Numbers — Chapter 13

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1And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying,

2Send 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.

3And Moses by the commandment of the LORD sent them from the wilderness of Paran: all those men were heads of the children of Israel.

4And these were their names: of the tribe of Reuben, Shammua the son of Zaccur.

5Of the tribe of Simeon, Shaphat the son of Hori.

6Of the tribe of Judah, Caleb the son of Jephunneh.

7Of the tribe of Issachar, Igal the son of Joseph.

8Of the tribe of Ephraim, Oshea the son of Nun.

9Of the tribe of Benjamin, Palti the son of Raphu.

10Of the tribe of Zebulun, Gaddiel the son of Sodi.

11Of the tribe of Joseph, namely, of the tribe of Manasseh, Gaddi the son of Susi.

12Of the tribe of Dan, Ammiel the son of Gemalli.

13Of the tribe of Asher, Sethur the son of Michael.

14Of the tribe of Naphtali, Nahbi the son of Vophsi.

15Of the tribe of Gad, Geuel the son of Machi.

16These are the names of the men which Moses sent to spy out the land. And Moses called Oshea the son of Nun Jehoshua.

17And 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:

18And see the land, what it is; and the people that dwelleth therein, whether they be strong or weak, few or many;

19And 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;

20And 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.

21So they went up, and searched the land from the wilderness of Zin unto Rehob, as men come to Hamath.

22And 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.)

23And 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.

24The place was called the brook Eshcol, because of the cluster of grapes which the children of Israel cut down from thence.

25And they returned from searching of the land after forty days.

26And 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.

27And 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.

28Nevertheless 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.

29The 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.

30And 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.

31But the men that went up with him said, We be not able to go up against the people; for they are stronger than we.

32And 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.

33And 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.

1And Jehovah spake unto Moses, saying,

2Send thou men, that they may spy out 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 prince among them.

3And Moses sent them from the wilderness of Paran according to the commandment of Jehovah: all of them men who were heads of the children of Israel.

4And these were their names: Of the tribe of Reuben, Shammua the son of Zaccur.

5Of the tribe of Simeon, Shaphat the son of Hori.

6Of the tribe of Judah, Caleb the son of Jephunneh.

7Of the tribe of Issachar, Igal the son of Joseph.

8Of the tribe of Ephraim, Hoshea the son of Nun.

9Of the tribe of Benjamin, Palti the son of Raphu.

10Of the tribe of Zebulun, Gaddiel the son of Sodi.

11Of the tribe of Joseph, [namely], of the tribe of Manasseh, Gaddi the son of Susi.

12Of the tribe of Dan, Ammiel the son of Gemalli.

13Of the tribe of Asher, Sethur the son of Michael.

14Of the tribe of Naphtali, Nahbi the son of Vophsi.

15Of the tribe of Gad, Geuel the son of Machi.

16These are the names of the men that Moses sent to spy out the land. And Moses called Hoshea the son of Nun Joshua.

17And Moses sent them to spy out the land of Canaan, and said unto them, Get you up this way by the South, and go up into the hill-country:

18and see the land, what it is; and the people that dwell therein, whether they are strong or weak, whether they are few or many;

19and what the land is that they dwell in, whether it is good or bad; and what cities they are that they dwell in, whether in camps, or in strongholds;

20and what the land is, whether it is fat or lean, whether there is 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 first-ripe grapes.

21So they went up, and spied out the land from the wilderness of Zin unto Rehob, to the entrance of Hamath.

22And they went up by the South, and came unto Hebron; and Ahiman, Sheshai, and Talmai, the children of Anak, were there. (Now Hebron was built seven years before Zoan in Egypt.)

23And they came unto the valley of Eshcol, and cut down from thence a branch with one cluster of grapes, and they bare it upon a staff between two; [they brought] also of the pomegranates, and of the figs.

24That place was called the valley of Eshcol, because of the cluster which the children of Israel cut down from thence.

25And they returned from spying out the land at the end of forty days.

26And 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 showed them the fruit of the land.

27And 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.

28Howbeit the people that dwell in the land are strong, and the cities are fortified, [and] very great: and moreover we saw the children of Anak there.

29Amalek dwelleth in the land of the South: and the Hittite, and the Jebusite, and the Amorite, dwell in the hill-country; and the Canaanite dwelleth by the sea, and along by the side of the Jordan.

30And 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.

31But the men that went up with him said, We are not able to go up against the people; for they are stronger than we.

