Numbers 13:15-25

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

16 These [are] the names of the men whom Moses sent to explore the land. And Moses called Oshea the son of Nun Jehoshua.

17 And Moses sent them to explore the land of Canaan, and said to them, Go ye up this [way] southward, and ascend the mountain:

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

19 And 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 tents, or in strong holds;

20 And what the land [is], whether it [is] fertile or barren, whether there is wood in it, 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.

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

22 And they ascended by the south, and came to 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 to the brook of Eshcol, and cut down from thence a branch with one cluster of grapes, and they bore 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 exploring the land after forty days.

Numbers 13:15-25 Meaning and Commentary

INTRODUCTION TO NUMBERS 13

In this chapter an order is given by the Lord, to send twelve men into the land of Canaan, to search and spy it, and which was accordingly executed, Nu 13:1-3; and the names of the twelve persons are given, Nu 13:4-16; the instructions they received from Moses, what part of the land they should enter into first, and what observations they should make on it, Nu 13:17-20; which they attended to, and on their return brought some of the fruit of the land with them, Nu 13:21-26; and gave an account of it, that it was a very fruitful land, but the inhabitants mighty, and their cities walled, Nu 13:27-29; which threw the people into confusion, but that they were stilled by Caleb, one of the spies, who encouraged them, Nu 13:30; but all the rest, excepting Joshua, brought an ill report of it, as not to be subdued and conquered by them, Nu 13:31-33.