Midrash sa Mga Bilang 32:9: Midrash Tanchuma & Midrash Tanchuma Buber

(Numb. 13:24:) “That place was called Wadi Eshcol.” This text is related (to Is. 46:10), “Declaring the end from the beginning, and from of old, things that have not yet happened,” in that everything is foreseen by the Holy One, blessed be He.³⁴Numb. R. 16:16. Eshcol (according to Gen. 14:24) was Abraham's friend, and he was called Eshcol because of the grape cluster (eshkol), which Israel was going to cut from his place in his name. (Numb. 13:26-28:) “Then they went and came unto Moses and unto Aaron…. And they recounted to him and said, ‘We came unto the land …. However [the people who dwell in the land] are strong….’” Such is the way of those who recount slander.³⁵Numb. R. 16:17. They open with what is good and finish with what is ill. (Numb. 13:29:) “Amalek dwells in the land [of the Negeb].” What [reason] did they see for opening with Amalek?³⁶Numb. R. 16:18. A parable: To what is the matter comparable? To a child who misbehaves and is beaten with a strap. When they wanted to intimidate him, they reminded him of the strap. Similarly Amalek had been an evil strap for Israel. What [reason] did he see to post himself upon the border in the way of Israel’s entrance into the land? It is simply because his ancestor, Esau, had so commanded him in order to forestall them in their way. So he uprooted [himself] from his place and posted himself on the way, as stated (Numb. 14:45) “And there went down the Amalekite, and the Canaanite, who dwelt in that mountain.”³⁷On this reading, Amalek used to dwell in the mountains, but came down to block Israel’s passage. (Numb. 13:29, cont.:) “And the Canaanite dwells by the sea and along the Jordan.” These are the mighty ones dwelling on the way. Therefore the spies intended to break the heart of Israel, as stated (in Numb. 32:9), “they turned away the heart of the Children of Israel.”

(Numb. 13:29:) AMALEK DWELLS <IN THE LAND OF THE NEGEB>. What <reason> did they see for opening with Amalek?⁴²Tanh., Numb. 4:9, cont.; Numb. R. 16:18. A parable: To what is the matter comparable? To a child who misbehaves and is beaten with a strap. When they wanted to intimidate him, they reminded him of the strap. Similarly Amalek had been an evil strap for Israel. What <reason> did he see to post himself {up to} in the way <of Israel>? <He did so> because his ancestor, Esau, had so commanded him in order to forestall them in their way. So he uprooted <himself> from his place and posted himself on the road. {(Numb. 14:45:) AND THERE WENT DOWN THE AMALEKITE, WHILE THE CANAANITE, WHO DWELT IN THAT MOUNTAIN.}⁴³On this reading, Amalek used to dwell in the mountains, but came down to block Israel’s passage. [(Numb. 13:29, cont.:) WHILE THE HITTITE, THE JEBUSITE, AND THE AMORITE DWELL IN THE MOUNTAINS,] AND THE CANAANITE DWELLS BY THE SEA AND ALONG THE JORDAN. These are the mighty ones dwelling on the way. Therefore the spies intended to break the heart of Israel, as stated (in Numb. 32:9): THEY TURNED AWAY THE HEART OF THE CHILDREN OF ISRAEL.