Numbers 13 17

Numbers 13:17 kjv

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:

Numbers 13:17 nkjv

Then Moses sent them to spy out the land of Canaan, and said to them, "Go up this way into the South, and go up to the mountains,

Numbers 13:17 niv

When Moses sent them to explore Canaan, he said, "Go up through the Negev and on into the hill country.

Numbers 13:17 esv

Moses sent them to spy out the land of Canaan and said to them, "Go up into the Negeb and go up into the hill country,

Numbers 13:17 nlt

Moses gave the men these instructions as he sent them out to explore the land: "Go north through the Negev into the hill country.

Numbers 13 verses

Numbers 13 17 Meaning

Numbers 13:17 outlines the direct command Moses gave to the twelve chosen men: to go and reconnoiter the land of Canaan. He specifically instructed them to ascend through the southern wilderness, known as the Negev, and then further into the central mountainous region of the land. This directive set the geographical scope for their reconnaissance mission to assess the land's characteristics, its inhabitants, and their fortifications.

Numbers 13 17 Context

Numbers chapter 13 begins at Kadesh-Barnea, a pivotal location for the Israelites after their exodus from Egypt. They were at the doorstep of the Promised Land, Canaan. Although Numbers 13:1-2 states that the LORD commanded Moses to send out men to spy, Deuteronomy 1:22-23 reveals that the initiative also came from the people who desired to explore the land first. Moses acceded to their request, perhaps as a test of their faith, and selected twelve prominent men, one from each tribe, to undertake this reconnaissance mission. Numbers 13:17 provides the initial detailed instructions given by Moses to these spies, laying out the precise route and objectives, setting the stage for their forty-day exploration and the subsequent monumental report that would lead to Israel's forty-year wilderness wandering due to widespread unbelief. The historical context underscores this as a moment of great decision and testing for the newly formed nation.

Numbers 13 17 Word analysis

• And Moses sent them:

  • וַיִּשְׁלַח (vayyishlach): From the root שׁלח (shalakh), meaning "to send," "to extend," "to stretch out." The Hiphil imperfect form here emphasizes that Moses initiated and caused this sending. This highlights Moses' leadership and his role as the mediator of divine instructions to the people.

• to spy out:

  • לְרַגֵּל (leraggel): From the root רגל (ragal), literally meaning "foot." The Piel infinitive form signifies an intensive and deliberate act of exploring, reconnoitering, or specifically, acting as a scout or spy. The term implies secretive observation and information gathering. This denotes the core purpose of their mission, to gather detailed intelligence.

• the land of Canaan:

  • אֶרֶץ כְּנָעַן (eretz Kena'an): "Land" (eretz) refers to the designated territory. "Canaan" (Kena'an) is the specific geographic region God promised to Abraham's descendants (Gen 12:7; 15:18). This emphasizes that the target of their mission was precisely the covenantal inheritance God had promised.

• and said unto them:

  • וַיֹּאמֶר אֲלֵהֶם (vayyomer aleihem): A standard phrase indicating that Moses then issued specific commands or instructions. This highlights the directness of his communication to the spies.

• Get you up this way southward:

  • עֲלוּ זֶה בַּנֶּגֶב (alu zeh bannegev):
    • עֲלוּ (alu): An imperative form of the verb עלה (alah), meaning "to go up," "to ascend." It denotes an upward movement, reflecting the topography from their position at Kadesh-Barnea relative to the hill country.
    • זֶה (zeh): "This way," "here," or "along this." A demonstrative particle pointing to a specific direction or route.
    • בַּנֶּגֶב (bannegev): "In the Negev," "to the south," or "through the south." The Negev is the arid or semi-arid region in the southern part of Canaan, geographically lying south of Judah's traditional territory. It was known for being a harsh but strategic entryway from the Sinai wilderness into the more fertile highlands. Moses specifies their entry point and direction.

• and go up into the mountain:

  • וַעֲלִיתֶם אֶת־הָהָר (va'alitem et ha-har):
    • וַעֲלִיתֶם (va'alitem): Another imperative from עלה (alah), "and go up," again emphasizing ascent. The repetition reinforces the climbing nature of their journey into the higher elevations.
    • הָהָר (ha-har): "The mountain," or more accurately, "the hill country." This refers to the central backbone of the land of Canaan, stretching from north to south (e.g., Ephraim and Judah). This was the primary region where Israel would later settle and where many of the Canaanite strongholds were located.

• Words-group analysis:

  • "And Moses sent them...to spy out the land of Canaan": This phrase highlights Moses' delegated authority and the ultimate objective. The "spying" was not random exploration but a directed intelligence-gathering mission for the specific land promised by God. This indicates preparation and strategic thinking for the conquest, although it also carries the underlying tension of human fear versus divine assurance.
  • "and said unto them, Get you up this way southward, and go up into the mountain": This demonstrates Moses' detailed topographical understanding and provides precise operational instructions. The twofold "go up" (ʿalû and ʿalîtem) emphasizes the physical challenge of ascending from the desert floor into the significant elevation of the central highlands, where the main cities and inhabitants would be encountered. It implies a journey from barrenness to fertility and stronghold, guiding their immediate actions.

Numbers 13 17 Bonus section

The choice to send twelve spies, one from each tribe, while seemingly egalitarian and comprehensive, inadvertently meant that the fear and unbelief of ten could easily overwhelm the faith of the two (Joshua and Caleb). This setup provided a representative but also susceptible delegation whose report would dramatically impact the collective spirit of the nation. This illustrates a critical point in leadership and decision-making for God's people: human strategy, even when seemingly sound and divinely permitted, can never replace absolute trust and obedience in God's promises, especially when faced with daunting challenges. The spies' route through the Negev to the central mountain spine ensured they encountered the land's most formidable defenses early, setting the stage for their disheartening report and the subsequent failure of faith by the people.

Numbers 13 17 Commentary

Numbers 13:17 presents Moses' specific, geographical instructions for the reconnaissance mission into Canaan. While the overall purpose was to gather intelligence about the land, its people, and their cities, this particular verse details the initial path the spies were to take: an ascent through the southern wilderness, the Negev, followed by a further climb into the formidable central mountain range. This instruction was practical, dictating an optimal route for initial assessment and highlighting the challenging terrain that awaited Israel.

However, beyond mere geography, this seemingly simple instruction carried immense theological weight. The spies were being sent into the land God had repeatedly promised to give Israel as their inheritance, a land described as "flowing with milk and honey." The act of "spying out" itself, though divinely permitted (Num 13:1), subtly diverged from absolute faith that would simply trust God to deliver the land unconditionally. By instructing them to observe its strength and the strength of its inhabitants, Moses inadvertently presented an opportunity for doubt to take root, despite the clear divine mandate to possess it. The details given, though pragmatic for military planning, implicitly placed focus on human assessment of obstacles rather than sole reliance on divine power, leading ultimately to the fatal lack of faith that condemned the wilderness generation to wander for forty years.