Seder Yomi

Chapter Previewהַקְדָּמָה

In this first aliyah of Parshas Sh'lach, we begin the painful and momentous narrative of the meraglim (the spies). Hashem tells Moshe Rabbeinu that he may send men to scout out the land of Canaan, which Hashem is giving to Bnei Yisrael. Moshe selects one distinguished leader, a chieftain of high standing, from each of the shevatim to undertake this critical mission.

Before they depart, Moshe gives these emissaries specific instructions on what to look for. He also changes the name of Hoshea bin Nun to Yehoshua, offering him a special blessing and protection for the journey ahead. The men are charged with examining the strength of the inhabitants, the quality of the land, and the fortification of its cities.

All introductions, summaries, and contextual notes are the editor's commentary and are not part of the original text.אַלע הַקְדָּמוֹת, סִכּוּמִים, און הערות זענען דעם רעדאַקטאָר'ס באַמערקונגען און זענען נישט קיין טייל פונעם אָריגינעלן טעקסט.

פָּסוּק א

Pasuk 1

וַיְדַבֵּרAnd spokeיְהוָהHashemאֶלtoמֹשֶׁהMosheלֵּאמֹר׃saying

פָּסוּק ב

Pasuk 2

שְׁלַחSendלְךָfor yourselfאֲנָשִׁיםmenוְיָתֻרוּand they shall scoutאֶת—אֶרֶץthe land ofכְּנַעַןCanaanאֲשֶׁרwhichאֲנִיIנֹתֵןam givingלִבְנֵיto the children ofיִשְׂרָאֵלYisraelאִישׁmanאֶחָדoneאִישׁmanאֶחָדoneלְמַטֵּהfor the tribe ofאֲבֹתָיוhis fathersתִּשְׁלָחוּyou shall sendכֹּלeveryנָשִׂיאleaderבָהֶם׃among them

רַשִׁ״י

שלחSendלךfor yourselfאנשים.menלָמָּהWhyנִסְמְכָהwas juxtaposedפָרָשַׁתthe section ofמְרַגְּלִיםthe spiesלְפָרָשַׁתto the section ofמִרְיָם?MiriamלְפִיBecauseשֶׁלָּקְתָהshe was punishedעַלoverעִסְקֵיmatters ofדִבָּה,slanderשֶׁדִּבְּרָהthat she spokeבְאָחִיהָ,against her brotherוּרְשָׁעִיםand the wicked onesהַלָּלוּtheseרָאוּsawוְלֹאand did notלָקְחוּtakeמוּסָרa lessonתנחומאTanchuma:

רַשִׁ״י

שלחSendלך.for yourselfלְדַעְתְּךָ,according to your understandingאֲנִיIאֵינִיam notמְצַוֶּהcommandingלְךָ,youאִםifתִּרְצֶהyou wishשְׁלַח;sendלְפִיbecauseשֶׁבָּאוּthat cameיִשְׂרָאֵלYisraelוְאָמְרוּand they saidנִשְׁלְחָהlet us sendאֲנָשִׁיםmenלְפָנֵינוּ,before usכְּמָהasשֶׁנֶּאֱמַרthat it is said"וַתִּקְרְבוּןand you approachedאֵלַיto meכֻּלְּכֶם"all of youוְגוֹ'etceteraדבריםDevarimא'1,וּמֹשֶׁהand Mosheנִמְלַךְconsultedבִּשְׁכִינָה,with the Shechinahאָמַר,He saidאָמַרְתִּיI saidלָהֶםto themשֶׁהִיאthat itטוֹבָה,is goodשֶׁנֶּאֱמַרas it is said"אַעֲלֶהI will bring upאֶתְכֶםyouמֵעֳנִיfrom the affliction ofמִצְרַיִם"Mitzrayimוְגוֹ'etceteraשמותShemosג'3,חַיֵּיהֶםby their livesשֶׁאֲנִיthat Iנוֹתֵןam givingלָהֶםto themמָקוֹםroomלִטְעוֹתto errבְּדִבְרֵיthrough the words ofמְרַגְּלִים,the spiesלְמַעַןso thatלֹאnotיִירָשׁוּהָthey will inherit itתנחומאTanchuma:

פָּסוּק ג

Pasuk 3

וַיִּשְׁלַחAnd sentאֹתָםthemמֹשֶׁהMosheמִמִּדְבַּרfrom the wilderness ofפָּארָןParanעַלbyפִּיthe word ofיְהוָהHashemכֻּלָּםall of themאֲנָשִׁיםmen of consequenceרָאשֵׁיheads ofבְנֵיthe children ofיִשְׂרָאֵלYisraelהֵמָּה׃they were

רַשִׁ״י

עלByפיthe word ofה'.Hashemבִּרְשׁוּתוֹ,with His consentשֶׁלֹּאthat notעִכֵּבHe preventedעַל·יָדוֹ:him

רַשִׁ״י

כלםAll of themאנשים.menכָּלeveryאֲנָשִׁיםmenשֶׁבַּמִּקְרָאthat is in Scriptureלְשׁוֹןis a term ofחֲשִׁיבוּת,importanceוְאוֹתָהּand at thatשָׁעָהtimeכְּשֵׁרִיםworthyהָיוּ:they were

פָּסוּק ד

Pasuk 4

וְאֵלֶּהAnd theseשְׁמוֹתָםare their namesלְמַטֵּהfor the tribe ofרְאוּבֵןReuvenשַׁמּוּעַShammuaבֶּןson ofזַכּוּר׃Zaccur

פָּסוּק ה

Pasuk 5

לְמַטֵּהFor the tribe ofשִׁמְעוֹןShimonשָׁפָטShaphatבֶּןson ofחוֹרִי׃Chori

פָּסוּק ו

Pasuk 6

לְמַטֵּהFor the tribe ofיְהוּדָהYehudahכָּלֵבCalevבֶּןson ofיְפֻנֶּה׃Yefunneh

פָּסוּק ז

Pasuk 7

לְמַטֵּהFor the tribe ofיִשָּׂשכָרYissacharיִגְאָלYigalבֶּןson ofיוֹסֵף׃Yosef

פָּסוּק ח

Pasuk 8

לְמַטֵּהFor the tribe ofאֶפְרָיִםEphraimהוֹשֵׁעַHosheaבִּןson ofנוּן׃Nun

פָּסוּק ט

Pasuk 9

לְמַטֵּהFor the tribe ofבִנְיָמִןBinyaminפַּלְטִיPaltiבֶּןson ofרָפוּא׃Rafu

פָּסוּק י

Pasuk 10

לְמַטֵּהFor the tribe ofזְבוּלֻןZevulunגַּדִּיאֵלGaddielבֶּןson ofסוֹדִי׃Sodi

פָּסוּק יא

Pasuk 11

לְמַטֵּהfor the tribe ofיוֹסֵףYosefלְמַטֵּהfor the tribe ofמְנַשֶּׁהMenashehגַּדִּיGaddiבֶּןson ofסוּסִי׃Susi