32And they brought up an evil report of the land which they had spied out unto the children of Israel, saying, The land, through which we have gone to spy it out, is a land that eateth up the inhabitants thereof; and all the people that we saw in it are men of great stature.

33And there we saw the Nephilim, the sons of Anak, who come of the Nephilim: and we were in our own sight as grasshoppers, and so we were in their sight.

1The Lord spoke to Moses:

2“Send out men to investigate the land of Canaan, which I am giving to the Israelites. You are to send one man from each ancestral tribe, each one a leader among them.”

3So Moses sent them from the wilderness of Paran at the command of the Lord. All of them were leaders of the Israelites.

4Now these were their names: from the tribe of Reuben, Shammua son of Zaccur;

5from the tribe of Simeon, Shaphat son of Hori;

6from the tribe of Judah, Caleb son of Jephunneh;

7from the tribe of Issachar, Igal son of Joseph;

8from the tribe of Ephraim, Hoshea son of Nun;

9from the tribe of Benjamin, Palti son of Raphu;

10from the tribe of Zebulun, Gaddiel son of Sodi;

11from the tribe of Joseph, namely, the tribe of Manasseh, Gaddi son of Susi;

12from the tribe of Dan, Ammiel son of Gemalli;

13from the tribe of Asher, Sethur son of Michael;

14from the tribe of Naphtali, Nahbi son of Vopshi;

15from the tribe of Gad, Geuel son of Maki.

16These are the names of the men whom Moses sent to investigate the land. And Moses gave Hoshea son of Nun the name Joshua.

17When Moses sent them to investigate the land of Canaan, he told them, “Go up through the Negev, and then go up into the hill country

18and see what the land is like, and whether the people who live in it are strong or weak, few or many,

19and whether the land they live in is good or bad, and whether the cities they inhabit are like camps or fortified cities,

20and whether the land is rich or poor, and whether or not there are forests in it. And be brave, and bring back some of the fruit of the land.” Now it was the time of year for the first ripe grapes.

21So they went up and investigated the land from the wilderness of Zin to Rehob, at Lebo Hamath.

22When they went up through the Negev, they came to Hebron where Ahiman, Sheshai, and Talmai, descendants of Anak, were living. (Now Hebron had been built seven years before Zoan in Egypt.)

23When they came to the valley of Eshcol, they cut down from there a branch with one cluster of grapes, and they carried it on a staff between two men, as well as some of the pomegranates and the figs.

24That place was called the Eshcol Valley, because of the cluster of grapes that the Israelites cut from there.

25They returned from investigating the land after 40 days.

26They came back to Moses and Aaron and to the whole community of the Israelites in the wilderness of Paran at Kadesh. They reported to the whole community and showed the fruit of the land.

27They told Moses, “We went to the land where you sent us. It is indeed flowing with milk and honey, and this is its fruit.

28But the inhabitants are strong, and the cities are fortified and very large. Moreover we saw the descendants of Anak there.

29The Amalekites live in the land of the Negev; the Hittites, Jebusites, and Amorites live in the hill country; and the Canaanites live by the sea and along the banks of the Jordan.”

30Then Caleb silenced the people before Moses, saying, “Let us go up and occupy it, for we are well able to conquer it.”

31But the men who had gone up with him said, “We are not able to go up against these people, because they are stronger than we are!”

32Then they presented the Israelites with a discouraging report of the land they had investigated, saying, “The land that we passed through to investigate is a land that devours its inhabitants. All the people we saw there are of great stature.

33We even saw the Nephilim there (the descendants of Anak came from the Nephilim), and we seemed like grasshoppers both to ourselves and to them.”

1Yahweh spoke to Moses, saying,

2“Send men, that they may spy out the land of Canaan, which I give to the children of Israel. Of every tribe of their fathers, you shall send a man, every one a prince among them.”

3Moses sent them from the wilderness of Paran according to the commandment of Yahweh. All of them were men who were heads of the children of Israel.

4These were their names: Of the tribe of Reuben, Shammua the son of Zaccur.

5Of the tribe of Simeon, Shaphat the son of Hori.

6Of the tribe of Judah, Caleb the son of Jephunneh.

7Of the tribe of Issachar, Igal the son of Joseph.

8Of the tribe of Ephraim, Hoshea the son of Nun.

9Of the tribe of Benjamin, Palti the son of Raphu.

10Of the tribe of Zebulun, Gaddiel the son of Sodi.

11Of the tribe of Joseph, of the tribe of Manasseh, Gaddi the son of Susi.

