Chapter 13

Spying the Land of Canaan

1. INTRODUCTION
1. Chapter 13
1. This chapter is a story of the rebellion of God’s people.  The scriptures teach us that without faith it is impossible to please God, and this chapter is a perfect illustration of failure on the part of God’s people to simply trust in Him.
2. The connection between rebellion and the number 13:
1. Genesis 13:13But the men of Sodom were wicked and sinners before the LORD exceedingly.
   See All... says, “But the men of Sodom were wicked and sinners before the LORD exceedingly.” This verse has 13 words.
2. Genesis 14:4Twelve years they served Chedorlaomer, and in the thirteenth year they rebelled.
   See All... says, “Twelve years they served Chedorlaomer, and in the thirteenth year they rebelled.”
3. There are 13 letters in the name Judas Iscariot .
4. This study goes on and on…..
2. Division
1. The command to search the land (Numbers 13:1-3 [1] And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying, [2] Send thou men, that they may search the land of Canaan, which I give unto the children of Israel: of every tribe of their fathers shall ye send a man, every one a ruler among them. [3] And Moses by the commandment of the LORD sent them from the wilderness of Paran: all those men were heads of the children of Israel.
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2. The choosing of the spies (Numbers 13:4-16 [4] And these were their names: of the tribe of Reuben, Shammua the son of Zaccur. [5] Of the tribe of Simeon, Shaphat the son of Hori. [6] Of the tribe of Judah, Caleb the son of Jephunneh. [7] Of the tribe of Issachar, Igal the son of Joseph. [8] Of the tribe of Ephraim, Oshea the son of Nun. [9] Of the tribe of Benjamin, Palti the son of Raphu. [10] Of the tribe of Zebulun, Gaddiel the son of Sodi. [11] Of the tribe of Joseph, namely, of the tribe of Manasseh, Gaddi the son of Susi. [12] Of the tribe of Dan, Ammiel the son of Gemalli. [13] Of the tribe of Asher, Sethur the son of Michael. [14] Of the tribe of Naphtali, Nahbi the son of Vophsi. [15] Of the tribe of Gad, Geuel the son of Machi. [16] These are the names of the men which Moses sent to spy out the land. And Moses called Oshea the son of Nun Jehoshua.
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3. The mission of the spies (Numbers 13:17-20 [17] And Moses sent them to spy out the land of Canaan, and said unto them, Get you up this way southward, and go up into the mountain: [18] And see the land, what it is, and the people that dwelleth therein, whether they be strong or weak, few or many; [19] And what the land is that they dwell in, whether it be good or bad; and what cities they be that they dwell in, whether in tents, or in strong holds; [20] And what the land is, whether it be fat or lean, whether there be wood therein, or not. And be ye of good courage, and bring of the fruit of the land. Now the time was the time of the firstripe grapes.
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4. The carrying out of the mission (Numbers 13:21-25 [21] So they went up, and searched the land from the wilderness of Zin unto Rehob, as men come to Hamath. [22] And they ascended by the south, and came unto 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 unto the brook of Eshcol, and cut down from thence a branch with one cluster of grapes, and they bare 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 searching of the land after forty days.
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5. The report of the mission (Numbers 13:26-33 [26] And they went and came to Moses, and to Aaron, and to all the congregation of the children of Israel, unto the wilderness of Paran, to Kadesh; and brought back word unto them, and unto all the congregation, and shewed them the fruit of the land. [27] And they told him, and said, We came unto the land whither thou sentest us, and surely it floweth with milk and honey; and this is the fruit of it. [28] Nevertheless the people be strong that dwell in the land, and the cities are walled, and very great: and moreover we saw the children of Anak there. [29] The Amalekites dwell in the land of the south: and the Hittites, and the Jebusites, and the Amorites, dwell in the mountains: and the Canaanites dwell by the sea, and by the coast of Jordan. [30] And Caleb stilled the people before Moses, and said, Let us go up at once, and possess it; for we are well able to overcome it. [31] But the men that went up with him said, We be not able to go up against the people; for they are stronger than we. [32] And they brought up an evil report of the land which they had searched unto the children of Israel, saying, The land, through which we have gone to search it, is a land that eateth up the inhabitants thereof; and all the people that we saw in it are men of a great stature. [33] And there we saw the giants, the sons of Anak, which come of the giants: and we were in our own sight as grasshoppers, and so we were in their sight.
