1 And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying,
2 Send thou men, that they may search the land of Canaan, which I give unto the children of Israel: of every tribe of their fathers shall ye send a man, every one a ruler among them.
3 And Moses by the commandment of the LORD sent them from the wilderness of Paran: all those men [were] heads of the children of Israel.
4 And these [were] their names: of the tribe of Reuben, Shammua the son of Zaccur.
5 Of the tribe of Simeon, Shaphat the son of Hori.
6 Of the tribe of Judah, Caleb the son of Jephunneh.
7 Of the tribe of Issachar, Igal the son of Joseph.
8 Of the tribe of Ephraim, Oshea the son of Nun.
9 Of the tribe of Benjamin, Palti the son of Raphu.
10 Of the tribe of Zebulun, Gaddiel the son of Sodi.
11 Of the tribe of Joseph, [namely], of the tribe of Manasseh, Gaddi the son of Susi.
12 Of the tribe of Dan, Ammiel the son of Gemalli.
13 Of the tribe of Asher, Sethur the son of Michael.
14 Of the tribe of Naphtali, Nahbi the son of Vophsi.
15 Of the tribe of Gad, Geuel the son of Machi.
16 These [are] the names of the men which Moses sent to spy out the land. And Moses called Oshea the son of Nun Jehoshua.
17 And Moses sent them to spy out the land of Canaan, and said unto them, Get you up this [way] southward, and go up into the mountain:
18 And see the land, what it [is]; and the people that dwelleth therein, whether they [be] strong or weak, few or many;
19 And what the land [is] that they dwell in, whether it [be] good or bad; and what cities [they be] that they dwell in, whether in tents, or in strong holds;
20 And what the land [is], whether it [be] fat or lean, whether there be wood therein, or not. And be ye of good courage, and bring of the fruit of the land. Now the time [was] the time of the firstripe grapes.
21 So they went up, and searched the land from the wilderness of Zin unto Rehob, as men come to Hamath.
22 And they ascended by the south, and came unto Hebron; where Ahiman, Sheshai, and Talmai, the children of Anak, [were]. (Now Hebron was built seven years before Zoan in Egypt.)
23 And they came unto the brook of Eshcol, and cut down from thence a branch with one cluster of grapes, and they bare it between two upon a staff; and [they brought] of the pomegranates, and of the figs.
24 The place was called the brook Eshcol, because of the cluster of grapes which the children of Israel cut down from thence.
25 And they returned from searching of the land after forty days.
26 And they went and came to Moses, and to Aaron, and to all the congregation of the children of Israel, unto the wilderness of Paran, to Kadesh; and brought back word unto them, and unto all the congregation, and shewed them the fruit of the land.
27 And they told him, and said, We came unto the land whither thou sentest us, and surely it floweth with milk and honey; and this [is] the fruit of it.
28 Nevertheless the people [be] strong that dwell in the land, and the cities [are] walled, [and] very great: and moreover we saw the children of Anak there.
29 The Amalekites dwell in the land of the south: and the Hittites, and the Jebusites, and the Amorites, dwell in the mountains: and the Canaanites dwell by the sea, and by the coast of Jordan.
30 And Caleb stilled the people before Moses, and said, Let us go up at once, and possess it; for we are well able to overcome it.
31 But the men that went up with him said, We be not able to go up against the people; for they [are] stronger than we.
32 And they brought up an evil report of the land which they had searched unto the children of Israel, saying, The land, through which we have gone to search it, [is] a land that eateth up the inhabitants thereof; and all the people that we saw in it [are] men of a great stature.
33 And there we saw the giants, the sons of Anak, [which come] of the giants: and we were in our own sight as grasshoppers, and so we were in their sight.
Overview of Numbers Chapter 13
Numbers Chapter 13 is a pivotal moment in the narrative of the Israelites’ journey through the wilderness. This chapter details the sending of spies into the land of Canaan, the Promised Land, to assess its inhabitants and resources. The chapter serves as a crucial turning point that highlights themes of faith, fear, and the consequences of doubt.
Key Themes
- Faith vs. Fear: The chapter contrasts the faith of Caleb and Joshua with the fear of the other spies.
- Divine Guidance: The Israelites are instructed by God to explore the land, emphasizing the importance of seeking divine direction.
- Consequences of Doubt: The negative report from the spies leads to significant repercussions for the Israelite community.
Summary of Events
- Commissioning the Spies (Verses 1-3):
God commands Moses to send one leader from each tribe to scout the land of Canaan. This directive underscores the importance of the land as a divine promise to the Israelites.
- Selection of the Spies (Verses 4-16):
The names of the twelve spies are listed, representing each of the twelve tribes of Israel. Notably, Caleb from the tribe of Judah and Joshua from the tribe of Ephraim are mentioned, foreshadowing their significant roles in the narrative.
- Exploration of Canaan (Verses 17-20):
Moses instructs the spies to assess the land’s fertility, the strength of its inhabitants, and the nature of its cities. This exploration is meant to gather information that will aid the Israelites in their conquest.
- Report of the Spies (Verses 21-29):
The spies explore the land for forty days and return with a report. They confirm that the land is indeed flowing with milk and honey but also highlight the presence of powerful inhabitants and fortified cities.
- Caleb’s Encouragement (Verse 30):
Caleb attempts to reassure the people, urging them to take possession of the land, demonstrating his faith in God’s promise.
- Negative Report (Verses 31-33):
The other spies express fear, stating that the inhabitants are giants and that they felt like grasshoppers in comparison. This negative perspective creates panic among the Israelites.
Character Analysis
- Moses: Acts as a mediator between God and the people, demonstrating leadership and obedience to divine instructions.
- Caleb: Represents unwavering faith and courage, encouraging the Israelites to trust in God’s promise despite the challenges.
- Joshua: Although not as prominently featured in this chapter, he is aligned with Caleb’s perspective and later becomes a key leader in the conquest of Canaan.
- The Other Spies: Their fearful report reflects a lack of faith and trust in God’s power, leading to widespread fear among the Israelites.
Consequences of the Chapter
The chapter concludes with a significant shift in the Israelites’ journey. The fear and doubt expressed by the majority of the spies lead to a lack of faith in God’s promise, resulting in dire consequences for the Israelite community. This chapter sets the stage for the subsequent events in the Book of Numbers, including God’s judgment and the prolonged wandering in the wilderness.
Conclusion
Numbers Chapter 13 serves as a critical lesson in faith and obedience. The contrasting attitudes of the spies illustrate the impact of belief and doubt on a community’s destiny. The chapter emphasizes the importance of trusting in God’s promises, even in the face of seemingly insurmountable challenges.
