Shelach Lecha
Parshat Shelach Lecha
This morning’s reading describes the adventure of the spies in the Land of Israel. God tells Moses to select a representative of each tribe to enter the Land of Israel and report to the people on the condition of the land. They go and when they return they exaggerate their report and lie about the situation in Israel. Only two, Joshua and Caleb, tell the truth. The people rebel and turn away from God. As punishment, they are doomed to wander 40 years so that the generation of the exodus will perish in the desert.
First Aliyah - Numbers chapter 13, verse 1-13:20 pp. 623-624
God tells Moses to select twelve tribal representatives for the mission. Moses tells them to report back concerning the condition of the land, the people, and the cities.
Second Aliyah - 13:21-14:7 pp. 624-626
After 40 days the spies return with produce from the land. They tell the people that the land flows with milk and honey, however, the people are fierce, the cities are great and fortified, and the people are giants. Caleb urges the people to enter the land because he is confident they can take it.
Caleb’s is a lone voice. The people cry all night and are ready to return to Egypt.
Third Aliyah 14:8-25 pp. 626-628
Caleb and Joshua try to convince the people that God will enable them to conquer the territory. God tells Moses that He is prepared to destroy the Israelites. Moses prays on behalf of the people. God acquiesces but decides to punish the people by not allowing them to see the Promised Land. Only Caleb and Joshua shall be allowed to live.
Fourth Aliyah - 14:26-15:7 pp. 628-631
All those from age 20 and older shall eventually die in the wilderness. The people hear the punishment and repent but it is too late.
Part of the immediate punishment is a battle with the Amalekites and Canaanites.
We are now presented with an update of the sacrificial laws.
Fifth Aliyah - 15:8-16 p. 631
The sacrificial laws apply to both Israelites and resident aliens.
Sixth Aliyah - 15:17-26 pp. 631-632
When baking bread part of the dough must be taken out as an offering to God. Also, the law of the required offering for an unintentional sin is presented.
Seventh Aliyah - 15:27-41 pp. 632-634
The people find a man gathering sticks on Shabbat. God informs Moses that the man should be stoned to death.
The portion concludes with the laws requiring fringes - tzitzit - on the corners of garments.
Maftir - 15:37-41 pp. 633-634
Haftorah - Joshua 2:1-24 pp. 635-637
Just as the Torah reading described the story of the spies, our Haftorah describes Joshua sending two spies into Jericho. They return reporting that “God has delivered Jericho into our hands”10881 Lockwood Drive, Silver Spring, MD 20901 P: (301) 593-3410 F: (301) 593-0280
Page Maintained By: webmaster@shaaretefila.org. Site by HG Interactive.