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Deuteronomy 1:39 - Innocent inherit the land?

Deuteronomy 1:39 - דברים 1:39

Hebrew Text

וְטַפְּכֶם אֲשֶׁר אֲמַרְתֶּם לָבַז יִהְיֶה וּבְנֵיכֶם אֲשֶׁר לֹא־יָדְעוּ הַיּוֹם טוֹב וָרָע הֵמָּה יָבֹאוּ שָׁמָּה וְלָהֶם אֶתְּנֶנָּה וְהֵם יִירָשׁוּהָּ׃

English Translation

And your little ones, concerning whom you said they should be a prey, and your children who in that day had no knowledge of good and evil, they shall go in there, and to them will I give it, and they shall possess it.

Transliteration

V'tapchem asher amartem lavaz yihye uv'neichem asher lo-yadu hayom tov vara hema yavo'u shamah v'lahem etnenah v'hem yirashuha.

Hebrew Leining Text

וְטַפְּכֶם֩ אֲשֶׁ֨ר אֲמַרְתֶּ֜ם לָבַ֣ז יִהְיֶ֗ה וּ֠בְנֵיכֶ֠ם אֲשֶׁ֨ר לֹא־יָדְע֤וּ הַיּוֹם֙ ט֣וֹב וָרָ֔ע הֵ֖מָּה יָבֹ֣אוּ שָׁ֑מָּה וְלָהֶ֣ם אֶתְּנֶ֔נָּה וְהֵ֖ם יִירָשֽׁוּהָ׃
וְטַפְּכֶם֩ אֲשֶׁ֨ר אֲמַרְתֶּ֜ם לָבַ֣ז יִהְיֶ֗ה וּ֠בְנֵיכֶ֠ם אֲשֶׁ֨ר לֹא־יָדְע֤וּ הַיּוֹם֙ ט֣וֹב וָרָ֔ע הֵ֖מָּה יָבֹ֣אוּ שָׁ֑מָּה וְלָהֶ֣ם אֶתְּנֶ֔נָּה וְהֵ֖ם יִירָשֽׁוּהָ׃

🎵 Listen to leining

Parasha Commentary

Context in the Torah

This verse appears in Devarim (Deuteronomy) 1:39, where Moshe recounts the aftermath of the sin of the spies. The generation that left Egypt was condemned to die in the wilderness due to their lack of faith, but Hashem assures that their children—who were deemed innocent—would inherit the Land of Israel.

Rashi's Explanation

Rashi (Devarim 1:39) highlights two key phrases:

  • "וְטַפְּכֶם אֲשֶׁר אֲמַרְתֶּם לָבַז יִהְיֶה" ("And your little ones, concerning whom you said they should be a prey")—Rashi explains that the parents had feared their children would be taken as spoils of war by the Canaanites, but Hashem reassures that these children would instead enter and inherit the land.
  • "בְנֵיכֶם אֲשֶׁר לֹא־יָדְעוּ הַיּוֹם טוֹב וָרָע" ("your children who in that day had no knowledge of good and evil")—Rashi interprets this as referring to children below the age of bar/bat mitzvah, who were not held accountable for the sin of the spies.

Midrashic Insights

The Midrash Tanchuma (Shelach 7) elaborates that the younger generation was spared because they had not participated in the rebellion of the spies. Their innocence—symbolized by their lack of discernment between "good and evil"—made them worthy of entering Eretz Yisrael.

Rambam's Perspective

Rambam (Maimonides), in Hilchot Teshuvah (6:1), discusses the concept of divine judgment and merit. This verse illustrates that children below the age of accountability are not punished for their parents' sins, aligning with the principle of "אין עונשין אלא אם כן מזהירין" ("there is no punishment without prior warning").

Halachic Implications

The Talmud (Sanhedrin 111b) derives from this verse that minors are not held responsible for communal sins. This principle influences halachic rulings regarding children's obligations in mitzvot and communal fasts.

Spiritual Lesson

This verse teaches the importance of trust in Hashem's justice. While the generation of the wilderness faced consequences for their lack of faith, their children—who were blameless—were granted the privilege of fulfilling the divine promise. It underscores that innocence and sincere commitment are cherished by Hashem.

📚 Talmud Citations

This verse is quoted in the Talmud.

📖 Sotah 36b
The verse is referenced in a discussion about the merit of the children of Israel who were destined to enter the Land of Israel, contrasting them with their parents who were not allowed to enter due to their lack of faith.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: What does Deuteronomy 1:39 mean when it says 'your children who in that day had no knowledge of good and evil'?
A: According to Rashi, this refers to the young children who were not yet accountable for their actions and could not be held responsible for the sins of the older generation. The Talmud (Niddah 45b) explains that children below the age of Bar/Bat Mitzvah (12 for girls, 13 for boys) are not yet fully responsible for distinguishing between good and evil in a halachic sense.
Q: Why were the children allowed to enter the Land of Israel when their parents were not?
A: The Midrash (Tanchuma, Shelach 7) explains that the decree preventing the generation of the Exodus from entering the Land applied only to those who were adults at the time of the sin of the spies. The children were innocent of this sin and therefore merited to enter the Land. This teaches us that each person is judged based on their own actions, not those of their parents.
Q: What lesson can we learn from God promising the Land to the children in Deuteronomy 1:39?
A: The Rambam (Hilchot Teshuvah 6:4) derives from this verse that even when there are judgments in the world, God always leaves room for hope and continuity through the next generation. This teaches us the importance of educating children properly, as they carry forward our spiritual legacy.
Q: How does the phrase 'they shall possess it' apply to us today?
A: The Sforno explains that this promise wasn't just about physical possession of the Land, but about properly inheriting and settling it with Torah values. Today, this teaches us that our connection to the Land of Israel must be accompanied by spiritual growth and commitment to mitzvot.
Q: Why does the verse mention both 'your little ones' and 'your children' separately?
A: Ibn Ezra explains that 'your little ones' refers to actual infants, while 'your children' refers to those who were young at the time of the Exodus but would grow up during the 40 years in the wilderness. This distinction shows that God's mercy extended to all who were not responsible for the sin of the spies.