Spies Sent
Deuteronomy 1:19-25
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Deu.1.19 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- ונסע: VERB,qal,perf,1,-,pl
- מחרב: PREP
- ונלך: VERB,qal,impf,1,-,pl
- את: PRT,acc
- כל: DET
- המדבר: VERB,qal,ptc,3,m,sg
- הגדול: ADJ,m,sg,def
- והנורא: ADJ,m,sg,def
- ההוא: DEM,ms,sg
- אשר: PRON,rel
- ראיתם: VERB,qal,perf,2,m,pl
- דרך: NOUN,f,sg,abs
- הר: NOUN,m,sg,cons
- האמרי: NOUN,m,sg,def
- כאשר: CONJ
- צוה: VERB,qal,perf,3,m,sg
- יהוה: NOUN,prop,m,sg,abs
- אלהינו: NOUN,m,pl,abs,poss:1,pl
- אתנו: PRON,1,pl
- ונבא: VERB,qal,perf,1,-,pl
- עד: PREP
- קדש: NOUN,f,sg,abs
- ברנע: NOUN,m,sg,abs
Parallels
- Deuteronomy 1:2 (verbal): Same route and destinations: explicitly links Horeb (Sinai) and arrival at Kadesh‑Barnea (11 days' journey), repeating the wording about the journey to Kadesh.
- Numbers 10:11–12 (structural): Narrative parallel: the departure from the wilderness of Sinai/Horeb and the ensuing journey that leads the Israelites toward Kadesh, framing the same migration event.
- Exodus 13:17–18 (thematic): Emphasizes God’s decision to lead Israel by the wilderness route rather than the shorter coastal way—parallels Deut.1:19’s stress that the journey took place through the great wilderness as the LORD commanded.
- Numbers 13:26 (allusion): Connects to the same geographical and narrative focal point, Kadesh‑Barnea (the spies' return there), underlining Kadesh as the critical campsite reached after the wilderness journey.
Alternative generated candidates
- And we set out from Horeb and went through all that great and terrible wilderness that you saw, by the way of the Hill Country of the Amorites, as the LORD our God had commanded us; and we came to Kadesh‑barnea.
- And we set out from Horeb and went through all that great and terrible wilderness that you saw—by the way of the mountain of the Amorite, as the LORD our God commanded us—and we came to Kadesh-barnea.
Deu.1.20 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- ואמר: VERB,qal,wayyiqtol,3,m,sg
- אלכם: PREP+PRON,2,m,pl
- באתם: VERB,qal,perf,2,m,pl
- עד: PREP
- הר: NOUN,m,sg,cons
- האמרי: NOUN,m,sg,def
- אשר: PRON,rel
- יהוה: NOUN,prop,m,sg,abs
- אלהינו: NOUN,m,pl,abs,poss:1,pl
- נתן: VERB,qal,perf,3,m,sg
- לנו: PREP+PRON,1,pl
Parallels
- Numbers 13:29-30 (thematic): Spies report coming into the productive land and Caleb urges, 'Let us go up at once and possess it' — both passages address arrival at the promised land and the call to take possession God gives.
- Deuteronomy 2:24 (verbal): Within Deuteronomy the language is repeated: God declares he has delivered the land of the Amorites and commands Israel to go possess it — a close verbal/intentional parallel to 1:20.
- Numbers 21:21-26 (thematic): Narrative of Israel requesting passage and then fighting the Amorite king Sihon, resulting in the acquisition of Amorite territory — connects the theme of entering and receiving the Amorite hill country.
- Joshua 1:2 (thematic): God's command to Joshua to go over the Jordan and possess the land 'which I do give you' echoes Deut 1:20's central theme of God granting the land (specifically the hill country) to Israel.
Alternative generated candidates
- And I said to you, 'You have come to the Hill Country of the Amorites, which the LORD our God has given us.
- And I said to you, "You have come to the hill country of the Amorites which the LORD our God has given us."
Deu.1.21 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- ראה: VERB,qal,imperat,2,m,sg
- נתן: VERB,qal,perf,3,m,sg
- יהוה: NOUN,prop,m,sg,abs
- אלהיך: NOUN,m,sg,prsuf-2ms
- לפניך: PREP+PRON,2,m,sg
- את: PRT,acc
- הארץ: NOUN,f,sg,def
- עלה: VERB,qal,perf,3,m,sg
- רש: VERB,qal,inf
- כאשר: CONJ
- דבר: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- יהוה: NOUN,prop,m,sg,abs
- אלהי: NOUN,m,sg,cons
- אבתיך: NOUN,m,pl,abs,poss:2,m
- לך: PRON,2,m,sg
- אל: NEG
- תירא: VERB,qal,impf,2,m,sg
- ואל: CONJ+PREP
- תחת: PREP
Parallels
- Joshua 1:2-3 (structural): God commands Joshua to 'go in' and take possession of the land set before Israel—the direct commissioning to occupy the land that Deut 1:21 announces.
