My interpretation/translation of the word/verb וְיָתֻ֙רוּ֙ "yaturu" isn't "scout," it's "stake out."
In modern terms, we can say that Gd sent the twelve tribal leaders on "pilot trip" to choose which part of the land of Israel each tribe would settle when arriving in the Holy Land. They were to decide according to the which suited each tribe, and that's the "judgements" they were to make.
Unfortunately, ten out of twelve thought they had the authority to decided whether or not to bring their tribal members into the land, claiming it too dangerous.
For that sin, they and their generation had to die and only the next generation entered the Holy Land. The two exceptions were the leader who had followed orders, Caleb and Yehoshua.
3 comments:
It is best translated "to tour" ... same word.
Regarding the punishment ... it wasn't a punishment at all. G-d was simply acquiescing to the Israelite's longing to die in the desert.
Sorry, but it's not the same. To tour vs to stake out, like a modern pilot trip, are not the same. And they didn't hope to be punished with death in the desert. Once they heard their punishment a group tried to leave to settle the Land, and they died.
’לו מתנו בארץ מצרים או במדבר הזה לו מתנו’
’אֱמֹר אֲלֵהֶם, חַי-אָנִי נְאֻם-יְהוָה, אִם-לֹא, כַּאֲשֶׁר דִּבַּרְתֶּם בְּאָזְנָי: כֵּן, אֶעֱשֶׂה לָכֶם.’
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