Numbers 13:19

KJV

And what the land [is] that they dwell in, whether it [be] good or bad; and what cities [they be] that they dwell in, whether in tents, or in strong holds;

KJV (with Strong's)

And what the land {H776} is that they dwell in {H3427}, whether it be good {H2896} or bad {H7451}; and what cities {H5892} they be that they dwell {H3427} in {H2007}, whether in tents {H4264}, or in strong holds {H4013};

Complete Jewish Bible

and what kind of country they live in, whether it is good or bad; and what kind of cities they live in, open or fortified.

Berean Standard Bible

Is the land where they live good or bad? Are the cities where they dwell open camps or fortifications?

American Standard Version

and what the land is that they dwell in, whether it is good or bad; and what cities they are that they dwell in, whether in camps, or in strongholds;

Commentary

### SUMMARY
Numbers 13:19 presents Moses' critical instructions to the twelve tribal leaders dispatched to reconnoiter the land of Canaan. This verse precisely directs the spies to assess two fundamental aspects: the intrinsic quality of the land itself, determining its suitability for life and agriculture as "good or bad," and the nature of the inhabitants' settlements, observing whether they reside in temporary "tents" or formidable "strong holds." These directives were foundational for gathering comprehensive intelligence, enabling the Israelite nation to strategically prepare for their impending conquest and settlement of the divinely promised land.

### CONTEXT
* **Literary Context:** Numbers chapter 13 marks a pivotal turning point in the Israelites' wilderness journey, following their departure from Mount Sinai and arrival at Kadesh-barnea. The narrative details God's command to Moses to send one leader from each of the twelve tribes to explore Canaan, though [Deuteronomy 1:22](/deuteronomy/1-22 "Deuteronomy 1:22 - The People's Request for Spies") indicates the people's request also played a role. Verses 17-20 encapsulate Moses' detailed instructions for this crucial reconnaissance mission. Specifically, [Numbers 13:19](/numbers/13-19 "Numbers 13:19 - Moses' Instructions to the Spies") focuses on evaluating the land's inherent value and the strategic nature of the enemy's settlements. This immediate context sets the stage for the spies' forty-day mission and their subsequent, faithless report found in [Numbers 13:26-33](/numbers/13-26-33 "Numbers 13:26-33 - The Spies' Report"), which tragically led to the people's rebellion and the ensuing forty years of wilderness wandering, postponing their entry into the Promised Land.
* **Historical & Cultural Context:** At the time of this event, the Israelites were encamped at Kadesh-barnea, strategically positioned on the southern border of Canaan, poised to enter the land promised to their ancestors. The ancient Near East was a mosaic of various city-states and tribal groups, many of whom maintained fortified settlements to defend against external threats and to secure resources. Military reconnaissance was a standard and indispensable practice before any significant campaign or migration. Understanding the terrain, available resources, and the strength of enemy fortifications was paramount for strategic planning and assessing the scale of the challenge. The stark contrast between "tents" (implying nomadic, less organized, or transient populations) and "strong holds" (indicating well-established, fortified cities) provided vital intelligence about the nature of the inhabitants and the military challenge that lay ahead, reflecting the realities of warfare, conquest, and settlement in that era.
* **Key Themes:** [Numbers 13:19](/numbers/13-19 "Numbers 13:19 - Moses' Instructions to the Spies") contributes significantly to several overarching themes within the book of Numbers and the broader Pentateuch. Firstly, it highlights the theme of **Divine Promise and Human Prudence**. While God had promised a "land flowing with milk and honey" (as described in [Exodus 3:8](/exodus/3-8 "Exodus 3:8 - The Promise of the Land")), Moses' detailed instructions demonstrate that divine promises do not negate the necessity of human diligence, strategic preparation, and a sober assessment of reality. God works through, not instead of, human wisdom. Secondly, the verse underscores the **Nature of the Promised Land** itself, which, though divinely appointed and ultimately good, was not without its challenges. The spies were tasked with objectively evaluating its "good or bad" aspects, setting up the subsequent tension between the land's inherent goodness and the formidable obstacles presented by its inhabitants. Finally, the focus on "strong holds" emphasizes the theme of **Conquest and Warfare**, reminding Israel that inheriting their covenantal land would require military engagement and a steadfast reliance on God's power to overcome formidable adversaries, a reliance beautifully exemplified later by Caleb's unwavering faith in [Numbers 14:7-9](/numbers/14-7-9 "Numbers 14:7-9 - Caleb and Joshua's Faithful Report").

### EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS
#### Key Word Analysis
* **Good (Hebrew, _ṭôwb_):** This word possesses a wide semantic range, extending beyond mere moral goodness to encompass suitability, pleasantness, prosperity, and inherent quality. In the context of the land, it refers to its fertility, abundance, and overall suitability for supporting a large population. It indicates a land of blessing, provision, and desirable conditions for settlement and flourishing.
* **Bad (Hebrew, _raʻ_):** As the direct antonym of _ṭôwb_, this term denotes what is undesirable, difficult, harmful, or poor in quality. When applied to the land, it would suggest barrenness, scarcity of vital resources, challenging or inhospitable terrain, or conditions that would significantly hinder settlement and sustenance for a large nation.
* **Strong holds (Hebrew, _mibtsâr_):** This noun specifically refers to fortified places, fortresses, or well-defended, walled cities. It signifies locations that are militarily defensible and inherently difficult to conquer, implying the strength, organization, and established nature of the inhabitants. The assessment of these "strong holds" was crucial for understanding the formidable military challenge Israel would inevitably face in taking possession of the land.

#### Verse Breakdown
* **"And what the land [is] that they dwell in, whether it [be] good or bad;":** This initial clause instructs the spies to conduct a comprehensive and objective evaluation of the land's intrinsic quality. They were to determine its agricultural potential, its water sources, its general habitability, and its overall capacity to sustain the entire Israelite nation. This was not a superficial glance but a detailed assessment of its inherent value and potential challenges from a practical, economic, and ecological perspective. The "good or bad" dichotomy served as a fundamental criterion for assessing the land's overall desirability and viability for a large, settled population.
* **"and what cities [they be] that they dwell in, whether in tents, or in strong holds;":** The second clause shifts the focus from the land's natural attributes to the human element—the inhabitants and their settlements. The spies were commanded to observe the nature of the cities and dwellings. Were the people nomadic, living in temporary "tents," which might suggest a less organized, perhaps more vulnerable or transient population? Or were they settled in formidable, well-defended "strong holds" (fortified cities), indicating a powerful, established, and militarily capable enemy? This intelligence was paramount for Moses and the Israelite leadership to formulate an effective strategic plan for conquest and settlement.

#### Literary Devices
[Numbers 13:19](/numbers/13-19 "Numbers 13:19 - Moses' Instructions to the Spies") effectively employs several literary devices to convey its precise and comprehensive instructions. The most prominent is **Dichotomy**, presenting two clear opposing options for assessment: "good or bad" for the land's quality and "tents or strong holds" for the nature of the dwellings. This binary structure emphasizes the thoroughness and objective nature of the reconnaissance mission, requiring the spies to categorize their observations clearly and without ambiguity. There is also an implied **Interrogative Tone** within the instructions, as Moses is essentially posing a series of critical questions that the spies are tasked with answering through their diligent observations. This highlights the information-gathering purpose and the strategic importance of the mission. Furthermore, the verse exhibits a subtle form of **Parallelism** in its two main clauses, both beginning with the interrogative "And what..." and proceeding to inquire about a key aspect of the land (its quality) and its inhabitants (their dwellings), reinforcing the two primary, interconnected areas of intelligence gathering.

### THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
[Numbers 13:19](/numbers/13-19 "Numbers 13:19 - Moses' Instructions to the Spies"), though seemingly a practical military instruction, carries profound theological weight. It profoundly underscores the delicate yet crucial balance between divine promise and human responsibility. God had unconditionally promised Israel a "good land," yet Moses' instructions reveal that this divine promise did not negate the need for human diligence, strategic planning, and a sober, realistic assessment of the challenges ahead. The "good or bad" assessment of the land relates directly to God's character as a faithful provider and sustainer, while the "strong holds" represent the formidable obstacles that would inevitably test Israel's faith and absolute reliance on God's power. This tension between what God has promised and the challenges humans face in realizing that promise is a recurring biblical theme, culminating in the ultimate spiritual battles believers are called to engage.

