Numbers

In the second part of last week's Torah portion, we learn about the 12 spies going into the promised land (the Land of Canaan). In Numbers 13:21-24, we learn about what the 12 "chieftains" or "presidents" saw in the promised land.

The first encounter that the 12 men have in the Promised Land is in Hebron, where they meet the Anakites, who are a race of giants from the line of the Nephalim.

• The Nephalim are the race of giants who were birthed in Genesis 6 from the interactions between fallen angels and earthly women. The Nephalim are the only race/species that survived the flood (save Noah, his family, and the animals in the arc). There are several possibilities for how these giants survived while everything else died, but for now, suffice it to say, it would take a miracle from Hashem to defeat these beings who seem impervious t…

In the opening lines of Numbers chapter 13, we read that Hashem commands Moshe to choose 12 men to go and scan the promised land. The Hebrew word used in the first verse to describe Hashem's interaction with Moshe is: אֶל־מֹשֶׁ֥ה.

This word (or conjuction of words) connotes the idea that Hashem more than spoke to Moshe. Indeed, it connotes the idea that Hashem "spoke into Moshe." If we consider that every Jewish person has the neshumah (or spark of Hashem's own spirit) deep within us, we can better understand what is being conveyed here.

Hashem is not merely telling Moshe, "go do x, y, z."

Rather it is as if Hashem is speaking courage, strength, and resolve into Moshe's spirit so that Moshe can convey such attributes into his own men before sending them out. From Jewish soul to Jewish soul, Hashem speaks the definitive promise that He is…