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<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "//www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"><html xmlns="//www.w3.org/1999/xhtml"><head><meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=utf-8" /><meta name="viewport" content="width=device-width, initial-scale=1" /><title>Numbers 13:17 When Moses sent them to spy out the land of Canaan, he told them, "Go up through the Negev and into the hill country.</title><link rel="canonical" href="https://biblehub.com/numbers/13-17.htm" /><link rel="stylesheet" href="/new9.css" type="text/css" media="Screen" /><meta property="og:image" content="https://biblehub.com/visuals/8/04_Num_13_17.jpg" /><meta property="og:title" content="Numbers 13:17 - The Spies Explore Canaan" /><meta property="og:site_name" content="Bible Hub" /><meta property="og:description" content="When Moses sent them to spy out the land of Canaan, he told them, Go up through the Negev and into the hill country." /><script type="application/javascript" src="https://scripts.webcontentassessor.com/scripts/8a2459b64f9cac8122fc7f2eac4409c8555fac9383016db59c4c26e3d5b8b157"></script><script src='https://qd.admetricspro.com/js/biblehub/biblehub-layout-loader-revcatch.js'></script><script id='HyDgbd_1s' src='https://prebidads.revcatch.com/ads.js' type='text/javascript' async></script><script>(function(w,d,b,s,i){var cts=d.createElement(s);cts.async=true;cts.id='catchscript'; 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then go up into the hill country.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nasb/numbers/13.htm">NASB 1995</a></span><br />When Moses sent them to spy out the land of Canaan, he said to them, &#8220Go up there into the Negev; then go up into the hill country.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nasb77/numbers/13.htm">NASB 1977 </a></span><br />When Moses sent them to spy out the land of Canaan, he said to them, “Go up there into the Negev; then go up into the hill country.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/lsb/numbers/13.htm">Legacy Standard Bible </a></span><br />So Moses sent them to spy out the land of Canaan and said to them, “Go up there into the Negev; then go up into the hill country.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/amp/numbers/13.htm">Amplified Bible</a></span><br />Moses sent them to spy out the land of Canaan, and said to them, “Go up this way into the Negev (the South country); then go up into the hill country.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/csb/numbers/13.htm">Christian Standard Bible</a></span><br />When Moses sent them to scout out the land of Canaan, he told them, “Go up this way to the Negev, then go up into the hill country.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/hcsb/numbers/13.htm">Holman Christian Standard Bible</a></span><br />When Moses sent them to scout out the land of Canaan, he told them, &#8220Go up this way to the Negev, then go up into the hill country. <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/asv/numbers/13.htm">American Standard Version</a></span><br />And Moses sent them to spy out the land of Canaan, and said unto them, Get you up this way by the South, and go up into the hill-country:<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/cev/numbers/13.htm">Contemporary English Version</a></span><br />Before Moses sent them into Canaan, he said: After you go through the Southern Desert of Canaan, continue north into the hill country <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/erv/numbers/13.htm">English Revised Version</a></span><br />And Moses sent them to spy out the land of Canaan, and said unto them, Get you up this way by the South, and go up into the mountains:<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/gwt/numbers/13.htm">GOD'S WORD® Translation</a></span><br />When Moses sent them to explore Canaan, he told them, "Go through the Negev and then into the mountain region.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/gnt/numbers/13.htm">Good News Translation</a></span><br />When Moses sent them out, he said to them, "Go north from here into the southern part of the land of Canaan and then on into the hill country. <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/isv/numbers/13.htm">International Standard Version</a></span><br />Then he sent them out to explore the land of Canaan. He instructed them, "Go up from here through the Negev, then ascend to the hill country. <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/msb/numbers/13.htm">Majority Standard Bible</a></span><br />When Moses sent them to spy out the land of Canaan, he told them, ?Go up through the Negev and into the hill country.