The Spies’ Reports

25 When they returned from spying out the land, at the end of forty days, 26 they went on and came to Moses and Aaron and to all the congregation of the sons of Israel, [a]in the wilderness of Paran at (A)Kadesh; and they brought back word to them and to all the congregation, and showed them the fruit of the land. 27 So they reported to him and said, “We came into the land where you sent us, and (B)it certainly does flow with milk and honey, and (C)this is its fruit. 28 Nevertheless, (D)the people who live in the land are strong, and the cities are fortified and very large. And indeed, we saw (E)the [b]descendants of Anak there! 29 Amalek is living in the land of (F)the Negev, the Hittites, the Jebusites, and (G)the Amorites are living in the hill country, and (H)the Canaanites are living by the sea and by the side of the Jordan.”

30 Then Caleb quieted the people [c]before Moses and said, “We should by all means go up and take possession of it, for we will certainly prevail over it.” 31 But the men who had gone up with him said, “(I)We are not able to go up against the people, because they are too strong for us.” 32 So they brought (J)a bad report of the land which they had spied out to the sons of Israel, saying, “The land through which we have gone to spy out is (K)a land that devours its inhabitants; and (L)all the people whom we saw in it are people of great stature. 33 We also saw the [d](M)Nephilim there (the sons of Anak are part of the Nephilim); and (N)we were like [e]grasshoppers in our own sight, and so we were in their sight.”

The People Rebel

14 Then all the congregation [f]raised their voices and cried out, and the people wept [g]that night. And all the sons of Israel (O)grumbled against Moses and Aaron; and the entire congregation said to them, “(P)If only we had died in the land of Egypt! Or even if we had died in this wilderness! So why is the Lord bringing us into this land (Q)to fall by the sword? (R)Our wives and our little ones will become plunder! Would it not be better for us to return to Egypt?” So they said to one another, “(S)Let’s appoint a leader and return to Egypt!”

(T)Then Moses and Aaron fell on their faces in the presence of all the assembly of the congregation of the sons of Israel. And Joshua the son of Nun and Caleb the son of Jephunneh, of those who had spied out the land, tore their clothes; and they spoke to all the congregation of the sons of Israel, saying, “(U)The land which we passed through to spy out is an exceedingly good land. (V)If the Lord is pleased with us, then He will bring us into this land and give it to us—(W)a land which flows with milk and honey. Only (X)do not rebel against the Lord; and do not (Y)fear the people of the land, for they will be our [h]prey. Their [i]protection is gone from them, and the Lord is with us; do not fear them.” 10 (Z)But all the congregation said to stone them with stones. Then (AA)the glory of the Lord appeared in the tent of meeting to all the sons of Israel.

Footnotes

  1. Numbers 13:26 Lit to
  2. Numbers 13:28 Lit sons
  3. Numbers 13:30 Lit toward
  4. Numbers 13:33 Lit fallen ones; LXX giants
  5. Numbers 13:33 Or locusts
  6. Numbers 14:1 Lit raised and gave their voice
  7. Numbers 14:1 Lit in that
  8. Numbers 14:9 Lit food
  9. Numbers 14:9 Lit shadow

Bible Gateway Recommends