Midrash su Numeri 13:13

R. Jose b. R. Hanina said: There are people [whose names are handsome and whose deeds are ugly;] <There are> those whose names are ugly and whose deeds are handsome; there are those whose names are handsome and whose deeds are handsome; there are those whose names are ugly and whose deeds are ugly.⁴Below, Numb. 4:6; Tanh., Numb. 4:6; Gen. R. 71:3; Numb. R. 16:10. There are those whose names are handsome and whose deeds are ugly: Such is Absalom (whose name means "father of peace"), of whom it is stated (in II Sam. 16:22): AND ABSALOM WENT UNTO HIS FATHER'S CONCUBINES. Those whose names are ugly and whose deeds are handsome: These are the ones who went up <from> exile, of whom it is stated (in Ezra 2:53 = Neh. 7:55): THE CHILDREN OF {BARKOM} [BARKOS],⁵Perhaps the midrash understands the name as designating Bacchus, the Roman god of drinking, or perhaps the name is understood to mean “son of Kos,” Kos being a pagan god. THE CHILDREN OF SISERA (cf. Jud. 4–5), THE CHILDREN OF TEMAH.⁶Understood as coming from the verb MHH, which means “destroy.” Those whose names are ugly and whose deeds are ugly: These are the spies. What is written (in Numb. 13:13)? FROM THE TRIBE OF ASHER, SETHUR (a name which means "disheveled") BEN MICHAEL. Those whose names are handsome and whose deeds are handsome: These are the tribes, of which it is stated (in Exod. 1:1–2): NOW THESE ARE THE NAMES OF THE CHILDREN OF ISRAEL…: REUBEN, SIMEON, LEVI, AND JUDAH.⁷For an explanation of how these names are handsome, see Gen. R. 71:3, according to which Reuben means “See, a son” outstanding among all sons; and Simeon means “He heeds” the voice of his father in heaven. But cf. Gen. 29:32–33, for somewhat different etymologies. On the etymologies of Levi and Judah, see Gen. 29:34–35.

(Numb. 13:16:) THESE ARE THE NAMES OF THE MEN <WHOM MOSES SENT TO SPY OUT THE LAND>. And what were their names?²¹Above, Exod. 1:1, and the notes there; Tanh., Numb. 4:6, cont.; Gen. R. 71:3; Numb. R. 16:10; cf. Sot. 34b. (Vss. 13–15) < … > SETHUR BEN MICHAEL, < … > NAHBI BEN VOPHSI, < … > GEUEL BEN MACHI. There are people {whose names are ugly but whose deeds are handsome,} < those whose> names are handsome but whose deeds are ugly, [<those whose> names are ugly but whose deeds are handsome,] <those whose> names and deeds are handsome, <and those whose> names and deeds are ugly. <Those whose> names are handsome but whose deeds are ugly are Ishmael and Esau. Ishmael <means> "God hears"; Esau <means> "He does the will of his maker." Moreover, their deeds were ugly. <Those whose> names are ugly but whose deeds are handsome are those coming up out of exile. (According to Ezra 2:53 = Neh. 7:55): THE CHILDREN OF {BARKOM} [BARKOS], THE CHILDREN OF SISERA (cf. Jud. 4–5), THE CHILDREN OF TEMAH. <Those whose> names are handsome and whose deeds are handsome are the tribes. <Those whose> names are ugly and whose deeds are ugly are the spies. What is written about them (in Numb. 13:13)? SETHUR (rt.: STR), in that God has eradicated (rt.: STR) him (sic) from the world.²²Cf. Sot. 34b.

These are the names of the men (Numbers 13:16): What were their names? Sethur the son of Michael; Nahbi the son of Vophsi; Geuel the son of Machi. There are people whose names are nice and whose actions are ugly, people whose names are ugly and actions are nice, people whose names and actions are nice, and people whose names and actions are ugly. Whose names are nice and whose actions are ugly - this is Ishmael and Esau: Ishmael means "listens to God" ("Shomea El"). Esau means "does the will of his Maker" ("Oseh Retzon Osav"). But their actions are bad. Whose names are ugly and whose actions are nice - these are those who ascended from exile: the children of Barak, the children of Sisera, and the children of Tamach. Whose names and actions are ugly - these are the spies. What is written about them? Sethur - that he closed him off ("setharo") from the world.

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