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/net/numbers/13.htm">NET Bible</a></span><br />When Moses sent them to investigate the land of Canaan, he told them, "Go up through the Negev, and then go up into the hill country<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nheb/numbers/13.htm">New Heart English Bible</a></span><br />Moses sent them to spy out the land of Canaan, and said to them, "Go up this way by the Negev, and go up into the hill country:<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/wbt/numbers/13.htm">Webster's Bible Translation</a></span><br />And Moses sent them to explore the land of Canaan, and said to them, Go ye up this way southward, and ascend the mountain:<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/web/numbers/13.htm">World English Bible</a></span><br />Moses sent them to spy out the land of Canaan, and said to them, “Go up this way by the South, and go up into the hill country. <div class="vheading2"><b>Literal Translations</b></div><span class="versiontext"><a href="/lsv/numbers/13.htm">Literal Standard Version</a></span><br />And Moses sends them to spy out the land of Canaan and says to them, “Go up this [way] into the south, and you have gone up the mountain,<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/ylt/numbers/13.htm">Young's Literal Translation</a></span><br /> And Moses sendeth them to spy the land of Canaan, and saith unto them, 'Go ye up this way into the south, and ye have gone up the mountain,<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/slt/numbers/13.htm">Smith's Literal Translation</a></span><br />And Moses will send them to search out the land of Canaan, and will say to them, Go ye up hither to the south and ascend the mountain,<div class="vheading2"><b>Catholic Translations</b></div><span class="versiontext"><a href="/drb/numbers/13.htm">Douay-Rheims Bible</a></span><br />And Moses sent them to view the land of Chanaan, and said to them: Go you up by the south side. And when you shall come to the mountains, <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/cpdv/numbers/13.htm">Catholic Public Domain Version</a></span><br /><V 13:18> And so, Moses sent them to examine the land of Canaan, and he said to them: “Ascend by the south side. And when you arrive at the mountains,<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nabre/numbers/13.htm">New American Bible</a></span><br />In sending them to reconnoiter the land of Canaan, Moses said to them, “Go up there in the Negeb, up into the highlands,<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nrsvce/numbers/13.htm">New Revised Standard Version</a></span><br />Moses sent them to spy out the land of Canaan, and said to them, “Go up there into the Negeb, and go up into the hill country,<div class="vheading2"><b>Translations from Aramaic</b></div><span class="versiontext"><a href="/lamsa/numbers/13.htm">Lamsa Bible</a></span><br />And Moses sent them to spy out the land of Canaan, and said to them, Go up this way into the south, and go up on the mountain<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/hpbt/numbers/13.htm">Peshitta Holy Bible Translated</a></span><br />And Moshe sent them to spy the land of Canaan and said to them: “Come up in this way to the south and go up the mountain:<div class="vheading2"><b>OT Translations</b></div><span class="versiontext"><a href="/jps/numbers/13.htm">JPS Tanakh 1917</a></span><br />And Moses sent them to spy out the land of Canaan, and said unto them: 'Get you up here into the South, and go up into the mountains;<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/sep/numbers/13.htm">Brenton Septuagint Translation</a></span><br />And Moses sent them to spy out the land of Chanaan, and said to them, Go up by this wilderness; and ye shall go up to the mountain,<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/parallel/numbers/13-17.htm">Additional Translations ...