Deuteronomy 1:23

The plan seemed good to me, so I selected twelve men from among you, one from each tribe.

Berean Standard Bible

Study note

Setting — Moses addresses the Israelites in the plains of Moab, recounting the moment immediately after the congregation requested a reconnaissance mission for the Promised Land. He describes his direct response to their proposal to organize the scouting party.

The words — The phrase וַיִּיטַב בְּעֵינַי הַדָּבָר (va-yiṭav be-‘ênay ha-dāḇār) literally renders "and the thing seemed good in my eyes," indicating Moses' personal approval of the proposed plan.

The thread — This scouting mission is recorded in Numbers 13:3, where Moses sends twelve leaders from the Wilderness of Paran at the LORD's command.

Why it lands — The text requires a reader to observe how human initiative and divine instruction intersect in the organization of the mission, leaving the outcome to the subsequent narrative.

Drafted by a language model from the text, its original words and its cross-references, then checked against them. It can still be wrong: open the verse in the app to report it.

The Hebrew words

וַיִּיטַ֥בva/i.yi.Tavand/ it was good בְּעֵינַ֖יbe./'ei.Na/iin/ view/ my הַדָּבָ֑רha./da.Varthe/ thing וָאֶקַּ֤חva./'e.Kachand/ I tookמִכֶּם֙mi./Kemfrom/ youשְׁנֵ֣יםshe.Neimtwo [plus]עָשָׂ֣ר'a.Sarten אֲנָשִׁ֔ים'a.na.Shimmen אִ֥ישׁ'isha man אֶחָ֖ד'e.Chadone לַשָּֽׁבֶט׃la./Sha.vetto the/ tribe

King James Version

And the saying pleased me well: and I took twelve men of you, one of a tribe:

Cross-references

Numbers 13:3 So at the command of the LORD, Moses sent them out from the Wilderness of Paran. All the men were leaders of the Israelites,