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Numbers 13:21-14:13
Amplified Bible
Numbers 13:21-14:13
Amplified Bible
21 So they went up and spied out the land from the Wilderness of Zin to Rehob [a town in Lebanon], at Lebo-hamath [in the far north]. 22 When they had gone up into the Negev (the South country), they came to Hebron; and Ahiman, Sheshai, and Talmai the descendants of Anak were there. (Now Hebron was built seven years before Zoan in Egypt.)
23 Then they came to the Valley of Eshcol (cluster of grapes), and from there cut down a branch with a single cluster of grapes; and they carried it on a pole between two of them, with some of pomegranates and the figs. 24 That place was called the Valley of Eshcol (cluster of grapes) because of the cluster of grapes which the sons of Israel cut down there.
The Spies’ Reports
25 When they returned from spying out the land, at the end of forty days, 26 they came to Moses and Aaron and to all the congregation of the sons of Israel in the Wilderness of Paran at Kadesh, and brought back word to them and to all the congregation, and showed them the land’s fruit. 27 They reported to Moses and said, “We went in to the land where you sent us; and it certainly does [a]flow with milk and honey, and this is its fruit. 28 But the people who live in the land are strong, and the cities are [b]fortified (walled) and very large; moreover, we saw there the descendants of Anak [people of great stature and courage]. 29 [The people descended from] Amalek live in the land of the Negev (South country); the Hittite, the Jebusite, and the Amorite live in the hill country; and the Canaanites live by the [Dead] Sea and along the side of the Jordan.”
30 Then Caleb quieted the people before Moses, and said, “Let us go up at once and take possession of it; for we will certainly conquer it.” 31 But the men who had gone up with him said, “We are not able to go up against the people [of Canaan], for they are too strong for us.” 32 So they gave the Israelites a bad report about the land which they had spied out, saying, “The land through which we went, in spying it out, is a land that devours its inhabitants. And all the people that we saw in it are men of great stature. 33 There we saw the Nephilim (the sons of Anak are part of the Nephilim); and we were like grasshoppers in our own sight, and so we were in their sight.”
The People Rebel
14 Then all the congregation [of Israel] raised their voices and cried out, and the people wept that night. 2 All the Israelites murmured [in discontent] against Moses and Aaron; and the whole congregation said to them, “Oh that we had died in the land of Egypt! Or that we had died in this wilderness! 3 Why is the Lord bringing us to this land [of Canaan], to fall by the sword? Our wives and [c]children will become plunder. Would it not be better for us to return to Egypt?”(A) 4 So they said one to another, “Let us appoint a [new] leader and return to Egypt.”
5 Then Moses and Aaron fell on their faces before all the assembly of the congregation of the Israelites. 6 Joshua the son of Nun and Caleb the son of Jephunneh, who were among those who had spied out the land, tore their clothes [as a sign of grief], 7 and they spoke to all the congregation of the sons of Israel, saying, “The land through which we passed as spies is an exceedingly good land. 8 If the Lord delights in us, then He will bring us into this land and give it to us, a land which [d]flows with milk and honey. 9 Only do not rebel against the Lord; and do not fear the people of the land, for they will be our prey. Their protection has been removed from them, and the Lord is with us. Do not fear them.” 10 But all the congregation said to stone Joshua and Caleb with stones. But the glory and brilliance of the Lord appeared at the Tent of Meeting (tabernacle) before all the sons of Israel.
Moses Pleads for the People
11 The Lord said to Moses, “How long will these people treat me disrespectfully and reject Me? And how long will they not believe in Me, despite all the [miraculous] signs which I have performed among them? 12 I will strike them with the pestilence (plague) and dispossess them, and will make you into a nation greater and mightier than they.”
13 But Moses said to the Lord, “Then the Egyptians will hear of it, for by Your strength You brought up these people from among them,
Footnotes
- Numbers 13:27 This phrase referred to the abundant fertility of the land of Canaan. Milk (typically that of goats and sheep) was associated with abundance; “honey” referred mainly to syrups made from dates or grapes and was the epitome of sweetness. Bees’ honey was very rare and was considered the choicest of foods.
