<p>The differences between the accounts leave one with a number of questions:</p>
<p>The differences between the accounts leave one with a number of questions:</p>
<ul>
<ul>
−
<li><b>Who initiated?</b> Did Hashem initiate the mission (Bemidbar) or did the people (Devarim)?</li>
+
<li><b>Who initiated the mission?</b> Did Hashem initiate the mission (Bemidbar) or did the people (Devarim)?</li>
<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>
<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>
<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>
<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>
Version as of 04:41, 13 July 2018
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?