Shelach 13:13 · unit 1 — Sesor ben Michael

Parashas Shelach · Aliyah 1 · Passuk 13

The Complete Passuk

לְמַטֵּ֣ה אָשֵׁ֔ר סְת֖וּר בֶּן־מִיכָאֵֽל׃

for the tribe of Asher, Sesor the son of Michael.

Chabad.org — English translation + Rashi

Source Citation

Torah Temimah on Numbers 13:13: Sotah 34b — the spies were named for their deeds; Sesor / Michael.

Sefaria — Sotah 34b · E-Daf — Sotah 34b

Core Text of Chazal

Core Text
אָמַר רַבִּי יִצְחָק: דָּבָר זֶה מָסוֹרֶת בְּיָדֵינוּ מֵאֲבוֹתֵינוּ: מְרַגְּלִים עַל שֵׁם מַעֲשֵׂיהֶם נִקְרְאוּ. וְאָנוּ לֹא עָלְתָה בְּיָדֵינוּ אֶלָּא אֶחָד: ״סְתוּר בֶּן מִיכָאֵל״, ״סְתוּר״ — שֶׁסָּתַר מַעֲשָׂיו שֶׁל הַקָּדוֹשׁ בָּרוּךְ הוּא.

English: R’ Yitzchak said: This tradition is in our hands from our fathers: the spies were named for their deeds. And only one has come into our hands: “Sesor son of Michael” — “Sesor,” that he contradicted the deeds of the Holy One, blessed be He.

Type of Learning

Name midrash — the personal name encodes the spy’s deed.

What Is Learned

Chazal read the name Sesor as marking one who undermined recognition of Hashem’s acts regarding the land.