Numbers — Chapter 13

Moses sends twelve spies, one from each tribe, all princes; the choice of explorers is itself a military art, for \"the best general is he who has most thoroughly learned the affairs of his enemies\" (Cabrias, cited by Lapide).

Moses renames Hoshea son of Nun as Joshua (Jehoshua = \"the Lord saves\"), adding the first letter of the Tetragrammaton; this promises salvation to him and through him to all Israel, and foreshadows the name \"Jesus.\"

The spies report: the land flows with milk and honey — here are its fruits! — but the inhabitants are powerful, the cities great and walled; the children of Anak are there. Truth and courage require acknowledging both good and difficulty.

Ten spies spread an evil report: \"The land devours its inhabitants; we seemed like grasshoppers before the Nephilim.\" Pusillanimity of unbelief: comparing themselves to insects while forgetting the almighty God who was with them.