Numbers 13:1-26 ▼

1 And the LORD {YHWH} said to Moses (drawn out),

2 “Send out for yourself men to spy out the land of Canaan (lowland), which I am giving to the Israelites (God prevails). From each of their fathers’ tribes send one man who is a leader among them.”

3 So at the command \according to the mouth/ of the LORD {YHWH}, Moses (drawn out) sent them out from the Wilderness of Paran (place of caverns). All the men were leaders of the Israelites (God prevails),

4 and these were their names: From the tribe of Reuben (behold a son), Shammua (renowned) son of Zaccur (mindful);

5 from the tribe of Simeon (heard), Shaphat (He has judged) son of Hori (cave dweller);

6 from the tribe of Judah (praised), Caleb (dog) son of Jephunneh (He will be facing);

7 from the tribe of Issachar (there is recompense), Igal (He redeems) son of Joseph (YHWH has added);

8 from the tribe of Ephraim (doubly fruitful), Hoshea (salvation) son of Nun (fish / posterity);

9 from the tribe of Benjamin (son of the right hand), Palti (my deliverance) son of Raphu (healed);

10 from the tribe of Zebulun (exalted), Gaddiel (God is my fortune) son of Sodi (acquaintance);

11 from the tribe of Manasseh (causing to forget) (a tribe of Joseph (YHWH has added)), Gaddi (my fortune) son of Susi (my horse);

12 from the tribe of Dan (He has judged), Ammiel (my kinsman is God) son of Gemalli (camel driver);

13 from the tribe of Asher (happy), Sethur (hidden) son of Michael (who is like God);

14 from the tribe of Naphtali (wrestling), Nahbi (hidden) son of Vophsi (rich);

15 and from the tribe of Gad (troop), Geuel (majesty of God) son of Machi (decrease).

16 These were the names of the men Moses (drawn out) sent to spy out the land; and Moses gave to Hoshea (salvation) son of Nun (fish / posterity) the name Joshua (YHWH saves).

17 When Moses (drawn out) sent them to spy out the land of Canaan (lowland), he told them, “Go up through the Negev (southland) and into the hill country.

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

19 Is the land where they live good or bad? Are the cities where they dwell open camps or fortifications?

20 Is the soil fertile or unproductive? Are there trees in it or not? Be courageous and bring back some of the fruit of the land.” (It was the season for the first ripe grapes.)

21 So they went up and spied out the land from the Wilderness of Zin (flat) as far as Rehob (broad place), toward Lebo-hamath (fortress).

22 They went up through the Negev (southland) and came to Hebron (association), where Ahiman (my brother is a gift), Sheshai (noble), and Talmai (furrowed), the descendants of Anak (neck), dwelled. It had been built seven years before Zoan (place of departure) in Egypt (land of bondage).

23 When they came to the Valley of Eshcol (cluster), they cut down a branch with a single cluster of grapes, which they carried on a pole between two men. They also took some pomegranates and figs.

24 Because of the cluster of grapes the Israelites (God prevails) cut there, that place was called the Valley of Eshcol (cluster).

25 After forty days the men returned from spying out the land,

26 and they went back to Moses (drawn out), Aaron (light bringer), and the whole congregation of Israel (he wrestles with God) in the Wilderness of Paran (place of caverns) at Kadesh (holy). They brought back a report for the whole congregation and showed them the fruit of the land.