- Joshua 1:6-9 (verbal): 'Be strong and courageous... do not be terrified or discouraged' echoes Deut 1:21's 'do not fear or be dismayed' and pairs it with the assurance of God's presence.
- Numbers 13:30 (verbal): Caleb's exhortation 'Let us go up at once and occupy it' closely parallels the call in Deut 1:21 to 'go up' and take possession of the land.
- Numbers 14:9 (thematic): 'Only do not rebel against the LORD... do not fear the people of the land' echoes the warning against fear and the appeal to trust God's promise found in Deut 1:21.
- Deuteronomy 31:6 (verbal): The repeated formula 'be strong and courageous... do not be afraid or discouraged' mirrors Deut 1:21's 'do not fear or be dismayed,' reinforcing the same pastoral exhortation with God's accompanying presence.
Alternative generated candidates
- See, the LORD your God has put the land before you; go up, take possession of it, as the LORD, the God of your fathers, has commanded you. Do not be afraid and do not be dismayed.'
- See, the LORD your God has put the land before you; go up, take possession of it, as the LORD, the God of your fathers has spoken to you; do not be afraid, neither be discouraged.
Deu.1.22 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- ותקרבון: VERB,qal,impf,2,m,pl
- אלי: PREP+PRON,1,sg
- כלכם: PRON,2,m,pl
- ותאמרו: VERB,qal,impf,2,m,pl
- נשלחה: VERB,qal,juss,1,pl
- אנשים: NOUN,m,pl,abs
- לפנינו: PREP+PRON,1,pl
- ויחפרו: VERB,qal,perf,3,m,pl
- לנו: PREP+PRON,1,pl
- את: PRT,acc
- הארץ: NOUN,f,sg,def
- וישבו: VERB,qal,impf,3,m,pl
- אתנו: PRON,1,pl
- דבר: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- את: PRT,acc
- הדרך: NOUN,f,sg,def
- אשר: PRON,rel
- נעלה: VERB,qal,impf,1,pl
- בה: PREP+PRON,3,f,sg
- ואת: CONJ
- הערים: NOUN,f,pl,def
- אשר: PRON,rel
- נבא: VERB,qal,impf,1,pl
- אליהן: PREP+PRON,3,f,pl
Parallels
- Numbers 13:1-3 (verbal): The initial command to send men to spy out the land — the same episode: God/Moses sends scouts 'to explore the land' (parallels Israel's request in Deut. 1:22).
- Numbers 13:17-20 (verbal): Moses' instructions to the spies to see the land, its people, strength, and towns — language and purpose closely mirror 'to search out the land and the cities' in Deut. 1:22.
- Numbers 13:25 (structural): The spies' return after forty days with a report about the land — a direct continuation of the reconnaissance mission described in Deut. 1:22.
- Joshua 2:1 (thematic): Joshua sends two men as spies into Jericho — a later instance of the same practice of sending scouts to reconnoiter cities of the promised land, thematically echoing Deut. 1:22.
Alternative generated candidates
- Then all of you came near to me and said, 'Let us send men before us, and let them search out the land for us and bring back word to us of the way by which we shall go up and the cities into which we shall come.'
- Then all of you came near to me and said, "Let us send men before us that they may explore the land for us and bring back word to us about the way by which we must go up, and the cities into which we shall come."
Deu.1.23 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- וייטב: VERB,qal,imperfect,3,m,sg
- בעיני: PREP+NOUN,f,pl,abs
- הדבר: NOUN,m,sg,def
- ואקח: VERB,qal,impf,1,sg
- מכם: PREP,2,m,pl
- שנים: NOUN,f,pl,abs
- עשר: NUM,card,m,sg,cons
- אנשים: NOUN,m,pl,abs
- איש: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- אחד: NUM,card,m,sg
- לשבט: PREP+NOUN,m,sg,abs
Parallels
- Numbers 13:1-3 (verbal): Direct parallel account: Yahweh/Moses commissions reconnaissance of Canaan and the sending of spies (one representative per tribe). Deut recounts the same event.
- Numbers 13:16-20 (verbal): Moses' selection and instruction of the twelve spies (naming leaders, orders for reconnaissance) closely corresponds to Deut.'s report of taking twelve men, one from each tribe.
- Deut.1:15 (structural): Immediate Deuteronomic context: Moses describes earlier appointing of tribal heads and judges—shows a pattern of choosing representatives/leaders among the people.
- Exodus 18:21 (thematic): Jethro's counsel to appoint capable, trustworthy leaders to share judicial and administrative duties parallels the theme of selecting men to represent and lead the tribes.
