Parasha: Devarim – Words
Torah: Devarim 1:1 – 3:22
When the six hundred and three thousand army of Israel refused to enter Canaan, Avinu declared that every member of the army except for two men would not enter into Canaan but die in the wilderness, it was too late for repentance.
In the following thirty seven years, every man died and was buried in the wilderness. The average daily death toll was approximately fifty five men. Here is how the Scriptures explain the sentence:
13 Now rise and cross over the Valley of the Zered.’ So we crossed over the Valley of the Zered. 14 And the time we took to come from Kadesh Barnea until we crossed over the Valley of the Zered was thirty-eight years, until all the generation of the men of war was consumed from the midst of the camp, just as Avinu had sworn to them. 15 For indeed the hand of Avinu was against them, to destroy them from the midst of the camp until they were consumed. 16 So it was, when all the men of war had finally perished from among the people, numbering from twenty years old and above, for six hundred and three thousand, five hundred and fifty men.” (Ex 38:26)
When Kalev crossed over to Canaan, he was eighty five years old.
Every other Israeli soldier was between the age of twenty and fifty seven years old.
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