</a></span></div></div></div><div id="centbox"><div class="padcent"><a name="audio" id="audio"></a><div class="vheadingv"><b>Audio Bible</b></div><iframe width="100%" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/yauBFvKLNNo?start=4090" title="YouTube video player" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowfullscreen></iframe><span class="p"><br /><br /><br /></span><div class="vheadingv"><b>Context</b></div><span class="hdg"><a href="/bsb/numbers/13.htm">The Spies Explore Canaan</a></span><br>…<span class="reftext">16</span>These were the names of the men Moses sent to spy out the land; and Moses gave to Hoshea son of Nun the name Joshua. <span class="reftext">17</span><span class="highl"><a href="/hebrew/4872.htm" title="4872: mō·šeh (N-proper-ms) -- A great Isr. leader, prophet and lawgiver. From mashah; drawing out, i.e. Rescued; Mosheh, the Israelite lawgiver.">When Moses</a> <a href="/hebrew/7971.htm" title="7971: way·yiš·laḥ (Conj-w:: V-Qal-ConsecImperf-3ms) -- To send. A primitive root; to send away, for, or out.">sent</a> <a href="/hebrew/853.htm" title="853: ’ō·ṯām (DirObjM:: 3mp) -- Apparent contracted from 'owth in the demonstrative sense of entity; properly, self.">them</a> <a href="/hebrew/8446.htm" title="8446: lā·ṯūr (Prep-l:: V-Qal-Inf) -- To seek out, spy out, explore. A primitive root; to meander about, especially for trade or reconnoitring.">to spy out</a> <a href="/hebrew/853.htm" title="853: ’eṯ- (DirObjM) -- Apparent contracted from 'owth in the demonstrative sense of entity; properly, self."></a> <a href="/hebrew/776.htm" title="776: ’e·reṣ (N-fsc) -- Earth, land. From an unused root probably meaning to be firm; the earth.">the land</a> <a href="/hebrew/3667.htm" title="3667: kə·nā·‘an (N-proper-ms) -- From kana'; humiliated; Kenaan, a son a Ham; also the country inhabited by him.">of Canaan,</a> <a href="/hebrew/559.htm" title="559: way·yō·mer (Conj-w:: V-Qal-ConsecImperf-3ms) -- To utter, say. A primitive root; to say.">he told</a> <a href="/hebrew/413.htm" title="413: ’ă·lê·hem (Prep:: 3mp) -- To, into, towards. ">them,</a> <a href="/hebrew/5927.htm" title="5927: ‘ă·lū (V-Qal-Imp-mp) -- A primitive root; to ascend, intransitively or actively; used in a great variety of senses, primary and secondary, literal and figurative.">“Go up</a> <a href="/hebrew/2088.htm" title="2088: zeh (Pro-ms) -- This, here. A primitive word; the masculine demonstrative pronoun, this or that."></a> <a href="/hebrew/5045.htm" title="5045: ban·ne·ḡeḇ (Prep-b, Art:: N-proper-fs) -- From an unused root meaning to be parched; the south; specifically, the Negeb or southern district of Judah, occasionally, Egypt.">through the Negev</a> <a href="/hebrew/5927.htm" title="5927: wa·‘ă·lî·ṯem (Conj-w:: V-Qal-ConjPerf-2mp) -- A primitive root; to ascend, intransitively or actively; used in a great variety of senses, primary and secondary, literal and figurative.">and</a> <a href="/hebrew/853.htm" title="853: ’eṯ- (DirObjM) -- Apparent contracted from 'owth in the demonstrative sense of entity; properly, self."></a> <a href="/hebrew/2022.htm" title="2022: hā·hār (Art:: N-ms) -- Mountain, hill, hill country. A shortened form of harar; a mountain or range of hills.">into the hill country.</a> </span><span class="reftext">18</span>See what the land is like and whether its people are strong or weak, few or many.…<div class="cred"><a href="//berean.bible">Berean Standard Bible</a> · <a href="//berean.bible/downloads.htm">Download</a></div><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a name="crossref" id="crossref"></a><div class="vheading">Cross References</div><div id="crf"><span class="crossverse"><a href="/deuteronomy/1-22.htm">Deuteronomy 1:22-25</a></span><br />Then all of you approached me and said, “Let us send men ahead of us to search out the land and bring us word of what route to follow and which cities to enter.” / The plan seemed good to me, so I selected twelve men from among you, one from each tribe. / They left and went up into the hill country, and came to the Valley of Eshcol and spied out the land. ...<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/joshua/2-1.htm">Joshua 2:1-24</a></span><br />Then Joshua son of Nun secretly sent two spies from Shittim, saying, “Go, inspect the land, especially Jericho.” So they went and entered the house of a prostitute named Rahab and stayed there. / And it was reported to the king of Jericho: “Behold, some men of Israel have come here tonight to spy out the land.” / So the king of Jericho sent to Rahab and said, “Bring out the men who came to you and entered your house, for they have come to spy out the whole land.” ...