1)
What is the significance of the strange names of most of the spies?
1.
Sotah, 34b (citing R. Yitzchak): We have a tradition that the spies were named after their (future) deeds, 1 yet we know only one of them; "S'sur ben Micha'el": "S'sur" - 'she'Sasar', he ?demolished? (made nothing of) the works of Hashem (Eretz Yisrael); "ben Micha'el" - 'she'Asah Son?o Mach' (He made Hashem poor' - [weak]). 2
2.
Sotah, 34b (citing R. Yochanan): We also know "Nachbi ben Vafsi"; "Nachbi" - ' she'Hichbi Devarav shel Hakadosh-Baruch-Hu' (he covered over the words of Hashem); "ben Vafsi" - 'she'Pasa al Midosav shel Hakadosh-Baruch-Hu' (He skipped over the Midos of Hashem). 3
