Numbers 13:1-20

1The Lord now said to Moses,

2“Send out men to explore the land of Canaan, the land I am giving to the Israelites. Send one leader from each of the twelve ancestral tribes.”

3So Moses did as the Lord commanded him. He sent out twelve men, all tribal leaders of Israel, from their camp in the wilderness of Paran.

4These were the tribes and the names of their leaders: Reuben Shammua son of Zaccur

5Simeon Shaphat son of Hori

6Judah Caleb son of Jephunneh

7Issachar Igal son of Joseph

8Ephraim Hoshea son of Nun

9Benjamin Palti son of Raphu

10Zebulun Gaddiel son of Sodi

11Manasseh son of Joseph Gaddi son of Susi

12Dan Ammiel son of Gemalli

13Asher Sethur son of Michael

14Naphtali Nahbi son of Vophsi

15Gad Geuel son of Maki

16These are the names of the men Moses sent out to explore the land. (Moses called Hoshea son of Nun by the name Joshua.)

17Moses gave the men these instructions as he sent them out to explore the land: “Go north through the Negev into the hill country.

18See what the land is like, and find out whether the people living there are strong or weak, few or many.

19See what kind of land they live in. Is it good or bad? Do their towns have walls, or are they unprotected like open camps?

20Is the soil fertile or poor? Are there many trees? Do your best to bring back samples of the crops you see.” (It happened to be the season for harvesting the first ripe grapes.)