ spirit, their self-confidence and their belief in God. It will generate also great fear among the remaining inhabitants of the land.
Joshua sends two spies from their camp west of the Jordan river instructing them “To go and see the (surrounding) countryside and the City of Jericho” (2:1) hence also the linkage to our Sidrah. The two spies perform their mission flawlessly. They overcome some serious threats to their own lives. Returning to Joshua they give a positive message: “And they said to Joshua: God has given us the whole land. And all its inhabitants are melting away of fear in front of us” (2:24).
The legend of Joshua – a great leader of Israel. Joshua was given the name Hosea the Son of Noon at his birth in Egypt a few years prior to the Exodus. He became the faithful assistant to Moses, who changed his name to Joshua while sending him as one of the twelve scouts (Numbers 13:16). During the forty years in the desert he moved up the ladder of hierarchy to become “The second in Command” after Moses. Upon Moses' passing, Joshua became the supreme leader. Under his leadership the Promised Land will soon be captured and settled by the Jewish people (Circa 1180 BCE). Being a talented, battle toughened strategist, he zeroes in on the target - Jericho itself. He dispatches “two spies” with clear and unambiguous instructions. There is a stark contrast to the twelve scouts’ episode in our Sidrah. The twelve scouts numbered too many people. They were given the task of touring the entire land and above all the term spy was never mentioned. Joshua however with his military talent and his ability to learn from past mistakes was doing everything right. Not surprisingly, the twelve scouts fail miserably while Joshua’s two spies fulfill their task superbly.
Places in Israel carrying Biblical names. Moshav ‘Kefar Bin-Noon’ in central Israel is named after Joshua Bin Noon. It is located in an area where he achieved his most important military victory.
