That which the verse said: “One who sends things by the hand of a fool cuts off his feet and drinks rancor” (Proverbs 26:6). Were the spies fools? But was it not already stated: “Send you men [anashim],” and everywhere that anashim is stated, they are righteous, as it says: “Moses said to Joshua: Select anashim for us”? (Exodus 17:9). Likewise, it says: “The man in the days of Saul was elderly and would come among men [anashim]” (I Samuel 17:12); “You will give Your maidservant a male [anashim] offspring” (I Samuel 1:11).2The child born was the prophet Samuel.
Do you call these fools? These were called fools only because they disseminated slander about the Land, as it is stated: “The disseminator of slander is a fool” (Proverbs 10:18). Nevertheless, they were great men, but rendered themselves fools. Moses said in their regard: “As they are a contrary generation; children in whom there is no loyalty” (Deuteronomy 32:20).
They were chosen from all Israel by the pronouncement of the Holy One blessed be He and by the pronouncement of Moses, as it is written: “The matter was good in my eyes and I took from you twelve men” (Deuteronomy 1:23). From here [we derive] that they were righteous before Israel and before Moses. Moses, too, did not wish to send them at his own initiative until he consulted with the Holy One blessed be He regarding each and every one, so-and-so from tribe such-and-such, and He said to him that they were worthy.
From where is it derived that the Holy One blessed be He said that they were worthy? It is as it is stated: “Moses sent them from the wilderness of Paran according to the directive of the Lord” (Numbers 13:3). Then, at the conclusion of forty days, they became contrary and caused that generation to be stricken with that blow, as it is stated: “As they are a contrary generation”; as they were evaluated as righteous and reversed: This is why it is stated: “Send you anashim”; “these are the names of the anashim” (Numbers 13:16).