Week 8 Numbers 18-34
Twelve leaders are listed in the opening verses of Numbers 13.
1. Shammua
2. Shaphat
3. Igal
4. Palti
5. Gaddiel
6. Gaddi
7. Ammiel
8. Sethur
9. Nahbi
10. Geuel
11. Caleb
12. Joshua
The twelve of them went to spy out the land of Canaan.
Spies 1-12 agreed that Canaan was very good, productive, desirable land.
Spies 1-10 also said that, unfortunately the land was not conquerable.
The Lord had promised Abraham hundreds of years before: I’m going to bring your family to this good land and give it to them. But after Shammua, Shaphat, Igal, Palti, Gaddiel, Gaddi, Ammiel, Sethur, Nahbi, and Geuel reconnoitred they said that sure, the land is terrific (but we’ll never get to live there).
Spies 11-12 disagreed. They said no, we’ll be able to conquer the land because the Lord will be with us.
So, a majority report and a minority report. The majority were very impressed with tangible factors: the urban fortifications, the formidable opposition, and the combined strength of the military. The thing that didn’t impress them too much was God. He was a negligible factor.
Caleb and Joshua pleaded with them, told them: the Lord is with us; do not fear them. But tangible evidence, just as compelling then as it is now beat out faith by a five-to-one margin.
Note: quote from Numbers 14:9 (NASB)