Shlach

Shlach, Shelach, Sh'lah, Shlach Lecha, or Sh’lah L’kha (שלח or שלח לך — Hebrew for "send” or “send to you,” ) is the 37th weekly Torah portion ("parshah") in the annual Jewish cycle of Torah reading and the fourth in the book of Numbers. It constitutes ) Among the scouts were Caleb son of Jephunneh from the Tribe of Judah and Hosea son of Nun from the Tribe of Ephraim. () At the wadi Eshcol, they cut down a branch with a single cluster of grapes so large that it had to be borne on a carrying frame by two of them, as well as some pomegranates and figs. () But the other scouts spread calumnies about the land, calling it “one that devours its settlers.” ()

Moses and Aaron fell on their faces, and Joshua and Caleb rent their clothes and exhorted the Israelites not to fear, and not to rebel against God. () But Moses told God to think of what the Egyptians would think when they heard the news, and how they would think God powerless to bring the Israelites to the Promised Land. () God said that the Israelites’ children would enter the Promised Land after roaming the wilderness, suffering for the faithlessness of the present generation, for 40 years, corresponding to the number of days that the scouts scouted the land. () But they marched forward anyway, and the Amalekites and the Canaanites dealt them a shattering blow at Hormah. () When the Israelites ate bread of the land, they were to set the first loaf aside as a gift to God. () But the person who violated a commandment defiantly was to be cut off from among his people. ()

The fringes

God told Moses to instruct the Israelites to make for themselves fringes (in Hebrew, ציצת or "tzitzit") on each of the corners of their garments. ( to indicate that God gave Moses discretion over whether to send the spies. Resh Lakish read Moses’ recollection of the matter in ) meant that he hid ("hikbi") God’s words. (Babylonian Talmud Sotah 34b.)

Raba noted that to mean that Hebron was seven times as fertile as Zoan. The Baraita rejected the plain meaning of “built,” reasoning that Ham would not build a house for his younger son Canaan (in whose land was Hebron) before he built one for his elder son Mizraim (in whose land was Zoan, and says of Pharaoh, “his princes are at Zoan.” And in all of Israel, there was no more rocky ground than that at Hebron, which is why the Patriarchs buried their dead there, as reported in equated the going with the coming back, indicating that just as they came back with an evil design, they had set out with an evil design. (Babylonian Talmud Sotah 35a.)

The Gemara reported a number of Rabbis’ reports of how the Land of Israel did indeed flow with “milk and honey,” as described in and [http://www.mechon-mamre.org/p/pt/pt0414.htm#8 14:8,] and , because any piece of slander needs some truth in the beginning to be heard through to the end. (Babylonian Talmud Sotah 35a.)

Rabbah interpreted not “they are stronger than we” but “they are stronger than He,” questioning God’s power. (Babylonian Talmud Sotah 35a.)

The Mishnah noted that the evil report of the scouts in proved that the spies were liars, for though they might well have known that they saw themselves as grasshoppers, they had no way of knowing how the inhabitants of the land saw them. (Babylonian Talmud Sotah 35a.)

Numbers chapter 14

The Mishnah deduced from that the Shekhinah abides among ten who sit together and study Torah. (Mishnah Avot 3:6.)

Noting that in the incident of the spies, God did not punish those below the age of 20 (see says, “your carcasses shall fall in this wilderness, and all that were numbered of you, according to your whole number, from 20 years old and upward,” and this implies that those who were numbered from 20 years old and upward came under the decree, while the tribe of Levi — which said, “Gather my saints together to me; those who have made a covenant with me by sacrifice.”

The Mishnah deduced from from the penalty associated with eating "piggul", offerings invalidated for improper intent. (Mishnah Zevachim 4:3; Babylonian Talmud Zevachim 43a.) And the Mishnah ruled that these meal-offerings required oil but not frankincense. (Mishnah Menachot 5:3; Babylonian Talmud Menachot 59a.)