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2. THE COMMAND TO SEARCH THE LAND (Numbers 13:1-3 [1] And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying, [2] Send thou men, that they may search the land of Canaan, which I give unto the children of Israel: of every tribe of their fathers shall ye send a man, every one a ruler among them. [3] And Moses by the commandment of the LORD sent them from the wilderness of Paran: all those men were heads of the children of Israel.
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1. The Lord Spake unto Moses (Numbers 13:1-2 [1] And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying, [2] Send thou men, that they may search the land of Canaan, which I give unto the children of Israel: of every tribe of their fathers shall ye send a man, every one a ruler among them.
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1. The Lord initiates the action here.
2. The initial request came from the Israelites (Deuteronomy 1:20-23 [20] And I said unto you, Ye are come unto the mountain of the Amorites, which the LORD our God doth give unto us. [21] Behold, the LORD thy God hath set the land before thee: go up and possess it, as the LORD God of thy fathers hath said unto thee; fear not, neither be discouraged. [22] And ye came near unto me every one of you, and said, We will send men before us, and they shall search us out the land, and bring us word again by what way we must go up, and into what cities we shall come. [23] And the saying pleased me well: and I took twelve men of you, one of a tribe:
   See All...) and the Lord honors their request.
2. The Quality of the Spies (Numbers 13:3And Moses by the commandment of the LORD sent them from the wilderness of Paran: all those men were heads of the children of Israel.
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1. Send men.
2. Of every tribe
3. Every one a ruler
4. The Lord wants the Israelites to send the very best that they have.  They were to choose men who were already natural leaders among their people.  God demonstrates to all of mankind that even the best of what we have to offer is cowardly and weak apart from faith in the power of God.
3. THE CHOOSING OF THE SPIES (Numbers 13:4-16 [4] And these were their names: of the tribe of Reuben, Shammua the son of Zaccur. [5] Of the tribe of Simeon, Shaphat the son of Hori. [6] Of the tribe of Judah, Caleb the son of Jephunneh. [7] Of the tribe of Issachar, Igal the son of Joseph. [8] Of the tribe of Ephraim, Oshea the son of Nun. [9] Of the tribe of Benjamin, Palti the son of Raphu. [10] Of the tribe of Zebulun, Gaddiel the son of Sodi. [11] Of the tribe of Joseph, namely, of the tribe of Manasseh, Gaddi the son of Susi. [12] Of the tribe of Dan, Ammiel the son of Gemalli. [13] Of the tribe of Asher, Sethur the son of Michael. [14] Of the tribe of Naphtali, Nahbi the son of Vophsi. [15] Of the tribe of Gad, Geuel the son of Machi. [16] These are the names of the men which Moses sent to spy out the land. And Moses called Oshea the son of Nun Jehoshua.
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1. The Names of the Spies (Numbers 13:4-15 [4] And these were their names: of the tribe of Reuben, Shammua the son of Zaccur. [5] Of the tribe of Simeon, Shaphat the son of Hori. [6] Of the tribe of Judah, Caleb the son of Jephunneh. [7] Of the tribe of Issachar, Igal the son of Joseph. [8] Of the tribe of Ephraim, Oshea the son of Nun. [9] Of the tribe of Benjamin, Palti the son of Raphu. [10] Of the tribe of Zebulun, Gaddiel the son of Sodi. [11] Of the tribe of Joseph, namely, of the tribe of Manasseh, Gaddi the son of Susi. [12] Of the tribe of Dan, Ammiel the son of Gemalli. [13] Of the tribe of Asher, Sethur the son of Michael. [14] Of the tribe of Naphtali, Nahbi the son of Vophsi. [15] Of the tribe of Gad, Geuel the son of Machi.
