The Spies

8 Questions

Who were the twelve spies sent by Moshe to spy the land of Canaan?

One from each tribe of Bnei Yisrael.

What instructions did Moshe give to the spies before sending them to spy the land of Canaan?

To begin in the south, climb up the mountain, observe the land and its people, determine the strength of the inhabitants, the quality of the land, the nature of the cities, and the fertility of the soil.

What did the spies report to Moshe upon returning from spying the land of Canaan?

They reported that the land was flowing with milk and honey, and presented its fruits. They also mentioned the fierce people, huge fortified cities, and the presence of the children of giants.

Who among the spies expressed confidence in the ability to conquer the land of Canaan? Explain what they did.

Calev expressed confidence and silenced the people who were against Moshe, stating that they could indeed overcome the land. Yehoshua and Calev tore their clothes when they heard the 10 spies negative report

Who were the two spies who said good things about the land?

Yehoshua and Calev

What did the other spies spread about the land they had spied?

A bad report, saying the land consumes its inhabitants and the people there are huge

What did Yehoshua and Calev say about the land?

They said it was an exceedingly good land and if Hashem desires it, He will bring them there

What did the other spies say about fighting the people in the land?

They said they were unable to fight against the people because they are stronger than them

Study Notes

The Journey to the Land of Israel

Hashem informed the Bnei Yisrael that they would be entering the land of Israel (Canaan) after leaving Egypt.
The Bnei Yisrael asked Moshe to send spies to scout the land before they entered.
Twelve spies, one from each tribe, were given permission to go and gather information about the land.

Moshe's Instructions to the Spies

Moshe instructed the spies to begin in the south and climb up the mountain.
He told them to observe the land, its people, and their strength or weakness.
They were to report on the type of land, its fertility, and the presence of trees.
Moshe also instructed them to take some of the land's fruit as a symbol of their strength.

The Spies' Report

The spies spent 40 days in Israel, traveling across the land.
They returned to the Bnei Yisrael and reported that the land was "flowing with milk and honey".
However, they also warned that the people living in the land were fierce and its cities were extremely huge and fortified.
They mentioned that they even saw the children of giants.

Calev's Confidence

Calev, one of the spies, silenced the people who were against Moshe and expressed confidence in their ability to take possession of the land.
He believed that they could overcome the inhabitants of the land.

The Other Spies' Fear

The other spies, however, believed that they were unable to fight against the people of the land because they were stronger.
They spread a bad report about the land, saying that it consumed its inhabitants and that all the people they saw were huge.

The Two Faithful Spies

Only two spies, Yehoshua and Calev, spoke positively about the land, saying that if Hashem wanted them to have it, He would help them fight against any enemy tribes living there.
Yehoshua and Calev tore their clothes and spoke to the entire congregation of the Bnei Yisrael, saying that the land was exceedingly good and that Hashem would bring them to it if He desired.