The verse in Numbers 13:2, “Send you men,” seems simple enough, right? But Bamidbar Rabbah, a fascinating collection of Midrashic interpretations on the Book of Numbers, digs deeper. It sees a subtle but crucial distinction in those words. It points to Proverbs 10:26: “Like vinegar to the teeth, and like smoke to the eyes, so is the idle man to his senders.” Ouch. Harsh, but the Midrash isn't pulling punches.

The Midrash argues that the spies were already predisposed to deliver a negative report, to spread lashon hara (evil speech) about the land. As Jeremiah 9:2 puts it, “They drew their tongue, their bow is falsehood.” Their words were weapons, aimed at undermining the faith of the Israelites. But who was ultimately responsible?

To illustrate this, Bamidbar Rabbah uses a powerful parable: Imagine a wealthy man with a vineyard. When the wine is excellent, he proudly declares, "Bring the wine into MY house!" He takes ownership, associating the quality with himself. But when the wine turns to vinegar, sour and unpleasant, he distances himself, saying, "Take the wine into YOUR houses." He avoids taking responsibility for the bad batch.

This, the Midrash suggests, is what happened with the spies. When God chose elders whose actions were righteous, as in Numbers 11:16 – “Gather to Me seventy men” – He took ownership. The good deeds of these elders reflected His glory.

But when it came to the spies, who were destined to sin, God attributed the mission to Moses: "Send you men." The sour wine wasn't His responsibility, so to speak. The verse uses the Hebrew shelach lecha anashim, "send for yourself men", implying the initiative came from Moses rather than from God.

This isn't to say Moses was at fault, necessarily. More that the potential for failure was already present, a pre-existing condition within the group chosen for the task. It's a reminder that even with divine guidance, human agency and individual character play a crucial role.

So what does this all mean for us today? Maybe it's a call to be mindful of the "vinegar" we produce – the negative words, the pessimistic attitudes that can poison a project or a community. And perhaps more importantly, to choose our teams wisely, recognizing that the character of those we entrust with a task can determine its ultimate success or failure. Are we creating sweet wine, or leaving a sour taste?