(Numb. 13:17): THEN HE SAID UNTO THEM: GO UP HERE INTO THE NEGEB, [AND GO UP INTO THE HILL COUNTRY]. They are a people who go up.²³., Numb. 4:6, cont. R. Berekhyah the Priest [Berabbi] said: They found the three sons of the Anakim there, (i.e., according to vs. 22): AHIMAN, SHESHAI, AND TALMAI.²⁴. 34b. Why was the name of the first called Ahiman? Because he said: My brother (ahi), who (man) will come against me? Why Sheshai (ShYShY)? Because he was as sound as marble (ShYSh). Why Talmai?²⁵, which means, “my furrows.” Because he went and made furrows (telamim) in the earth.²⁶ Why were they called (ibid., cont): THE CHILDREN OF ANAK ('NQ)? Because they wore (rt.: 'NQ) the sun about the neck.²⁷ When the spies saw them they were afraid. Immediately they went and said (in vs. 31): FOR THEY ARE STRONGER THAN WE. Resh Laqish said: They struck against Heaven. Because of this transgression harsh decrees were issued against them. What does the Holy One say to Jeremiah? Go, say to them: You do not know what you have brought out from your mouth daily (according to Jer. 11:16): A GREAT TUMULT. They said (in Numb. 13:33): MOREOVER THERE WE SAW THE NEPHILIM—THE CHILDREN OF ANAK ARE PART OF THE NEPHILIM— AND IN OUR OWN EYES WE WERE LIKE GRASSHOPPERS. The Holy One said: I forgave them for that remark; but then (ibid., cont.) AND SO WE WERE IN THEIR EYES. Who would say that you were not like angels in there eyes? Do you know what I made you in their eyes? What have you brought upon yourselves? (Numb. 14:34:) ACCORDING TO THE NUMBER OF DAYS THAT YOU EXPLORED THE LAND, FORTY DAYS, EVERY DAY A YEAR…. As though this was not enough, they did not even enter the land. The Holy One said to Israel: In this world,²⁸, 4:7 and Numb R. 16:11. because the representatives (literally: those sent) were of flesh and blood, it has been decreed over them that they should not enter the land; but in the world to come I will suddenly send my angel (mal'akh), and he shall clear a way before me. It is so stated (in Mal. 3:1): BEHOLD, I AM SENDING {A} [MY] MESSENGER (mal'akh) TO CLEAR A WAY BEFORE ME, AND THE LORD WHOM YOU SEEK [SHALL SUDDENLY COME UNTO HIS TEMPLE].

footnotes: ²³ Numb. R. 16:11; Tanh ²⁴ Cf. Sot ²⁵ Talmay ²⁶ I.e., with his heavy steps. ²⁷ According to Zeev Wolf’s commentary on Numb. R. 16:11, They were so tall that the sun seemed to rest on their heads. ²⁸ This form usually denotes the end of a parashah, but it does not do so here; nor does it do so in the parallels in the traditional Tanhuma