NUMBERS 13

ISRAELITE SPIES SENT TO EXPLORE CANAAN 

The Israelites are on their way to the Promised Land, the land of Canaan. God tells Moses to send spies into Canaan for forty days. One man from each tribe accompanies Joshua, the man who Moses chose to lead the way. 

Joshua was originally named Hoshea, but Moses calls him Joshua. This renaming symbolizes Joshua's leadership and the role he will play in guiding the Israelites into the Promised Land. 

Joshua and the spies are told to have courage and bring back fruit from Canaan as a sign that they arrived. When the spies return, they are defeated, saying the Israelites are the size of grasshoppers compared to the mighty Canaanite army. 

Caleb, the spy from the tribe of Judah, disagrees. He has faith that the Israelites will be able to overcome the land.