Why Did Moshe Send Elders Instead Of Scouts?

If Moshe wanted to find out about Eretz Yisrael he ought to have sent scouts, professional spies, not nesi’im, the tribal leaders! Why send nesi’im?

One suggestion was that because these were tribal leaders, people trusted they would have the good of the tribe in mind and relied on their judgment.

Some Rishonim explain that one reason Hashem sent the meraglim was to ensure the Jews enter Eretz Yisrael. How? By a representative group already have been there. So it certainly figures to use the nesi’im, who were direct representatives of klal yisroel.

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