Two Kinds of Reports

God commanded Moses to send twelve tribal leaders to explore Canaan. Moses told them to see what the land was like, whether the people were strong or weak, and whether the cities were open or walled. He also asked them to bring back some fruit. Hoshea of Ephraim received the new name Joshua.

After forty days the spies returned. The fruit proved the land was rich, just as God had said. But ten spies focused on the strong people and fortified cities. Caleb quieted the crowd and said they should go up at once, because they could surely win.

The ten then spread a bad report, saying the land devoured its people and that they looked like grasshoppers in their own sight. They measured the problem against themselves instead of against God. Caleb measured it against God's promise.