מדרש אויף תהילים 76:6

(Numb. 13:2:) SEND MEN TO EXPLORE…. This text is related (to Ps. 76:6 [5]): THE STOUT-HEARTED WERE DESPOILED; THEY WERE ASLEEP IN THEIR SLUMBER; NOR DID ANY OF THE VALIANT MEN LIFT A HAND. (Ibid.:) THE STOUT-HEARTED WERE DESPOILED, namely Moses and Aaron.⁴Tanh., Numb. 4:2; Numb. R. 16:2. After they sent out the spies, these came and made an evil report about the land. They did not know what to do. Actually, even Moses and Aaron were negligent over the report. Immediately Caleb stood up and silenced all those hosts,⁵Gk.: ochloi. as stated (in Numb. 13:30): THEN CALEB HUSHED <THE PEOPLE BEFORE MOSES>…. He stood on a stool⁶Safsal; cf. Lat.: subsellium. and had them become silent. Then he said to them: [Has the son of Amram only done this to us?] So they became silent in order to hear from him. He said to them (in Numb. 14:7): THE LAND IS VERY VERY GOOD. The Holy One said to Moses: I am exceedingly grateful to Caleb, as stated (in Deut. 1:36): <NONE> EXCEPT CALEB BEN JEPHUNNEH. <HE SHALL SEE IT, AND TO HIM I WILL GIVE THE LAND…. > What is the meaning of EXCEPT (ZWLTY)? THIS MAN JOINING ME (ZH LWH 'TY) is <worth> more than sixty myriads of you. You did not find your hands (i.e., your courage); therefore you were indecisive. Thus it is stated (in Ps. 76:6 [5]): THE STOUT-HEARTED WERE DESPOILED; <THEY WERE ASLEEP IN THEIR SLUMBER; NOR DID ANY OF THE VALIANT MEN LIFT A HAND>. Why all this? Because they were foolish agents. [It is with reference to them that Solomon has said (in Prov. 26:6): THE ONE WHO SENDS A MESSAGE THROUGH A FOOL IS CUTTING OFF <HIS OWN> FEET AND DRINKING VIOLENCE.

(Numb. 13:2:) “Send men.” This text is related (to Ps. 76:6), “The stout-hearted were despoiled; they were asleep in their slumber; nor did any of the valiant men lift a hand.” (Ibid.:) “The stout-hearted were despoiled,” namely Moses and Aaron.⁴Numb. R. 16:2. After they sent out the spies, these came and made an evil report about the land, and they did not know what to do. Actually, even Moses and Aaron were negligent [over the report]. Immediately Caleb stood up and silenced all those hosts,⁵Gk.: ochloi. as stated (in Numb. 13:30), “Then Caleb hushed the people before Moses.” He stood on a stool⁶Safsal; cf. Lat.: subsellium. and had them become silent. Then he said to them, “Hush, hush.” So they became silent in order to hear from him. He said to them (in Numb. 14:7), “The land […] is very very good.” The Holy One, blessed be He, said to Moses, “I am exceedingly grateful to Caleb.” It is so stated (in Deut. 1:36), “Except Caleb ben Jephunneh.” What is the meaning of “except (zwlty)?” This one is with Me (lzh wh'ty) (more) than sixty myriads of you. You did not find your hands (i.e., your courage); therefore you were indecisive. Thus it is stated (in Ps. 76:6), “The stout-hearted were despoiled; [they were asleep in their slumber; nor did any of the valiant men lift a hand].” Why all this? Because they were foolish agents. It is with reference to them that Solomon has said (in Prov. 26:6), “The one who sends a message through a fool is cutting off [his own] feet and drinking violence.”

That which the verse said: “The stout-hearted were bewildered. They fell into a stupor” (Psalms 76:6). “Were bewildered” – these were Moses and Aaron, who dispatched the spies. When they returned and said an evil report regarding the Land, they did not know what to do; rather, even Moses and Aaron were bewildered by them. Immediately, Caleb stood and silenced the entire population, as it is stated: “Caleb silenced the people” (Numbers 13:30). He stood on the bench and he was silencing them, and saying: ‘Hush,’ and they grew silent to hear him. He said to them: “The Land is exceedingly good” (Numbers 14:7). The Holy One blessed be He said to Moses: ‘I am extremely grateful to him,’ as it is stated: “Except [zulati] Caleb son of Yefuneh” (Deuteronomy 1:36). What is zulati? ‘This one is for Me [lazeh iti] greater that six hundred thousand of you. You did not find any recourse, but rather you reeled.’ That is why it is stated: “The stout-hearted were bewildered.” Why to that extent? It is because these emissaries were fools. Solomon said: “One who sends things by the hand of a fool cuts off his feet and drinks rancor” (Proverbs 26:6).