- Matthew 10:1-4 (thematic): Jesus' appointment of the twelve apostles as a representative twelve echoes the motif of choosing twelve leaders from Israel’s tribes—typological/representative parallel in the New Testament.
Alternative generated candidates
- And the thing pleased me, and I took from you twelve men, one man for each tribe.
- And the thing pleased me, and I took twelve men from you, one man for each tribe.
Deu.1.24 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- ויפנו: VERB,qal,wayyiqtol,3,m,pl
- ויעלו: VERB,qal,perf,3,m,pl
- ההרה: ADJ,f,sg
- ויבאו: VERB,qal,impf,3,m,pl
- עד: PREP
- נחל: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- אשכל: VERB,qal,impf,1,c,sg
- וירגלו: VERB,pi'el,impf,3,m,pl
- אתה: PRON,2,m,sg
Parallels
- Numbers 13:17–24 (verbal): Same expedition narrative — Moses sends men to reconnoiter Canaan; v.23 specifically records coming to the Valley of Eshcol and spying it out, echoing Deut 1:24's phrasing.
- Numbers 13:25–27 (verbal): Immediate sequel to the scouting in the Valley of Eshcol: the spies return with a cluster of grapes and give their initial report — continuation of the same episode referenced in Deut 1:24.
- Joshua 2:1 (thematic): Joshua sends two men to view Jericho before Israel's attack — a parallel reconnaissance motif (sending spies to scout the land/fortifications) comparable to the spying in Deut 1:24.
- Judges 18:2–3 (thematic): The men of Dan send five men to spy out Laish (later Dan) — another narrative of Israelite reconnaissance and land-seeking that parallels the scouting action in Deut 1:24.
Alternative generated candidates
- They turned and went up into the hill country and came to the Valley of Eshcol, and they scouted it.
- They turned and went up into the mountain and came to the valley of Eshcol and spied it out.
Deu.1.25 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- ויקחו: VERB,qal,perf,3,m,pl
- בידם: PREP+PRON,3,m,pl
- מפרי: PREP+NOUN,m,sg,constr
- הארץ: NOUN,f,sg,def
- ויורדו: VERB,qal,impf,3,m,pl
- אלינו: PREP+PRON,1,pl
- וישבו: VERB,qal,impf,3,m,pl
- אתנו: PRON,1,pl
- דבר: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- ויאמרו: VERB,qal,wayyiqtol,3,pl
- טובה: ADJ,f,sg,abs
- הארץ: NOUN,f,sg,def
- אשר: PRON,rel
- יהוה: NOUN,prop,m,sg,abs
- אלהינו: NOUN,m,pl,abs,poss:1,pl
- נתן: VERB,qal,perf,3,m,sg
- לנו: PREP+PRON,1,pl
Parallels
- Numbers 13:23-27 (quotation): The spies 'took in their hands some of the fruit of the land' and reported to Israel that 'the land is an exceedingly good land'—the same action and report recounted here.
- Numbers 14:7-9 (verbal): Caleb (and Joshua) echo the positive report about the land, urging the people to go up because 'the land, which the LORD hath given you, is an exceeding good land'—a verbal/thematic reinforcement of the claim in Deut 1:25.
- Deuteronomy 8:7-10 (thematic): A broader Deuteronomic description of the Promised Land as fertile—'a land of wheat and barley...a land of vineyards and fig trees'—paralleling the portrayal of the country’s fruitfulness and God’s gift.
- Exodus 3:8 (thematic): God’s promise to bring Israel into 'a good and large land, a land flowing with milk and honey' provides the theological background for reports like Deut 1:25 that the land given by the LORD is good.
Alternative generated candidates
- And they took in their hands some of the fruit of the land and brought it down to us, and reported to us and said, 'It is a good land that the LORD our God has given us.'
- They took in their hands some of the fruit of the land and brought it down to us; they brought us word and said, "It is a good land that the LORD our God has given us."
And we set out from Horeb and went through all that great and dreadful wilderness that you saw, by the way of the hill country of the Amorites, as the LORD our God commanded us; and we came to Kadesh‑barnea. And I said to you, 'You have reached the hill country of the Amorites, which the LORD our God has given to us.'
See, the LORD your God has set the land before you; go up, take possession, as the LORD, the God of your fathers commanded you. Do not be afraid, and do not be dismayed.
Then all of you came near to me and said, 'Let us send men ahead of us to spy out the land for us and bring us word again of the way by which we should go up and the cities to which we shall come.' And the matter pleased me, and I took twelve men from you, one man for each tribe.
They turned and went up into the mountain and came to the Valley of Eshcol, and there they spied it out. And they took in their hands some of the fruit of the land and brought it down to us; and they reported to us and said, 'A good land that the LORD our God has given us.'