- Numbers 13:28 The spies probably had not seen walled cities before, having lived their childhood in Goshen in Egypt. Those who forgot God’s power to help them naturally found the situation formidable.
- Numbers 14:3 Lit little ones.
- Numbers 14:8 See note 13:27.
Numbers 13:21-14:13
New International Version
Numbers 13:21-14:13
New International Version
21 So they went up and explored the land from the Desert of Zin(A) as far as Rehob,(B) toward Lebo Hamath.(C) 22 They went up through the Negev and came to Hebron,(D) where Ahiman, Sheshai and Talmai,(E) the descendants of Anak,(F) lived. (Hebron had been built seven years before Zoan in Egypt.)(G) 23 When they reached the Valley of Eshkol,[a](H) they cut off a branch bearing a single cluster of grapes. Two of them carried it on a pole between them, along with some pomegranates(I) and figs.(J) 24 That place was called the Valley of Eshkol because of the cluster of grapes the Israelites cut off there. 25 At the end of forty days(K) they returned from exploring the land.(L)
Report on the Exploration
26 They came back to Moses and Aaron and the whole Israelite community at Kadesh(M) in the Desert of Paran.(N) There they reported to them(O) and to the whole assembly and showed them the fruit of the land.(P) 27 They gave Moses this account: “We went into the land to which you sent us, and it does flow with milk and honey!(Q) Here is its fruit.(R) 28 But the people who live there are powerful, and the cities are fortified and very large.(S) We even saw descendants of Anak(T) there.(U) 29 The Amalekites(V) live in the Negev; the Hittites,(W) Jebusites(X) and Amorites(Y) live in the hill country;(Z) and the Canaanites(AA) live near the sea and along the Jordan.(AB)”
30 Then Caleb(AC) silenced the people before Moses and said, “We should go up and take possession of the land, for we can certainly do it.”
31 But the men who had gone up with him said, “We can’t attack those people; they are stronger than we are.”(AD) 32 And they spread among the Israelites a bad report(AE) about the land they had explored. They said, “The land we explored devours(AF) those living in it. All the people we saw there are of great size.(AG) 33 We saw the Nephilim(AH) there (the descendants of Anak(AI) come from the Nephilim). We seemed like grasshoppers(AJ) in our own eyes, and we looked the same to them.”
The People Rebel
14 That night all the members of the community raised their voices and wept aloud.(AK) 2 All the Israelites grumbled(AL) against Moses and Aaron, and the whole assembly said to them, “If only we had died in Egypt!(AM) Or in this wilderness!(AN) 3 Why is the Lord bringing us to this land only to let us fall by the sword?(AO) Our wives and children(AP) will be taken as plunder.(AQ) Wouldn’t it be better for us to go back to Egypt?(AR)” 4 And they said to each other, “We should choose a leader and go back to Egypt.(AS)”
5 Then Moses and Aaron fell facedown(AT) in front of the whole Israelite assembly(AU) gathered there. 6 Joshua son of Nun(AV) and Caleb son of Jephunneh, who were among those who had explored the land, tore their clothes(AW) 7 and said to the entire Israelite assembly, “The land we passed through and explored is exceedingly good.(AX) 8 If the Lord is pleased with us,(AY) he will lead us into that land, a land flowing with milk and honey,(AZ) and will give it to us.(BA) 9 Only do not rebel(BB) against the Lord. And do not be afraid(BC) of the people of the land,(BD) because we will devour them. Their protection is gone, but the Lord is with(BE) us.(BF) Do not be afraid of them.”(BG)
10 But the whole assembly talked about stoning(BH) them. Then the glory of the Lord(BI) appeared at the tent of meeting to all the Israelites. 11 The Lord said to Moses, “How long will these people treat me with contempt?(BJ) How long will they refuse to believe in me,(BK) in spite of all the signs(BL) I have performed among them? 12 I will strike them down with a plague(BM) and destroy them, but I will make you into a nation(BN) greater and stronger than they.”(BO)
13 Moses said to the Lord, “Then the Egyptians will hear about it! By your power you brought these people up from among them.(BP)
Footnotes
- Numbers 13:23 Eshkol means cluster; also in verse 24.
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