In this week's parasha, Shelach Lecha, Moses sends 12 spies to scout out the land of Canaan. They spend 40 days and nights in the land (a familiar number, yes?) and return bearing fruits - grapes pomegranates and figs so large that it takes two people to carry them. 10 of the spies report that the land is unconquerable. They say that giants live in the land and they felt like grasshoppers. The other two, however, Caleb and Joshua, tell the people that they can, indeed, conquer the land - as long as God is with us. The people listen to the 10 spies instead of Joshua and Caleb. As a result, they are punished.
Shelach
Moses sent spies out to scout
All chieftains beloved and devout
Of the 12 that he sent
Only 2 were content
To say, “We can take em’, no doubt!”
OK, you got lucky on "beloved" because either pronunciation is acceptable according to Merriam-Webster.
ReplyDeleteOf course, even more interesting in this Parasha is the "gotcha" that even though the people didn't say "final answer" when they try to make amends by saying they'll go, they are rebuked. Man, G"d loves to teach lessons the hard way. I wouldn't be surprised to learn the G"d has hardened the hearts of the Israelites for G"d's own amusement. Forty extra years to mess around with them.Nice prize for a bored Deity.
OKI, you get away with using "Beloved" because Merrian-Webster says either pronunciation is acceptable!
ReplyDeleteMore interesting in this parasha is the gotcha on the people., even though they never said "final answer" (a la Millionaire.) When they try to make amends by saying "well go" they are rebuked and the second chance taken away. Wouldn;t surprise me if ever-caprcious (and perhaps bored) G"d purposefully hardened the hearts of the Israelites and then decided not to offer a "second chance" so G"d could get an extra forty years to mess around with them in the wilderness!
Pronounce it be-luvd or be-lov-ed?
ReplyDeleteEvery Shmuley and Moshe and Dovid,
Each Ruth and Olivia
Says meter is trivia,
It's the content that earns you the koved!
We find in each temple and shul
That the thoughts of the Ten are the rule.
Forward? No go!
The status is quo.
A Joshua's cast as a fool.
Shelach Lecha serves as a guide --
The new and the bold must be tried.
Don't trust the opinion
Of the cowardly minyan.
Move forward with guts and with pride.
My kipa is off to you Larry
ReplyDeleteYour brilliance in rhyming is scary
Your praises I've sung
For what trips off your tongue
Is truly extraordinary
When the spies gave a report they lied,
ReplyDeleteIt’s a terrible place they cried,
Everyone there is dying
There’s no use in our trying
So it was there in the desert they died