Why did Moshe change Hoshe'a bin Nun's name to 'Yehoshua'?
Rashi #1: He Davened that Hashem should save him from the counsel of the spies. 1
Rashi #2 (in Divrei ha'Yamim 2, 36:4): Becaue iit is the way of kings to change the names of their nobles and servants, as a sign of [the king's] authority. 2
Seforno: He was a man of valor who was known to his tribe as 'Hoshe'a', and Moshe now called him 'Yehoshua' - a more respectable name - and to Daven to Hashem to save him and that he should save others.
Rashbam and Hadar Zekenim: In fact, he changed his name earlier 3 when he appointed him as his personal valet 4 and placed him in charge of his household, and the Torah is informing us here that the Hoshe'a bin Nun mentioned here is the same person whose name Moshe changed to Yehoshua.
Da'as Zekenim (citing Midrash Tanchuma and Rosh): Moshe added a 'Yud' to his name, because he saw that Calev would receive Chevron, and Yehoshua the portion of the other ten Meraglim. 7 Also, the 'Yud' that was taken from Sarai's name was complaining; it was repaid here. (Refer to 13:16:1:7**.) Others say that it was divided into two Hey's (their combined Gematriya is 10), which were added to make the names Avraham and Sarah.
Toras Moshe #1: From birth, he was called 'Yehoshua'. When he said "Adoni Moshe Kela'em" (11:28), calling his Rebbi by his name 8 , the 'Yud' was removed from his name, and when Moshe saw a need to bless him, he returned the 'Yud' taken from Sarai. 9
Toras Moshe #2: Yehoshua was very humble, Moshe asked "ha'Yesh bah Eitz" - a Kosher person. He was concerned that Yehoshua might consider the Cana'anim better than himself 10 (and will therefore be afraid of them).
RS"R Hirsh: The change would remind him and his colleagues, that the One who Hoshu'a (saved) in the past, He Yoshu'a (will save) in the future.
Oznayim la'Torah #1: When he saw the strange names of the spies - Refer to 13:13:1:1 & 2 - he changed the name of Yehoshua, his Talmid, to separate him from them. 11
Oznayim la'Torah #2: Besides the fact that the 'Yud' that he added to his name is the first letter of Hashem's Holy Name Havayah, it would also save him from the plot of the ten spies, who were coming to libel Eretz Yisrael, which possesses ten levels of Kedushah.
Yerushalmi Sanhedrin, 2:6: Because the 'Yud' that was taken from Sarah Imeinu's name 12 (when it was changed to 'Sarah') went up and prostrated itself before Hakadosh-Baruch-Hu and said 'Master of the World: Why did You remove me from this Tzadekes?' To which Hakadosh-Baruch-Hu replied 'Go back! Until now you were placed in the name of a woman and at the end of her name; By your life, I will now place you into the name of man - at the beginning of his name!' 13
Moshav Zekenim #1: Because Yehoshua was his talmid, and he was 'a tender youth'. 14
Moshav Zekenim #2: Moshe knew that Yehoshua, who grew up by him and constantly learned from him, certainly went with good intentions, so he Davened that he should not change. He did not however know what the other spies had in mind. Consequently, he could not Daven that their intentions should not change, in case they were evil, nor that it change for the good, in case they were currently good. 15
R. Chaim Paltiel: Because Yehoshua opposed the Meraglim's plans from beginning to end, as opposed to Calev who initially sided with them 16 (and was therefore prone to falling in line with them).
Kli Yakar #1: Moshe blessed him with Hashem's name "Kah", since he sent them to the south, where Amalek was situated; Yehoshua weakened Amalek, and Hashem swore with the Name Kah that He will fight Amalek in every generation. See Sh'mos 17:13 & 16. 17
Kli Yakar #2: Yehoshua was Moshe's Talmid, and Moshe was afraid that if he goes off, the people will attribute it to him Moshe.
Kli Yakar #3: Yehoshua was a descendent of Yosef, who had stumbled in Lashon ha'Ra. Why did he not Daven for Gadi ben Sodi from Menasheh? Efrayim had precedence over Menasheh, due to Ya'akov's B'rachah. If the spy from Efrayim will do his mission properly, surely also the spy from Menasheh will. Alternatively, Menasheh was named based on "Nashani? Kol Beis Avi" (Bereishis 41:51); Moshe thought that his father's act (Lashon ha'Ra) was erased from [any impact on] Menasheh.
Since 'Yehoshua' is the acronym of 'Kah Yoshi'acha' (me'Atzas Meraglim) - 'May Hashem rescue you (from the plot of the spies!)'. See Torah Temimah, note 6, who elaborates.
Par'oh too, changed Yosef's name - See Mikeitz Bereishis, 41:45. See also Rashi in Bereishis 17:5.
See Sh'mos 24:13.
Rashbam: As was customary in those days - See for example, Mikeitz Bereishis, 41:45 and Daniel, 1:7.
