A short Insight into YEHOSHUA, Chapter 14 By Rabbi Nisson Dov Miller

POST 1000 FOR THIS YEAR As our chapter describes the process of the division of Eretz Yisroel, Caleiv reminds Yehoshua of the promise that Moshe made to him. Since Caleiv went and prostrated himself at the burial place of our Patriarchs in Chevron so that he would not be enticed by the other spies, Moshe swore that Caleiv would receive Chevron as his portion of Eretz Yisroel. The Maharam Shick (O.C. 293) quotes the gemora in Sotah (34b) regarding the specifics of Caleiv's t'filla, “Rava said, … He said to them, 'My Patriarchs, seek out mercy for me that I should be saved from the counsel of the spies.'” The Maharam Shick wonders how Caleiv could direct his t'fillos in this manner? After all, Chazal teach us that we learn from the verse, “You should not have any other gods”, that one is not allowed to call out to an angel to make a request from Hashem for us? One must directly call out to Hashem. Additionally he asks, how do we pray at funerals and at grave sites that our leaders and relatives should intercede on our behalf?