Shabbat 30 June 2024

Numbers 13:1-15:41

Parsha Shelach starts with a command from YHWH to Moses to send out leaders of the tribes to spy out the land of Canaan. We note that these are leaders of the people of Israel. The names of these tribal leaders are given. These include Caleb, son of Jephunah and Hosea son of Nun. I mention these two because of their importance in what happens in the story after the 40 days in Canaan. Before they leave on their journey, Moses changes the name of Hosea to Yehoshua. 

This detail is important. With the new name, the meaning changes from “salvation” to “YHWH saves”.

Why was Hosea’s name changed at this time? 

*Hosea had been a lad under Moses care, and it was time for him to grow up. 

*The significance of the change of name clearly put the responsibility for salvation on YHWH, and not on Yehoshua.

*It appears that Yehoshua was Moses personal emissary, YHWH wanted to single him out as leader and to use his name as a message to Israel.

After 40 days, the spies returned, carrying a huge Eshcol (Cluster) of grapes that was so heavy it had to be carried on a pole between two of the men. But all is not as expected. Ten of the 12 carry an alarming report. Their report stirs up the people about the giants in the land. They claim that they appeared as “grasshoppers” to themselves and to those who lived in the land. This declaration shows their lack of faith in the One who sent them. It shows their idea that they themselves were in charge and that God was not a part of this trip. If their leader was named Yehoshua (YHWH saves), then what were they afraid of? 

At this point Yehoshua and Caleb stood up, trying to stop the madness.

“And Yehoshua the son of Nun and Caleb the son of Jephunneh, who were of them that spied out the land, rent their clothes: and they spake unto all the congregation of the children of Israel, saying, The land, which we passed through to spy it out, is an exceeding good land. If YHWH delight in us, then he will bring us into this land, and give it unto us; a land which flows with milk and honey. Only rebel not against YHWH, neither fear ye the people of the land; for they are bread for us: their defense is removed from over them, and YHWH is with us: fear them not.” (Num 14:6-9).

Notice that Yehoshua declared that the defense (protection) of those enemies, (the Canaanites, the Anakim, the Nephilim, etc), had been removed from them.

In fact, why are we afraid today when descendants of these same people try to destroy us? Where is Yehoshua? Do we not have a promise that will keep us safe? Are we the Covenant People or not? When we see fires that come but do not touch us, when we see bombs that land in open fields and so few have actually been killed, why can we not believe that the Defense of Hamas and Hezbollah has been removed from them?

We know that the people believed the 10 spies evil report and were ready to stone Yehoshua and Caleb. Suddenly, the presence of God descended upon the Mishkan to show His disapproval of their lack of faith and the people’s desire to kill those who stood in faith for the mission which their God had ordained! And the ten ringleaders of the rebellion, the spies who carried an evil report, were smitten by a plague from YHWH. Let’s remember that these were the esteemed leaders of the tribes. Only Yehoshua and Caleb were spared. As to the rest of the people who murmured and complained, they were destined to die in the wilderness, only their young children under 20 years of age would go up to possess the land. 

And again, after Moses told them it was futile, a group of them rebelled and headed off to the land of Canaan and were summarily wiped out by the Amalakites.

The Parsha continues with offerings for different things, which we will not discuss here, but then speaks of blasphemy and rebellion (chapter15:30-31) which is punishable by death, and then presents the example of the man who gathered sticks on the Sabbath. If it is seen in context, the reason for the stoning was not an accidental work that someone did, it has to do with rebellion against what the man knew was forbidden. He was taken out and stoned according to the word of YHWH. Many times Bible students do not look at context. In this case it was clearly an act of rebellion, for it follows the command to put to death those who blaspheme and rebel. 

The last few verses of the Parsha end with the command to wear Tzitzit, a strand of blue on the corners of the garment. They have to do with learning to follow YHWH and not the intentions of the heart:

“Speak unto the children of Israel, and bid them that they make them fringes in the borders of their garments throughout their generations, and that they put upon the fringe of each border a cord of blue: and it shall be unto you for a fringe, that ye may look upon it, and remember all the commandments of YHWH, and do them; and that ye follow not after your own heart and your own eyes, after which ye use to play the harlot; that ye may remember and do all my commandments, and be holy unto your God.” (Num 15:38-40)