And he was afraid that he would therefore succumb to the overtures of the other Meraglim. See Na'ar Yonasan, who cites a number of other explanations..
Toras Moshe: The 'Chirik' in Hoshe'a Bin Nun hints to Binah (contemplation) of the fiftieth (Nun) gate of Chochmah. After the 'Yud' was added to his name, one could say that the 'Yud' received two dots (the vowel Sh'va), so two dots were taken from the Segol of 'Ben', and it became a Chirik; his name is no longer a clear testimony to his awesome Chochmah. If Yehoshua felt pride, he could resent this! Moshe saw his humility, and changed his name. (For added details, refer to Sh'mos 33:11:7:5 & 6).
This implies that Moshe knew that the other Meraglim would sin. Refer to 13:16:151:1.
This is like the Shach (YD 242:24), that one may not say his Rebbi's name in front of him, even with a title of respect. The P'ri Chadash proves from Yehoshua that this is permitted! (Agadas Bereishis fifty-nine praises Ovadyah for honoring his Rebbi, and he said to him "Adoni Eliyahu" (Melachim 1:18:7)! Eruvin 63b says that Yehoshua was punished for ruling in front of his Rebbi. - PF)
Toras Moshe: Avram saw via astrology that Sarai could not bear children; Hashem changed their names, and since the 'Yud' was added to Yehoshua, he did not father sons.
Seemingly, even so he should realize that B'nei Yisrael are far greater! Alterntivrly, Moshe was concerned that, due to his humility, Yehoshua would accept the opinion of the other spies! (PF)
See Oznayim la'Torah DH 'Eileh Sh'mos ha'Anashim ... '.
Rashi cites this answer briefly in Lech L'cha Bereishis, 17:5.
See Torah Temimah, note 7.
Moshav Zekenim: This is difficult. Even if the other were older, and not his primary Talmidim, why did he not Daven also for them?
I do not understand this. He could have Davened that they will return with good intentions? (PF)
As the Pasuk writes later - in 14:24 " Eikev Haysah Ru'ach Acheres imo."
See Sh'mos 17:13 & 16.
QUESTIONS ON RASHI
Rashi writes that Moshe Davened for Hashem to save Yehoshua from the spies' plans. If he knew their plans, why did he send them?
Hadar Zekenim and Moshav Zekenim (citing the Ri): His Tefilah was not concerning the spies but that the Resha'im should not harm him. 1
R. Chaim Paltiel: He told them to go close to the south, where they did not have strong cities. They went to the very south "Ad Rechov Lavo Chamas" (Pasuk 21), and saw the giants. 4
Ha'amek Davar: Moshe did so before the war against Amalek [to be saved from their spies]. Afterwards, he was once again called Hoshe'a. Now that Moshe realized that Hoshe'a will bring Yisrael into the land, due to the prophecy of Eldad and Meidad, or because they will not enter so miraculously (since Hashem agreed to spies), Moshe permanently changed his name. It is written here to teach that this Tefilah includes to be saved from the war against the Yeitzer ha'Ra.
See Torah Temimah, note 6.
The word ['Meragel' can refer to a Rasha,] like the Pasuk writes in Tehilim 15:3 "Lo Ragal al Leshono".
. It seems that also R. Chaim Paltiel learns like this, just the text should say 'Ba'al Korcho' (PF). Why was he forced? Refer to 13:2:5:1.
Perhaps he means that B'nei Yisrael forced Moshe, because, had he not sent them, they would have rebelled. Alternatively, Moshe agreed to send them, expecting Yisrael to retract (refer to 13:2:152:2), and when they did not retract, he was forced to honor his word. (PF)
It seems that he answers that Moshe knew that if they would see the giants, they might stumble, only he did not expect them to see the giants (PF).
Rashi writes that Moshe Davened that Hashem save Yehoshua from the spies' plans. But we find that he was called 'Yehoshua' before this in Sh'mos 33:11 and 24:13)! If it is based on the future, the Gemara in Kesuvos 10b should have cited a source for that from here?
The Moshav Zekenim left this difficult 1 , and also "Seidei ha'Amaleki" (Bereishis 14:7). 2
R. Bachye: In honor of Moshe, the Torah wanted to call him only by the name that Moshe gave him. 3
Mizrachi: Moshe did not change his name! "Vayikra" means that he Davened for him, like "Vayikra Avraham be'Shem Hashem" (Bereishis 13:4). Hoshe'a and Yehoshua are different versions of the same name, like 'Yov' (in Bereishis 46:13) and 'Yashuv' (in Pinchas, 26:24).
He also cites a Gemara in Shabbos that asks about this; I did not find such a Gemara.
The Riva did not ask this. He explains that thr Torah calls him 'Yehoshua' before this because, when the Torah was written, his name was already changed. He must hold that the Gemara in Kesuvos 10b gave one of several possible sources (PF).
Similarly, we find that the Torah calls Moshe only by the name that Bisya gave him!
