131 The Lord now said to Moses, 2 "Send out men to explore the land of Canaan, the land I am giving to the Israelites. Send one leader from each of the twelve ancestral tribes." 3 So Moses did as the Lord commanded him. He sent out twelve men, all tribal leaders of Israel, from their camp in the wilderness of Paran. 4 These were the tribes and the names of their leaders: Tribe Leader Reuben Shammua son of Zaccur 5 Simeon Shaphat son of Hori 6 Judah Caleb son of Jephunneh 7 Issachar Igal son of Joseph 8 Ephraim Hoshea son of Nun 9 Benjamin Palti son of Raphu 10 Zebulun Gaddiel son of Sodi 11 Manasseh son of Joseph Gaddi son of Susi 12 Dan Ammiel son of Gemalli 13 Asher Sethur son of Michael 14 Naphtali Nahbi son of Vophsi 15 Gad Geuel son of Maki 16 These are the names of the men Moses sent out to explore the land. (Moses called Hoshea son of Nun by the name Joshua.) 17 Moses gave the men these instructions as he sent them out to explore the land: "Go north through the Negev into the hill country. 18 See what the land is like, and find out whether the people living there are strong or weak, few or many. 19 See what kind of land they live in. Is it good or bad? Do their towns have walls, or are they unprotected like open camps? 20 Is the soil fertile or poor? Are there many trees? Do your best to bring back samples of the crops you see." (It happened to be the season for harvesting the first ripe grapes.)
Matthew Henry's Commentary on Numbers 13:1-20
Commentary on Numbers 13:1-20
(Read Numbers 13:1-20)
A memorable and melancholy history is related in this and the following chapter, of the turning back of Israel from the borders of Canaan, and the sentencing them to wander and perish in the wilderness, for their unbelief and murmuring. It appears, Deuteronomy 1:22, that the motion to search out the land came from the people. They had a better opinion of their own policy than of God's wisdom. Thus we ruin ourselves by believing the reports and representations of sense rather than Divine revelation. We walk by sight not by faith. Moses gave the spies this charge, Be of good courage. It was not only a great undertaking they were put upon, which required good management and resolution; but a great trust was reposed in them, which required that they should be faithful. Courage in such circumstances can only spring from strong faith, which Caleb and Joshua alone possessed.