Calev ben Yefuneh: The Brave Spy Who Defied the Crowd

Among the many figures in the Torah, Calev ben Yefuneh stands out as a man of courage, loyalty, and deep spiritual conviction. As the leader of the tribe of Yehudah and one of the twelve spies sent to scout the Land of Israel, Calev distinguished himself by refusing to speak ill of the Promised Land. His voice, alongside Yehoshua ben Nun’s, carried a message of faith and strength in the face of fear and rebellion.

A Different Spirit: Defying the Other Spies

Calev was one of twelve spies sent by Moshe to explore the Land of Israel. While ten spies returned with fearful reports that discouraged the people, Calev boldly declared: “The land we passed through to spy it out, it is a very, very good land” (Bamidbar 14:7).

The Torah singles Calev out with special praise: “But My servant Calev, because he had a different spirit with him…” (Bamidbar 14:24). Why does the Torah single out Calev and not Yehoshua, who also spoke the truth? The Midrash explains that Yehoshua was protected by Moshe’s prayer—“May Hashem save you from the counsel of the spies”—while Calev struggled on his own. Initially swayed by the other spies, he later overcame their influence and stood firm. This personal victory is reflected in his name: "ben Yefuneh," meaning “the one who turned away” from their counsel (Malbim on Bamidbar 14:24).

Calev was married to two righteous women, Bitya, the daughter of Pharaoh who converted to Judaism, and, according to the Talmud, he was also married to Miriam the prophetess (Megillah 13a; Sotah 11b).

Missions, Miracles, and a Righteous Lineage

Kabbalistic tradition (Sha’ar HaGilgulim by Rabbi Chaim Vital) teaches that Calev was a gilgul (reincarnation) of Eliezer, Avraham’s faithful servant. Aware of the danger of the spies’ negative influence, Calev traveled to Hebron to pray at the grave of Avraham, his master in a previous life, asking for strength to remain faithful.

During the national crisis following the spies’ report, Calev attempted to calm the people. Rashi explains that he began his speech with what sounded like a complaint—“Is this the only thing Moshe did for us?”—causing the people to quiet down and listen. He then praised the miracles they had received: the splitting of the sea, the manna, the quail. Calev and Yehoshua tore their garments in mourning over the nation’s lack of faith (Bamidbar 13:30).

Calev continued to serve the nation even after the episode of the spies. Before conquering the city of Jericho, Yehoshua sent Calev and Pinchas ben Elazar on a covert mission to gather intelligence. The spies were hidden by Rachav, a local woman who risked her life to protect them. In return, she was promised safety for her and her family when the city would be conquered.

The Righteous Daughter Who Carried His Legacy

Calev’s righteousness extended to his family. His daughter Achsah was known for her piety. When Calev sought to conquer the city of Devir, also called Kiryat Sefer, he hesitated because he had not received a Divine promise of success. He declared that whoever conquered the city would marry his daughter.

Calev’s younger brother, Otniel ben Kenaz, accepted the challenge, conquered the city, and married Achsah. Knowing her husband would devote his life to Torah study and not to earning a livelihood, Achsah requested a field with water sources. Calev granted her request, giving them land with two springs, a sign of both material and spiritual abundance.

Calev ben Yefuneh was more than just a loyal spy. He was a man who stood against the tide, risked everything for truth, and raised a family of righteousness. In a world that often follows the crowd, Calev teaches us to stand up for what’s right.