פָּסוּק יב

Pasuk 12

לְמַטֵּהFor the tribe ofדָןDanעַמִּיאֵלAmmielבֶּןson ofגְּמַלִּי׃Gemalli

פָּסוּק יג

Pasuk 13

לְמַטֵּהFor the tribe ofאָשֵׁרAsherסְתוּרSethurבֶּןson ofמִיכָאֵל׃Michael

פָּסוּק יד

Pasuk 14

לְמַטֵּהFor the tribe ofנַפְתָּלִיNaftaliנַחְבִּיNachbiבֶּןson ofוָפְסִי׃Vofsi

פָּסוּק טו

Pasuk 15

לְמַטֵּהFor the tribe ofגָדGadגְּאוּאֵלGeuelבֶּןson ofמָכִי׃Machi

פָּסוּק טז

Pasuk 16

אֵלֶּהThese areשְׁמוֹתthe names ofהָאֲנָשִׁיםthe menאֲשֶׁרwhomשָׁלַחsentמֹשֶׁהMosheלָתוּרto scoutאֶת—הָאָרֶץthe landוַיִּקְרָאand calledמֹשֶׁהMosheלְהוֹשֵׁעַto Hosheaבִּןson ofנוּןNunיְהוֹשֻׁעַ׃Yehoshua

רַשִׁ״י

ויקראAnd he calledמשהMosheלהושעto Hosheaוגו'.etc.הִתְפַּלֵּלhe prayedעָלָיוfor himיָהּMay Godיוֹשִׁיעֲךָsave youמֵעֲצַתfrom the counsel ofמְרַגְּלִיםthe spiesסוטהSotahל"ד34b:

פָּסוּק יז

Pasuk 17

וַיִּשְׁלַחAnd sentאֹתָםthemמֹשֶׁהMosheלָתוּרto scoutאֶת—אֶרֶץthe land ofכְּנָעַןKenaanוַיֹּאמֶרand he saidאֲלֵהֶםto themעֲלוּgo upזֶהthis wayבַּנֶּגֶבin the Negevוַעֲלִיתֶםand you shall ascendאֶת—הָהָר׃the mountain

רַשִׁ״י

עלוgo upזהthis wayבנגב.in the southהוּאitהָיָהwasהַפְּסֹלֶתthe worst partשֶׁלofאֶרֶץthe Land ofיִשְׂרָאֵל,Yisraelשֶׁכֵּןfor suchדֶּרֶךְis the way ofהַתַּגָּרִיםthe merchantsמַרְאִיןthey showאֶת—הַפְּסֹלֶתthe inferior goodsתְּחִלָּה,firstוְאַ"כַּand afterwardsמַרְאִיםthey showאֶת—הַשֶּׁבַחthe bestתנחומאTanchuma:

פָּסוּק יח

Pasuk 18

וּרְאִיתֶםand you shall seeאֶת—הָאָרֶץthe landמַהwhatהִואit isוְאֶתand —הָעָםthe peopleהַיֹּשֵׁבthat dwellsעָלֶיהָupon itהֶחָזָקwhether strongהוּאthey areהֲרָפֶהor weakהַמְעַטwhether fewהוּאthey areאִםorרָב׃many

רַשִׁ״י

את—הארץthe landמהwhatהוא.it isיֵשׁthere isאֶרֶץa landמְגַדֶּלֶתthat rearsגִּבּוֹרִיםstrong peopleוְיֵשׁand there isאֶרֶץa landמְגַדֶּלֶתthat rearsחַלָּשִׁים,weak peopleיֵשׁthere isמְגַדֶּלֶתthat increasesאֻכְלוּסִיןpopulationוְיֵשׁand there isמְמַעֶטֶתthat diminishesאֻכְלוּסִין:population

רַשִׁ״י

החזקWhether strongהואis heהרפה.or weakסִימָןa signמָסַרhe deliveredלָהֶם:to themאִםifבִּפְרָזִיםin open citiesיוֹשְׁבִין,they dwellחֲזָקִיםstrongהֵם,they areשֶׁסּוֹמְכִיןfor they relyעַלuponגְּבוּרָתָם,their strengthוְאִםand ifבְּעָרִיםin citiesבְּצוּרוֹתfortifiedהֵםtheyיוֹשְׁבִיןdwellחַלָּשִׁיםweakהֵםthey areשםthere:

