Our reading this week includes the story of the Moses sending the twelve spies to survey the Promised Land (Num.13), an episode that ends in disaster. The haftarah selection recounts a later story of two spies sent by Joshua to reconnoiter Jericho, the first city the Israelites approach once they are finally allowed into the land. The spies were successful, but only with the help of the Canaanite prostitute, Rahab. Read more…