Seeing as Yisrael were encamped in Midbar Sinai, why does the Torah call it 'Midbar Paran"?
Shabbos, 89a: Midbar Paran is synonymous with Midbar Sinai, and it is called 'Midbar Paran', because 'Paru Verau alav' (Yisrael all had children whilst they were encamped there. 1
See Torah Temimah, note 16.
What are the connotations of "Al-Pi Hashem"?
Rashi: It means that Hashem gave His consent to Moshe's decision and did not object, but did not actually appoint the spies. 1
Refer to 13:2:4:2 & 13:2:153:2,4 & 5. 2
What are the implications of "Kulam Anashim"?
Rashi and Targum Yonasan: It implies that, when Moshe sent them, they were still Chashuvim (Kasher)', because S'tam "Anashim" implies Kesherim 1 . And it was only after they set out on their mission that they conspired to sin. 2
Seforno: It implies 'Anshei Chayil' - Men of good deeds). 3
See Sifsei Chachamim. Rosh: And later, after they spoke Lashon ha'Ra about Eretz Yisrael, they are called 'K'silim' (fools), as the Pasuk writes in Mishlei 26:6 - in connection with the spies - "Shole'ach Devarim be'Yad K'sil!", because someone who speaks Lashon ha'Ra is called a 'K'sil', as the Pasuk writes in Mishlei 10:18 "u'Motzi Dibah hu K'sil!".
See Oznayim la'Torah.
As in Shmuel 1 26:15 and in Melachim 1 2:2. Refer to 13:2:5:2*.
Why does the Torah first say that Moshe sent them, which implies of his own accord, and then "Al-Pi Hashem"?
Moshav Zekenim (citing R. Yehudah ha'Chasid): First he sent them in public, suspecting that perhaps there was a spy for the Cana'anim [present]. Later he sent them at night [covertly], and instructed them to go to the south and ascend the mountain? - as if they were from other lands. 1
How is this as if they are from other lands? If the Cana'anim knew that Yisrael were in Kadesh, to the east, they would expect that if they would send spies, they would enter from the east (PF). Presumably, what he maens is that, if the spies would enter from the south, the Cana'anim would think that they were speies of other nations, and not of Yisrael, who were encamped in the east. Refer to 13:17:1:1 & 2.
QUESTIONS ON RASHI
Rashi writes that "Anashim" implies 'Kesherim'. But the Torah in 16:26 refers to them as "ha'Anashim ha'Resha'im ha'Eileh"!
Moshav Zekenim #1: We can draw a distinction betweeen "Anashim" and "ha'Anashim", just as we we draw a distinction between "Ish" and "ha'Ish", as the Gemara explains in Yoma 78a.
Moshav Zekenim #2: There is different, since the Torah writes "ha'Anashim ha'Resha'im"; S'tam "Anashim" are Kesherim. 1
Refer to 13:3:2:1 and note.
Moshav Zekenim: Even though it says "Sh'nei Anashim Ivrim Nitzim", and they were Dasan and Aviram (Resha'im), there it revealed, since it says "Rasha" and "Re'echa" - a Rasha like you.
