dsc@mtgzz.UUCP (d.s.chechik) (06/11/85)
Weekly Dvar Torah - Parashas Shelach
This week's sedrah deals mostly with the meraglim (spies)
sent by Moshe to Eretz Canaan for reconnaissance. The
meraglim return saying terrible things about the Land and
about G-d's ability to give the Land to the Jewish nation.
The Jewish people listen and are consequently punished by
not being able to enter the Land and (the entire generation)
dying while roaming the midbar (desert) for 40 years.
The parasha is difficult to understand for many reasons.
However, we will focus on Moshe's actions in the sending of
the meraglim.
We find that Moshe chose 12 men, one from each tribe, and
Rashi tells us: 'kal anashim shebimikra lashon chashivus
v'oso shua k'shayrim hayu'. The word "anashim" in the
scriptures (used to describe the 12 men) denotes importance,
and that at that time (when they were selected) they were
righteous.
The Torah names the twelve men and then says that Moshe
called "Hoshaya bin Nun" Yehoshua and Rashi comments (from
the gemara in Sota): "hispalel alav ka hoshiacha mayatsas
meraglim", Moshe prayed for yehoshua saying may G-d save you
from the counsel of the spies.
A question that can be asked is if, as the previous Rashi
said, the men were honorable and righteous, why was Moshe
praying that Yehoshua be saved from their counsel (project)?
Furthermore, if Moshe knew about the meraglim's plans, why
did he send them? Yet another question is why, if he was
praying for Yehoshua, did he not also pray for the rest of
the meraglim?
Obviously then, Moshe had reason, at the time, only to
suspect Yehoshua and not the rest of the meraglim. Why?
What was there about Yehoshua that would cause Moshe to
distrust him rather than any of the others?
The first mishna of this weeks "Perek" (chapter 3) starts
with "Akavya ben Mehalallayl omer: histakeyl beshelosha
devarim ve'ayn ata ba liyidei avaira". Akavya ben
Mehalallayl says: Observe three things and you will not
enter the hands of sin. The language is strange, what does
"enter the hands of sin" mean?
There are two types of Avairos (sins): those one knows are
wrong, but because of personal weakness and the strength of
the desire, one finds difficult to keep away from and those
which our evil inclination disguises as a mitsvah.
The first type are easier to keep away from and even should
one be trapped, since one realizes that what is being done
is wrong, one can repent.
The latter type are much more difficult to stay away from
because we are convinced that we are doing what is right and
even if it is a difficult avaira to commit, we will use all
our religious ferver to commit it.
In the former type of sin, one is in control of the avaira
in that, if he wants to he can give it up. The later type
of sin gets a hold of the person. And it will not be shaken
off.
The mishne is telling us how to keep away from the latter
type of avaira, i.e., to avoid getting caught in the hand
of sin.
The same difference applies in the case of the meraglim.
The Zohar tells us that the reason the meraglim sinned was
because they felt that if the Jews went into the Land, they
would lose their positions and that new leaders would be
appointed in their stead.
Yehoshua was another story. He knew that Moshe would not
enter the Land and that when it came time for the people to
enter, Moshe would die. Moshe knew from the story of Eldad
and Maydad in the previous sedrah (two prophets who
prophesied that Moshe would die and Yehoshua would bring the
people into the Land. Yehoshua objected strongly, saying
"Stop them!!") that Yehoshua would go to some length to
avoid their prophesy.
So far as the other meraglim, Moshe had no reason to suspect
them. As the first Rashi said, they were righteous men.
Moshe thought that they would avoid such seemingly petty
considerations and go about their mission honestly.
Yehoshua, on the other hand, might have thought that he
would be doing a mitsvah, keeping the Jews out of the Land
so that Moshe could live. So Moshe prayed that if the
meraglim should speak about slandering the Land to keep the
Jews out, they would be able to realize that their
intentions are not proper. Yehoshua might think it was a
mitsvah, so protect him.
Adapted from the sefer "Kehilas Yitzchok"
- 3 -
Dovid Chechik
AT&T Information Systems
Lincroft, NJ (201)576-6393
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