The Daily Chizzuk of Moreinu HaRav Eliezer Berland shlit”a – All the tribal princes of the spies were humble, but they did not want to give up on the gifts in the desert, so they erred
Sunday, 30 Adar I, 5784
The holy Ari says that the plan was to kill Yehoshua ben Nun.
The Children of Israel said that Yehoshua Bin Nun is the problem – Everything is already fine; the problem is the Tzaddik. The disciple of Moshe is the problem; he creates all the problems.
The Children of Israel did not want to enter the Land of Israel. They said, “Moshe is a Zionist; he wants to enter the Land of Israel. This is the problem. We need to eliminate him.”
It is written in Sha’ar HaPesukim of the holy Ari that the entire plan was how to eliminate Yehoshua. Forty days, he’ll fall asleep for a moment, will not pay attention.
“Who and who are going?” (Shemot 10:8) – the numerical value of Yehoshua. Yehoshua is the numerical value of 391. “Who and who are going” is the numerical value of 216. The Baal HaTurim says that we don’t say “Yehoshua,” rather we say “bin Nun.” If we say “bin Nun,” this comes out exact. “Bin Nun” with “Calev,” or to say “Calev and bin Nun” – we need to add the “vav – and”.
Moshe did not know the secret of the vav’s. “And from the one thousand seven hundred seventy-five he made hooks (vavim) for the pillars” (Shemot 38:28). The secret of the vavim was hidden from him, because the “vav” is already in Atika (the Holy Ancient One). The “vavim” is Atika, and this Moshe could not reach.
Now we are learning Gemara Sotah (34b). What happened so that Calev was silent [amongst the spies]. Here Yehoshua did speak and they wanted to kill him. They said to him, “You talk, you open your mouth? We’ll kill you; we’ll solve the problem.”
The holy Ari says that there was mamash a whole plan here how to eliminate Yehoshua bin Nun.
“Moshe saw the humility of Yehoshua” (Targum Yonatan on Bamidbar 13:16). What humility? Behold all the tribal princes of the spies were humble! Satur ben Michael – this is humility [“Satur” being an allusion to hiddenness]. Nachbi ben Wafsi – Nachbi, because he hides (mitchabeh) himself. These are all holy names, only that they did not want to give up on the manna, did not want to give up on the Clouds of Glory [which would stop when entering the Land]. And they didn’t relent on Miriam’s well.
But the Ari writes in Sha’ar HaPesukim (Parshat VaYetzei) the order of the level of the ten sons [of Yaakov]. Rabbi Hayim Vital testifies: I heard from my master z”l that Zevulun reaches Keter (Crown – the highest level). After Zevul is found Yissachar in Chochma (wisdom).
The question is why specifically Zevulunn reaches such a high place as Keter. He after all was a merchant, a successful merchant, works in real estate, sells some figs, some pomegranates. Because about Zevulun, it is written, “My husband will make his permanent home with me (yizbeleini)” (Bereishit 30:20). “Zevul” – “I have surely built a house of habitation (zevul) for You [e.g. the Temple]” (I Melachim 8:13). It is in Zevul – Zevulun brings everyone to the Temple; he brings all the nations of the world to the Temple.