Tractate Challah in the Mishnah, Tosefta, and Jerusalem Talmud interpreted the laws of separating a portion of bread for the priests in during which one may give and return greetings out of respect. And similarly, there is a section break between reciting precedes the reciting of to wear "tzizit" applies only during the day. (Mishnah ; Babylonian Talmud Berakhot 13a.)

Commandments

According to Maimonides and Sefer ha-Chinuch, there are 2 positive and 1 negative commandments in the parshah.
*To set aside a portion of dough for a Kohen ()(Maimonides. "Mishneh Torah", [http://www.mechon-mamre.org/p/p0001.htm#14 Positive Commandments 14,] [http://www.mechon-mamre.org/p/p0001.htm#133 133,] [http://www.mechon-mamre.org/p/p0002.htm#47 Negative Commandment 47.] Cairo, Egypt, 1170–1180. Reprinted in Maimonides. "The Commandments: Sefer Ha-Mitzvoth of Maimonides". Translated by Charles B. Chavel, 1:21–22, 140–41; 2:46–47. London: Soncino Press, 1967. ISBN 0-900689-71-4. "Sefer HaHinnuch: The Book of [Mitzvah] Education". Translated by Charles Wengrov, 4:94–119. Jerusalem: Feldheim Pub., 1988. ISBN 0-87306-457-7.)

Haftarah

The haftarah for the parshah is Joshua [http://www.mechon-mamre.org/p/pt/pt0602.htm 2:1–24.] Both the parshah and the haftarah deal with spies sent to scout out the land of Israel, the parshah in connection with the ten scouts sent to reconnoiter the whole land ( [http://www.mechon-mamre.org/p/pt/pt0413.htm#16 16] ), and as the leader who sent the spies in the haftarah. ()

In the liturgy

The rebellious generation and their Wilderness death foretold in (inquiry of God on the law); [http://www.mechon-mamre.org/p/pt/pt0427.htm 27:1–11] (inquiry of God on the law).
*Deuteronomy [http://www.mechon-mamre.org/p/pt/pt0501.htm#19 1:19–45] (the scouts); [http://www.mechon-mamre.org/p/pt/pt0505.htm#8 5:8 in JPS,] 5:9 in NJPS (punishing children for fathers’ sin); [http://www.mechon-mamre.org/p/pt/pt0509.htm#23 9:23] (rebellion).
*Jeremiah [http://www.mechon-mamre.org/p/pt/pt1131.htm#29 31:28–29 in JPS,] 31:29–30 in NJPS ("not" punishing children for fathers’ sin).
*Ezekiel [http://www.mechon-mamre.org/p/pt/pt1218.htm 18:1–4] ("not" punishing children for fathers’ sin); [http://www.mechon-mamre.org/p/pt/pt1220.htm#5 20:5] (God lifted up God’s hand).
*Nehemiah [http://www.mechon-mamre.org/p/pt/pt35b09.htm#12 9:12] (pillar of fire); [http://www.mechon-mamre.org/p/pt/pt35b09.htm#15 9:15] (God lifted up God’s hand); [http://www.mechon-mamre.org/p/pt/pt35b09.htm#19 9:19] (pillar of fire).
*Psalms [http://www.mechon-mamre.org/p/pt/pt2619.htm#13 19:13] (God clears from hidden faults); [http://www.mechon-mamre.org/p/pt/pt2622.htm#9 22:9] (God’s delight); [http://www.mechon-mamre.org/p/pt/pt2625.htm#13 25:13] (his seed shall inherit the land); [http://www.mechon-mamre.org/p/pt/pt2637.htm#11 37:11] (shall inherit the land); [http://www.mechon-mamre.org/p/pt/pt2644.htm#2 44:2–4] (not by their own sword did they get the land); [http://www.mechon-mamre.org/p/pt/pt2672.htm#19 72:19] (earth filled with God’s glory); [http://www.mechon-mamre.org/p/pt/pt2678.htm#12 78:12,] [http://www.mechon-mamre.org/p/pt/pt2678.htm#22 22] (Zoan; they didn’t believe); [http://www.mechon-mamre.org/p/pt/pt2695.htm#9 95:9–11] (that generation should not enter); [http://www.mechon-mamre.org/p/pt/pt26a3.htm#8 103:8] (God full of compassion, gracious, slow to anger, plenteous in mercy); [http://www.mechon-mamre.org/p/pt/pt26a6.htm#24 106:24–27,] [http://www.mechon-mamre.org/p/pt/pt26a6.htm#39 39] (spurning the desirable land; they went astray); [http://www.mechon-mamre.org/p/pt/pt26a7.htm#40 107:40] (God causes princes to wander in the waste); [http://www.mechon-mamre.org/p/pt/pt26b8.htm#8 118:8–12] (with God’s help, victory over the nations); [http://www.mechon-mamre.org/p/pt/pt26e5.htm#8 145:8] (God gracious, full of compassion; slow to anger, of great mercy); [http://www.mechon-mamre.org/p/pt/pt26e7.htm#10 147:10–11] (God’s delight).

