21 So they went up and scouted out the land from the Wilderness of Zin[a] as far as Rehob near the entrance to Hamath.[b] 22 They went up through the Negev and came to Hebron, where Ahiman, Sheshai, and Talmai, the descendants of Anak,(A) were living. Hebron was built seven years before Zoan(B) in Egypt. 23 When they came to Eshcol(C) Valley, they cut down a branch with a single cluster of grapes, which was carried on a pole by two men. They also took some pomegranates and figs.(D) 24 That place was called Eshcol[c] Valley because of the cluster of grapes the Israelites cut there. 25 At the end of forty days(E) they returned from scouting out the land.

Report about Canaan

26 The men went back to Moses, Aaron, and the entire Israelite community in the Wilderness of Paran at Kadesh. They brought back a report for them and the whole community, and they showed them the fruit of the land.(F) 27 They reported to Moses, “We went into the land where you sent us. Indeed it is flowing with milk and honey,(G) and here is some of its fruit. 28 However, the people living in the land are strong, and the cities are large and fortified.(H) We also saw the descendants of Anak(I) there. 29 The Amalekites(J) are living in the land of the Negev; the Hethites, Jebusites, and Amorites live in the hill country; and the Canaanites live by the sea and along the Jordan.”

30 Then Caleb(K) quieted the people in the presence of Moses and said, “Let’s go up now and take possession of the land because we can certainly conquer it!”

31 But the men who had gone up with him responded, “We can’t attack the people because they are stronger than we are!” 32 So they gave a negative report to the Israelites about the land they had scouted: “The land we passed through to explore is one that devours its inhabitants, and all the people we saw in it are men of great size.

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Footnotes

  1. 13:21 Southern border of the promised land
  2. 13:21 Or near Lebo-hamath
  3. 13:24 = Cluster

21 So they went up and explored the land from the Desert of Zin(A) as far as Rehob,(B) toward Lebo Hamath.(C) 22 They went up through the Negev and came to Hebron,(D) where Ahiman, Sheshai and Talmai,(E) the descendants of Anak,(F) lived. (Hebron had been built seven years before Zoan in Egypt.)(G) 23 When they reached the Valley of Eshkol,[a](H) they cut off a branch bearing a single cluster of grapes. Two of them carried it on a pole between them, along with some pomegranates(I) and figs.(J) 24 That place was called the Valley of Eshkol because of the cluster of grapes the Israelites cut off there. 25 At the end of forty days(K) they returned from exploring the land.(L)

Report on the Exploration

26 They came back to Moses and Aaron and the whole Israelite community at Kadesh(M) in the Desert of Paran.(N) There they reported to them(O) and to the whole assembly and showed them the fruit of the land.(P) 27 They gave Moses this account: “We went into the land to which you sent us, and it does flow with milk and honey!(Q) Here is its fruit.(R) 28 But the people who live there are powerful, and the cities are fortified and very large.(S) We even saw descendants of Anak(T) there.(U) 29 The Amalekites(V) live in the Negev; the Hittites,(W) Jebusites(X) and Amorites(Y) live in the hill country;(Z) and the Canaanites(AA) live near the sea and along the Jordan.(AB)

30 Then Caleb(AC) silenced the people before Moses and said, “We should go up and take possession of the land, for we can certainly do it.”

31 But the men who had gone up with him said, “We can’t attack those people; they are stronger than we are.”(AD) 32 And they spread among the Israelites a bad report(AE) about the land they had explored. They said, “The land we explored devours(AF) those living in it. All the people we saw there are of great size.(AG)

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Footnotes

  1. Numbers 13:23 Eshkol means cluster; also in verse 24.

28 “At the end of every three years, bring a tenth of all your produce for that year and store it within your city gates. 29 Then the Levite, who has no portion or inheritance among you, the resident alien, the fatherless, and the widow within your city gates may come, eat, and be satisfied.(A) And the Lord your God will bless you in all the work of your hands that you do.(B)

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28 At the end of every three years, bring all the tithes(A) of that year’s produce and store it in your towns,(B) 29 so that the Levites (who have no allotment(C) or inheritance(D) of their own) and the foreigners,(E) the fatherless and the widows who live in your towns may come and eat and be satisfied,(F) and so that the Lord your God may bless(G) you in all the work of your hands.

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The Tenth in the Third Year

12 “When you have finished paying all the tenth of your produce in the third year,(A) the year of the tenth, you are to give it to the Levites, resident aliens, fatherless children, and widows, so that they may eat in your towns and be satisfied. 13 Then you will say in the presence of the Lord your God:

I have taken the consecrated portion out of my house; I have also given it to the Levites, resident aliens, fatherless children, and widows, according to all the commands you gave me. I have not violated or forgotten your commands. 14 I have not eaten any of it while in mourning, or removed any of it while unclean, or offered any of it for the dead.(B) I have obeyed the Lord my God; I have done all you commanded me. 15 Look down from your holy dwelling, from heaven, and bless your people Israel and the land you have given us as you swore to our ancestors, a land flowing with milk and honey.

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12 When you have finished setting aside a tenth(A) of all your produce in the third year, the year of the tithe,(B) you shall give it to the Levite, the foreigner, the fatherless and the widow, so that they may eat in your towns and be satisfied. 13 Then say to the Lord your God: “I have removed from my house the sacred portion and have given it to the Levite, the foreigner, the fatherless and the widow, according to all you commanded. I have not turned aside from your commands nor have I forgotten any of them.(C) 14 I have not eaten any of the sacred portion while I was in mourning, nor have I removed any of it while I was unclean,(D) nor have I offered any of it to the dead. I have obeyed the Lord my God; I have done everything you commanded me. 15 Look down from heaven,(E) your holy dwelling place, and bless(F) your people Israel and the land you have given us as you promised on oath to our ancestors, a land flowing with milk and honey.”

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