Numbers 13:15

Study note

Setting — The narrator records Moses’ commissioning of twelve tribal representatives to scout the land of Canaan at the edge of the wilderness. This line specifically identifies the man chosen to represent the tribe of Gad.

The words — The Hebrew לְמַטֵּה גָד (le-matteh Gad) literally means "for the tribe of Gad," marking the tribal affiliation of the scout. The name גּוּאֵאל בֶּן־מָכִי (Geuel ben-Maki) identifies the individual as Geuel, son of Machi.

The thread — This verse operates as a catalog entry within the structured list of spies Moses sends from each tribe. Its formulaic structure parallels the preceding Naphtali entry and feeds directly into the Numbers 13:16 summary that names all twelve men.

Why it lands — The text requires the reader to track the organized tribal distribution of the mission and verify the specific lineage recorded. It demands attention to the factual listing without inviting narrative expansion or moral commentary.

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.