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Devarim -
Fourth Aliyah |
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Still dealing with the aftermath of the spies’ return, the nation is commanded to turn back to the West, toward the desert. We now hear of that generation’s remorse and their naive attempt to fight their way into the Land (Numbers 14:40-45). But they have already been condemned to die in the wilderness and, because G-d is not with them, they fail disastrously. They cry to G-d, but to no avail.
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| Thoughts to Consider and Discuss |
1. Why couldn’t their enthusiasm for fixing their mistake displace the misgivings they should have had about what they did wrong?
2. Can you identify the nature and value of the various stages in the psychological process of regret? Is it ever too late to forgive someone?
3. In what ways is our story the mirror image of the “spies” narrative?
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“ ‘And the Emori went out...and pursued you as bees do, and attacked you...’ (Devarim 1:44). How is it in the case of a bee? When it stings a person, it dies soon after! Similarly with your pursuers: when they attacked you, they died soon afterwards (Numbers 21:21-31).”
Midrash, Rabbah 17
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 | | Points to Ponder | |
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Is the demise of an enemy any kind of consolation for the pain he or she has caused you? Does your answer depend on whether the consolation is based on vengeful satisfaction, the abating of anger, or the fact that justice has prevailed?
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