<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/hebrews/11-1.htm">Hebrews 11:1-2</a></span><br />Now faith is the assurance of what we hope for and the certainty of what we do not see. / This is why the ancients were commended.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/joshua/14-7.htm">Joshua 14:7-8</a></span><br />I was forty years old when Moses the servant of the LORD sent me from Kadesh-barnea to spy out the land, and I brought back to him an honest report. / Although my brothers who went with me made the hearts of the people melt with fear, I remained loyal to the LORD my God.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/deuteronomy/9-23.htm">Deuteronomy 9:23</a></span><br />And when the LORD sent you out from Kadesh-barnea, He said, “Go up and possess the land that I have given you.” But you rebelled against the command of the LORD your God. You neither believed Him nor obeyed Him.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/hebrews/3-16.htm">Hebrews 3:16-19</a></span><br />For who were the ones who heard and rebelled? Were they not all those Moses led out of Egypt? / And with whom was God angry for forty years? Was it not with those who sinned, whose bodies fell in the wilderness? / And to whom did He swear that they would never enter His rest? Was it not to those who disobeyed? ...<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/deuteronomy/31-7.htm">Deuteronomy 31:7-8</a></span><br />Then Moses called for Joshua and said to him in the presence of all Israel, “Be strong and courageous, for you will go with this people into the land that the LORD swore to their fathers to give them, and you shall give it to them as an inheritance. / The LORD Himself goes before you; He will be with you. He will never leave you nor forsake you. Do not be afraid or discouraged.”<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/joshua/18-3.htm">Joshua 18:3-4</a></span><br />So Joshua said to the Israelites, “How long will you put off entering and possessing the land that the LORD, the God of your fathers, has given you? / Appoint three men from each tribe, and I will send them out to survey the land and map it out, according to the inheritance of each. Then they will return to me<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/1_samuel/26-4.htm">1 Samuel 26:4</a></span><br />David sent out spies to verify that Saul had arrived.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/matthew/10-16.htm">Matthew 10:16</a></span><br />Behold, I am sending you out like sheep among wolves; therefore be as shrewd as snakes and as innocent as doves.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/john/7-24.htm">John 7:24</a></span><br />Stop judging by outward appearances, and start judging justly.”<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/acts/13-17.htm">Acts 13:17-19</a></span><br />The God of the people of Israel chose our fathers. He made them into a great people during their stay in Egypt, and with an uplifted arm He led them out of that land. / He endured their conduct for about forty years in the wilderness. / And having vanquished seven nations in Canaan, He gave their land to His people as an inheritance.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/1_corinthians/10-5.htm">1 Corinthians 10:5-11</a></span><br />Nevertheless, God was not pleased with most of them, for they were struck down in the wilderness. / These things took place as examples to keep us from craving evil things as they did. / Do not be idolaters, as some of them were. As it is written: “The people sat down to eat and drink and got up to indulge in revelry.” ...<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/romans/8-31.htm">Romans 8:31</a></span><br />What then shall we say in response to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us?<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/2_corinthians/5-7.htm">2 Corinthians 5:7</a></span><br />For we walk by faith, not by sight.</div><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a name="tsk" id="tsk"><div class="vheading">Treasury of Scripture</div><p class="tsk2">And Moses sent them to spy out the land of Canaan, and said to them, Get you up this way southward, and go up into the mountain:</p><p class="hdg">southward</p><p class="tskverse"><b><a href="/numbers/13-21.htm">Numbers 13:21,22</a></b></br> So they went up, and searched the land from the wilderness of Zin unto Rehob, as men come to Hamath… </p><p class="tskverse"><b><a href="/genesis/12-9.htm">Genesis 12:9</a></b></br> And Abram journeyed, going on still toward the south.