Early nonrabbinic

*Philo. [http://www.earlyjewishwritings.com/text/philo/book4.html "Allegorical Interpretation"] 3:61:175; [http://www.earlyjewishwritings.com/text/philo/book6.html "On the Birth of Abel and the Sacrifices Offered by Him and by His Brother Cain"] 33:107; [http://www.earlyjewishwritings.com/text/philo/book8.html "On the Posterity of Cain and His Exile"] 17:60; 35:122; [http://www.earlyjewishwritings.com/text/philo/book9.html "On the Giants"] 11:48; [http://www.earlyjewishwritings.com/text/philo/book16.html "On the Migration of Abraham"] 12:68; 21:122; [http://www.earlyjewishwritings.com/text/philo/book20.html "On the Change of Names"] 21:123; 46:265; [http://www.earlyjewishwritings.com/text/philo/book21.html "On Dreams, That They Are God-Sent"] 2:25:170; [http://www.earlyjewishwritings.com/text/philo/book31.html "On the Virtues"] 32:171; [http://www.earlyjewishwritings.com/text/philo/book41.html "Questions and Answers on Genesis"] 1:100. Alexandria, Egypt, early 1st Century C.E. Reprinted in, e.g., "The Works of Philo: Complete and Unabridged, New Updated Edition". Translated by Charles Duke Yonge, 70, 107, 137, 144, 155, 259, 265, 351, 360, 364, 400, 657, 813. Peabody, Mass.: Hendrickson Pub., 1993. ISBN 0-943575-93-1.
*Pseudo-Philo 15:1–7; 57:2. 1st Century C.E. Reprinted in, e.g., "The Old Testament Pseudepigrapha", Edited by James H. Charlesworth, 2:322–23, 371. New York: Doubleday, 1985. ISBN 0-385-18813-7.
*Josephus, "Antiquities of the Jews" [http://www.interhack.net/projects/library/antiquities-jews/b1c8.html 1:8:3;] [http://www.interhack.net/projects/library/antiquities-jews/b3c14.html 3:14:1] – [http://www.interhack.net/projects/library/antiquities-jews/b3c15.html 15:3;] [http://www.interhack.net/projects/library/antiquities-jews/b4c1.html 4:1:1–3.] Circa 93–94. Reprinted in, e.g., "The Works of Josephus: Complete and Unabridged, New Updated Edition". Translated by William Whiston, 39, 99–102. Peabody, Mass.: Hendrickson Pub., 1987. ISBN 0-913573-86-8.

