Why the Spies Died by the Plague for Slandering the Land

Midrash Aggadah, Numbers 14:37

Curated by Arthur·Told by Maggid·

"And the men that brought up [the evil report] etc." (Numbers 14:37). And why did they die? Because they brought up a slander upon the land, for thus they said: "The land of Israel eats up its inhabitants." Therefore the Holy One, blessed be He, did not give them respite, but rather they all died by the plague. What is the meaning of "before the LORD"? Because they knew the strength and might of the Holy One, blessed be He, yet they intended to provoke Him. And the worms would come out of their mouths and enter into their navels, and all Israel would see the judgment that the Holy One, blessed be He, carried out against him who brought up a slander upon the land: with their tongue they were stricken, and with their mouth they were stricken.

Themes

Divine JudgmentMiraclesDeathPlaguesHumor

Biblical References

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