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1. Shammua from Reuben
2. Shaphat from Simeon
3. Caleb from Judah
4. Igal from Issachar
5. Oshea from Ephraim
6. Palti from Benjamin
7. Gaddiel from Zebulun
8. Gaddi from Manasseh
9. Ammiel from Dan
10. Sethur from Asher
11. Nahbi from Naphtali
12. Geuel from Gad
13. Note:  The Levites did not send a spy because the Lord was their inheritance and so there was no need to spy the land.
2. Consider the Meanings of Their Names
1. Igal means Jehovah redeems.
2. Palti means Jehovah delivers.
3. Gaddiel means fortune of God.
4. Ammiel means my kinsman is God.
5. Nahbi means Jehovah is protection.
6. Geuel means salvation of God.
3. The Changing of Joshua’s Name (Numbers 13:16These are the names of the men which Moses sent to spy out the land. And Moses called Oshea the son of Nun Jehoshua.
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1. Oshea means salvation or deliverance .
2. Jehoshua means the Lord is salvation or the Lord saves.
3. Before Joshua went to spy the land, it was important for him to know that salvation was of the Lord and not in his own strength.  It is often the case in scripture that a man who is to be used of God will first have a name changing experience.
4. THE MISSION OF THE SPIES (Numbers 13:17-20 [17] And Moses sent them to spy out the land of Canaan, and said unto them, Get you up this way southward, and go up into the mountain: [18] And see the land, what it is, and the people that dwelleth therein, whether they be strong or weak, few or many; [19] And what the land is that they dwell in, whether it be good or bad; and what cities they be that they dwell in, whether in tents, or in strong holds; [20] And what the land is, whether it be fat or lean, whether there be wood therein, or not. And be ye of good courage, and bring of the fruit of the land. Now the time was the time of the firstripe grapes.
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1. Instructions from Moses (Numbers 13:17And Moses sent them to spy out the land of Canaan, and said unto them, Get you up this way southward, and go up into the mountain:
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1. Go up by this way southward – they were to go directly north instead of around the Dead Sea as the Israelites eventually enter the land.
2. Go up into the mountain.
1. We are not sure what mountain.
2. Probably refers to the entire central mountainous region
3. Could refer to the mountain at Hebron or to the mountain of Isaac’s sacrifice in the land of Moriah
2. Their Purpose (Numbers 13:18-20 [18] And see the land, what it is, and the people that dwelleth therein, whether they be strong or weak, few or many; [19] And what the land is that they dwell in, whether it be good or bad; and what cities they be that they dwell in, whether in tents, or in strong holds; [20] And what the land is, whether it be fat or lean, whether there be wood therein, or not. And be ye of good courage, and bring of the fruit of the land. Now the time was the time of the firstripe grapes.
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1. See the land – what it is
2. See the people
1. Strong or weak
2. Few or many
3. See the land – good or bad
4. See the cities – tents or strong holds
5. See the land
1. Fat or lean
2. Wood or not
6. Note:  Moses emphasized the land and its provision according to the promises of God.  Half of God’s promise was that they were coming to a land flowing with milk and honey.  If this half was true, then certainly God would fulfill the second half of His promise – that He would give them the land.
3. Final Instructions (Numbers 13:20And what the land is, whether it be fat or lean, whether there be wood therein, or not. And be ye of good courage, and bring of the fruit of the land. Now the time was the time of the firstripe grapes.
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1. Be of good courage.
2. Bring of the fruit of the land.
1. The time of first ripe grapes
1. According to some sources, this would be around the month of August and would only last a month.
2. This would mean that by the time the spies returned, they were bringing grapes from the main harvest time.
2. Fruit is an outward manifestation of the goodness of the land.
5. THE CARRYING OUT OF THE MISSION (Numbers 13:21-25 [21] So they went up, and searched the land from the wilderness of Zin unto Rehob, as men come to Hamath. [22] And they ascended by the south, and came unto 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 unto the brook of Eshcol, and cut down from thence a branch with one cluster of grapes, and they bare 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 searching of the land after forty days.