פָּסוּק יט

Pasuk 19

וּמָהand whatהָאָרֶץis the landאֲשֶׁרthatהוּאheיֹשֵׁבdwellsבָּהּin itהֲטוֹבָהis it goodהִואitאִםorרָעָהbadוּמָהand whatהֶעָרִיםare the citiesאֲשֶׁרthatהוּאheיוֹשֵׁבdwellsבָּהֵנָּהin themהַבְּמַחֲנִיםwhether in open campsאִםorבְּמִבְצָרִים׃in strongholds

רַשִׁ״י

הבמחנים.Whether in campsתַּרְגּוּמוֹits translation is"הַבְפַצְחִין","whether in open places"כְּרַכִּיןcitiesפְּצוּחִיןexposedוּפְתוּחִיןand openמֵאֵיןwithoutחוֹמָה:a wall

רַשִׁ״י

הטובהWhether it is goodהוא.it isבְּמַעְיָנוֹתwith springsוּתְהוֹמוֹתand depthsטוֹבִיםgoodוּבְרִיאִים:and healthy

פָּסוּק כ

Pasuk 20

וּמָהand whatהָאָרֶץthe landהַשְּׁמֵנָהis it fatהִואitאִםorרָזָהleanהֲיֵשׁis thereבָּהּin itעֵץtreesאִםorאַיִןnotוְהִתְחַזַּקְתֶּםand strengthen yourselvesוּלְקַחְתֶּםand takeמִפְּרִיfrom the fruit ofהָאָרֶץthe landוְהַיָּמִיםand the daysיְמֵיwere the days ofבִּכּוּרֵיthe first ripeעֲנָבִים׃grapes

רַשִׁ״י

הישWhether there isבהin itעץ.a treeאִםifיֵשׁthere isבָּהֶםamong themאָדָםa manכָּשֵׁרrighteousשֶׁיָּגֵןwho will protectעֲלֵיהֶםupon themבִּזְכוּתוֹby his meritעי'seeבבאBavaבתראBatraט"ו15:

רַשִׁ״י

בכוריthe firstlings ofענבים.grapesיָמִיםdaysשֶׁהָעֲנָבִיםthat the grapesמִתְבַּשְּׁלִיןare ripeningבְּבִכּוּר:in their early stage

Chapter Summaryסִכּוּם

The aliyah begins with Hashem's command to Moshe to send distinguished leaders from each tribe to scout the land of Canaan. Moshe lists the names of these twelve chieftains, notably changing Hoshea's name to Yehoshua. He then instructs them to travel through the Negev into the hill country to assess whether the inhabitants are strong or weak, few or many, and whether the land is fertile, wooded, and its cities fortified, concluding with a charge to bring back some of the land's first ripe fruits.

לְמַעֲשֶׂהWhat To Take Home

Look at how Moshe Rabbeinu prepares the spies before they set out. He does not just tell them to go look at the land; he gives them highly specific, practical questions to answer. He asks them to look at whether the cities are open or fortified, whether the soil is rich or poor, and whether there are trees. Moshe is teaching us a fundamental rule in our own avodah: when Hashem sends us on a mission in this world, we cannot rely on vague, lofty spiritual feelings alone. We must look at the actual reality on the ground with clear, practical eyes.

There is another deep lesson here in how Moshe changes the name of Hoshea to Yehoshua, adding the letter Yud to stand for the name of Hashem. Moshe saw the spiritual danger ahead and knew that even a great leader, a man of consequence, needs extra strength from Hashem to stay true to his mission. We often enter situations in our daily lives—whether in business, family, or community—where we think we are strong enough to handle the spiritual challenges on our own. But the Torah is showing us that we must always actively seek out Hashem's help and protection before we step into a new test.

When you face a difficult task or a new situation today, do not just rush into it blindly. Take a moment to look at the practical details of what is required of you, and at the very same time, say a short tefillah to Hashem to give you the strength to stay true to your values.

Before starting a difficult task or meeting today, pause for ten seconds to say a quick, quiet prayer to Hashem, asking Him to protect your thoughts and guide your actions through the challenge.