Our parasha begins with the command that Moses send spies to scout out the land, that would become known as the Promised Land. The second verse of the parasha (Num 13:2) is a bit of foreshadowing. It says:
וַיִּשְׁלַ֨ח אֹתָ֥ם מֹשֶׁ֛ה מִמִּדְבַּ֥ר פָּארָ֖ן עַל־פִּ֣י יְהֹוָ֑ה כֻּלָּ֣ם אֲנָשִׁ֔ים רָאשֵׁ֥י בְנֵֽי־יִשְׂרָאֵ֖ל הֵֽמָּה׃
This is normally translated as, “So Moses, by יהוה’s command, sent them out from the wilderness of Paran, all of them being men of consequence.’
How is this foreshadowing? Because of some key words in the verse. The two words are ‘mi’midbar’ and ‘al-pi.’ Mi’midbar is commonly translated as ‘from the wilderness.’ If you parse it however, one can find the root of d-b-r, daber, in the middle of it. Daber means to speak. Dvarim means words. So mi’midbar could also mean, ‘from the words’. Then we come to al-pi, which is translated as ‘from the mouth of’. So twice in one phrase, we have hints that words are going to matter.
Whose words will matter? The rest of the sentence creates a prophecy that will come true. כֻּלָּ֣ם אֲנָשִׁ֔ים רָאשֵׁ֥י בְנֵֽי־יִשְׂרָאֵ֖ל הֵֽמָּה׃ Kulam anashim, roshei bnei yisrael hemah. ‘The words of the people, the heads of the children of Israel, their words’ will matter.
The second verse of our parasha is telling us to be alert–the words that these chosen few will speak will change everything. They will rush to share with Moses and the rest of the community their negativity, snap judgements and thoughtless reactions to what they saw in the Promised Land.
Their words on their return from the Promised Land, spoken in haste, fear and anger, will have disastrous consequences.
M’midbar will come to have a double meaning–’from words’, and ‘from the desert’. Because of the scouts’ words full of fear and self-doubt, the entire house of Israel will have to make the desert their home for 40 years.
Harsh words spoken in haste without thought for the consequences, or for the fate of others or society, can bring suffering and heartache. The more power the speaker has, the more dire the consequences. Democracies can be brought down by a few lies. Careers, souls, and lives can be broken by reactionary language.
Two of the spies, Caleb and Joshua, understood the power of negative speech. It is easy to see a group or a mob turn angry or hostile because one or two people set the tone. Negativity is contagious. Fear is almost impossible to control. Power corrupts and is fed by divisive speech.
We see in our parasha, in our work and relationships, and certainly in our country: words matter.
This Shabbat, may our parasha warn us to think carefully before we speak. A favourite Mussar phrase to ask before we speak is, ‘What benefit will my speech bring myself and others?’ Are my words well chosen or spat out? Will my words add holiness or diminish it?
יִהְיוּ לְרָצוֹן אִמְרֵי פִי וְהֶגְיוֹן לִבִּי לְפָנֶֽיךָ יְהֹוָה צוּרִי וְגוֹאֲלִי:
May the words of my mouth and the thoughts of my heart be acceptable before You, Adonai, my Rock and my Redeemer.
Shabbat Shalom,
Rabbi Marcia Plumb
