Bible Strands
Numbers 13:21
So they went up and spied out the land from the Wilderness of Zin as far as Rehob, toward Lebo-hamath.
Berean Standard Bible
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Study note
Setting — The narrator records the twelve scouts executing Moses' commission to survey Canaan after the Israelite camp is established at Kadesh in the Wilderness of Zin. This action occurs during the opening phase of the reconnaissance mission, immediately following instructions to assess soil fertility and bring back fruit.
The words — The Hebrew verbs וַיַּעֲלוּ (wayyaʿălû) and וַיָּתֻרוּ (wayyātûrû) literally mean "and they went up" and "and they spied out." These terms define the scouts' northward progression and their systematic observation of the territory.
The thread — The Wilderness of Zin reappears as a congregation campsite in Numbers 20:1 and Numbers 33:36, and as the location of later rebellion in Numbers 27:14. The scouts' path from Zin to Rehob establishes the northern extent of the land they were ordered to examine before descending into the Negev.
Why it lands — The verse documents a precise geographical survey that defines the territorial boundaries before any judgment is rendered. A reader must observe how this factual report of movement provides the baseline data for the subsequent assessment of the land's resources and inhabitants.
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
King James Version
So they went up, and searched the land from the wilderness of Zin unto Rehob, as men come to Hamath.
Cross-references
- Numbers 20:1 In the first month, the whole congregation of Israel entered the Wilderness of Zin and stayed in Kadesh. There Miriam died and was buried.
- Numbers 33:36 They set out from Ezion-geber and camped at Kadesh in the Wilderness of Zin.
- Numbers 27:14 for when the congregation contended in the Wilderness of Zin, both of you rebelled against My command to show My holiness in their sight regarding the waters.” Those were the waters of Meribah in Kadesh, in the Wilderness of Zin.
- Joshua 15:1 Now the allotment for the clans of the tribe of Judah extended to the border of Edom, to the Wilderness of Zin at the extreme southern boundary:
- Joshua 13:5 the land of the Gebalites; and all Lebanon to the east, from Baal-gad below Mount Hermon to Lebo-hamath.
- Numbers 34:3 Your southern border will extend from the Wilderness of Zin along the border of Edom. On the east, your southern border will run from the end of the Salt Sea,
- Deuteronomy 32:51 For at the waters of Meribah-kadesh in the Wilderness of Zin, both of you broke faith with Me among the Israelites by failing to treat Me as holy in their presence.
- 2 Samuel 8:9 When King Toi of Hamath heard that David had defeated the entire army of Hadadezer,
- Amos 6:2 Cross over to Calneh and see; go from there to the great Hamath; then go down to Gath of the Philistines. Are you better than these kingdoms? Is their territory larger than yours?