Who volunteered to go spy for Moses? And

 

What was their REAL plan? Did some of them plan to check things out,

and just STAY in Canaan if things looked GOOD to them - like Moses had described - and forget the rest of the nation?

 

What happened to them so that they came back and told everyone to stay in the desert?

 

There are many theories - but I have one which follows on the thoughts of my Master Rabbi Shlomo Carlebach.

 

He said " the spies just didn't see the REAL Israel, The REAL Potential, the TRUE Holiness"

 

(I always tell people to come to Israel NOT for the beautiful beaches but for the Holy Sweet people and the Torah...)

 

Maybe Moses sent Joshua with the others - his faithful second-in-command - 

because he KNEW the others were NOT only interested in THE NATION OF ISRAEL-

but that JOSHUA had eyes SEEKING HOLINESS AND GOODNESS and the WELFARE OF THE NATION.

 

But despite the miracles of G-d saving them from Egypt

and despite the 10 Commandments and Sinai

and the Manna and Miriam's well-

MOST of the people forgot WHAT THEY THEMSELVES HAD SEEN-

and followed the lead of the 10 spies and decided NOT to go to Israel -

and so they died in the dry dry desert and never taste the clean spring waters of Israel!

 

Only Joshua and Calev say "

we saw the land is good - let's take our gift from the Almighty"-

and they lead our ancestors into Israel

 

and the Milk and Honey and the peace (whenever our ancestors followed the Rules of the Almighty).

 

So maybe we need more (all) Jews to visit Israel and see the beauty of the Holiness in Israel

and refresh themselves from our Israelite holy heritage.

 

Shabbat Shalom

Rabbi Andy Eichenholz