Classical rabbinic

*Mishnah: ; Challah 1:1–4:11; Sanhedrin 1:6, 10:3; Eduyot 1:2; Avot 3:6; 5:4; Horayot 1:4; 2:6; Zevachim 4:3; 12:5; Menachot 3:5; 4:1; 5:3; 9:1; Arakhin 3:5; Keritot 1:1–2; Tamid 5:1. Land of Israel, circa 200 C.E. Reprinted in, e.g., "The Mishnah: A New Translation". Translated by Jacob Neusner, 5, 147–58, 585, 605, 640, 679, 685, 691, 694, 705, 726, 739–40, 742, 751, 813, 836–37, 869. New Haven: Yale University Press, 1988. ISBN 0-300-05022-4.
*Tosefta: Challah 1:1–2:12; Sotah 4:13–14; 7:18; 9:2; Sanhedrin 13:9–10; Eduyot 1:1; Horayot 1:4; Bekhorot 3:12; Arakhin 2:11. Land of Israel, circa 300 C.E. Reprinted in, e.g., "The Tosefta: Translated from the Hebrew, with a New Introduction". Translated by Jacob Neusner, 1:331–40, 848–49, 865, 873; 2:1190–91, 1245, 1296, 1479, 1500. Peabody, Mass.: Hendrickson Pub., 2002. ISBN 1-56563-642-2.
*Sifre to Numbers 107:1–115:5. Land of Israel, circa 250–350 C.E. Reprinted in, e.g., "Sifré to Numbers: An American Translation and Explanation". Translated by Jacob Neusner, 2:133–84. Atlanta: Scholars Press, 1986. ISBN 1-55540-010-8.
*Sifra 34:4. Land of Israel, 4th Century C.E. Reprinted in, e.g., "Sifra: An Analytical Translation". Translated by Jacob Neusner, 1:214. Atlanta: Scholars Press, 1988. ISBN 1-55540-205-4.
*Jerusalem Talmud: Berakhot 10a; 12b–13a; 20b, 24b, 75b; Peah 8a; Maaser Sheni 57b; Challah 1a–; Orlah 5b, 41b. Land of Israel, circa 400 C.E. Reprinted in, e.g., "Talmud Yerushalmi". Edited by Chaim Malinowitz, Yisroel Simcha Schorr, and Mordechai Marcus, vols. 1–3, 10–12. Brooklyn: Mesorah Pubs., 2006–2008.
*Mekhilta of Rabbi Ishmael Pisha 1, 5; Beshallah 1–2; Vayassa 3; Amalek 1–3; Bahodesh 9. Land of Israel, late 4th Century. Reprinted in, e.g., "Mekhilta According to Rabbi Ishmael". Translated by Jacob Neusner, 1:6, 30, 126, 131, 137, 247; 2:6, 16, 22, 92. Atlanta: Scholars Press, 1988. ISBN 1-55540-237-2. And "Mekhilta de-Rabbi Ishmael". Translated by Jacob Z. Lauterbach, 1:2–3, 26, 117–18, 124, 129, 237; 2:255, 266–67, 273, 341. Philadelphia: Jewish Publication Society, 1933, reissued 2004. ISBN 0-8276-0678-8.
*Mekhilta of Rabbi Simeon 12:3; 20:1, 5; 37:1; 44:1; 45:1; 54:2. Land of Israel, 5th Century. Reprinted in, e.g., "Mekhilta de-Rabbi Shimon bar Yohai". Translated by W. David Nelson, 40, 81, 85, 160, 184, 193, 248. Philadelphia: Jewish Publication Society, 2006. ISBN 0-8276-0799-7.
*Babylonian Talmud: Berakhot 11b, 12b, 24a–b, 32a; Shabbat 9b, 15a, 20b, 22a, 23b, 27b, 32a–b, 68b, 89a–b, 96b, 132a, 137a, 153b; Eruvin 83a, 92b; Pesachim 6a, 37a, 38a, 50b, 77a, 93b, 101a, 119b; Yoma 7a, 10a, 15b, 26b, 36b, 44a, 57a, 61b; Sukkah 9a, 35a–b, 41b–42a; Beitzah 12b, 21a; Taanit 22a, 24a, 29a; Megillah 7b, 31b; Moed Katan 9a, 19a; Chagigah 5b, 9b, 14b; Yevamot 4b, 5b, 9a, 46b, 72a, 90b; Ketubot 6b, 16b, 25a, 72a, 111b–12a; Nedarim 12a, 20b, 25a; Nazir 58a; Sotah 11b, 17a, 22a, 30a, 32b, 34a–35a, 46b; Gittin 46a, 61a; Kiddushin 29a, 33b, 37a–b, 46b, 53a, 73a; Bava Kamma 2a, 13a, 71a, 92b, 94a, 110b, 114b, 119b; Bava Metzia 61b; Bava Batra 4a, 15a, 73b–74a, 117b, 118b–19a, 121a–b; Sanhedrin 6b, 8a, 12a, 19b, 41a, 43a, 61b, 64b, 78b, 88b, 90b, 99a–b, 104b, 107a, 108a, 109b–10b, 111b, 112b; Makkot 13b, 17b, 18b, 23b; Shevuot 7b, 10a, 11b, 13a, 22a, 26b, 29a, 39a; Horayot 2a, 3b, 4b–5b, 7a–9a, 13a; Zevachim 8b, 18b, 39b, 41a, 45a, 47a, 78a, 90b, 91b, 111a; Menachot 5b–6a, 9b, 12b, 14a, 15b, 18b, 20a, 27a, 28a, 38a, 39b, 40b, 41b–43a, 44a–45a, 51a, 53b, 59a, 66a, 67a, 70b, 73b–74a, 77b, 79a, 90b–92a, 104a, 107a, 109a; Chullin 2b, 14a, 23a, 89a, 95b, 104a, 135b–36a; Bekhorot 12b, 30b; Arakhin 11b, 15a; Temurah 3a; Keritot 2a, 3a–b, 7b, 8b–9a, 25b; Meilah 10b, 15b; Niddah 47a. Babylonia, 6th Century. Reprinted in, e.g., "Talmud Bavli". Edited by Yisroel Simcha Schorr, Chaim Malinowitz, and Mordechai Marcus, 72 vols. Brooklyn: Mesorah Pubs., 2006.

