Numbers 13:21-33 ▼

21 So they went up and spied out the land from the Wilderness of Zin (flat) as far as Rehob (broad place), toward Lebo-hamath (fortress).

22 They went up through the Negev (southland) and came to Hebron (association), where Ahiman (my brother is a gift), Sheshai (noble), and Talmai (furrowed), the descendants of Anak (neck), dwelled. It had been built seven years before Zoan (place of departure) in Egypt (land of bondage).

23 When they came to the Valley of Eshcol (cluster), they cut down a branch with a single cluster of grapes, which they carried on a pole between two men. They also took some pomegranates and figs.

24 Because of the cluster of grapes the Israelites (God prevails) cut there, that place was called the Valley of Eshcol (cluster).

25 After forty days the men returned from spying out the land,

26 and they went back to Moses (drawn out), Aaron (light bringer), and the whole congregation of Israel (he wrestles with God) in the Wilderness of Paran (place of caverns) at Kadesh (holy). They brought back a report for the whole congregation and showed them the fruit of the land.

27 And they gave this account to Moses: “We went into the land to which you sent us, and indeed, it is flowing with milk and honey. Here is some of its fruit!

28 Nevertheless, the people living in the land are strong, and the cities are large and fortified. We even saw the descendants of Anak (neck) there.

29 The Amalekites (dwellers in a valley) live in the land of the Negev (southland); the Hittites, Jebusites (Jerusalemites), and Amorites (sayers) live in the hill country; and the Canaanites (merchants) live by the sea and along the Jordan (flowing down).”

30 Then Caleb (dog) quieted the people before Moses (drawn out) and said, “We must go up and take possession of the land, for we can certainly conquer it!”

31 But the men who had gone up with him replied, “We cannot go up against the people, for they are stronger than we are!”

32 So they gave the Israelites a bad report (he wrestles with God) about the land that they had spied out: “The land we explored devours its inhabitants, and all the people we saw there are great in stature.

33 We even saw the Nephilim (giants) there—the descendants of Anak (neck) that come from the Nephilim! We seemed like grasshoppers in our own sight, and we must have seemed the same to them!”