13:2 let them explore The Hebrew word used here, tur, means “to turn about, wander about.” The term does not speak of information that would lead to specific military strategies (denoted by the verb ragal; compare 21:32; Josh 7:2), although the imperative to take notice of whether the people lived in camps or cities may hint at a military spirit to the trip. The spying mission was probably designed to energize the people, not provide intelligence in advance of an invasion. They were to be inspired by the goodness of the land and the living situations of its current occupants (Num 13:17–20).

a leader The names of the listed individuals are not the same leaders listed in chs. 1–2. Those men were heads of their respective households. The men of this mission were likely drawn from those of each tribe who were eligible for military service.

13:3 Paran See note on 10:12.

13:6 Caleb This name is from the Hebrew term kelev, meaning “dog.” In the ancient Near East, the dog could symbolize an obedient servant.

13:8 Hoshea The name used here is Hoshea, but he is more commonly known as Joshua (see note on Josh 1:1). Hoshea means “He saves,” referring to God’s saving ability. Moses later renamed him Joshua, which means “Yah is salvation,” using a shortened form of God’s name, Yahweh (Num 13:16). Joshua’s new name is more specific to Yahweh’s name.

13:17 Negev Refers to the arid region just south of Judah between Beer-sheba and the Sinai Peninsula—the Negev. In Hebrew, the name means “arid land.”

into the hill country Refers to the central hill country of Palestine, the mountainous strip of land running from just north of the Negev to the Sea of Galilee on the western side of the Jordan River.

13:19 or fortifications The spies were to see if the population centers were walled cities or merely camps.

13:20 It was the time of first ripe grapes The beginning of summer. This underscores the idea that the goal of the expedition is to give the people a preview of the land’s bounty and to energize them (in addition to getting them to stop complaining about food; compare Num 11).

13:21 the desert of Zin Located north of the wilderness of Paran, where the spies initially camped (v. 3). This region is later identified as marking the southern border of the promised land (34:3–4; Josh 15:1).

Rehob A city in the north of Canaan, which will later be part of the territory of Asher (Josh 19:28).

at Lebo Hamath A city on the Orontes River in the northern part of the Levant. This area is later used to mark the northern extent of the kingdom of Israel (1 Kgs 8:65; 2 Kgs 14:25). The spies therefore surveyed the length of the land.

13:22 Hebron It was at Hebron that Abraham was first promised the land of Canaan—which makes the Israelites’ apprehension about entering the land all the more shameful (Num 14:1–4). Hebron is also where the patriarchs and their wives (except Rachel) were buried (see Gen 13:18; 23:2).

the descendants of the Anakites These people were said to be very large, as they are descended from the Nephilim (Num 13:33; Gen 6:1–4).

Genesis 6 and the Sons of God

Giant Clans in the Old Testament

13:23 the valley of Eshcol The name likely comes from Eshcol, the brother of Mamre (Gen 14:13), although it also means “cluster” (Num 13:24). The Israelites associated this land with the patriarch Abraham (compare Gen 13:18; 18:1).

pomegranates A pomegranate is a symbol of plenty.

13:25 forty days The spies surveyed the entire length of the land in 40 days, a feasible task depending on their strategy. Forty is symbolic in the ot and nt as a period of purging and purification, therefore, we expect the report to be a favorable one. However, the spies—except for Caleb and Joshua—return tainted by fear and disbelief.

13:26 at Kadesh This site was on the southern border of the promised land (34:4). The same location is called by a number of different names: Kadesh-barnea (32:8), En-mishpat (Gen 14:7), Meribah (Num 20:13), and Meribath-kadesh (27:14).

13:27 flowing of milk and honey An image frequently used in the ot for great bounty, as it speaks to both livestock and agricultural produce (e.g., Exod 3:8, 17; Num 14:8).

13:28 the cities are fortified and very large This means that the land would not be taken easily, but also that there was much to gain if Israel were to succeed in a military campaign.

13:29 The Amalekites A nomadic tribe related to Esau (Gen 36:12, 16). They may have been the dominant presence in the land at this time (Num 24:20). Israel was also in conflict with the Amalekites in the days of Saul and David (1 Sam 15:2–5; 30:17–19).

the Hittites Probably referring to a group of Canaanites, not to the Hittites of Anatolia. See note on Josh 1:4.

the Canaanites The peoples listed in this verse are some of the groups native to Canaan that Yahweh promised to remove from the promised land (see note on Josh 3:10). Most of the groups mentioned in this list are known in extrabiblical sources. The Jebusites are later displaced by David, when he conquers Jerusalem and makes it his capital (2 Sam 5:6–10).

13:32 men of great size Refers to the Anakim (or descendants of Anak) mentioned in Num 13:33. The Anakim are described as very tall elsewhere in the ot (compare Deut 2:10–11, 20–21). Numbers 13:33 provides the reason for their height: They are descended from the Nephilim (see Gen 6:1–4).

13:33 Nephilim The Nephilim are described in Gen 6:1–4 and are likely the giant descendants of the sons of God and daughters of humankind (see note on Gen 6:4).

Genesis 6 and the Sons of God

Giant Clans in the Old Testament

like grasshoppers The metaphor indicates that the height of the Anakim should be understood as of great concern. Compared to the Anakim, the Israelite men who would constitute the nation’s military were physically inadequate. In the presence of Anakim, the spies forgot that God would fight for them.