The Bible Book

88

F

ollowing their departure

from Egypt, the Israelites

approach Canaan, the

Promised Land. Before going

further, Moses sends 12 spies,

one from each of the 12 tribes, to

scout out the land for 40 days.

A land of plenty

On their return, the scouts report

a land that is good, flowing with

the proverbial “milk and honey”

God promised. As evidence, they

bring a bunch of grapes so huge

they have to carry it on a pole

between two of them. However,

they say, the people of Canaan

are intimidating and live in

large, well-fortified cities.

Undaunted, one of the scouts,

Caleb, believes that God will be

with them to give them this new

home. Supported by another of

the scouts, Joshua, he urges his

fellow Israelites to go and occupy

it. However, the remaining ten

exclaim that they cannot attack

such formidable foes. The bulk of

the Israelites side with the ten and

begin to lament that they ever left

Egypt. Angry at their faithlessness,

God threatens to destroy the people,

but Moses intercedes on their behalf.

God’s resolution marks a

watershed in the book of Numbers.

Israel will still enter Canaan but

not for another 40 years, due to

the people’s lack of faith. In the

meantime, they will return to the

wilderness. Among the older

generation, only Caleb and Joshua

will possess the Promised Land. ■

IT DOES FLOW

WITH MILK

AND HONEY

NUMBERS 13:27, THE TWELVE SPIES

IN BRIEF

PA S SAGE

Numbers 13–14

THEME

Lack of faith

SETTING

14th–13th century bce

Kadesh-barnea, Sinai, south

of the Promised Land.

KEY FIGURES

Caleb Son of Jephunneh, of

the tribe of Judah. One of the

scouts sent into Canaan, he

urges the Israelites to take

possession of the land.

Joshua Also known as

Hoshea, Son of Nun, from

the tribe of Ephraim. Another

scout, he supports the view of

Caleb, that the Israelites

should take possession of the

land. Later he will succeed

Moses as leader of Israel.

Moses Israelite leader, who

intercedes with God for the

rebellious Israelites.

Your children will

be shepherds here for

forty years, suffering

for your unfaithfulness,

until the last of your

bodies lies in the desert.

Numbers 14:33

See also: Covenants 44–47 ■ The Exodus 74–77 ■ Balaam’s Donkey 89 ■

The Fall of Jericho 98–99

US_088-089_Twelve_Spies_balaams_donkey.indd 88 21/09/17 11:29 am