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1. Their Journey (Numbers 13:21-22 [21] So they went up, and searched the land from the wilderness of Zin unto Rehob, as men come to Hamath. [22] And they ascended by the south, and came unto Hebron; where Ahiman, Sheshai, and Talmai, the children of Anak, were. (Now Hebron was built seven years before Zoan in Egypt.)
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1. They went as far north as Rehob on the way to Hamath (Numbers 13:21So they went up, and searched the land from the wilderness of Zin unto Rehob, as men come to Hamath.
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1. Hamath was in Syria.
2. Rehob was in Galilee in the north of Israel.
2. Spent time in the region of Hebron (Numbers 13:22And they ascended by the south, and came unto Hebron; where Ahiman, Sheshai, and Talmai, the children of Anak, were. (Now Hebron was built seven years before Zoan in Egypt.)
   See All...; Joshua 14:12-15 [12] Now therefore give me this mountain, whereof the LORD spake in that day; for thou heardest in that day how the Anakims were there, and that the cities were great and fenced: if so be the LORD will be with me, then I shall be able to drive them out, as the LORD said. [13] And Joshua blessed him, and gave unto Caleb the son of Jephunneh Hebron for an inheritance. [14] Hebron therefore became the inheritance of Caleb the son of Jephunneh the Kenezite unto this day, because that he wholly followed the LORD God of Israel. [15] And the name of Hebron before was Kirjatharba; which Arba was a great man among the Anakims. And the land had rest from war.
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3. The children of Anak
1. Anak was the son of Arba (Joshua 15:13And unto Caleb the son of Jephunneh he gave a part among the children of Judah, according to the commandment of the LORD to Joshua, even the city of Arba the father of Anak, which city is Hebron.
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1. Hebron was before called Kirjatharba (Joshua 14:15And the name of Hebron before was Kirjatharba; which Arba was a great man among the Anakims. And the land had rest from war.
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2. This was connected to Arba.
2. Anak had three sons (Numbers 13:22And they ascended by the south, and came unto Hebron; where Ahiman, Sheshai, and Talmai, the children of Anak, were. (Now Hebron was built seven years before Zoan in Egypt.)
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1. Ahiman
2. Sheshai
3. Talmai
3. They had a reputation (Deuteronomy 9:2A people great and tall, the children of the Anakims, whom thou knowest, and of whom thou hast heard say, Who can stand before the children of Anak!
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2. The Brook Eshcol (Numbers 13:23-24 [23] And they came unto the brook of Eshcol, and cut down from thence a branch with one cluster of grapes, and they bare 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.
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1. Gathered fruit
1. Grapes
2. Pomegranates
3. Figs
2. Cut down a branch with a cluster of grapes and bare it between two upon a staff.
3. Called the brook Eshcol because of the bunch of grapes
3. The Mission Length (Numbers 13:25And they returned from searching of the land after forty days.
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1. They returned after 40 days (see Numbers 14:33-35 [33] And your children shall wander in the wilderness forty years, and bear your whoredoms, until your carcases be wasted in the wilderness. [34] After the number of the days in which ye searched the land, even forty days, each day for a year, shall ye bear your iniquities, even forty years, and ye shall know my breach of promise. [35] I the LORD have said, I will surely do it unto all this evil congregation, that are gathered together against me: in this wilderness they shall be consumed, and there they shall die.
