like the number of days thet spied out the land...but they sinned for forty days. What sin did they commit for forty days? They only sinned one day when they returned to the camp and spoke LH. Isn't there a rule that only good is counted even if the deed wasn't done by a jew, but not evil if the deed wasn't done.How then could we say they sinned for forty days?
Peretz Porter, Harrisburg Pennsylvania USA
I understand that the simple explanation of the Pasuk is that they sinned in their hearts (on their level) by constantly thinking the thoughts ascribed to them in the Gemara when they told Bnei Yisrael "even the owner of the house (Hash-m) cannot take his vessels (the nations in Eretz Yisrael) from there." These are sins that do not require actions, and are in the category of "Al Tifnu El ha'Elilim" (Vayikra 19:4, see Shulchan Aruch OC 307:16) and "v'Lo Sasuru Acharei Levavchem" (Devarim 15:39, see Sefer HaChinuch Mitzva 387).
All the best,
Yaakov Montrose