Numbers 13

This chapter describes the pivotal moment when Moses sends twelve spies, one from each tribe, to explore the land of Canaan. God's instruction is clear—this is the land promised to Israel, but the people's reaction upon receiving the spies' report reveals doubt and fear. The chapter highlights themes of trust in God’s promises and the challenges of moving forward in faith despite overwhelming obstacles.

Numbers 13:1-3 (NKJV)
1 And the Lord spoke to Moses, saying,
2 “Send men to spy out the land of Canaan, which I am giving to the children of Israel; from each tribe of their fathers you shall send a man, every one a leader among them.”
3 So Moses sent them from the Wilderness of Paran according to the command of the Lord, all of them men who were heads of the children of Israel.

God commands Moses to select one leader from each of the twelve tribes to explore the land of Canaan. This mission isn't one of conquest but of reconnaissance. The spies are meant to observe and bring back information about the land that God has already promised to Israel. The leaders selected for this task hold significant responsibility, as their report will shape the attitude of the entire nation toward entering the Promised Land.

Numbers 13:4-16 (NKJV)
4 Now these were their names: from the tribe of Reuben, Shammua the son of Zaccur;
5 from the tribe of Simeon, Shaphat the son of Hori;
6 from the tribe of Judah, Caleb the son of Jephunneh;
7 from the tribe of Issachar, Igal the son of Joseph;
8 from the tribe of Ephraim, Hoshea the son of Nun;
9 from the tribe of Benjamin, Palti the son of Raphu;
10 from the tribe of Zebulun, Gaddiel the son of Sodi;
11 from the tribe of Joseph, that is, from the tribe of Manasseh, Gaddi the son of Susi;
12 from the tribe of Dan, Ammiel the son of Gemalli;
13 from the tribe of Asher, Sethur the son of Michael;
14 from the tribe of Naphtali, Nahbi the son of Vophsi;
15 from the tribe of Gad, Geuel the son of Machi.
16 These are the names of the men whom Moses sent to spy out the land. And Moses called Hoshea the son of Nun, Joshua.

The names of the twelve spies are listed, representing each tribe of Israel. Notably, Joshua (Hoshea) from the tribe of Ephraim is mentioned, whose name Moses later changes. Caleb from Judah also stands out, as both he and Joshua will later become key figures in the narrative of faith. These spies are not ordinary men; they are leaders within their tribes, entrusted with great responsibility.

Numbers 13:17-20 (NKJV)
17 Then Moses sent them to spy out the land of Canaan, and said to them, “Go up this way into the South, and go up to the mountains,
18 and see what the land is like: whether the people who dwell in it are strong or weak, few or many;
19 whether the land they dwell in is good or bad; whether the cities they inhabit are like camps or strongholds;
20 whether the land is rich or poor; and whether there are forests there or not. Be of good courage. And bring some of the fruit of the land.” Now the time was the season of the first ripe grapes.

Moses gives specific instructions to the spies regarding their mission. They are to gather information on both the land and the inhabitants: the strength of the people, the quality of the land, and the type of cities. He encourages them to be courageous and also to bring back some of the fruit as proof of the land’s fertility. This detailed investigation is meant to prepare Israel for what lies ahead, but Moses' call for courage hints at the potential difficulties they might face.

Numbers 13:21-24 (NKJV)
21 So they went up and spied out the land from the Wilderness of Zin as far as Rehob, near the entrance of Hamath.
22 And they went up through the South and came to Hebron; Ahiman, Sheshai, and Talmai, the descendants of Anak, were there. (Now Hebron was built seven years before Zoan in Egypt.)
23 Then they came to the Valley of Eshcol, and there cut down a branch with one cluster of grapes; they carried it between two of them on a pole. They also brought some of the pomegranates and figs.
24 The place was called the Valley of Eshcol because of the cluster which the men of Israel cut down there.

The spies explore the land as instructed, traveling from the south to the northern parts of Canaan. Hebron, one of the key locations, is noted for being inhabited by the descendants of Anak, a race of giants. This would later influence the fear reported by the spies. However, the fruitful nature of the land is undeniable. The Valley of Eshcol, where they gather a massive cluster of grapes, symbolizes the abundance of the land God had promised them.

Numbers 13:25-29 (NKJV)
25 And they returned from spying out the land after forty days.
26 Now they departed and came back to Moses and Aaron and all the congregation of the children of Israel in the Wilderness of Paran, at Kadesh; they brought back word to them and to all the congregation, and showed them the fruit of the land.
27 Then they told him, and said: “We went to the land where you sent us. It truly flows with milk and honey, and this is its fruit.
28 Nevertheless the people who dwell in the land are strong; the cities are fortified and very large; moreover we saw the descendants of Anak there.
29 The Amalekites dwell in the land of the South; the Hittites, the Jebusites, and the Amorites dwell in the mountains; and the Canaanites dwell by the sea and along the banks of the Jordan.”

After forty days of exploration, the spies return with their report and the fruit of the land. They confirm that the land indeed flows with milk and honey, a term representing abundance. However, they also focus on the strength of the inhabitants, particularly the descendants of Anak, who intimidate them. They describe large, fortified cities and list the various peoples who inhabit the land, planting seeds of fear in the hearts of the Israelites.

Numbers 13:30 (NKJV)
30 Then Caleb quieted the people before Moses, and said, “Let us go up at once and take possession, for we are well able to overcome it.”

Caleb stands out among the spies as a voice of faith. While the other spies express doubt and fear, Caleb urges immediate action. He has full confidence that Israel can conquer the land, trusting in God’s promises. His boldness contrasts sharply with the negativity of the other spies and reflects his unwavering trust in God’s power.

Numbers 13:31-33 (NKJV)
31 But the men who had gone up with him said, “We are not able to go up against the people, for they are stronger than we.”
32 And they gave the children of Israel a bad report of the land which they had spied out, saying, “The land through which we have gone as spies is a land that devours its inhabitants, and all the people whom we saw in it are men of great stature.
33 There we saw the giants (the descendants of Anak came from the giants); and we were like grasshoppers in our own sight, and so we were in their sight.”

Despite Caleb’s confidence, the other spies disagree, claiming that the inhabitants of the land are too powerful for Israel to defeat. Their report shifts from simply describing the people as strong to exaggerating their power, saying the land “devours its inhabitants.” The mention of giants and the comparison of themselves to grasshoppers emphasizes their sense of inferiority and fear. This negative report sows doubt and fear among the Israelites, leading to greater challenges in the following chapters.