</p><p class="tskverse"><b><a href="/genesis/13-1.htm">Genesis 13:1</a></b></br> And Abram went up out of Egypt, he, and his wife, and all that he had, and Lot with him, into the south.</p><p class="hdg">the mountain</p><p class="tskverse"><b><a href="/numbers/14-40.htm">Numbers 14:40</a></b></br> And they rose up early in the morning, and gat them up into the top of the mountain, saying, Lo, we <i>be here</i>, and will go up unto the place which the LORD hath promised: for we have sinned.</p><p class="tskverse"><b><a href="/genesis/14-10.htm">Genesis 14:10</a></b></br> And the vale of Siddim <i>was full of</i> slimepits; and the kings of Sodom and Gomorrah fled, and fell there; and they that remained fled to the mountain.</p><p class="tskverse"><b><a href="/deuteronomy/1-44.htm">Deuteronomy 1:44</a></b></br> And the Amorites, which dwelt in that mountain, came out against you, and chased you, as bees do, and destroyed you in Seir, <i>even</i> unto Hormah.</p><div class="vheading">Jump to Previous</div><a href="/leviticus/17-8.htm">Ascend</a> <a href="/numbers/13-2.htm">Canaan</a> <a href="/numbers/9-14.htm">Country</a> <a href="/numbers/13-16.htm">Explore</a> <a href="/exodus/24-4.htm">Hill</a> <a href="/genesis/36-9.htm">Hill-Country</a> <a href="/numbers/13-16.htm">Search</a> <a href="/numbers/10-6.htm">South</a> <a href="/numbers/3-29.htm">Southward</a> <a href="/numbers/13-16.htm">Spy</a> <a href="/numbers/11-34.htm">Way</a> <a href="/genesis/24-65.htm">Yonder</a><div class="vheading2">Jump to Next</div><a href="/numbers/27-12.htm">Ascend</a> <a href="/numbers/26-19.htm">Canaan</a> <a href="/numbers/13-29.htm">Country</a> <a href="/numbers/14-36.htm">Explore</a> <a href="/numbers/13-29.htm">Hill</a> <a href="/numbers/14-45.htm">Hill-Country</a> <a href="/numbers/13-32.htm">Search</a> <a href="/numbers/13-22.htm">South</a> <a href="/numbers/34-4.htm">Southward</a> <a href="/numbers/13-21.htm">Spy</a> <a href="/numbers/13-21.htm">Way</a> <a href="/numbers/16-37.htm">Yonder</a><div class="vheading2">Numbers 13</div><span class="reftext">1. </span><span class="outlinetext"><a href="/numbers/13-1.htm">The names of the men who were sent to search the land</a></span><br><span class="reftext">17. </span><span class="outlinetext"><a href="/numbers/13-17.htm">Their instructions</a></span><br><span class="reftext">21. </span><span class="outlinetext"><a href="/numbers/13-21.htm">Their acts</a></span><br><span class="reftext">26. </span><span class="outlinetext"><a href="/numbers/13-26.htm">Their relation</a></span><br></div></div><div id="mdd"><div align="center"><div class="bot2"><table align="center" width="100%"><tr><td><div align="center"> <script id="3d27ed63fc4348d5b062c4527ae09445"> (new Image()).src = 'https://capi.connatix.com/tr/si?token=51ce25d5-1a8c-424a-8695-4bd48c750f35&cid=3a9f82d0-4344-4f8d-ac0c-e1a0eb43a405'; 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Moses, as the leader appointed by God, sends twelve spies, one from each tribe, to explore Canaan. This mission is a direct response to God's promise to give this land to the descendants of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob (<a href="/genesis/12-7.htm">Genesis 12:7</a>). The act of sending spies reflects a common ancient Near Eastern practice of reconnaissance before military action. It also highlights the tension between faith in God's promise and the human need for assurance.<p><b>he told them, “Go up through the Negev</b><br>The Negev is a desert region in the southern part of modern-day Israel. It serves as the gateway to Canaan from the south. This instruction indicates a strategic approach, as the Negev was a less fortified area compared to other parts of Canaan. The Negev's harsh environment would test the spies' endurance and faith, symbolizing the challenges Israel would face in trusting God's provision.<p><b>and into the hill country.</b><br>The hill country refers to the central mountainous region of Canaan, known for its fertile land and strategic military advantage. This area includes significant biblical sites such as Hebron, which is associated with the patriarchs Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. The hill country was inhabited by strong Canaanite tribes, including the Anakim, known for their formidable stature (<a href="/numbers/13-28.htm">Numbers 13:28, 33</a>). This instruction underscores the importance of assessing both the land's resources and the strength of its inhabitants. The hill country later becomes a key area in Israel's conquest under Joshua, fulfilling God's promise of a land flowing with milk and honey (<a href="/exodus/3-8.htm">Exodus 3:8</a>).