This sheet on Numbers 13 was written by Danny Dubin for 929 and can also be found here
The interesting thing about a name is that its meaning is not automatically found by the person who bears that name. While a child’s name can hold significance for those who named the child, the child themselves may not inherently connect to the name. It is quite obvious that names hold a special significance in Jewish tradition, and it is no small happening when names are changed in the Torah; Avram changed to Avraham, Sarai to Sarah, Jacob to Israel and now Hosea to Joshua. God or an Angel of God oversaw these first three name changes. But Hosea to Joshua was completed by Moshe himself right before the 12 Scouts entered the Land of Israel: “and Moshe called Hosea ben Nun… Joshua” (13:16).
We learn from Rashi’s comment on Bereshit 17:5 that the “Yud” from Joshua יהושע originated from Sarai שרי, whose name was changed to Sarah שרה. Rashi explains that the “Yud” was angry at the Shechinah when it was taken from שרי; the letter was finally put at ease once it was added to יהושע. So, it seems that this “Yud” was destined to travel throughout the Torah through Isaac and Rivkah, Jacob, Rachel and Leah and all of the 12 Tribes of Israel until it rested in Joshua.
This special letter helped helped Joshua to fulfill his divine potential. Or HaChaim writes that the added “Yud” represents the number ten; Joshua needed this letter to resist the wrongful advice of the ten doubtful scouts whom did not believe that Israel could conquer the Land of Canaan. Joshua, along with Caleb, had faith in Moshe and God’s plan even when all of the other Tribes were doubtful. Joshua is the warrior who lead the Israelites’ conquest throughout the Land of Canaan later in Tanakh, and perhaps he could not have done so without this added “Yud.”
We learn that much like every letter of the Torah contains a special meaning, so too does every letter of a name hold significance. Joshua was only able to reach his potential as a leader and individual once his name change was complete. Like Joshua, we can connect to our true divine purposes by connecting with the letters within our own given names.
We learn from Rashi’s comment on Bereshit 17:5 that the “Yud” from Joshua יהושע originated from Sarai שרי, whose name was changed to Sarah שרה. Rashi explains that the “Yud” was angry at the Shechinah when it was taken from שרי; the letter was finally put at ease once it was added to יהושע. So, it seems that this “Yud” was destined to travel throughout the Torah through Isaac and Rivkah, Jacob, Rachel and Leah and all of the 12 Tribes of Israel until it rested in Joshua.
This special letter helped helped Joshua to fulfill his divine potential. Or HaChaim writes that the added “Yud” represents the number ten; Joshua needed this letter to resist the wrongful advice of the ten doubtful scouts whom did not believe that Israel could conquer the Land of Canaan. Joshua, along with Caleb, had faith in Moshe and God’s plan even when all of the other Tribes were doubtful. Joshua is the warrior who lead the Israelites’ conquest throughout the Land of Canaan later in Tanakh, and perhaps he could not have done so without this added “Yud.”
We learn that much like every letter of the Torah contains a special meaning, so too does every letter of a name hold significance. Joshua was only able to reach his potential as a leader and individual once his name change was complete. Like Joshua, we can connect to our true divine purposes by connecting with the letters within our own given names.
(טז) אֵ֚לֶּה שְׁמ֣וֹת הָֽאֲנָשִׁ֔ים אֲשֶׁר־שָׁלַ֥ח מֹשֶׁ֖ה לָת֣וּר אֶת־הָאָ֑רֶץ וַיִּקְרָ֥א מֹשֶׁ֛ה לְהוֹשֵׁ֥עַ בִּן־נ֖וּן יְהוֹשֻֽׁעַ׃
(16) Those were the names of the men whom Moses sent to scout the land; but Moses changed the name of Hosea son of Nun to Joshua.
Danny Dubin is a first year rabbinical student at Hebrew College in Boston.
929 is the number of chapters in the Tanakh, the Hebrew Bible, the formative text of the Jewish heritage. It is also the name of a cutting-edge project dedicated to creating a global Jewish conversation anchored in the Hebrew Bible. 929 English invites Jews everywhere to read and study Tanakh, one chapter a day, Sunday through Thursday together with a website with creative readings and pluralistic interpretations, including audio and video, by a wide range of writers, artists, rabbis, educators, scholars, students and more. As an outgrowth of the web-based platform, 929 English also offers classes, pop-up lectures, events and across North America. We invite you to learn along with us and be part of our dynamic community.
To join 929's listserv for new and dynamic content each week click here
To join 929's listserv for new and dynamic content each week click here
