Shelach: Reporting

How many truths can there be? 

Twelve princes are sent to scout the Promised land. Ten report on the strength of the inhabitants, their impenetrable  fortifications, their height advantages. The two that encourage proceeding with the planned invasion do not contradict the other 10, they just ignore the issues raised. 

The haftarah talks about another scouting mission.  This one precedes the actual  conquest of Jericho. These  scouts  come to  ramparts and are faced with an organized force, but they do not talk about them. Rather, they convey the news that the people of Jericho are terrified of the Israelites and their Gd who split the sea, information they obtain from a woman who lives in the fringes, in the ramparts. 

In our time, we have dramatic, live action, video enhanced selective information portrayed on television and media.  You can select your truth, which can guide your course of action.  You can be reminded of the time that Dr. Fauci  said that masks worn by everyone  are not effective and possibly harmful ( because they are directed away from front line personnel who need them)  or see   video of the January 6 attack on the Capitol by choosing which button you press on the remote. 

In the previous parsha, when Joshua reports (unauthorized) prophecy in the camp to Moses, Joshua suggest that the unlicensed newscasters be imprisoned. 

וַיָּ֣רׇץ הַנַּ֔עַר וַיַּגֵּ֥ד לְמֹשֶׁ֖ה וַיֹּאמַ֑ר אֶלְדָּ֣ד וּמֵידָ֔ד מִֽתְנַבְּאִ֖ים בַּֽמַּחֲנֶֽה׃ A youth ran out and told Moses, saying, “Eldad and Medad are acting the prophet in the camp!”

וַיַּ֜עַן יְהוֹשֻׁ֣עַ בִּן־נ֗וּן מְשָׁרֵ֥ת מֹשֶׁ֛ה מִבְּחֻרָ֖יו וַיֹּאמַ֑ר אֲדֹנִ֥י מֹשֶׁ֖ה כְּלָאֵֽם׃ And Joshua son of Nun, Moses’ attendant from his youth, spoke up and said, “My lord Moses, restrain them!”

Now I can understand the problem better.  These reporters of enlightened truth might not have an emphasis that is conducive to "the cause ."  Moses  becomes the free speech advocate here.  Perhaps it is this correction of Joshua that prompts his designation as Hoshea, when he is identified as one of the scouts. 

לְמַטֵּ֥ה אֶפְרָ֖יִם הוֹשֵׁ֥עַ בִּן־נֽוּן׃ From the tribe of Ephraim, Hosea son of Nun.

The subsequent, summary verse:

אֵ֚לֶּה שְׁמ֣וֹת הָֽאֲנָשִׁ֔ים אֲשֶׁר־שָׁלַ֥ח מֹשֶׁ֖ה לָת֣וּר אֶת־הָאָ֑רֶץ וַיִּקְרָ֥א מֹשֶׁ֛ה לְהוֹשֵׁ֥עַ בִּן־נ֖וּן יְהוֹשֻֽׁעַ׃ Those were the names of the men whom Moses sent to scout the land; but Moses changed the name of Hosea son of Nun to Joshua.

comes to tell us that Moses had re-instated him to his special rank. 

Many situations can be cast as overwhelming and hopeless. My parents emerged from the near hopelessness of the Holocaust.  I see patients every day who have been healed from their cancers because of hope.  Despair  is an arrogant position, pretending that all possible solutions have been considered. Hope comes from a different source, independent  of circumstance.