Numbers 13:8-18

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

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

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

11 Gaddi, son of Susi, from the tribe of Joseph (that is, the tribe of Manasseh);

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

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

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

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

16 These are the names of the men Moses sent to explore the land. But Moses gave Hoshea, son of Nun, the name Joshua.

17 When Moses sent them to explore Canaan, he told them, "Go through the Negev and then into the mountain region.

18 See what the land is like and whether the people living there are strong or weak, few or many.

Numbers 13:8-18 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.