Caleb Silences the Spies While Moses and Aaron Falter

(Numbers 13:2:) "Send men that they may scout out the land," and so forth. This is what Scripture says (Psalms 76:6): "The stout-hearted were despoiled; they slumbered their sleep; and none of the men of valor found their hands." "The stout-hearted were despoiled" — this refers to Moses and Aaron. After they sent out the spies, and these came and spoke slander against the land, they did not know what to do; rather, even Moses and Aaron grew slack in the matter. Immediately Caleb stood up and silenced all those multitudes, as it is said (Numbers 13:30): "And Caleb hushed," and so forth. He stood upon the bench and was silencing them, and he said to them: "And is it only this that the son of Amram has done for us?" And they fell silent to hear from him. He said to them (Numbers 14:7): "The land is exceedingly, exceedingly good." The Holy One, blessed be He, said to Moses: "I hold great goodness in store for Caleb," as it is said (Deuteronomy 1:36): "Except Caleb son of Jephunneh." What is "except" (zulati)? This one accompanied Me (zeh lavah iti) more than the six hundred thousand of you. You did not find your hands; therefore you grew slack. Thus it is said: "The stout-hearted were despoiled," and so forth. Why all this? Because the agents were foolish. [Concerning them Solomon said (Proverbs 26:6):] "He who sends words by the hand of a fool cuts off the feet, drinks violence."