Why Joshua and Caleb Lived and Inherited the Spies Portion

Midrash Aggadah, Numbers 14:38

Curated by Arthur·Told by Maggid·

"But Joshua son of Nun and Caleb son of Jephunneh remained alive of those men" (Numbers 14:38). Why did Scripture need to say this? Has it not already said, "except Caleb son of Jephunneh and Joshua son of Nun" (verse 30)? Rather, what is the meaning of "lived"? That they merited their portion — that portion which they were fit to take in the land. Because they were among those who came out of Egypt, Joshua and Caleb inherited it.

Themes

JoshuaBibleWisdomEgyptTribes

Biblical References

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Legends of the JewsWisdom of JethroThe descendants of Jethro, Moses’ father-in-law. What happened to his family after the Exodus? Well, legend has it they eventually settled in Palestine. And notMekhilta DeRabbi YishmaelIt Shall Be If Your Son Asks YouWhen the Torah says "tomorrow," does it mean the next day or some distant point in the future? The Mekhilta demonstrates that the word carries both meanings, deMekhilta DeRabbi YishmaelChamushim Did the Children of Israel Go UpThis Mekhilta passage parses the word "chamushim" in the verse "And chamushim did the children of Israel go up from the land of Egypt" (Exodus 13:18). The sagesMekhilta DeRabbi YishmaelPut Therein a Full Omer of Manna and Place It BeforeWhen God commanded that a jar of manna be preserved, the instruction was specific (Exodus 16:33): "Put therein a full omer of manna and place it before the LordSifrei DevarimRabbi Yehudah in the Holy LandThat’s kind of what's going on in this tiny, but fascinating, passage from Sifrei Devarim. A seemingly simple question is posed: "Are they not across the JordanExempla of the Rabbis (Gaster, 1924)The Students of Rabbi Joshua Who Trusted the Ugly InnkeeperThe students of Rabbi Joshua were traveling between cities when night overtook them. They found lodging at an inn run by a man whose appearance was deeply off-p