<div class="vheading2">Persons / Places / Events</div>1. <b><a href="/topical/m/moses.htm">Moses</a></b><br>The leader of the Israelites, chosen by God to lead His people out of Egypt and through the wilderness. In this passage, Moses is giving instructions to the spies.<br><br>2. <b><a href="/topical/t/the_spies.htm">The Spies</a></b><br>A group of twelve men, one from each tribe of Israel, sent by Moses to scout the land of Canaan, which God had promised to the Israelites.<br><br>3. <b><a href="/topical/t/the_land_of_canaan.htm">The Land of Canaan</a></b><br>The Promised Land, a region that God had promised to Abraham and his descendants. It represents God's faithfulness and the fulfillment of His promises.<br><br>4. <b><a href="/topical/t/the_negev.htm">The Negev</a></b><br>A desert region in the southern part of Canaan. The spies were instructed to pass through this area as part of their reconnaissance mission.<br><br>5. <b><a href="/topical/t/the_hill_country.htm">The Hill Country</a></b><br>A region of elevated terrain in Canaan. The spies were to explore this area to assess the land and its inhabitants.<div class="vheading2">Teaching Points</div><b><a href="/topical/o/obedience_to_leadership.htm">Obedience to Leadership</a></b><br>Moses, as God's appointed leader, gave clear instructions to the spies. This highlights the importance of following godly leadership and the guidance of those whom God has placed in authority.<br><br><b><a href="/topical/f/faith_in_god's_promises.htm">Faith in God's Promises</a></b><br>The mission to spy out Canaan was rooted in the promise God made to Abraham. Believers today are called to trust in God's promises, even when the path seems uncertain.<br><br><b><a href="/topical/p/preparation_and_strategy.htm">Preparation and Strategy</a></b><br>The detailed instructions given to the spies underscore the importance of preparation and strategic planning in fulfilling God's purposes. Believers should seek God's wisdom in planning and decision-making.<br><br><b><a href="/topical/c/courage_in_the_face_of_challenges.htm">Courage in the Face of Challenges</a></b><br>The spies were entering unknown and potentially hostile territory. This calls for courage and reliance on God's strength when facing life's challenges.<br><br><b><a href="/topical/t/the_role_of_community.htm">The Role of Community</a></b><br>The spies represented the twelve tribes, emphasizing the importance of community and collective responsibility in pursuing God's promises.<div class="vheading2">Lists and Questions</div><a href="/top10/lessons_from_numbers_13.htm">Top 10 Lessons from Numbers 13</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="/q/what_are_key_events_in_joshua's_life.htm">What are key events in Joshua's life?</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="/q/summarize_joshua's_life_and_leadership..htm">What is the summary of Joshua's life and leadership?</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="/q/what_did_the_spies_report_on_canaan.htm">What did the twelve spies report about Canaan?</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="/q/what's_the_negev's_biblical_role.htm">What is the Negev's biblical significance?</a><a name="commentary" id="commentary"></a><div class="vheading2"><a href="/commentaries/ellicott/numbers/13.htm">Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers</a></div>(17) <span class= "bld">Get you up this way southward.--</span>Rather, <span class= "ital">by the Negeb, </span>or <span class= "ital">south country </span>(comp. <a href="/numbers/13-22.htm" title="And they ascended by the south, and came to Hebron; where Ahiman, Sheshai, and Talmai, the children of Anak, were. (Now Hebron was built seven years before Zoan in Egypt.)">Numbers 13:22</a>). The southern part of Palestine was known by the name of <span class= "ital">the Negeb. </span>It formed the transition from the desert to the more highly cultivated land, and was more fitted for grazing than for agricultural purposes. (See Wilton's <span class= "ital">The Negeb</span>.)<p><span class= "bld">Into the mountain.