We will begin this session by closing the previous topic (Kivrot haTaava) with statements in the midrashim that discuss further the consequences of the people’s behavior in this incident, and perhaps also how the consequence was appropriate. (These sources were posted for last week’s session.)
Following this, we will move on to חטא המרגלים, the sin of the spies. In this session we will focus primarily on the viewpoints and exegetical understandings expressed in the gemara in Masechet Sota. We will attempt to identify where the amoraim thought the lack of faith originated, the lack of faith that ends tragically with an entire generation consigned to wandering in the desert for the remainder of their lives.