The name of the Parshah, "Shelach," means "Send" and it is found in Numbers 13:2.
Moses sends
twelve spies to the land of
Canaan. Forty days later they return, carrying a huge cluster of grapes, a pomegranate and a fig, to report on a lush and bountiful land. But
ten of the spies warn that the inhabitants of the land are
giants and warriors “more powerful than we”; only
Caleb and
Joshua insist that the land can be
conquered, as
G‑d has commanded.
The people weep that they’d rather return to Egypt. G‑d decrees that Israel’s entry into the land shall be delayed forty years, during which time that
entire generation will die out in the desert.
A group of remorseful Jews storm the mountain on the border of the land, and are routed by the
Amalekites and Canaanites.
The laws of the
nesachim
(meal, wine and oil offerings) are given, as well as the
mitzvah to consecrate a portion of the dough
(challah) to G‑d when making bread. A man violates the
Shabbat by gathering sticks, and is
put to death. G‑d instructs to place fringes
(tzitzit) on the four corners of our garments, so that we should remember to fulfill the
mitzvot (divine commandments).
Learn:
Shelach in Depth
Browse:
Shelach Parshah Columnists
Prep:
Devar Torah Q&A for Shelach
Read:
Haftarah in a Nutshell
Play:
Shelach Parshah Quiz
