Shelach (Numbers 13:1-15:41)
explained by Patrick Shannon. (Summary) As the Israelites arrive adjacent to the promised land, spies are sent in to survey. Caleb, comes back and reports that, truly it is filled with Milk and Honey. And pommegranite fruit. The people are strong. The cities are walled. We saw the sons of Anuk. Giants. So let’s go, now let’s take it.
But then other spies reported conversely, opposite perspective. The people lifted up their voices, and they cried. They grumbled against Yahweh’s leaders. They were depressed and they were bitter. They questioned the motives of Yahweh. Why? To kill us. To give us as prey to our enemies. Egypt is better than this. They wanted to appoint a leader and turn back to Egypt. Back to oppressive slavery, but at least we will live, and for food, leeks, onions, fish, and melons.
Joshua stood up and said. No, no, no, this is an exceedingly good land, and if Yahweh is going to lead us, we can’t lose. These people are bread, they are food for us. It says that all the congregation wanted to stone him and kill him. ,
No one except Joshua and Caleb would enter from the original group.
The people who Yahweh committed to 40 years in the desert, one year for each day the spies were in the land, till the generation that doubted were no longer. However they were still his people. Their children were not cursed, they entered the promised land. But the spies who lied to the people and caused the rebellion, they were plagued and died.
More concepts that seem unrelated but have a common thread tying them together, not doubting Yahweh and remembering and following his commands.