* [Deuteronomy 8:7-9](/deuteronomy/8-7-9 "Descriptive Title")
* [Joshua 14:12](/joshua/14-12 "Descriptive Title")
* [Proverbs 14:15](/proverbs/14-15 "Descriptive Title")

### REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
[Numbers 13:19](/numbers/13-19 "Numbers 13:19 - Moses' Instructions to the Spies") offers enduring and vital lessons for believers today, emphasizing the critical balance between unwavering faith in God's sovereign promises and the practical wisdom of diligent preparation. Just as Moses instructed the spies to assess the "good or bad" of the land and the nature of the "strong holds," we are likewise called to discern the realities of our own "promised lands"—whether they manifest as new opportunities, ministries, personal callings, or significant life challenges. This involves a sober and prayerful evaluation of both the blessings and the potential difficulties, recognizing that God often works powerfully through our informed efforts and strategic planning. While we must trust implicitly in God's ultimate provision and assured victory, we are not called to be naive or reckless. Instead, we are to be prayerful, discerning, and strategic, identifying both the inherent goodness of God's gifts and the "strong holds" of spiritual opposition, cultural challenges, or personal weaknesses that might impede our progress. This verse profoundly encourages us to engage with our realities, not from a place of fear, but with wisdom, courage, and a deep reliance on divine guidance, so that we can walk confidently into the inheritance God has prepared for us, equipped for both blessing and spiritual battle.

#### Questions for Reflection
* **How do I personally balance unwavering faith in God's promises with prudent preparation and realistic assessment in my own life or ministry endeavors?**
* **What "good lands" (blessings, opportunities, or callings) has God placed before me, and how am I truly assessing their full potential and inherent challenges?**
* **What "strong holds" (spiritual opposition, personal strongholds, or external obstacles) do I need to prayerfully identify and strategically prepare to confront, relying entirely on God's strength and wisdom?**

### FAQ
**Was it wrong for Moses to send spies if God had already promised the land to Israel?**

Answer: No, sending the spies was not inherently an act of unfaithfulness or a questioning of God's divine promise. While God had indeed promised the land, He consistently works through human means and wisdom throughout biblical history. This reconnaissance mission was intended for strategic planning, understanding the practical challenges ahead, and building confidence among the people, not to determine if God's promise was true or achievable. The fundamental error lay not in the mission itself, but in the majority of the spies' fearful report and the people's subsequent lack of faith and rebellion, as vividly recounted in [Numbers 14](/numbers/14 "Numbers 14 - Israel's Rebellion and God's Judgment"). Moses' detailed instructions in [Numbers 13:17-20](/numbers/13-17-20 "Numbers 13:17-20 - Moses' Instructions to the Spies") reflect the actions of a wise and responsible leader preparing his people for a significant and challenging undertaking, trusting that God would empower them through their preparation.

### CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
[Numbers 13:19](/numbers/13-19 "Numbers 13:19 - Moses' Instructions to the Spies"), in its call to assess the "good or bad" of the land and the nature of its "strong holds," finds its profound and ultimate fulfillment in Jesus Christ. The "good land" that Israel was poised to inherit serves as a powerful foreshadowing of the spiritual inheritance and abundant life found exclusively in Jesus Christ, which is truly "good" beyond all human measure, filled with "every spiritual blessing" ([Ephesians 1:3](/ephesians/1-3 "Ephesians 1:3 - Spiritual Blessings in Christ")). Moreover, the "strong holds" that the spies were tasked with identifying represent the spiritual strongholds of sin, death, and the powers of darkness that have held humanity captive throughout history. Jesus, as the ultimate "scout" and divine conqueror, entered the human condition, fully assessed the spiritual landscape of fallen humanity, and triumphed decisively over every "strong hold" of the enemy through His sacrificial death and glorious resurrection ([Colossians 2:15](/colossians/2-15 "Colossians 2:15 - Triumph Over Principalities and Powers")). He has disarmed the rulers and authorities, making a public spectacle of them. Believers, united in Christ, are now empowered to pull down spiritual strongholds in their own lives and in the world, not by their own might or strategic reconnaissance, but by the divine power of the gospel ([2 Corinthians 10:4-5](/2_corinthians/10-4-5 "2 Corinthians 10:4-5 - Pulling Down Strongholds")). The true Promised Land is the rest and eternal inheritance we have in Him, a reality secured by His complete victory, not by human military might or earthly assessment ([Hebrews 4:1-11](/hebrews/4-1-11 "Hebrews 4:1-11 - The Rest of God")).

Note: Commentary is generated by AI with a directive for Biblical fidelity. Always rely on the Holy Spirit for discernment. The Scripture text and cross-references are from verified, non-AI sources.