The Spies Explore Canaan
(Deuteronomy 1:19–25)

1  וַיְדַבֵּ֥ר (And spoke) יְהוָ֖ה (YHWH) אֶל־ (to) מֹשֶׁ֥ה (Moses), לֵּאמֹֽר׃ (saying), 2  שְׁלַח־ (Send) לְךָ֣ (-) אֲנָשִׁ֗ים (men) וְיָתֻ֙רוּ֙ (and they shall spy out) אֶת־ (-) אֶ֣רֶץ (the land) כְּנַ֔עַן (of Canaan), אֲשֶׁר־ (which) אֲנִ֥י (I) נֹתֵ֖ן (am giving) לִבְנֵ֣י (to the sons) יִשְׂרָאֵ֑ל (of Israel). אִ֣ישׁ (Man) אֶחָד֩ (one) אִ֨ישׁ (man) אֶחָ֜ד (one) לְמַטֵּ֤ה (for the tribe) אֲבֹתָיו֙ (of their fathers) תִּשְׁלָ֔חוּ (you⁺ shall send), כֹּ֖ל (each one) נָשִׂ֥יא (a leader) בָהֶֽם׃ (among them).

3  וַיִּשְׁלַ֨ח (And sent) אֹתָ֥ם (them) מֹשֶׁ֛ה (Moses) מִמִּדְבַּ֥ר (from the Wilderness) פָּארָ֖ן (of Paran) עַל־ (according to) פִּ֣י (the mouth) יְהוָ֑ה (of YHWH); כֻּלָּ֣ם (all) אֲנָשִׁ֔ים (the men), רָאשֵׁ֥י (heads) בְנֵֽי־ (of the sons) יִשְׂרָאֵ֖ל (of Israel) הֵֽמָּה׃ (were). 4  וְאֵ֖לֶּה (And these) שְׁמוֹתָ֑ם (were their names):

לְמַטֵּ֣ה (From the tribe) רְאוּבֵ֔ן (of Reuben), שַׁמּ֖וּעַ (Shammua) בֶּן־ (son) זַכּֽוּר׃ (of Zaccur).

5  לְמַטֵּ֣ה (From the tribe) שִׁמְע֔וֹן (of Simeon), שָׁפָ֖ט (Shaphat) בֶּן־ (son) חוֹרִֽי׃ (of Hori).

6  לְמַטֵּ֣ה (From the tribe) יְהוּדָ֔ה (of Judah), כָּלֵ֖ב (Caleb) בֶּן־ (son) יְפֻנֶּֽה׃ (of Jephunneh).

7  לְמַטֵּ֣ה (From the tribe) יִשָּׂשכָ֔ר (of Issachar), יִגְאָ֖ל (Igal) בֶּן־ (son) יוֹסֵֽף׃ (of Joseph).

8  לְמַטֵּ֥ה (From the tribe) אֶפְרָ֖יִם (of Ephraim), הוֹשֵׁ֥עַ (Hoshea) בִּן־ (son) נֽוּן׃ (of Nun).

9  לְמַטֵּ֣ה (From the tribe) בִנְיָמִ֔ן (of Benjamin), פַּלְטִ֖י (Palti) בֶּן־ (son) רָפֽוּא׃ (of Raphu).

10  לְמַטֵּ֣ה (From the tribe) זְבוּלֻ֔ן (of Zebulun), גַּדִּיאֵ֖ל (Gaddiel) בֶּן־ (son) סוֹדִֽי׃ (of Sodi).

11  לְמַטֵּ֥ה (From a tribe) יוֹסֵ֖ף (of Joseph) לְמַטֵּ֣ה (from the tribe) מְנַשֶּׁ֑ה (of Manasseh)), גַּדִּ֖י (Gaddi) בֶּן־ (son) סוּסִֽי׃ (of Susi).

12  לְמַטֵּ֣ה (From the tribe) דָ֔ן (of Dan), עַמִּיאֵ֖ל (Ammiel) בֶּן־ (son) גְּמַלִּֽי׃ (of Gemalli).

13  לְמַטֵּ֣ה (From the tribe) אָשֵׁ֔ר (of Asher), סְת֖וּר (Sethur) בֶּן־ (son) מִיכָאֵֽל׃ (of Michael).

