Difference between revisions of "Purpose of the Spies in Yehoshua 2/2"
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<p>The spies were sent to gauge the low morale of the Canaanites, and thereby boost the confidence of the Israelite fighting force.</p> | <p>The spies were sent to gauge the low morale of the Canaanites, and thereby boost the confidence of the Israelite fighting force.</p> | ||
<mekorot><multilink><a href="RalbagYehoshua2-1" data-aht="source">Ralbag #2</a><a href="RalbagYehoshua2-1" data-aht="source">Yehoshua 2:1</a><a href="RalbagYehoshua2-14" data-aht="source">Yehoshua 2:14</a><a href="R. Levi b. Gershom (Ralbag, Gersonides)" data-aht="parshan">About R. Levi b. Gershom</a></multilink>,<fn>Ralbag raises two different readings of the verses.  See below for his understanding that the spies mission was military in nature.</fn></mekorot> | <mekorot><multilink><a href="RalbagYehoshua2-1" data-aht="source">Ralbag #2</a><a href="RalbagYehoshua2-1" data-aht="source">Yehoshua 2:1</a><a href="RalbagYehoshua2-14" data-aht="source">Yehoshua 2:14</a><a href="R. Levi b. Gershom (Ralbag, Gersonides)" data-aht="parshan">About R. Levi b. Gershom</a></multilink>,<fn>Ralbag raises two different readings of the verses.  See below for his understanding that the spies mission was military in nature.</fn></mekorot> | ||
| − | <point><b>The spies' report</b> – Ralbag | + | <point><b>The spies' report</b> – As proof that the mission was to appraise morale, Ralbag point to the fact that the spies' report focused exclusively on the fear of the Canaanites and did not include any military data.</point> |
| + | <point><b>Biblical parallels</b> – Ralbag compares the mission to Gidon's visit to the Midianite camp in <a href="Shofetim7-9-15" data-aht="source">Shofetim 7</a>, whose sole purpose was also to instill confidence and not to gather information for battle.</point> | ||
| + | <point><b>"וַיִּשְׁלַח יְהוֹשֻׁעַ... מְרַגְּלִים חֶרֶשׁ "</b> – Ralbag explains that the word "חֶרֶשׁ" relates to thought,<fn>As evidence for this meaning, he points to <a href="Mishlei3-29" data-aht="source">Mishlei 3:29</a> and <a href="Mishlei6-18" data-aht="source">6:18</a>.</fn> and not secrecy.<fn>Since the mission was not espionage-related, there was less need for secrecy.</fn>  Yehoshua sent spies to evaluate the thoughts of the people.</point> | ||
<point><b>Report to Yehoshua alone</b> – If the mission's purpose was to encourage the nation, it is surprising that the report was given only to Yehoshua. Ralbag might respond that Yehoshua had learned from the debacle of Moshe's spies not to chance a negative report, and that despite the text's silence, after the secret debriefing the findings were made public.</point> | <point><b>Report to Yehoshua alone</b> – If the mission's purpose was to encourage the nation, it is surprising that the report was given only to Yehoshua. Ralbag might respond that Yehoshua had learned from the debacle of Moshe's spies not to chance a negative report, and that despite the text's silence, after the secret debriefing the findings were made public.</point> | ||
| − | <point><b> | + | <point><b>Why visit Rachav?</b> The choice might have been a practical one as a brothel allowed visitors to maintain their anonymity.<fn>See Ibn Kaspi who speaks of the spies' desire to remain inconspicuous.</fn>   Moreover, it had significant occupant turnover which would make Rachav a good source of information regarding the nation's feelings towards the Israelites.</point> |
| − | + | <point><b>Why sleep over?</b> It is not clear why the spies would think it worthwhile to risk their lives by spending the night in Yericho just to appraise the morale of the people. Surely, they could have gathered such information in the day when there was no chance of being trapped in the city!</point> | |
| − | <point><b>Why | + | <point><b>Purpose of red cord</b> – Ralbag maintains that the cord was a response to Rachav's request for an "אוֹת אֱמֶת" (a true sign).  It served as an indicator of Rachav's abode so that she would be spared during the Israelite invasion. Ralbag does not explain how such a cord would have been visible to soldiers inside the city, if it were hung on the window in the city's exterior walls.</point> |
| − | |||
| − | <point><b>Purpose of red cord</b></point> | ||
<point><b>House in the wall?</b></point> | <point><b>House in the wall?</b></point> | ||
<point><b>Conditions of oath</b></point> | <point><b>Conditions of oath</b></point> | ||
Version as of 07:08, 23 June 2016
Purpose of the Spies in Yehoshua 2
Exegetical Approaches
Morale Boosting Mission
The spies were sent to gauge the low morale of the Canaanites, and thereby boost the confidence of the Israelite fighting force.
The spies' report – As proof that the mission was to appraise morale, Ralbag point to the fact that the spies' report focused exclusively on the fear of the Canaanites and did not include any military data.
Biblical parallels – Ralbag compares the mission to Gidon's visit to the Midianite camp in Shofetim 7, whose sole purpose was also to instill confidence and not to gather information for battle.
"וַיִּשְׁלַח יְהוֹשֻׁעַ... מְרַגְּלִים חֶרֶשׁ " – Ralbag explains that the word "חֶרֶשׁ" relates to thought,2 and not secrecy.3 Yehoshua sent spies to evaluate the thoughts of the people.
Report to Yehoshua alone – If the mission's purpose was to encourage the nation, it is surprising that the report was given only to Yehoshua. Ralbag might respond that Yehoshua had learned from the debacle of Moshe's spies not to chance a negative report, and that despite the text's silence, after the secret debriefing the findings were made public.
Why visit Rachav? The choice might have been a practical one as a brothel allowed visitors to maintain their anonymity.4 Moreover, it had significant occupant turnover which would make Rachav a good source of information regarding the nation's feelings towards the Israelites.
Why sleep over? It is not clear why the spies would think it worthwhile to risk their lives by spending the night in Yericho just to appraise the morale of the people. Surely, they could have gathered such information in the day when there was no chance of being trapped in the city!
Purpose of red cord – Ralbag maintains that the cord was a response to Rachav's request for an "אוֹת אֱמֶת" (a true sign). It served as an indicator of Rachav's abode so that she would be spared during the Israelite invasion. Ralbag does not explain how such a cord would have been visible to soldiers inside the city, if it were hung on the window in the city's exterior walls.
House in the wall?
Conditions of oath
Military Mission
The spies were sent on a military mission