Medieval

*Avot of Rabbi Natan, 9:2; 20:6; 34:1; 36:4, 7. Circa 700–900 C.E. Reprinted in, e.g., "The Fathers According to Rabbi Nathan." Translated by Judah Goldin, 54, 96–97, 136, 149, 152. New Haven: Yale Univ. Press, 1955. ISBN 0-300-00497-4. "The Fathers According to Rabbi Nathan: An Analytical Translation and Explanation." Translated by Jacob Neusner, 71, 136, 202, 217, 219. Atlanta: Scholars Press, 1986. ISBN 1-55540-073-6.
*Solomon ibn Gabirol. "A Crown for the King", [http://www.sacred-texts.com/jud/sig/sig79.htm 27:334–35.] Spain, 11th Century. Translated by David R. Slavitt, 44–45. New York: Oxford University Press, 1998. ISBN 0-19-511962-2.
*Rashi. "Commentary". [http://www.chabad.org/library/article.asp?AID=9941&showrashi=true Numbers 13–15.] Troyes, France, late 11th Century. Reprinted in, e.g., Rashi. "The Torah: With Rashi’s Commentary Translated, Annotated, and Elucidated". Translated and annotated by Yisrael Isser Zvi Herczeg, 4:147–88. Brooklyn: Mesorah Publications, 1997. ISBN 0-89906-029-3.
*Judah Halevi. "Kuzari". Toledo, Spain, 1130–1140. Reprinted in, e.g., Jehuda Halevi. "Kuzari: An Argument for the Faith of Israel." Intro. by Henry Slonimsky, 115, 147, 169. New York: Schocken, 1964. ISBN 0-8052-0075-4.
*Numbers Rabbah 1:11; 2:19; 3:7; 4:14, 20; 7:4; 8:6; 9:18; 10:2; 13:15–16; 14:1, 3–4; 15:24; 16:1–17:6; 18:3, 6, 21; 19:20–21; 20:23; 21:10. 12th Century. Reprinted in, e.g., "Midrash Rabbah: Numbers". Translated by Judah J. Slotki, 5:18, 57, 79, 112, 130, 183, 229, 275, 339, 344; 6:534, 564, 566, 573, 584, 670, 673–707, 709, 715, 735, 738, 769–70, 820, 836. London: Soncino Press, 1939. ISBN 0-900689-38-2.
*Benjamin of Tudela. " [http://www.teachittome.com/seforim2/seforim/masaos_binyomin_mitudela_with_english.pdf The Itinerary of Benjamin of Tudela] ". Spain, 1173. Reprinted in "The Itinerary of Benjamin of Tudela: Travels in the Middle Ages". Introductions by Michael A. Singer, Marcus Nathan Adler, A. Asher, 91. Malibu, Calif.: Joseph Simon, 1983. ISBN 0-934710-07-4. (giants).
*Maimonides. "The Guide for the Perplexed", Cairo, Egypt, 1190. Reprinted in, e.g., Moses Maimonides. "The Guide for the Perplexed". Translated by Michael Friedländer, 39–40, 54, 97, 320, 325, 329, 339, 348, 363, 366. New York: Dover Publications, 1956. ISBN 0-486-20351-4.
*Zohar [http://www.kabbalah.com/k/index.php/p=zohar/zohar&vol=40 3:156b–176a.] Spain, late 13th Century. Reprinted in, e.g, "The Zohar". Translated by Harry Sperling and Maurice Simon. 5 vols. London: Soncino Press, 1934.