12Of the tribe of Dan, Ammiel the son of Gemalli.

13Of the tribe of Asher, Sethur the son of Michael.

14Of the tribe of Naphtali, Nahbi the son of Vophsi.

15Of the tribe of Gad, Geuel the son of Machi.

16These are the names of the men who Moses sent to spy out the land. Moses called Hoshea the son of Nun Joshua.

17Moses sent them to spy out the land of Canaan, and said to them, “Go up this way by the South, and go up into the hill country.

18See the land, what it is; and the people who dwell therein, whether they are strong or weak, whether they are few or many;

19and what the land is that they dwell in, whether it is good or bad; and what cities they are that they dwell in, whether in camps, or in strongholds;

20and what the land is, whether it is fat or lean, whether there is wood therein, or not. Be courageous, and bring some of the fruit of the land.” Now the time was the time of the first-ripe grapes.

21So they went up, and spied out the land from the wilderness of Zin to Rehob, to the entrance of Hamath.

22They went up by the South, and came to Hebron; and Ahiman, Sheshai, and Talmai, the children of Anak, were there. (Now Hebron was built seven years before Zoan in Egypt.)

23They came to the valley of Eshcol, and cut down from there a branch with one cluster of grapes, and they bore it on a staff between two. They also brought some of the pomegranates and figs.

24That place was called the valley of Eshcol, because of the cluster which the children of Israel cut down from there.

25They returned from spying out the land at the end of forty days.

26They went and came to Moses, to Aaron, and to all the congregation of the children of Israel, to the wilderness of Paran, to Kadesh; and brought back word to them and to all the congregation. They showed them the fruit of the land.

27They told him, and said, “We came to the land where you sent us. Surely it flows with milk and honey, and this is its fruit.

28However the people who dwell in the land are strong, and the cities are fortified and very large. Moreover, we saw the children of Anak there.

29Amalek dwells in the land of the South. The Hittite, the Jebusite, and the Amorite dwell in the hill country. The Canaanite dwells by the sea, and along the side of the Jordan.”

30Caleb stilled the people before Moses, and said, “Let us go up at once, and possess it; for we are well able to overcome it!”

31But the men who went up with him said, “We aren’t able to go up against the people; for they are stronger than we.”

32They brought up an evil report of the land which they had spied out to the children of Israel, saying, “The land, through which we have gone to spy it out, is a land that eats up its inhabitants; and all the people who we saw in it are men of great stature.

33There we saw the Nephilim, the sons of Anak, who come from the Nephilim. We were in our own sight as grasshoppers, and so we were in their sight.”

Summary
Authorship & Background
Map & Geography
Commentary
Videos
Reflection

Summary

Twelve spies explore Canaan for forty days; ten return with a faithless report of giants, but Caleb and Joshua urge trust in God.

