Parashat Shelach Lecha - Third Aliyah

Yehoshua son of Nun and Calev son of Yefuneh continue trying to strengthen the people:

“Im chafetz banu Adonai veheviyi otanu el ha’aretz hazot untanah lanu, eretz asher hi zavat chalav udvash. Akh badonai al timrodu ve’atem al tire’u et am ha’aretz ki lachmenu hem, sar tzilam me’aleihem vAdonai itanu, al tira’um” (If Adonai delights in us, He will bring us into this land and give it to us, a land flowing with milk and honey. Only do not rebel against Adonai, and do not fear the people of the land, for they are our bread, their protection is removed from over them, and Adonai is with us, do not fear them) (Bamidbar 14:8-9)

The response is harsh: “Vayomru kol ha’edah lirgom otam ba’avanim” (And all the assembly said to stone them with stones) (ibid., 10)

Then the Kevod Adonai (Glory of Adonai) appears in the Tent of Meeting. The Holy One expresses deep anger that Israel again does not believe, despite all the signs and wonders. He says to Moshe: “Ad anah yena’atzuni ha’am hazeh ve’ad anah lo ya’aminu vi bekhol ha’otot asher asiti bekirbo” (How long will this people despise Me, and how long will they not believe in Me, despite all the signs I have done among them) (ibid., 11)

Moshe prays and pleads for forgiveness, recalling the Attributes of Mercy, until the Holy One answers: “Salachti kidvarekha” (I have pardoned as you asked) (ibid., 20)

But a decree is sealed: the entire generation that saw the signs will not enter the land, except for Calev: “Ve’avdi Kalev ekev hayetah ru’ach acheret imo vayemale acharai vahavi’otiv el ha’aretz asher ba shamah vezar’o yorishennah” (But My servant Calev, because he had a different spirit with him and followed Me fully, him I will bring into the land where he went, and his offspring will inherit it) (ibid., 24)

A Different Spirit When one stands against a different public opinion, “a different spirit” is needed to cling to the truth. Calev was not swayed by the general fear. He saw reality differently, not out of naivety, but out of faith.

Moshe, in his prayer, teaches us the power of advocacy: not to abandon the people even when they fall, but to fight for them in prayer and supplication.