Introduction
After the Israelites receive the law, they eventually approach the promised land of Canaan.
Questions
1. What is God's intention to do with the land that they are to spy out?
v 2 Send men, that they may spy out the land of Canaan, which I give to the children of Israel. ...
2. What does Moses tell the spies to look at?
v 18 to 20 See the land, what it is ; and the people who dwell therein, whether they are strong or weak, whether they are few or many; and what the land is that they dwell in, whether it is good or bad; and what cities they are that they dwell in, whether in camps, or in strongholds; and what the land is, whether it is fertile or poor, whether there is wood therein, or not. ...
3. Why do most of the spies think they shouldn't go into the land?
v 28 and 29 ... the people who dwell in the land are strong, and the cities are fortified and very large. Moreover, we saw the children of Anak there. Amalek dwells in the land of the South. The Hittite, the Jebusite, and the Amorite dwell in the hill country. The Canaanite dwells by the sea, and along the side of the Jordan.”
Summary Points
- v 1 and 2 The LORD tells Moses to send spies from the Wilderness of Paran into Canaan which he intends to give the Israelites
- v 3 to 20 Moses sends one man from each of the twelve tribes to see what the promised land is like
- v 21 to 24 The spies see the inhabitants of the land and its fertility
v 25 to 33 After 40 days the twelve spies return. Most of them report that, although it is a fertile land, they can’t overcome the current inhabitants