Exploring Canaan

13 The Lord said to Moses, ² “Send some men to explore^(A) the land of Canaan,^(B) which I am giving to the Israelites.^(C) From each ancestral tribe^(D) send one of its leaders.”

¹⁷ When Moses sent them to explore Canaan,^(A) he said, “Go up through the Negev^(B) and on into the hill country.^{(C) 18} See what the land is like and whether the people who live there are strong or weak, few or many.

²⁵ At the end of forty days^(A) they returned from exploring the land.^(B)

Report on the Exploration

²⁶ They came back to Moses and Aaron and the whole Israelite community at Kadesh^(C) in the Desert of Paran.^(D) There they reported to them^(E) and to the whole assembly and showed them the fruit of the land.^{(F) 27} They gave Moses this account: “We went into the land to which you sent us, and it does flow with milk and honey!^(G) Here is its fruit.^{(H) 28} But the people who live there are powerful, and the cities are fortified and very large.^(I) We even saw descendants of Anak^(J) there.^(K)

The People Rebel

14 That night all the members of the community raised their voices and wept aloud.^{(A) 2} All the Israelites grumbled^(B) against Moses and Aaron, and the whole assembly said to them, “If only we had died in Egypt!^(C) Or in this wilderness!^(D)

⁵ Then Moses and Aaron fell facedown^(A) in front of the whole Israelite assembly^(B) gathered there. ⁶ Joshua son of Nun^(C) and Caleb son of Jephunneh, who were among those who had explored the land, tore their clothes^{(D) 7} and said to the entire Israelite assembly, “The land we passed through and explored is exceedingly good.^{(E) 8} If the Lord is pleased with us,^(F) he will lead us into that land, a land flowing with milk and honey,^(G) and will give it to us.^{(H) 9} Only do not rebel^(I) against the Lord. And do not be afraid^(J) of the people of the land,^(K) because we will devour them. Their protection is gone, but the Lord is with^(L) us.^(M) Do not be afraid of them.”^(N)

¹⁰ But the whole assembly talked about stoning^(O) them. Then the glory of the Lord^(P) appeared at the tent of meeting to all the Israelites.