--</span>The word which is here used commonly denotes the hill country, <span class= "ital">i.e., </span>the mountainous part of Palestine, which was inhabited by the Hittites, Jebusites, and Amorites. It is called "the mount of the Amorites" in <a href="/deuteronomy/1-7.htm" title="Turn you, and take your journey, and go to the mount of the Amorites, and to all the places near thereunto, in the plain, in the hills, and in the vale, and in the south, and by the sea side, to the land of the Canaanites, and to Lebanon, to the great river, the river Euphrates.">Deuteronomy 1:7</a>, inasmuch as the Amorites were the strongest of the Canaanite tribes. The same word is rendered "the mountains" in <a href="/numbers/13-29.htm" title="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</a>. The reference here, however, may be to the particular mountain which was nearest to the encampment of the Israelites (see <a href="/numbers/14-40.htm" title="And they rose up early in the morning, and got them up into the top of the mountain, saying, See, we be here, and will go up to the place which the LORD has promised: for we have sinned.">Numbers 14:40</a>).<p><div class="vheading2"><a href="/commentaries/pulpit/numbers/13.htm">Pulpit Commentary</a></div><span class="cmt_sub_title">Verse 17.</span> - <span class="cmt_word">Get</span> <span class="cmt_word">you up this way</span> <span class="cmt_word">southward.</span> Rather, "get you up there (<span class="hebrew">זֶה</span>) in the Negeb." The Negeb, meaning literally "the dryness," was the south-western district of Canaan, which bordered upon the desert, and partook more or less of its character. Except where springs existed, and irrigation could be carried out, it was unfit for settled habitation. See <a href="/joshua/15-19.htm">Joshua 15:19</a>; <a href="/judges/1-15.htm">Judges 1:15</a>, where the same word is used. Go up into the mountain. From the Negeb they were to make their way into the mountain or hill country which formed the back-bone of Southern Palestine, from the Wady Murreh on the south to the plain of Esdraelon on the north. In after ages it formed the permanent center of the Jewish race and Jewish power. Cf. <a href="/judges/1-9.htm">Judges 1:9</a> where the three natural divisions of Southern Palestine are mentioned together: <span class="hebrew">חָהָר</span> (<span class="greek">ἡ ὀρεινή</span>), the mountain; <span class="hebrew">הַגֶּגֶב</span> (<span class="greek">ὁ Νότος</span>), the steppe; <span class="hebrew">הַשְּׁפֵלָה</span> (<span class="greek">ἡ πεδινή</span>), the maritime plain. <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/commentaries/numbers/13-17.htm">Parallel Commentaries ...</a></span><span class="p"><br /><br /><br /></span><a name="lexicon" id="lexicon"></a><div class="vheading">Hebrew</div><span class="word">When Moses</span><br /><span class="heb">מֹשֶׁ֔ה</span> <span class="translit">(mō·šeh)</span><br /><span class="parse">Noun - proper - masculine singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_4872.htm">Strong's 4872: </a> </span><span class="str2">Moses -- a great Israelite leader, prophet and lawgiver</span><br /><br /><span class="word">sent</span><br /><span class="heb">וַיִּשְׁלַ֤ח</span> <span class="translit">(way·yiš·laḥ)</span><br /><span class="parse">Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_7971.htm">Strong's 7971: </a> </span><span class="str2">To send away, for, out</span><br /><br /><span class="word">them</span><br /><span class="heb">אֹתָם֙</span> <span class="translit">(’ō·ṯām)</span><br /><span class="parse">Direct object marker | third person masculine plural<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_853.htm">Strong's 853: </a> </span><span class="str2">Untranslatable mark of the accusative case</span><br /><br /><span class="word">to spy out</span><br /><span class="heb">לָת֖וּר</span> <span class="translit">(lā·ṯūr)</span><br /><span class="parse">Preposition-l | Verb - Qal - Infinitive construct<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_8446.htm">Strong's 8446: </a> </span><span class="str2">To meander, about, for, trade, reconnoitring</span><br /><br /><span class="word">the land</span><br /><span class="heb">אֶ֣רֶץ</span> <span class="translit">(’e·reṣ)</span><br /><span class="parse">Noun - feminine singular construct<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_776.htm">Strong's 776: </a> </span><span class="str2">Earth, land</span><br /><br /><span class="word">of Canaan,</span><br /><span class="heb">כְּנָ֑עַן</span> <span class="translit">(kə·nā·‘an)</span><br /><span class="parse">Noun - proper - masculine singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_3667.htm">Strong's 3667: </a> </span><span class="str2">Canaan -- a son of Ham, also his descendants and their land West of the Jordan</span><br /><br /><span class="word">he told</span><br /><span class="heb">וַיֹּ֣אמֶר</span> <span class="translit">(way·yō·mer)</span><br /><span class="parse">Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_559.htm">Strong's 559: </a> </span><span class="str2">To utter, say</span><br /><br /><span class="word">them,</span><br /><span class="heb">אֲלֵהֶ֗ם</span> <span class="translit">(’ă·lê·hem)</span><br /><span class="parse">Preposition | third person masculine plural<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_413.htm">Strong's 413: </a> </span><span class="str2">Near, with, among, to</span><br /><br /><span class="word">“Go up</span><br /><span class="heb">עֲל֥וּ</span> <span class="translit">(‘ă·lū)</span><br /><span class="parse">Verb - Qal - Imperative - masculine plural<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_5927.htm">Strong's 5927: </a> </span><span class="str2">To ascend, in, actively</span><br /><br /><span class="word">through the Negev,</span><br /><span class="heb">בַּנֶּ֔גֶב</span> <span class="translit">(ban·ne·ḡeḇ)</span><br /><span class="parse">Preposition-b, Article | Noun - proper - feminine singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_5045.htm">Strong's 5045: </a> </span><span class="str2">South country, the Negeb, south</span><br /><br /><span class="word">and</span><br /><span class="heb">וַעֲלִיתֶ֖ם</span> <span class="translit">(wa·‘ă·lî·ṯem)</span><br /><span class="parse">Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Conjunctive perfect - second person masculine plural<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_5927.htm">Strong's 5927: </a> </span><span class="str2">To ascend, in, actively</span><br /><br /><span class="word">into the hill country.</span><br /><span class="heb">הָהָֽר׃</span> <span class="translit">(hā·hār)</span><br /><span class="parse">Article | Noun - masculine singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_2022.htm">Strong's 2022: </a> </span><span class="str2">Mountain, hill, hill country</span><br /><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><div class="vheading">Links</div><a href="/niv/numbers/13-17.htm">Numbers 13:17 NIV</a><br /><a href="/nlt/numbers/13-17.htm">Numbers 13:17 NLT</a><br /><a href="/esv/numbers/13-17.htm">Numbers 13:17 ESV</a><br /><a href="/nasb/numbers/13-17.htm">Numbers 13:17 NASB</a><br /><a href="/kjv/numbers/13-17.htm">Numbers 13:17 KJV</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="//bibleapps.com/numbers/13-17.htm">Numbers 13:17 BibleApps.com</a><br /><a href="//bibliaparalela.com/numbers/13-17.htm">Numbers 13:17 Biblia Paralela</a><br /><a href="//holybible.com.cn/numbers/13-17.htm">Numbers 13:17 Chinese Bible</a><br /><a href="//saintebible.com/numbers/13-17.htm">Numbers 13:17 French Bible</a><br /><a href="/catholic/numbers/13-17.htm">Numbers 13:17 Catholic Bible</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="/numbers/13-17.htm">OT Law: Numbers 13:17 Moses sent them to spy out (Nu Num.) </a></div></div></td></tr></table></div><div id="left"><a href="/numbers/13-16.htm" onmouseover='lft.src="/leftgif.png"' onmouseout='lft.src="/left.png"' title="Numbers 13:16"><img src="/left.png" name="lft" border="0" alt="Numbers 13:16" /></a></div><div id="right"><a href="/numbers/13-18.htm" onmouseover='rght.src="/rightgif.png"' onmouseout='rght.src="/right.png"' title="Numbers 13:18"><img src="/right.png" name="rght" border="0" alt="Numbers 13:18" /></a></div><div id="botleft"><a href="#" onmouseover='botleft.src="/botleftgif.png"' onmouseout='botleft.src="/botleft.png"' title="Top of Page"><img src="/botleft.png" name="botleft" border="0" alt="Top of Page" /></a></div><div id="botright"><a href="#" onmouseover='botright.src="/botrightgif.png"' onmouseout='botright.src="/botright.png"' title="Top of Page"><img src="/botright.png" name="botright" border="0" alt="Top of Page" /></a></div><div id="bot"><iframe width="100%" height="1500" scrolling="no" src="/botmenubhnew2.htm" frameborder="0"></iframe></div></td></tr></table></div></body></html>