131 And Jehovah speaketh unto Moses, saying, 2 'Send for thee men, and they spy the land of Canaan, which I am giving to the sons of Israel; one man, one man for the tribe of his fathers ye do send, every one a prince among them.' 3 And Moses sendeth them from the wilderness of Paran by the command of Jehovah; all of them 'are' men, heads of the sons of Israel they are, 4 and these their names: For the tribe of Reuben, Shammua son of Zaccur. 5 For the tribe of Simeon, Shaphat son of Hori. 6 For the tribe of Judah, Caleb son of Jephunneh. 7 For the tribe of Issachar, Igal son of Joseph. 8 For the tribe of Ephraim, Oshea, son of Nun. 9 For the tribe of Benjamin, Palti son of Raphu. 10 For the tribe of Zebulun, Gaddiel son of Sodi. 11 For the tribe of Joseph, (for the tribe of Manasseh,) Gaddi son of Susi. 12 For the tribe of Dan, Ammiel son of Gemalli. 13 For the tribe of Asher, Sethur son of Michael. 14 For the tribe of Naphtali, Nahbi son of Vopshi. 15 For the tribe of Gad, Geuel son of Machi. 16 These 'are' the names of the men whom Moses hath sent to spy the land; and Moses calleth Hoshea son of Nun, Jehoshua. 17 And Moses sendeth them to spy the land of Canaan, and saith unto them, 'Go ye up this 'way' into the south, and ye have gone up the mountain, 18 and have seen the land what it 'is', and the people which is dwelling on it, whether it 'is' strong or feeble; whether it 'is' few or many; 19 and what the land 'is' in which it is dwelling, whether it 'is' good or bad; and what 'are' the cities in which it is dwelling, whether in camps or in fortresses; 20 And what the land 'is', whether it 'is' fat or lean; whether there is wood in it or not; and ye have strengthened yourselves, and have taken of the fruit of the land;' and the days 'are' days of the first-fruits of 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.