Midrash for Numbers 14:24

19 (Numb. 13:30) “Then Caleb hushed the people [before Moses]”: As at first he said to them, “I am of the same opinion as you”; but his heart was for speaking the truth, as stated (in Josh. 14:7), “and I brought him back word according to what was in my heart. But my brothers that were with me melted the people’s heart.”²⁶ Sot. 35a. The Holy One, blessed be He, also testifies over him, as stated (in Numb. 14:24), “But My servant Caleb, because he had another spirit with him.” So when the spies came, they said, “We can trust Caleb.” Immediately he stood up on a stool²⁷Safsal; cf. Lat.: subsellium. and had all Israel become silent from clamoring against Moses, [as stated] (in Numb. 13:30), “Then Caleb hushed the people before Moses.” Now they were thinking that he would utter slander. For that reason they were silent. He began by saying (ibid., cont.), “We should certainly go up and possess it.” Immediately when they heard this, they took issue with him and said (in Numb. 13:31–32), “We are unable to go up against this people […].”

(Numb. 13:30:) THEN CALEB HUSHED <THE PEOPLE BEFORE MOSES>…, when at first he said to them: I am of the same opinion as you; but his heart was for speaking the truth, as stated (in Josh. 14:7): AND I BROUGHT HIM BACK WORD ACCORDING TO WHAT WAS IN MY HEART.⁴⁴Tanh., Numb. 4:10; Numb. R. 16:19; Sot. 35a. The Holy One also testifies over him, as stated (in Numb. 14:24): BUT MY SERVANT CALEB, [BECAUSE HE HAD ANOTHER SPIRIT WITH HIM]. So when the spies came, they said: We can trust Caleb? Immediately he stood up on a stool⁴⁵Safsal; cf. Lat.: subsellium. and had all Israel become silent, because they had been clamoring against Moses, as stated (in Numb. 13:30): THEN CALEB HUSHED THE PEOPLE BEFORE MOSES. Now they were thinking that he would utter slander. For that reason they were silent. He began by saying (ibid., cont.): WE SHOULD CERTAINLY GO UP AND POSSESS IT. Immediately they took issue with him and said (in Numb. 13:31–32): WE ARE UNABLE TO GO UP <AGAINST THIS PEOPLE>…. SO THEY SPREAD CALUMNY ABOUT THE LAND….

(Devarim 3:24) "to show Your servant": There are those who call themselves "servants," whom the Holy One Blessed be He calls "servants." And there are those who call themselves "servants," whom the Holy One Blessed be He does not call "servants." And there are those who do not call themselves "servants," whom the Holy One Blessed be He calls "servants." Abraham called himself a "servant," viz. (Bereshith 12:3) "Do not now pass away from Your servant," and the Holy One Blessed be He called him a "servant," viz. (Ibid. 26:24) "for the sake of Abraham, My servant." Jacob called himself a "servant," viz. (Ibid. 32:11) "I am too small for all of the lovingkindnesses and all of the truth that You have done with Your servant," and the Holy One Blessed be He called him a "servant," viz. (Isaiah 41:8) "But you, Israel, are My servant, Jacob, etc." Moses called himself a "servant, viz. "to show Your "servant," and the Holy One Blessed be He called him a "servant," viz. (Joshua 1:2) "Moses My servant is dead." David called himself a "servant," viz. (Psalms 116:16) "Heed, O L-rd, for I am Your servant," and the Holy One Blessed be He called him a "servant," viz. ( II Kings 19:34) "for the sake of David, My servant." Isaiah called himself a "servant," viz. (Isaiah 49:5) "… who formed me from the womb to be a servant to Him," and the Holy One Blessed be He called him a "servant," viz. (Ibid. 20:3) "Isaiah, My servant." Samuel called himself a "servant," but the Holy One Blessed be He did not call him a "servant." Shimshon called himself a "servant," viz. (Judges 15:18) "You have given unto the hand of Your servant, etc.", but the Holy One Blessed be He did not call him a servant. Solomon called himself a "servant," viz. (I Kings 3:9) "Give Your servant an understanding heart," and the Holy One Blessed be He did not call him a "servant," but wrought for his father's sake, viz. (I Kings 15:13) "for the sake of David, My servant." Iyyov did not call himself a "servant," but the Holy One Blessed be He called him a "servant," (viz. Iyyov 2:3) "Have you given heart to My servant, Iyyov"? Joshua did not call himself a "servant," but Scripture called him a "servant," viz. (Joshua 24:29) "and Joshua the son of Nun, the servant of the L-rd, died." Calev did not call himself a "servant," but the Holy One Blessed be He called him a "servant," viz. (Bamidbar 14:24) "But My servant Calev, etc." Elyakim did not call himself a "servant," but the Holy One Blessed be he called him a "servant," viz. (Isaiah 22:20) "And I will call My servant Elyakim, etc." Zerubavel did not call himself a "servant," but the Holy One Blessed be He called him a "servant," viz. (Chaggai 2:23) "Zerubavel ben Shaltiel, My servant." Daniel did not call himself a "servant," but Scripture called him a "servant," viz. (Daniel 6:21) "The king spoke and said to Daniel: Daniel, servant of the living G-d." Chananiah, Mishael, and Azaryah did not call themselves "servants," but the Holy One Blessed be He called them "servants," viz. (Daniel 6:23) "Shadrach, Meshach and Aved-nego, servants of the exalted G-d." The early prophets did not call themselves "servants," but the Holy One Blessed be He called them "servants," viz. (Amos 3:7) " … but He revealed His secret to His servants, the prophets."

R. Shimon b. Yochai says: Twelve lands were given (to Israel) corresponding to the twelve tribes of Israel, and the flavor of the fruits of one land were not similar to that of each of the others. And these are the (twelve) lands: (Devarim 8:8) "a land of olive-oil and honey," (Bamidbar 14:24) "I shall bring him (Calev) to the land whence he came," (Devarim 4:14) "the land whither you are crossing to inherit it," (Ibid. 11:11) "a land of mountains and plains … (Ibid. 12) a land which the L-rd your G-d inquires after," (Ibid. 8:7) "For the L-rd your G-d is bringing you to a good land, a land of streams of water … (Ibid. 8) a land of wheat and barley … a land of olive-oil and honey (Ibid. 9) a land where not in constraint shall you eat bread … a land whose stones are iron … (Ibid. 10) for the good land" — twelve lands corresponding to twelve tribes.