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6. THE REPORT OF THE SPIES (Numbers 13:26-33 [26] And they went and came to Moses, and to Aaron, and to all the congregation of the children of Israel, unto the wilderness of Paran, to Kadesh; and brought back word unto them, and unto all the congregation, and shewed them the fruit of the land. [27] And they told him, and said, We came unto the land whither thou sentest us, and surely it floweth with milk and honey; and this is the fruit of it. [28] Nevertheless the people be strong that dwell in the land, and the cities are walled, and very great: and moreover we saw the children of Anak there. [29] The Amalekites dwell in the land of the south: and the Hittites, and the Jebusites, and the Amorites, dwell in the mountains: and the Canaanites dwell by the sea, and by the coast of Jordan. [30] And Caleb stilled the people before Moses, and said, Let us go up at once, and possess it; for we are well able to overcome it. [31] But the men that went up with him said, We be not able to go up against the people; for they are stronger than we. [32] And they brought up an evil report of the land which they had searched unto the children of Israel, saying, The land, through which we have gone to search it, is a land that eateth up the inhabitants thereof; and all the people that we saw in it are men of a great stature. [33] And there we saw the giants, the sons of Anak, which come of the giants: and we were in our own sight as grasshoppers, and so we were in their sight.
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1. The Land (Numbers 13:26-27 [26] And they went and came to Moses, and to Aaron, and to all the congregation of the children of Israel, unto the wilderness of Paran, to Kadesh; and brought back word unto them, and unto all the congregation, and shewed them the fruit of the land. [27] And they told him, and said, We came unto the land whither thou sentest us, and surely it floweth with milk and honey; and this is the fruit of it.
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1. It does flow with milk and honey.
2. Here is the fruit.
2. The People (Numbers 13:28-29 [28] Nevertheless the people be strong that dwell in the land, and the cities are walled, and very great: and moreover we saw the children of Anak there. [29] The Amalekites dwell in the land of the south: and the Hittites, and the Jebusites, and the Amorites, dwell in the mountains: and the Canaanites dwell by the sea, and by the coast of Jordan.
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1. The people are strong.
2. The children of Anak are there.
3. The land is filled with strong nations.
1. Amalekites in the south
2. Hittites, Jebusites, and Amorites in the mountains
3. Canaanites by the sea and by the coast of Jordan
3. The Cities (Numbers 13:28Nevertheless the people be strong that dwell in the land, and the cities are walled, and very great: and moreover we saw the children of Anak there.
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1. They are walled.
2. They are very great.
4. The Faith of the Minority (Numbers 13:30And Caleb stilled the people before Moses, and said, Let us go up at once, and possess it; for we are well able to overcome it.
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1. Caleb stilled the people.
2. His report
1. Let us go up at once.
2. And possess it
3. We are well able to overcome it.
3. His name
1. We studied the meaning of the names of the spies and discovered many names that were spiritual in nature.
2. These men, however, who appeared spiritual in name denied the power of God and chose to disobey Him.
3. Caleb’s name means raging with canine madness.
4. Caleb must have been a rough character much like a J. Frank Norris.
5. He wasn’t afraid to speak for God against the multitude of God’s own people.
6. This is the same man that at age 85 takes the mountain which God promised to him (Joshua 14:10-12 [10] And now, behold, the LORD hath kept me alive, as he said, these forty and five years, even since the LORD spake this word unto Moses, while the children of Israel wandered in the wilderness: and now, lo, I am this day fourscore and five years old. [11] As yet I am as strong this day as I was in the day that Moses sent me: as my strength was then, even so is my strength now, for war, both to go out, and to come in. [12] Now therefore give me this mountain, whereof the LORD spake in that day; for thou heardest in that day how the Anakims were there, and that the cities were great and fenced: if so be the LORD will be with me, then I shall be able to drive them out, as the LORD said.
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5. The Faithlessness of the Minority (Numbers 13:31-33 [31] But the men that went up with him said, We be not able to go up against the people; for they are stronger than we. [32] And they brought up an evil report of the land which they had searched unto the children of Israel, saying, The land, through which we have gone to search it, is a land that eateth up the inhabitants thereof; and all the people that we saw in it are men of a great stature. [33] And there we saw the giants, the sons of Anak, which come of the giants: and we were in our own sight as grasshoppers, and so we were in their sight.
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1. The people are stronger than we.
2. The land eats up the inhabitants.
3. The men are of great stature.
4. The people were giants and we are grasshoppers.