Modern

*Thomas Hobbes. "Leviathan", England, 1651. Reprint edited by C. B. Macpherson, 464. Harmondsworth, England: Penguin Classics, 1982. ISBN 0140431950.
*Samson Raphael Hirsch. "Horeb: A Philosophy of Jewish Laws and Observances". Translated by Isidore Grunfeld, 9–12, 180–86, 196–203. London: Soncino Press, 1962. Reprinted 2002 ISBN 0-900689-40-4. Originally published as "Horeb, Versuche über Jissroel’s Pflichten in der Zerstreuung". Germany, 1837.
*Thomas Mann. "Joseph and His Brothers". Translated by John E. Woods, 577. New York: Alfred A. Knopf, 2005. ISBN 1-4000-4001-9. Originally published as "Joseph und seine Brüder". Stockholm: Bermann-Fischer Verlag, 1943.
*Abraham Joshua Heschel. "Man's Quest for God: Studies in Prayer and Symbolism", 36. New York: Charles Scribner’s Sons, 1954.
*Jacob Milgrom. “Of Hems and Tassels: Rank, authority and holiness were expressed in antiquity by fringes on garments.” "Biblical Archaeology Review". 9 (3) (May/June 1983).
*Jacob Milgrom. "The JPS Torah Commentary: Numbers: The Traditional Hebrew Text with the New JPS Translation", 100–28, 387–414. Philadelphia: Jewish Publication Society, 1990. ISBN 0-8276-0329-0.
*Baruch A. Levine. "Numbers 1–20", 4:345–402. New York: Anchor Bible, 1993. ISBN 0-385-15651-0.
*Mary Douglas. "In the Wilderness: The Doctrine of Defilement in the Book of Numbers", xix, 54, 59, 84, 88, 103, 106–07, 110–12, 121–26, 137, 145, 147, 150–51, 164, 188–90, 194, 201, 210, 212, 232. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 1993. Reprinted 2004. ISBN 0-19-924541-X.
*Ari Greenspan. “The Search for Biblical Blue.” "Bible Review". 19 (1) (Feb. 2003): 32–39, 52.
*Rose Mary Sheldon. “Spy Tales.” "Bible Review". 19 (5) (Oct. 2003): 12–19, 41–42.
* John Crawford. “Caleb the Dog: How a Biblical Good Guy Got a Bad Name.” "Bible Review". 20 (2) (Apr. 2004): 20–27, 45.
*Aaron Wildavsky. "Moses as Political Leader", 129–33. Jerusalem: Shalem Press, 2005. ISBN 965-7052-31-9.
*Tzvi Novick. “Law and Loss: Response to Catastrophe in Numbers 15.” "Harvard Theological Review" 101 (1) (Jan. 2008): 1–14.

External links

* [http://www.mechon-mamre.org/p/pt/pt0413.htm Masoretic text and 1917 JPS translation]
* [http://Bible.ort.org/books/torahd5.asp?action=displaypage&book=4&chapter=13&verse=1&portion=37 Hear the parshah chanted]