Lexical Summary Sethur: Sethur Original Word: סְתוּר Strong's Exhaustive Concordance Sethur From cathar; hidden; Sethur, an Israelite -- Sethur. see HEBREW cathar NAS Exhaustive Concordance Word Originfrom sathar Definition an Asherite NASB Translation Sethur (1). Brown-Driver-Briggs סְתוּר proper name, masculine a spy, from Asher; — Numbers 13:13, ᵐ5 Σαθουρ, ᵐ5L Θασουρ. Topical Lexicon Occurrence and Context Sethur (סְתוּר) appears once, in Numbers 13:13, as the delegate from the tribe of Asher among the twelve men sent by Moses to spy out Canaan. Identity within the Twelve Spies Chosen as “a leader of the tribe of Asher” (Numbers 13:2), Sethur represents a tribe prophetically associated with abundance and blessing (Genesis 49:20; Deuteronomy 33:24–25). His selection indicates recognized competence and influence within his tribe. The Mission and Report After forty days of reconnaissance, the twelve spies returned. Caleb and Joshua urged immediate advance (Numbers 13:30), but the remaining ten, Sethur included, delivered a fearful report: “We cannot attack these people, for they are stronger than we are” (Numbers 13:31). Their verdict magnified the Anakim giants and minimized God’s covenant promise, leading Israel into collective panic (Numbers 14:1–4). Historical Consequences The unbelief of the ten spies provoked divine judgment: “the men who had brought out a bad report… died by plague before the LORD” (Numbers 14:37). Sethur’s name, therefore, becomes linked to a lost generation that wandered until every adult who had rejected God’s word perished (Numbers 14:28–35). Theological Themes 1. Corporate Responsibility: Each tribe’s destiny was affected by its representative’s stance. Sethur’s failure illustrates how leadership decisions shape communal outcomes. Legacy within Redemptive History Though Sethur disappears from the narrative, the tribe of Asher later produced faithful servants such as Anna the prophetess (Luke 2:36–38), demonstrating that God’s grace can redeem tribal histories marred by earlier disobedience. Ministry Implications • Guard the Pulpit and Boardroom: Modern leaders must resist anxiety-driven counsel that dampens faith in God’s promises (Philippians 4:6–7). Summary Sethur son of Michael stands as a sober reminder that leadership rooted in unbelief can derail an entire community. His solitary mention calls believers to cultivate courageous trust in God, uphold His promises, and steward influence with eternal seriousness. Forms and Transliterations סְת֖וּר סתור sə·ṯūr seTur səṯūrLinks Interlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel TextsEnglishman's Concordance Numbers 13:13 HEB: לְמַטֵּ֣ה אָשֵׁ֔ר סְת֖וּר בֶּן־ מִיכָאֵֽל׃ NAS: of Asher, Sethur the son KJV: of Asher, Sethur the son INT: the tribe of Asher Sethur the son of Michael |
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