Authorship & Background

Author: Moses. Numbers is the fourth book of the Pentateuch, written during the wilderness period (approximately 1445-1405 BC). Hebrew title: "Bemidbar" — "In the wilderness." The book records Israel's 38 years of wilderness wandering between Sinai and the Promised Land — a journey that should have taken 11 days (Deuteronomy 1:2) but took 40 years due to unbelief.
Historical Context: Chapter 13 is the turning point of the entire book — indeed, of Israel's history. Israel has arrived at Kadesh-barnea, on the very border of the Promised Land. God commands Moses to send twelve spies (one leader from each tribe) to explore Canaan for forty days. The spies confirm the land's extraordinary fruitfulness — "it floweth with milk and honey" — but ten of the twelve focus on the obstacles: fortified cities, giant inhabitants (the Anakim/Nephilim), and powerful nations. Only Caleb (and Joshua, as chapter 14 confirms) trusts God's promise: "Let us go up at once... for we are well able to overcome it" (v.30). The ten bring an "evil report" — exaggerating the dangers, calling the land one that "eateth up the inhabitants thereof," and declaring themselves "grasshoppers" in comparison to the giants. This chapter sets up the catastrophic rebellion of chapter 14. The issue is not military intelligence — it is faith. God said "I give" (v.2, present tense); the question was never whether they COULD take it, but whether they would TRUST the One who already gave it.
The Twelve Spies Sent (vv.1-16): God commands: "Send men to spy out the land of Canaan, which I give unto the children of Israel" (v.2). Note: Deuteronomy 1:22 reveals the people first requested this — God permits it. One leader from each tribe is chosen (vv.4-15). All are "heads of the children of Israel" (v.3) — these are not ordinary men but tribal chiefs. Moses renames Hoshea ("salvation") to Joshua/Jehoshua ("the LORD is salvation") (v.16) — a prophetic name for the man who will actually lead Israel into the land.
The Mission (vv.17-20): Moses gives specific instructions: go south into the hill country (the Negeb), assess the people (strong or weak, few or many), the land (good or bad, rich or poor), the cities (camps or fortified), and bring back fruit (v.20). "Be ye of good courage" (v.20) — Moses already anticipates they will need courage. The timing: the season of first ripe grapes (late summer, July-August).
The Exploration (vv.21-25): They traverse the entire land — from the wilderness of Zin in the south to Rehob near Lebo-hamath in the far north (v.21). At Hebron they encounter the Anakim: Ahiman, Sheshai, and Talmai (v.22). At the Valley of Eshcol ("cluster") they cut a single cluster of grapes so large it requires two men to carry it on a pole (v.23). They also bring pomegranates and figs. The land's abundance is undeniable. The mission lasts forty days (v.25) — one day for each year of the coming judgment (14:34).
The Report (vv.26-29): They return to Kadesh and report to the whole congregation. The good news: "It floweth with milk and honey, and this is the fruit of it" (v.27). The "nevertheless" (v.28): the people are strong, cities are walled and very great, and the Anakim are there. They catalog the enemies: Amalekites in the south, Hittites/Jebusites/Amorites in the mountains, Canaanites by the sea and Jordan (v.29).
Caleb's Faith vs. the Majority's Fear (vv.30-33): Caleb silences the people and declares: "Let us go up at once, and possess it; for we are well able to overcome it" (v.30). The ten counter: "We be not able... they are stronger than we" (v.31). They escalate to an "evil report" — the land "eateth up the inhabitants thereof" (v.32), all the people are giants (v.32), "we were in our own sight as grasshoppers" (v.33). The Hebrew for "evil report" (dibbah) means slander — they slander God's promised gift. Their self-image ("grasshoppers") determines their theology: if we are small, God must be small too.

Map & Geography

  • Wilderness of Paran / Kadesh-barnea (v.26): The spies are sent from here — the southern gateway to Canaan.
  • The land of Canaan (vv.21-25): The spies explore from the wilderness of Zin to Rehob near Lebo-hamath (south to north). They reach the Valley of Eshcol ("cluster") and cut a massive grape cluster.
  • Hebron (v.22): Built seven years before Zoan in Egypt; the Anakim (giants) dwell here.

Commentary

  • Enduring Word (David Guzik): enduringword.com Guzik notes that the spies' mission was never to decide whether to enter — God had already decided that. Their job was reconnaissance, not a referendum. He emphasizes that the ten spies' sin was not poor military analysis but unbelief: they measured the giants against themselves instead of against God.
  • Charles Spurgeon: "They said, 'We are grasshoppers.' That was their sin — not that the giants were large, but that they made God small. Caleb saw the same giants, walked the same land, measured the same walls — and said, 'We are well able.' The difference was not in their eyes but in their faith. One man with God is a majority. Ten thousand without Him are grasshoppers indeed. What giants stand between you and God's promise? They are bread for us — we shall consume them — if only we believe."

Videos

The Bible Project — Numbers Overview

Reflection

  • 1. "Which I give" (v.2). God speaks in the present tense — the land is already given. The spies' job was never to decide IF God could deliver, but to prepare for HOW He would. When God has promised, the question is obedience, not feasibility.
  • 2. The same evidence, opposite conclusions (vv.27-33). All twelve spies saw the same land, the same fruit, the same giants, the same walls. Ten concluded "we cannot"; two concluded "we are well able." The difference was not information but faith. What you see depends on whether you factor God into the equation.
  • 3. "We were in our own sight as grasshoppers" (v.33). Their self-image determined their theology. If you see yourself as small and God as distant, every obstacle becomes a giant. Faith does not deny the size of the problem — it affirms the size of God.
  • 4. Caleb "stilled the people" (v.30). One voice of faith against the majority. Caleb does not wait for consensus — he speaks truth boldly. Are you willing to stand alone when the majority counsels fear and retreat?
  • 5. The evil report is slander against God (v.32). To say "we cannot" when God says "I give" is not humility — it is calling God a liar. Unbelief disguised as realism is still unbelief.
  • 6. Forty days of exploration become forty years of wandering (v.25; 14:34). The time spent in disobedience always costs more than the time obedience would have required. What "forty-year detour" are you on because of a failure to trust God at the critical moment?