Tanach · Rishonim on Tanach · Ramban · Torah
Ramban on Numbers 14:37/רמב"ן על במדבר י״ד:ל״ז
אמוֹצִיאֵי דִבַּת הָאָרֶץ רָעָה – כְּבָר פֵּרַשְׁתִּי (רמב״ן על במדבר י״ג:ל״ב) כִּי עָנְשָׁם הַגָּדוֹל הָיָה בַּעֲבוּר הַדִּבָּה שֶׁהוֹצִיאוּ כִּי ״אֶרֶץ אוֹכֶלֶת יוֹשְׁבֶיהָ הִיא״, וְהָיָה שֶׁקֶר גָּמוּר, שֶׁהִיא הָיְתָה מְלֵאָה עַמִּים רַבִּים, כְּמוֹ שֶׁכָּתוּב בִּיהוֹשֻׁעַ (י״א ד'): ״הֵם וְכָל מַחֲנֵיהֶם עִמָּם עַם רַב כַּחוֹל אֲשֶׁר עַל שְׂפַת הַיָּם לָרֹב וְסוּס וָרֶכֶב רַב מְאֹד״, וּבַתּוֹרָה (דברים ז' א'): ״וְנָשַׁל גּוֹיִם רַבִּים מִפָּנֶיךָ, שִׁבְעָה גּוֹיִם רַבִּים וַעֲצוּמִים״. וְהֵם הָיוּ מַפְלִיגִים בְּחֹזֶק הָעָם ״כִּי עַז הָעָם״ (במדבר י״ג:כ״ח), ״כִּי חָזָק הוּא מְאֹד״ (שם פסוק לא), וְלֹא הֵשִׁיבוּ עַל דִּבְרֵי מֹשֶׁה שֶׁאָמַר לָהֶם ״הַמְעַט הוּא אִם רָב״ (שם פסוק יח), אֲבָל אָמְרוּ לָעָם אַחֲרֵי כֵן כִּי הָאָרֶץ אוֹכֶלֶת יוֹשְׁבֶיהָ. וְכָתַב רַשִׁ״י (רש״י על במדבר י״ד:ל״ו): כָּל הוֹצָאַת דִּבָּה לְשׁוֹן הוֹצָאַת דְּבָרִים שֶׁהֵם מַלְקִיחִים אֶת הָאָדָם לְדַבֵּר בּוֹ, כְּמוֹ "דּוֹבֵב שִׂפְתֵי יְשֵׁנִים" (שיר השירים ז י), וְיֶשְׁנָהּ לְטוֹבָה וְיֶשְׁנָהּ לְרָעָה, לְכָךְ נֶאֱמַר "מוֹצִיאֵי דִבַּת הָאָרֶץ רָעָה", שֶׁיֵּשׁ דִּבָּה שֶׁהִיא טוֹבָה. וְהִנֵּה כָּתוּב ״וּמוֹצִיא דִבָּה הוּא כְסִיל״ (משלי י' י״ח), וְאֵינֶנּוּ לְטוֹבָה, וְכֵן ״לְהוֹצִיא דִבָּה עַל הָאָרֶץ״ (במדבר י״ד:ל״ו), וְכֵן ״וְדִבָּתְךָ לֹא תָשׁוּב״ (משלי כ״ה י'). אֲבָל כָּל דִּבָּה לְרָעָה, וְיַזְכִּיר "דִּבָּה רָעָה" לְהַפְלִיג:
1AND THOSE MEN, THAT DID BRING FORTH ‘DIBATH’ (AN EVIL REPORT) OF THE LAND, DIED. I have already explained159 that their severe punishment was because of the report which they spread that it is a Land that eateth up the inhabitants thereof,159 which was a complete falsehood since the Land was full with many people, as it is written in the Book of Joshua, And they went out, they and all their hosts with them, much people, even as the sand that is upon the sea-shore in multitude, with horses and chariots very many.160 And in the Torah it is written, and He shall cast out many nations before thee … seven nations greater and mightier than thou.161 The spies also emphasized the strength of the people, saying: the people are fierce,162 and they are very strong,163, Verse 31: for they are stronger than we. and did not report back concerning the words of Moses who told them [to ascertain] whether they are few or many,164, Verse 18. but they told the people afterwards that the Land is one that eateth up the inhabitants thereof!159Now Rashi commented:165 [the spies] made all the congregation to murmur against him by bringing forth ‘dibah’ against the Land. “Whenever Scripture uses the expression ‘he brings forth dibah’ it means bringing forth words which ‘capture’ a person so that he speaks about it, just like ‘doveiv’ (stirring) the lips of those that are asleep.166 And [the expression ‘bringing forth dibah’] may be for good, or for evil. That is why it says [the men … that did bring forth an “‘evil’ dibath” (report of) the Land],167 because there may be a dibah which is good.” [Thus far is the language of Rashi.] But it is written: he that bringeth forth ‘dibah’ is a fool,168 and this cannot [refer] to a good [utterance]. Similarly, bringing forth ‘dibah’ against the Land,169 and so also, ‘v’dibathcha’ (and thine utterance of ‘dibah’) he will not turn away170 — all signify speech of evil, as the term dibah itself connotes evil, and when Scripture uses the expression dibah ra’ah [“evil dibah,” as it does in our verse: and those men that did bring up ‘dibath ha’aretz ra’ah’ (an evil report of the Land) died] it is to emphasize the greatness of the evil that they did.