Shelach 14:22 · unit 1 — these ten times

Parashas Shelach · Aliyah 3 · Passuk 22

The Complete Passuk

כִּ֣י כׇל־הָאֲנָשִׁ֗ים הָרֹאִ֤ים אֶת־כְּבוֹדִי֙ וְאֶת־אֹ֣תֹתַ֔י אֲשֶׁר־עָשִׂ֥יתִי בְמִצְרַ֖יִם וּבַמִּדְבָּ֑ר וַיְנַסּ֣וּ אֹתִ֗י זֶ֚ה עֶ֣שֶׂר פְּעָמִ֔ים וְלֹ֥א שָׁמְע֖וּ בְּקוֹלִֽי׃

For all the men who have seen My glory and My signs that I did in Egypt and in the wilderness, and have tested Me these ten times, and have not heeded My voice.

Chabad.org — 14:22

Source Citation

Torah Temimah on זה עשר פעמים: Arachin 15a — decree sealed over lashon hara.

Sefaria — Arachin 15a

Core Text of Chazal

Core Text
נִמְצָא הָאוֹמֵר בְּפִיו חָמוּר מִן הָעוֹשֶׂה מַעֲשֶׂה, שֶׁכֵּן מָצִינוּ שֶׁלֹּא נִתְחַתֵּם גְּזַר דִּין עַל אֲבוֹתֵינוּ בַּמִּדְבָּר אֶלָּא עַל לָשׁוֹן הָרָע, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר ״וַיְנַסּוּ אוֹתִי זֶה עֶשֶׂר פְּעָמִים וְגוֹ׳״.

English: It turns out that one who speaks with his mouth is more severe than one who acts, for the decree was sealed against our fathers in the wilderness only over evil speech, as it is said: “They have tested Me these ten times.”

Type of Learning

Severity of speech relative to deed.

What Is Learned

The ten tests culminate in speech against the land; that sealed the decree.