14  לְמַטֵּ֣ה (From the tribe) נַפְתָּלִ֔י (of Naphtali), נַחְבִּ֖י (Nahbi) בֶּן־ (son) וָפְסִֽי׃ (of Vophsi).

15  לְמַטֵּ֣ה (From the tribe) גָ֔ד (of Gad), גְּאוּאֵ֖ל (Geuel) בֶּן־ (son) מָכִֽי׃ (of Machi).

16  אֵ֚לֶּה (These) שְׁמ֣וֹת (are the names) הָֽאֲנָשִׁ֔ים (of the men) אֲשֶׁר־ (whom) שָׁלַ֥ח (sent) מֹשֶׁ֖ה (Moses) לָת֣וּר (to spy out) אֶת־ (-) הָאָ֑רֶץ (the land). וַיִּקְרָ֥א (And called) מֹשֶׁ֛ה (Moses) לְהוֹשֵׁ֥עַ (Hoshea) בִּן־ (son) נ֖וּן (of Nun) יְהוֹשֻֽׁעַ׃ (Joshua).

17  וַיִּשְׁלַ֤ח (And sent) אֹתָם֙ (them) מֹשֶׁ֔ה (Moses) לָת֖וּר (to spy out) אֶת־ (-) אֶ֣רֶץ (the land) כְּנָ֑עַן (of Canaan), וַיֹּ֣אמֶר (and said) אֲלֵהֶ֗ם (to them) עֲל֥וּ (Go up) זֶה֙ (this way) בַּנֶּ֔גֶב (into the Negev), וַעֲלִיתֶ֖ם (and go up) אֶת־ (to) הָהָֽר׃ (the mountain). 18  וּרְאִיתֶ֥ם (And see) אֶת־ (-) הָאָ֖רֶץ (the land), מַה־ (how) הִ֑וא (it is), וְאֶת־ (and) הָעָם֙ (the people) הַיֹּשֵׁ֣ב (dwelling) עָלֶ֔יהָ (in it), הֶחָזָ֥ק (whether strong) הוּא֙ (it is) הֲרָפֶ֔ה (or weak), הַמְעַ֥ט (few) ה֖וּא (it is) אִם־ (or) רָֽב׃ (many); 19  וּמָ֣ה (and how is) הָאָ֗רֶץ (the land) אֲשֶׁר־ (which) הוּא֙ (he) יֹשֵׁ֣ב (is dwelling) בָּ֔הּ (in it), הֲטוֹבָ֥ה (good) הִ֖וא (is it) אִם־ (or) רָעָ֑ה (bad); וּמָ֣ה (and how) הֶֽעָרִ֗ים (are the cities) אֲשֶׁר־ (which) הוּא֙ (he) יוֹשֵׁ֣ב (is dwelling) בָּהֵ֔נָּה (in them), הַבְּמַֽחֲנִ֖ים (in camps) אִ֥ם (or) בְּמִבְצָרִֽים׃ (in fortifications); 20  וּמָ֣ה (and how) הָ֠אָרֶץ (is the land), הַשְּׁמֵנָ֨ה (fat) הִ֜וא (is it) אִם־ (or) רָזָ֗ה (lean), הֲיֵֽשׁ־ (is there) בָּ֥הּ (in it) עֵץ֙ (wood) אִם־ (or) אַ֔יִן (not). וְהִ֨תְחַזַּקְתֶּ֔ם (And be of good courage), וּלְקַחְתֶּ֖ם (and bring some) מִפְּרִ֣י (of the fruit) הָאָ֑רֶץ (of the land). וְהַ֨יָּמִ֔ים (And the time was) יְמֵ֖י (the season) בִּכּוּרֵ֥י (of the firstfruits) עֲנָבִֽים׃ (of grapes).

