It is generally assumed that the purpose of sending the twelve spies, as they
are known, to the Land of Canaan was a military one. They wished to know how
best to prepare for the capture of that land – so it is suggested.
There are many objections to this view: -
The usual Hebrew word for spies is “Meraglim” whilst here the term used
exclusively is “Tarim”.
Having been aware of G-d’s protection, why should they now act as if G-d were
not to be with them in Israel.
The information they sought, with one exception, was of a non-military nature –
indeed they were to bring back agricultural produce, which is completely out of
place in a mission of military purpose.
Why did they even have to bring back fruit – had not Hashem told them many times
that Israel was a land flowing with milk and honey?
What exactly was the sin of these men, which finally led to an entire generation
remaining in forced exile for forty years?
This latter question may be somewhat clarified by referring to the first Rashi
to our Sedra, who suggests that their sin was similar to Miriam’s when she spoke
Lashon Hara against her brother. But all this requires explanation.
We may approach the entire episode in a different way. When G-d chose Abraham
and his descendants after him, it was so that they could be a unique nation, a
nation entrusted with bringing the Torah, G-d’s word, to the rest of mankind.
This in no way implies “better”, it implies “special” in the sense of mission
not talents.
It was the plan of G-d that his special people should dwell in a special land –
not a better land, but a land whose uniqueness would be appropriate to the
uniqueness of the Jewish people. On the words of Habbakuk [Chapter3, Verse 6] –
“He stood, and measured the earth”, our Rabbis have commented – “the Holy One,
Blessed be He, measured all the lands and found no land suitable to be given to
Israel other than the Land of Israael” [Vayikra Rabba, Chapter 3].
Seen in this light, the Land of Canaan is not merely a national home – it is the
bride of Israel. When Joshua crossed the Jordan at the head of the Children of
Israel, it was not a nation moving into a new location it was a consummation of
a marriage – an act of betrothal. From that time on, our destiny and the destiny
of the land were to be intertwined for all time. And even when Israel was
exiled, the Torah had already told us – “and I will lay waste the land”. The
land, as a loyal wife will not share her favours with others.
However Jewish Law dictates that it is forbidden to enter into a marriage or
even betrothal prior to seeing the bride-to-be. So it was that Moses sent a
representative delegation to meet the Bride of Israel and to bring back a report
concerning her.
The tragedy is that those men ignored their mission – they conducted themselves
like spies sent out only to see the geography of the country. They totally
ignored the exclusivity of the land and its appropriateness for the Jewish
people. Only Caleb who had journeyed to Chevron fulfilled that task.
And so they came back and spoke of Israel as a land for the better or for the
worse, but only a land. In this they resembled Miriam who spoke of her brother
Moses as another prophet – blind to the uniqueness of his prophecy.
A generation that ignored the exclusivity of the land could not enter it to take
possession of it. In the same way as the generation whose actions betrayed the
holy purpose for which people and land were united, were exiled from it.
Our generation has witnessed the renewal of that marriage bond after centuries
of estrangement. It is an undisputed fact that our return, and indeed our entire
relationship with the land is unique in world history. It is vital that we
should not only recognise but also understand this relationship. By so doing,
the people of G-d, united with its land and also allowed to live in peace with
it and its neighbours, will once again become “the light to the nations”,
bringing G-d’s word and message of the dignity of all men, created in His image,
and with it an era of peace to a world that yearns passionately for it.
