Numbers 13 2

Numbers 13:2 kjv

Send thou men, that they may search the land of Canaan, which I give unto the children of Israel: of every tribe of their fathers shall ye send a man, every one a ruler among them.

Numbers 13:2 nkjv

"Send men to spy out the land of Canaan, which I am giving to the children of Israel; from each tribe of their fathers you shall send a man, every one a leader among them."

Numbers 13:2 niv

"Send some men to explore the land of Canaan, which I am giving to the Israelites. From each ancestral tribe send one of its leaders."

Numbers 13:2 esv

"Send men to spy out the land of Canaan, which I am giving to the people of Israel. From each tribe of their fathers you shall send a man, every one a chief among them."

Numbers 13:2 nlt

"Send out men to explore the land of Canaan, the land I am giving to the Israelites. Send one leader from each of the twelve ancestral tribes."

Numbers 13 verses

Numbers 13 2 Meaning

God commanded Moses to select twelve leaders, one from each ancestral tribe of Israel, and dispatch them to explore and scout the land of Canaan. This land, according to God’s unwavering declaration, was already in the process of being given by Him to the Israelites as their inheritance. The expedition aimed to gather intelligence about the land's nature, its inhabitants, and its suitability for their impending possession.

Numbers 13 2 Context

Numbers chapter 13 unfolds as the Israelites, having journeyed from Mount Sinai, stand on the threshold of the Promised Land at Kadesh Barnea. The initial verses set the stage for a pivotal moment in Israel's history. Up to this point, God had meticulously guided, provided for, and organized His people, readying them to enter the land He swore to give them. Verse 2 specifically describes the command (or rather, permission, as further clarified by Deut 1:22) for the reconnaissance mission that would profoundly impact the next four decades of their journey. The outcome of this scouting expedition and the people's response to it would directly lead to God's judgment of 40 years of wilderness wandering, deferring their entry into Canaan to the next generation. Historically, the sending of spies was a common military strategy, but here it intersects with divine promise and human faith.

Numbers 13 2 Word analysis

• "Send" (שלח - shalach): This imperative verb signifies "dispatch," "commission," or "send forth." It implies an active assignment to carry out a specific task.

• "men" (אנשים - anashim): Refers generally to males. In this context, these were not just ordinary men, but distinguished individuals, as clarified later in the verse.

• "to explore/spy out" (ויתרו - veyatiru): From the root תור (tur), meaning "to journey," "to traverse," "to scout," or "to explore thoroughly." It carries a connotation of detailed investigation, assessing terrain, resources, and inhabitants. This is distinct from רגל (ragal), which specifically means to spy clandestinely for military advantage. Here, the emphasis is on a broader assessment for the whole community.

• "the land of Canaan" (ארץ כנען - eretz Kena'an): The designated geographical area promised by God, stretching from Egypt to the Euphrates, a fertile and strategically important region.

• "which I am giving" (אשר אני נתן - asher ani noten): This is a crucial phrase. The Hebrew uses a present participle for "giving" (noten), emphasizing that God is actively, continuously, and certainly in the process of giving this land to them. It is not merely a future possibility, but a divine decree already set in motion. This underscores God's sovereignty and faithfulness to His covenant promises. The act of "giving" precedes their "taking."

• "to the Israelites" (לבני ישראל - livnei Yisra'el): Explicitly states the recipients of the divine promise: the descendants of Jacob (Israel), comprising the entire nation.

• "From each ancestral tribe" (למטה אבותיו - lemateh avotav): Literally "for the tribe of his fathers." This refers to the twelve genealogical divisions of the nation, rooted in their patriarchs. It emphasizes representation across the entire Israelite community.

• "send one leader" (איש אחד איש אחד למטה... כל נשיא בהם - ish echad ish echad lemat eh... kol nasi bahem):

  • "one man, one man" (איש אחד איש אחד - ish echad ish echad): The repetition emphasizes the strict instruction: precisely one representative from each tribe, ensuring impartiality and full tribal involvement in the intelligence gathering.
  • "leader" (נשיא - nasi): This term signifies a "prince," "chief," or "head man" of a tribe or clan. These were men of considerable standing, authority, and trustworthiness. Choosing leaders suggests that the mission required discretion and judgment, and their report would carry significant weight among the people. The choice of the most reputable men makes their collective failure of faith even more poignant.

• Word Group: "שלח לך אנשים" (Send for yourself men): The use of "לך" (leka, "for yourself" or "at your own discretion") subtly distinguishes this mission. While appearing as a direct command from God, Deuteronomy 1:22-23 reveals that the idea to send spies originated from the people themselves. God "approved of your plan," turning their initiative into a divine directive. Thus, it's not a pre-ordained part of God's initial plan for immediate conquest by faith, but rather an allowance of human caution, albeit one that would expose their ultimate lack of faith.

Numbers 13 2 Bonus section

• The Nuance of "שלח לך" (shalach leka): While many English translations render "שלח לך" simply as "Send for yourself," this phrasing is subject to deeper rabbinic and scholarly interpretation. It can imply a delegation of authority, a permission granted rather than an initial, unprompted command. Ancient Jewish commentators highlight that this choice stemmed from Israel's request (Deut 1:22), suggesting God "meets Israel halfway," accommodating their lack of faith but simultaneously setting them up for a test. It reveals God’s gracious patience with human weakness, yet highlights human responsibility for the outcome.
• The Number 12: The selection of one leader from each of the twelve tribes is biblically significant. Twelve represents completion and governmental structure (12 tribes of Israel, 12 apostles, 12 gates of New Jerusalem). It emphasizes that this mission, and its outcome, truly represented the collective will and faith (or lack thereof) of the entire nation.
• A Test, Not a Necessity for God: From God’s perspective, no exploration was truly "needed" for Him to deliver on His promise. He knows all lands, their inhabitants, and their strengths. The mission was therefore a test of Israel's faith in God's omnipresence and omnipotence, proving whether they would trust His word more than the visible obstacles.
• The Foreshadowing of Unbelief: This verse subtly foreshadows the larger narrative of unbelief that will define this generation’s wilderness experience. It sets the stage for a critical choice point for the Israelites: will they act on faith in the One who is "giving" the land, or will they succumb to fear based on their sensory observations?

Numbers 13 2 Commentary

Numbers 13:2 presents a pivotal moment that, though seemingly a military directive, serves as a profound test of faith for the Israelites. God's declaration, "which I am giving," unequivocally states the divine certainty of the land's possession, a promise reiterated since Abraham. The scouting mission, while outwardly strategic, exposed Israel’s underlying apprehension and distrust in God's power. By allowing them to "send for yourselves" (as reflected in "שלח לך"), God accommodated their human desire for assurance beyond His explicit word, essentially meeting their request for empirical validation. The selection of "leaders" or "princes" underscores the gravity of the mission; these were not peripheral figures, but esteemed tribal representatives. Their subsequent failure to trust God’s promise, despite their privileged status, highlighted a deep-seated unbelief pervasive throughout the generation. This verse, therefore, sets the tragic trajectory for the next forty years, demonstrating that divine promises require human faith for their immediate fulfillment, not just human observation or strategy.