21  וַֽיַּעֲל֖וּ (And they went up) וַיָּתֻ֣רוּ (and spied out) אֶת־ (-) הָאָ֑רֶץ (the land) מִמִּדְבַּר־ (from the Wilderness) צִ֥ן (of Zin) עַד־ (as far as) רְחֹ֖ב (Rehob), לְבֹ֥א (at the going in) חֲמָֽת׃ (to Hamath). 22  וַיַּעֲל֣וּ (And they went up) בַנֶּגֶב֮ (through the Negev) וַיָּבֹ֣א (and came) עַד־ (to) חֶבְרוֹן֒ (Hebron), וְשָׁ֤ם (and there) אֲחִימַן֙ (were Ahiman), שֵׁשַׁ֣י (Sheshai), וְתַלְמַ֔י (and Talmai)— יְלִידֵ֖י (those born) הָעֲנָ֑ק (of Anak). וְחֶבְר֗וֹן (And Hebron) שֶׁ֤בַע (seven) שָׁנִים֙ (years) נִבְנְתָ֔ה (was built) לִפְנֵ֖י (before) צֹ֥עַן (Zoan) מִצְרָֽיִם׃ (in Egypt).

23  וַיָּבֹ֜אוּ (And they came) עַד־ (and to) נַ֣חַל (the Valley) אֶשְׁכֹּ֗ל (of Eshcol), וַיִּכְרְת֨וּ (and they cut down) מִשָּׁ֤ם (there) זְמוֹרָה֙ (a branch with) וְאֶשְׁכּ֤וֹל (and a cluster) עֲנָבִים֙ (of grapes) אֶחָ֔ד (one), וַיִּשָּׂאֻ֥הוּ (and they carried it) בַמּ֖וֹט (on a pole) בִּשְׁנָ֑יִם (between two of them); וּמִן־ (and they also brought some) הָרִמֹּנִ֖ים (of the pomegranates) וּמִן־ (and) הַתְּאֵנִֽים׃ (figs). 24  לַמָּק֣וֹם (The place) הַה֔וּא (that) קָרָ֖א (was called) נַ֣חַל (the Valley) אֶשְׁכּ֑וֹל (of Eshcol), עַ֚ל (on) אֹד֣וֹת (account of) הָֽאֶשְׁכּ֔וֹל (of the cluster) אֲשֶׁר־ (that) כָּרְת֥וּ (cut down) מִשָּׁ֖ם (there) בְּנֵ֥י (the men) יִשְׂרָאֵֽל׃ (of Israel).

The Reports of the Spies

25  וַיָּשֻׁ֖בוּ (And they returned) מִתּ֣וּר (from spying out) הָאָ֑רֶץ (the land) מִקֵּ֖ץ (at the end of) אַרְבָּעִ֥ים (forty) יֽוֹם׃ (days). 26  וַיֵּלְכ֡וּ (And they departed) וַיָּבֹאוּ֩ (and came back) אֶל־ (to) מֹשֶׁ֨ה (Moses) וְאֶֽל־ (and) אַהֲרֹ֜ן (Aaron) וְאֶל־ (and) כָּל־ (all) עֲדַ֧ת (the congregation) בְּנֵֽי־ (of the sons) יִשְׂרָאֵ֛ל (of Israel) אֶל־ (in) מִדְבַּ֥ר (the Wilderness) פָּארָ֖ן (of Paran), קָדֵ֑שָׁה (at Kadesh). וַיָּשִׁ֨יבוּ (And they brought back) אוֹתָ֤ם (to them) דָּבָר֙ (word) וְאֶת־ (and) כָּל־ (to all) הָ֣עֵדָ֔ה (the congregation) וַיַּרְא֖וּם (and showed them) אֶת־ (-) פְּרִ֥י (the fruit) הָאָֽרֶץ׃ (of the land).

