Many of our foundational stories serve as introductions to Zionism. Paradoxically, one of the most powerful of these emerges from the aftermath of the spies’ mission.The Jews are swayed by the perturbing analysis of ten of the twelve spies, that propounded the danger in attempting to settle the Land of Israel. They despair, God is furious, decreeing that the entire generation, apart from Caleb and Joshua, will perish in the wilderness over the next forty years.

The people regret their hasty albeit understandable response, as the text points out, they were overcome by grief, and tried to make things right, they repent, 14:40;

 וַיַּשְׁכִּ֣מוּ בַבֹּ֔קֶר וַיַּֽעֲל֥וּ אֶל־רֹאשׁ־הָהָ֖ר לֵאמֹ֑ר הִנֶּ֗נּוּ וְעָלִ֛ינוּ אֶל־הַמָּק֛וֹם אֲשֶׁר־אָמַ֥ר יְהֹוָ֖ה כִּ֥י חָטָֽאנוּ׃

Early next morning they set out toward the crest of the hill country, saying, “We are prepared to go up to the place that GOD has spoken of, for........

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