<p>The story of the spies is recounted in both Bemidbar 13-14 and Devarim 1. Though there are many parallels and the overall story is the same, Moshe's retelling of the event differs significantly from the original, with omissions, additions, recasting of details, and changes in emphasis. For a full comparison of the two accounts, open the <a href="Table" data-aht="subpage">comparison table</a> and expand to full screen. For a summary of the differences, see the [[#SummaryChart|chart]] below.</p>
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<p>The story of the spies is recounted in both Bemidbar 13-14 and Devarim 1. Though there are many parallels and the overall story is the same, Moshe's retelling of the event differs significantly from the original, with omissions, additions, recasting of details, and changes in emphasis. For a full comparison of the two accounts, open the <a href="Table" data-aht="subpage">comparison table</a> and expand to full screen. For a summary of the differences, see the [[#SummaryChart|chart]] below.</p>
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<h2>Questions</h2>
<h2>Questions</h2>
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<p>The differences between the accounts leave one with a number of questions:</p>
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<p>The differences between the accounts leave one with a number of questions:</p>
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<ul>
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<ul>
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<li>Did Hashem initiate the mission (Bemidbar) or did the people (Devarim)?</li>
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<li><b>Who initiated the mission?</b> Did Hashem initiate the mission (Bemidbar) or did the people (Devarim)?</li>
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<li>Where did the princes scout, throughout the land (Bemidbar) or just in the southern region (Devarim)? For elaboration, see <a href="The Spies – Where Did They Tour" data-aht="page">The Spies – Where Did They Tour</a>.</li>
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<li><b>Location</b> – Where did the princes scout, throughout the land (Bemidbar) or just in the southern region (Devarim)? For elaboration, see <a href="The Spies – Where Did They Tour" data-aht="page">The Spies – Where Did They Tour</a>.</li>
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<li>Was the mission meant to determine the route of the conquest, as emerges from Devarim, or to check out the land as a whole?</li>
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<li><b>Mission's goal</b> – Was the mission meant to determine the route of the conquest, as emerges from Devarim, or to check out the land as a whole?</li>
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<li>Why in Devarim does the text omit the negative aspects of the spies' report?</li>
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<li><b>The report</b> – Why in Devarim does the text omit the negative aspects of the spies' report?</li>
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<li>How did the various leaders (Moshe, Aharon, Calev, and Yehoshua) react to the spies, and why is the role of Yehoshua and Calev minimized in Moshe's retelling?</li>
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<li><b>Leaders</b> – How did the various leaders (Moshe, Aharon, Calev, and Yehoshua) react to the spies, and why is the role of Yehoshua and Calev minimized in Moshe's retelling?</li>
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<li>If both the nation and spies are punished in Bemidbar, why in Devarim does Moshe instead emphasize his and the people's punishment?</li>
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<li><b>Punished parties</b> – If both the nation and spies are punished in Bemidbar, why in Devarim does Moshe instead emphasize his and the people's punishment?</li>
<td>The nation, Moshe sends on the nation's orders</td>
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<tr>
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</tr>
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<th>Initiator</th>
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<tr><th>Who is sent?</th>
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<td>Hashem, Moshe sends on Hashem's orders</td>
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<td>A list of names, heads of the tribes</td>
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<td>The nation, Moshe sends on the nation's orders</td>
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<td>No names, no mention of heads</td>
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</tr>
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</tr>
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<tr>
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<tr><th>Mission's purpose</th>
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<th>Who is sent?</th>
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<td>Scouting - appraisal of the land</td>
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<td>A list of names, heads of the tribes</td>
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<td>Spying - determining the route of conquest</td>
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<td>No names, no mention of heads</td>
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</tr>
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</tr>
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<tr><th>Scouted region</th>
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<tr>
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<td>"מִמִּדְבַּר צִן עַד רְחֹב לְבֹא חֲמָת"</td>
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<th>Mission's purpose</th>
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<td>הנגב וההר</td>
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<td>Scouting - appraisal of the land</td>
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</tr>
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<td>Spying - determining the route of conquest</td>
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<tr><th>The report</th>
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</tr>
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<td>Both positive and negative</td>
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<tr>
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<td>Only positive</td>
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<th>Scouted region</th>
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</tr>
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<td>"מִמִּדְבַּר צִן עַד רְחֹב לְבֹא חֲמָת"</td>
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<tr><th>Guilty party</th>
