Pisqa’ 21152H:44; JN1:59. 1. “Now, the proposal looked good to me” (Dt. 1:23)— to me it looked good, but it didn’t look so good to the All-Present. If it looked good to Moses, why is this verse composed in the midst of words of rebuke? An analogy— a certain fellow said to his companion: Sell me this donkey of yours. The owner replied: fine! [The buyer asked:] Can I take it for a trial run? [The seller] replied: fine! Come and I will show you how much it carries in the mountains and how much it carries in the valley. When the buyer saw that the seller was so forthcoming, he said to himself: I’m in trouble! I’ll bet that this guy seems so forthcoming only in order to take my money! This is why it is said: “Now, the proposal looked good to me” (Dt.1:23)— [but Moses suspected things would go awry].
“One man per tribe” (Dt.1:23). What do I need this for? Hasn’t it already been said: And I chose from among you twelve men? This explains that the tribe of Levi was not [chosen to be] among [the scouts, [for Levi was not to be counted among the tribes (cf. Nu.2:33; 3:12)].
(דברים א כג) וַיִּיטַב בְּעֵינַי הַדָּבָר, בְּעֵינַי הָיָה טוֹב, וְלֹא בְּעֵינֵי מָקוֹם. אִם בְּעֵינָיו הָיָה טוֹב, לָמָּה נִכְתַּב עִם דִּבְרֵי תוֹכָחוֹת? מָשָׁל לְאֶחָד שֶׁאָמַר לַחֲבֵרוֹ: מְכוֹר אַתָּה לִי חֲמוֹרְךָ זֶה? אָמַר לוֹ הֵן; נוֹתֵן אַתָּה לִי לְנִסָּיוֹן? אָמַר לוֹ הֵן, בֹּא אַתָּה וַאֲנִי אַרְאֶךָ כַּמָּה נוֹשֵׂא בָּהָר, כַּמָּה נוֹשֵׂא בַּבִּקְעָה! כֵּיוָן שֶׁרָאָה שֶׁאֵין מְעַכְּבוֹ כְּלוּם אָמַר: אוֹי לִי, דּוֹמֶה זֶה שֶׁאֵין מְעַכֵּב עָלַי אֶלָּא בִּשְׁבִיל לָשֵׂאת אֶת מָעוֹתַי! לְכָךְ נֶאֱמַר וַיִּיטַב בְּעֵינַי הַדָּבָר.
Pisqa’ 21152H:44; JN1:59.
1. “Now, the proposal looked good to me” (Dt. 1:23)—
to me it looked good,
but it didn’t look so good to the All-Present.
If it looked good to Moses,
why is this verse composed
in the midst of words of rebuke?
An analogy—
a certain fellow said to his companion:
Sell me this donkey of yours.
The owner replied:
fine!
[The buyer asked:]
Can I take it for a trial run?
[The seller] replied:
fine!
Come and I will show you
how much it carries in the mountains
and how much it carries in the valley.
When the buyer saw that
the seller was so forthcoming,
he said to himself:
I’m in trouble!
I’ll bet that this guy seems so forthcoming
only in order to take my money!
This is why it is said:
“Now, the proposal looked good to me” (Dt.1:23)—
[but Moses suspected things would go awry].
וָאֶקַּח מִכֶּם שְׁנֵים עָשָׂר אֲנָשִׁים, מִן הַבְּרוּרִים שֶׁבָּכֶם, מִן הַמְסֻלָּתִים שֶׁבָּכֶם.
2. “And I chose from among you twelve men” (Dt. 1:23)—
from the select among you;
from the most refined among you.
אִישׁ אֶחָד לַשָּׁבֶט, מָה אֲנִי צָרִיךְ? וַהֲלֹא כְּבָר נֶאֱמַר וָאֶקַּח מִכֶּם שְׁנֵים עָשָׂר אֲנָשִׁים! מַגִּיד שֶׁלֹּא הָיָה שֵׁבֶט לֵוִי עִמָּהֶם.
“One man per tribe” (Dt.1:23).
What do I need this for?
Hasn’t it already been said:
And I chose from among you twelve men?
This explains that
the tribe of Levi was not [chosen to be] among [the scouts,
[for Levi was not to be counted among the tribes (cf. Nu.2:33; 3:12)].