The parsha of the meraglim (spies) covers 78 verses, and it is divided into three subsections:

1. Ch. 13 verse 1 – ch. 14 verse 10.


2. Ch. 14 verses 11 – 25.


3. Verses 26 – 45.

In the first part, the Torah tells us about the sending of the spies and their return, their speaking against the Land and the complaints of the nation, the protest of Yehoshua and Calev (during which they risked their lives) and at the end, the revelation of HaShem's glory. In the second part is related a "dialogue" between Hashem and Moshe Rabbenu, at the beginning of which HaShem wants to destroy the nation: "Until when will this nation provoke Me and until when will they not believe in Me… I will smite it with plague and annihilate it…" However, Moshe's prayers and appeals are effective and HaShem revokes the decree: "And HaShem said: I have forgiven, as your words (said). And at the end comes the punishment: and all those who provoke Me will not see it (the Land)… Tomorrow turn around and journey into the desert in the direction of Yam Suf."

However, here is the third part of the story: "And HaShem spoke to Moshe and Aharon, saying: How long (will I have to tolerate) this evil congregation who are complaining against me? I have heard the grievances of B'nei Israel which they are voicing against Me. Tell them: as I live, says HaShem, if I will not do to them as you have spoken in My ears. In this desert will your carcasses fall, all of those who were counted - all your numbers from age twenty and upwards, for you have complained against Me. You will not come into the Land which I have raised My hand to settle you in, except for Calev Ben Yefunneh and Yehoshua Bin Nun. And your children – whom you said will be taken captive – I will bring them and they will know the land which you despised. And as for you, your corpses will fall in this desert. And your children will wander in the desert forty years, and they will bear your treachery until the last of your corpses will fall in the desert. According to the number of days which you spied out the Land, forty days – a day for a year, a day for a year, you will bear your iniquity forty years, and you shall know (the consequences of) going against Me. I the Lord have spoken, (and) if I shall not do this to all this evil congregation who are gathered against Me, in this desert they will die out and there they shall perish."

Two things are perplexing: First of all, why does HaShem repeat the "lecture of rebuke" since these things were said previously? Second, why was the main punishment of remaining forty years in the desert omitted the first set of verses? Additionally, the punishment of death which was decreed upon the spies: "And all the men who spread libel against the Land died in a plague before HaShem" – this too was not mentioned in the previous subsection.

Perhaps we can say that there were two stages. In the first stage, the punishment of destruction is commuted to a comparatively light punishment upon the spies and possibly their close cohorts as well (it is logical that ten men alone would not be able, in one day, to cause a nation of millions to rebel without the help of a network of assistants). They received the punishment of not entering the Land, as it is written: "And all those who provoke Me will not see it."   

And to the rest of the nation it was said: "Tomorrow turn around and journey into the desert in the direction of Yam Suf." Until when? This is not written. For the time being there will be a delay in entering the land. Perhaps a month or two (theoretically they could have been required to wait until Yom Kippur, and then their sin would have been atoned for) and maybe even more than that. In any case, they were not sentenced to forty years!

At this point something terrible happens: "And the men who Moshe sent to tour the land, and they came back, and they caused the entire congregation to complain against Him by slandering the Land." After they heard that they had failed in a severe sin which almost brought about their annihilation, they – the spies and the nation - still stiffened their necks and did not repent. This was already "too much", and therefore HaShem opens with an additional "reproach lecture": "How long (will I have to tolerate) this evil congregation who are complaining against me? I have heard the grievances of B'nei Israel which they are voicing against Me." True, HaShem is "erech apayim" (patient and tolerant) but even that has its limit, and eventually "He tolerates, but collects His 'debt'", meaning that HaShem eventually metes out punishment (unless the sin is atoned for by repentance).

At first, the nation could have been given the benefit of the doubt because it was incited by the spies. However, after the truth came to light, this was purely a rebellion against the Creator. Therefore, the instigators were punished immediately:  "And all the men who spread libel against the Land died in a plague before HaShem," and the nation is punished: "In this desert will your carcasses fall, all of those who were counted - all your numbers from age twenty and upwards, for you have complained against Me… And your children will wander in the desert forty years, and they will bear your treachery until the last of your corpses will fall in the desert."

Sometimes we have the feeling that no matter what, everything will be fine. After all, HaShem is a good father, and He is only interested in my good, so I have nothing to worry about. What difference does it make to Him if I behave in one way or another? We must remember: yes, HaShem is merciful and forgiving, has great patience and kindness, and He will give you a chance and maybe a second one, but don't make the mistake of assuming that you have "insurance" forever. As the Sforno writes regarding anyone who sins and does not repent: "And then their measure (of iniquities) will be filled, to the point of no hope of repentance, and they will be annihilated."

May we merit to perform that which is written: "And remember your Creator in the days of your youth."

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