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<td>הנגב וההר</td>
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<td>Both the spies and the nation sin</td>
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</tr>
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<td>Only the nation sins, the spies' report is deemphasized</td>
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<tr>
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</tr>
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<th>The report</th>
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<tr><th>Who attempts to calm the people?</th>
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<td>Both positive and negative</td>
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<td>Calev, Calev and Yehoshua, Moshe and Aharon?</td>
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<td>Only positive</td>
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<td>Moshe (but he doesn't pray)</td>
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</tr>
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</tr>
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<tr>
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<tr><th>Arguments to persuade the nation</th>
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<th>Guilty party</th>
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<td>"טוֹבָה הָאָרֶץ", "וַה' אִתָּנוּ"</td>
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<td>Both the spies and the nation sin</td>
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<td>מעשי ה' במצרים ובמדבר</td>
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<td>Only the nation sins, the spies' report is deemphasized</td>
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</tr>
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</tr>
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<tr><th>God's reaction</th>
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<tr>
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<td>Three separate stages</td>
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<th>Who attempts to calm the people?</th>
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<td>Only the conclusion (stage 3)</td>
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<td>Calev, Calev and Yehoshua, Moshe and Aharon?</td>
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</tr>
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<td>Moshe (but he doesn't pray)</td>
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<tr><th>Moshe's prayer</th>
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</tr>
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<td>Mentioned</td>
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<tr>
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<td>Missing</td>
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<th>Arguments to persuade the nation</th>
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</tr>
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<td>"טוֹבָה הָאָרֶץ", "וַה' אִתָּנוּ"</td>
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<tr><th>Who is punished?</th>
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<td>מעשי ה' במצרים ובמדבר</td>
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<td>The spies and the nation</td>
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</tr>
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<td>The nation and Moshe</td>
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<tr>
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</tr>
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<th>God's reaction</th>
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<td>Three separate stages</td>
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<td>Only the conclusion (stage 3)</td>
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</tr>
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<tr>
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<th>Moshe's prayer</th>
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<td>Mentioned</td>
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<td>Missing</td>
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</tr>
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<tr>
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<th>Who is punished?</th>
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<td>The spies and the nation</td>
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<td>The nation and Moshe</td>
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</tr>
</table>
</table>
</multilang>
</multilang>
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<notes>To explore different ways of understanding the relationship between the Bemidbar and Devarim accounts, please proceed to <a href="2" data-aht="subpage">Approaches</a>.</notes>
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<notes>
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To explore different ways of understanding the relationship between the Bemidbar and Devarim accounts, please proceed to <a href="2" data-aht="subpage">Approaches</a>.
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</notes>
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</page>
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</page>
</aht-xml>
</aht-xml>
Latest revision as of 22:43, 8 June 2020
The Story of the Spies in Bemidbar and Devarim
Introduction
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The story of the spies is recounted in both Bemidbar 13-14 and Devarim 1. Though there are many parallels and the overall story is the same, Moshe's retelling of the event differs significantly from the original, with omissions, additions, recasting of details, and changes in emphasis. For a full comparison of the two accounts, open the comparison table and expand to full screen. For a summary of the differences, see the chart below.
Questions
The differences between the accounts leave one with a number of questions:
Who initiated the mission? Did Hashem initiate the mission (Bemidbar) or did the people (Devarim)?
Location – Where did the princes scout, throughout the land (Bemidbar) or just in the southern region (Devarim)? For elaboration, see The Spies – Where Did They Tour.
Mission's goal – Was the mission meant to determine the route of the conquest, as emerges from Devarim, or to check out the land as a whole?
The report – Why in Devarim does the text omit the negative aspects of the spies' report?
Leaders – How did the various leaders (Moshe, Aharon, Calev, and Yehoshua) react to the spies, and why is the role of Yehoshua and Calev minimized in Moshe's retelling?
Punished parties – If both the nation and spies are punished in Bemidbar, why in Devarim does Moshe instead emphasize his and the people's punishment?
