Twelve men to search out the land of Canaan.
One from each tribe, a leader in their tribe, heads of Israel. Numbers 13:2-3
Their commission: be of good courage! Numbers 13:18-2
Their job: (1) See the land, what it is. Good or Bad. Fat or Lean. Wood therein or not. Fruit, bring some back. (2) See the people who dwell therein: Strong or Weak. Few or many. (3) See the cites. Camps or Strongholds.
They spent 40 days searching out the land. Numbers 13:25
Their Report: Numbers 13:26-29
- The land floweth with milk and honey, very fruitful. Numbers 13:27
- The people are strong. Numbers 13:28
- The cities walled and very great. Numbers 13:28
Summary: Caleb said “Let us go up at once and possess it”. Numbers 13:30 Joshua agreed. Numbers 14:6 But the other ten said “We are not able to go up against the people; for they are stronger then we.” And the congregation (Children of Israel, 11 days out of Egyptian Slavery) cried “Would God that we died in the land of Egypt!” Numbers 14:2 “… and let us return into Egypt.” Numbers 14:4 But all the congregation bade stone them. (Caleb and Joshua) with stones. Numbers 14:10
Who were and what became of these 12 leaders, heads of the tribes of Israel, who searched out the land?
Numbers 13:4-15 And these were their names: of the tribe of Reuben, Shammua the son of Zaccur. Of the tribe of Simeon, Shaphat the son of Hori. Of the tribe of Judah, Caleb the son of Jephunneh. Of the tribe of Issachar, Igal the son of Joseph. Of the tribe of Ephraim, Oshea the son of Nun. Of the tribe of Benjamin, Palti the son of Raphu. Of the tribe of Zebulun, Gaddiel the son of Sodi. Of the tribe of Joseph, namely, of the tribe of Manasseh, Gaddi the son of Susi. Of the tribe of Dan, Ammiel the son of Gemalli. Of the tribe of Asher, Sethur the son of Michael. Of the tribe of Naphtali, Nahbi the son of Vophsi. Of the tribe of Gad, Geuel the son of Machi.
- Shammua the son of Zaccur. He voted NO
Name means renowned, heard-about - Shaphat the son of Hori He voted NO
Name means God judges - Igal the son of Joseph. He voted NO
Name means God redeems.| - Palti the son of Raphu. He voted NO
Name means delivered. - Gaddiel the son of Sodi. He voted NO
Name means fortune of Gad. - Gaddi the son of Susi. He voted NO
Name means fortunate. - Ammiel the son of Gemalli. He voted NO
Name means delivered. - Sethur the son of Michael. He voted NO
Name means hidden. - Nahbi the son of Vophsi. He voted NO
Name means concealed, hidden. - Geuel the son of Machi. He voted NO
Name means majesty of God. - Caleb the son of Jephunneh He voted YES
Name means dog. - Hoshea the son of Nun.(Oshea, Joshua) He voted YES
(see Life and Times of Joshua)
Hoshea, Oshea means deliverer, salvation. Joshua means Jehovah is salvation.
Numbers 13:16 These [are] the names of the men which Moses sent to spy out the land. And Moses called Oshea the son of Nun Jehoshua.
Deuteronomy 32:44 And Moses came and spake all the words of this song in the ears of the people, he, and Hoshea the son of Nun.
Other than Caleb and Joshua, there is very little said of these 12 men. They were leaders of their respective tribes, their names had Godly meanings and they were the HOPE of Israel. But they came to a sad end.
Numbers 14:37-38 Even those men who did bring the evil report upon the land, died by the plague before the LORD.But Joshua, the son of Nun, and Caleb, the son of Jephunneh, who were of the men who went to search the land, lived still.
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