27  וַיְסַפְּרוּ־ (And they recounted) לוֹ֙ (to him) וַיֹּ֣אמְר֔וּ (and said), בָּ֕אנוּ (We went) אֶל־ (to) הָאָ֖רֶץ (the land) אֲשֶׁ֣ר (where) שְׁלַחְתָּ֑נוּ (you sent us), וְ֠גַם (and truly) זָבַ֨ת (is flowing) חָלָ֥ב (with milk) וּדְבַ֛שׁ (and honey) הִ֖וא (it); וְזֶה־ (and this is) פִּרְיָֽהּ׃ (its fruit)! 28  אֶ֚פֶס (Nevertheless) כִּֽי־ (indeed) עַ֣ז (are strong) הָעָ֔ם (the people) הַיֹּשֵׁ֖ב (who dwell) בָּאָ֑רֶץ (in the land), וְהֶֽעָרִ֗ים (and the cities) בְּצֻר֤וֹת (are fortified), גְּדֹלֹת֙ (and large) מְאֹ֔ד (very). וְגַם־ (And moreover) יְלִדֵ֥י (those born of) הָֽעֲנָ֖ק (of Anak) רָאִ֥ינוּ (we saw) שָֽׁם׃ (there). 29  עֲמָלֵ֥ק (The Amalekite) יוֹשֵׁ֖ב (dwell) בְּאֶ֣רֶץ (in the land) הַנֶּ֑גֶב (of the Negev); וְ֠הַֽחִתִּי (and the Hittite), וְהַיְבוּסִ֤י (and the Jebusite), וְהָֽאֱמֹרִי֙ (and the Amorite), יוֹשֵׁ֣ב (dwell) בָּהָ֔ר (in the hill country); וְהַֽכְּנַעֲנִי֙ (and the Canaanite) יֹשֵׁ֣ב (dwell) עַל־ (by) הַיָּ֔ם (the sea) וְעַ֖ל (and along) יַ֥ד (the banks) הַיַּרְדֵּֽן׃ (of the Jordan).

30  וַיַּ֧הַס (And quieted) כָּלֵ֛ב (Caleb) אֶת־ (-) הָעָ֖ם (the people) אֶל־ (before) מֹשֶׁ֑ה (Moses), וַיֹּ֗אמֶר (and said), עָלֹ֤ה (Going) נַעֲלֶה֙ (let us go up) וְיָרַ֣שְׁנוּ (and take possession) אֹתָ֔הּ (of it); כִּֽי־ (for) יָכ֥וֹל (prevailing) נוּכַ֖ל (we can prevail) לָֽהּ׃ (in it).

31  וְהָ֨אֲנָשִׁ֜ים (And the men) אֲשֶׁר־ (who) עָל֤וּ (had gone up) עִמּוֹ֙ (with him) אָֽמְר֔וּ (said), לֹ֥א (Not) נוּכַ֖ל (we are able) לַעֲל֣וֹת (to go up) אֶל־ (against) הָעָ֑ם (the people); כִּֽי־ (for) חָזָ֥ק (stronger) ה֖וּא (it is) מִמֶּֽנּוּ׃ (than we).

32  וַיּוֹצִ֜יאוּ (And they gave) דִּבַּ֤ת (a bad report) הָאָ֙רֶץ֙ (of the land) אֲשֶׁ֣ר (that) תָּר֣וּ (they had spied out) אֹתָ֔הּ (-) אֶל־ (unto) בְּנֵ֥י (the sons) יִשְׂרָאֵ֖ל (of Israel), לֵאמֹ֑ר (saying), הָאָ֡רֶץ (The land) אֲשֶׁר֩ (that) עָבַ֨רְנוּ (we have gone) בָ֜הּ (into) לָת֣וּר (as spies) אֹתָ֗הּ (-) אֶ֣רֶץ (a land) אֹכֶ֤לֶת (that devours) יוֹשְׁבֶ֙יהָ֙ (its dwellers) הִ֔וא (is), וְכָל־ (and all) הָעָ֛ם (the people) אֲשֶׁר־ (whom) רָאִ֥ינוּ (we saw) בְתוֹכָ֖הּ (in its midst) אַנְשֵׁ֥י (are men) מִדּֽוֹת׃ (of great stature). 33  וְשָׁ֣ם (And there) רָאִ֗ינוּ (we saw) אֶת־ (-) הַנְּפִילִ֛ים (the Nephilim), בְּנֵ֥י (the sons) עֲנָ֖ק (of Anak) מִן־ (from) הַנְּפִלִ֑ים (the Nephilim)! וַנְּהִ֤י (And we were) בְעֵינֵ֙ינוּ֙ (in our own sight) כַּֽחֲגָבִ֔ים (like grasshoppers); וְכֵ֥ן (and so) הָיִ֖ינוּ (we were) בְּעֵינֵיהֶֽם׃ (in their eyes).