Numbers 13
Lutheran reading notes
In Numbers chapter 13, the story continues to develop the theme of Israel’s wilderness journey and preparation for the promised land. Lutheran interpretation often highlights how the events reveal humanity’s need for God’s grace and the reliability of God's promises. The chapter illustrates both the reality of human weakness and the faithfulness of God who works through history.
1
And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying,
Numbers 13:1 highlights pilgrimage and testing with emphasis on law, gospel, grace, and faith.
2
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 highlights pilgrimage and testing with emphasis on law, gospel, grace, and faith.
3
And Moses by the commandment of the LORD sent them from the wilderness of Paran: all those men {were} heads of the children of Israel.
Numbers 13:3 highlights pilgrimage and testing with emphasis on law, gospel, grace, and faith.
4
And these {were} their names: of the tribe of Reuben, Shammua the son of Zaccur.
Numbers 13:4 highlights pilgrimage and testing with emphasis on law, gospel, grace, and faith.
5
Of the tribe of Simeon, Shaphat the son of Hori.
Numbers 13:5 highlights pilgrimage and testing with emphasis on law, gospel, grace, and faith.
6
Of the tribe of Judah, Caleb the son of Jephunneh.
Numbers 13:6 highlights pilgrimage and testing with emphasis on law, gospel, grace, and faith.
7
Of the tribe of Issachar, Igal the son of Joseph.
Numbers 13:7 highlights pilgrimage and testing with emphasis on law, gospel, grace, and faith.
8
Of the tribe of Ephraim, Oshea the son of Nun. {Oshea: also called, Joshua}
Numbers 13:8 highlights pilgrimage and testing with emphasis on law, gospel, grace, and faith.
9
Of the tribe of Benjamin, Palti the son of Raphu.
Numbers 13:9 highlights pilgrimage and testing with emphasis on law, gospel, grace, and faith.
10
Of the tribe of Zebulun, Gaddiel the son of Sodi.
Numbers 13:10 highlights pilgrimage and testing with emphasis on law, gospel, grace, and faith.
11
Of the tribe of Joseph, {namely}, of the tribe of Manasseh, Gaddi the son of Susi.
Numbers 13:11 highlights pilgrimage and testing with emphasis on law, gospel, grace, and faith.
12
Of the tribe of Dan, Ammiel the son of Gemalli.
Numbers 13:12 highlights pilgrimage and testing with emphasis on law, gospel, grace, and faith.
13
Of the tribe of Asher, Sethur the son of Michael.
Numbers 13:13 highlights pilgrimage and testing with emphasis on law, gospel, grace, and faith.
14
Of the tribe of Naphtali, Nahbi the son of Vophsi.
Numbers 13:14 highlights pilgrimage and testing with emphasis on law, gospel, grace, and faith.
15
Of the tribe of Gad, Geuel the son of Machi.
Numbers 13:15 highlights pilgrimage and testing with emphasis on law, gospel, grace, and faith.
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. {Oshea: also called Joshua} {Jehoshua: or, Joshua}
Numbers 13:16 highlights pilgrimage and testing with emphasis on law, gospel, grace, and faith.
17
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 highlights pilgrimage and testing with emphasis on law, gospel, grace, and faith.
18
And see the land, what it {is}; and the people that dwelleth therein, whether they {be} strong or weak, few or many;
Numbers 13:18 highlights pilgrimage and testing with emphasis on law, gospel, grace, and faith.
19
And what the land {is} that they dwell in, whether it {be} good or bad; and what cities {they be} that they dwell in, whether in tents, or in strong holds;
Numbers 13:19 highlights pilgrimage and testing with emphasis on law, gospel, grace, and faith.
20
And what the land {is}, whether it {be} fat or lean, whether there be wood therein, or not. And be ye of good courage, and bring of the fruit of the land. Now the time {was} the time of the firstripe grapes.
Numbers 13:20 highlights pilgrimage and testing with emphasis on law, gospel, grace, and faith.
21
So they went up, and searched the land from the wilderness of Zin unto Rehob, as men come to Hamath.
Numbers 13:21 highlights pilgrimage and testing with emphasis on law, gospel, grace, and faith.
22
And they ascended by the south, and came unto Hebron; where Ahiman, Sheshai, and Talmai, the children of Anak, {were}. (Now Hebron was built seven years before Zoan in Egypt.)
Numbers 13:22 highlights pilgrimage and testing with emphasis on law, gospel, grace, and faith.
23
And they came unto the brook of Eshcol, and cut down from thence a branch with one cluster of grapes, and they bare it between two upon a staff; and {they brought} of the pomegranates, and of the figs. {brook: or, valley}
Numbers 13:23 highlights pilgrimage and testing with emphasis on law, gospel, grace, and faith.
24
The place was called the brook Eshcol, because of the cluster of grapes which the children of Israel cut down from thence. {brook: or, valley} {Eshcol: that is, A cluster of grapes}
Numbers 13:24 highlights pilgrimage and testing with emphasis on law, gospel, grace, and faith.
25
And they returned from searching of the land after forty days.
Numbers 13:25 highlights pilgrimage and testing with emphasis on law, gospel, grace, and faith.
26
And they went and came to Moses, and to Aaron, and to all the congregation of the children of Israel, unto the wilderness of Paran, to Kadesh; and brought back word unto them, and unto all the congregation, and shewed them the fruit of the land.
Numbers 13:26 highlights pilgrimage and testing with emphasis on law, gospel, grace, and faith.
27
And they told him, and said, We came unto the land whither thou sentest us, and surely it floweth with milk and honey; and this {is} the fruit of it.
Numbers 13:27 highlights pilgrimage and testing with emphasis on law, gospel, grace, and faith.
28
Nevertheless the people {be} strong that dwell in the land, and the cities {are} walled, {and} very great: and moreover we saw the children of Anak there.
Numbers 13:28 highlights pilgrimage and testing with emphasis on law, gospel, grace, and faith.
29
The Amalekites dwell in the land of the south: and the Hittites, and the Jebusites, and the Amorites, dwell in the mountains: and the Canaanites dwell by the sea, and by the coast of Jordan.
Numbers 13:29 highlights pilgrimage and testing with emphasis on law, gospel, grace, and faith.
30
And Caleb stilled the people before Moses, and said, Let us go up at once, and possess it; for we are well able to overcome it.
Numbers 13:30 highlights pilgrimage and testing with emphasis on law, gospel, grace, and faith.
31
But the men that went up with him said, We be not able to go up against the people; for they {are} stronger than we.
32
And they brought up an evil report of the land which they had searched unto the children of Israel, saying, The land, through which we have gone to search it, {is} a land that eateth up the inhabitants thereof; and all the people that we saw in it {are} men of a great stature. {men...: Heb. men of statures}
Numbers 13:32 highlights pilgrimage and testing with emphasis on law, gospel, grace, and faith.
33
And there we saw the giants, the sons of Anak, {which come} of the giants: and we were in our own sight as grasshoppers, and so we were in their sight.
Numbers 13:33 highlights pilgrimage and testing with emphasis on law, gospel, grace, and faith.