{"id":47213,"date":"2019-01-09T10:01:30","date_gmt":"2019-01-09T08:01:30","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/?p=47213"},"modified":"2022-08-02T17:37:31","modified_gmt":"2022-08-02T14:37:31","slug":"touring-the-land-then-and-now","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/en\/touring-the-land-then-and-now\/","title":{"rendered":"Touring the Land \u2013 Then and Now"},"content":{"rendered":"
<\/div>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"","protected":false},"author":7,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[281],"tags":[809,363,807],"acf":{"old_id":"47213","type":"no","iframe":"","writer":33877,"related_cahpter":"130","type_929":"2","show_author_image":false,"old_create_date":"","old_url":"","post_main_content":{"description":"A midrashic expansion, and a modern application","content":"

At the beginning of our Chapter, at the command of God, Moses sends out the twelve leaders of the Israelite tribes to \u201cscout out\u201d (Hebrew \u201ctur\u201d, note the similarity to the English word \u201ctour\u201d) the Promised Land. <\/span><\/p>\n

The Talmud (Bavli Sotah 34a-35b) expands the biblical text providing additional detail and dramatic tension. This is achieved partly by combining this account with the later story of the other \u201cIsraelite spies\u201d in the time of Joshua (Joshua chap. 2). <\/span><\/p>\n

In our chapter Joshua (formerly called Hosea) is named as the leader of the tribe of Ephraim (Numbers 13:16). By linking these two biblical narratives, the Talmudic- Midrashic elaboration adds considerable detail, for example concerning the storied cluster of grapes (Numbers 13:23-27). <\/span><\/p>\n

By actual \u201con-site\u201d examination, two rabbinic sages are said to have calculated that the weight of each of the twelve stones lifted out of the Jordan by Joshua\u2019s men (Joshua 4:5-9) was forty seah (roughly 350 kg by some estimates). This is then said to be the same weight of the enormous cluster of grapes, which, for this reason, needed to be carried by eight of the spies, on not one but on two poles (compare Numbers 13:23). <\/span><\/p>\n

In our day, the image of Moses\u2019 scouts carrying the oversize cluster of grapes serves as the logo of the Israel Ministry of Tourism. <\/span><\/p>\n

According to our Talmudic-Midrashic text, Caleb, leader of the tribe of Judah, upon reaching the Promised Land, prostrated himself on the graves of the Patriarchs, asking for their help to disassociate himself from the plan of the other spies to report the impossibility of conquering the supposedly invincible inhabitants of the Land that the Israelites would need to overcome. <\/span><\/p>\n

Caleb\u2019s prayer was answered in a notable way. When the spies made their slanderous report of the impossibility of conquering the Land, according to the biblical text, Caleb stilled the people (13:30). According to midrashic elaboration, he first led the people to believe he was going to speak in support of the other spies, but then, he surprisingly launched into a rousing celebration of Moses\u2019 leadership: \u201cHe brought us out of Egypt and parted the Sea for us. If he would tell us to make ladders and ascend to the heavens, would we not obey him?! Then \u201cLet us ascend [to the Promised Land] and possess it!\u201d (13:30). <\/span><\/p>\n

Tragically, Caleb\u2019s inspiring charge to the Israelites to possess the Promised Land was not heeded in the time of Moses (13:31-14:45). But the people did \u201cascend\u201d to the Promised Land in the time of Joshua, as we have \u201cascended to\u201d and settled the Land of Israel yet again in our day.<\/span><\/p>\n

Image from: <\/span>http:\/\/peasant-arts.blogspot.com\/2011\/07\/spies-israeli-ministry-of-tourism-more.html<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n

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