Shelach - שלח : "Send thou"
Torah : Numbers 13:1-15:41
Haftarah : Joshua 2:1-24
Gospel : John 7, 8

Thought for the Week:

The Talmud comments on the story of the ten spies and their evil report by saying, "One who spreads evil reports almost denies the existence of God." (b.Arachin 15b).

Commentary:

How long shall I bear with this evil congregation who are grumbling against Me? I have heard the complaints of the sons of Israel, which they are making against Me. (Numbers 14:27)

The spies returned from Canaan with a giant cluster of grapes. The grapes should have encouraged the Israelites. The land was indeed a good land full of bounty, just as God had promised. The ten spies, however, interpreted the giant grapes differently. They used them as evidence that the land was inhabited by unconquerable giants. "What would you expect from the vineyards of giants?" Is...