Bible Dictionary
Spies
Spies were scouts sent to examine a land and report on its condition. Moses sent twelve into Canaan, while Joshua later sent two spies to view Jericho.
Definition
Spies were persons sent secretly to examine a land and report on its condition. They served as scouts whose information could influence a people’s decisions about travel, occupation, and warfare.
Biblical Usage
Moses sent twelve spies from Kadesh to inspect Canaan; after forty days they returned with a discouraging report, except for Caleb and Joshua. Their unbelief contributed to Israel’s wilderness wandering. Later, Joshua secretly sent two spies to view Jericho, and they reported that the land’s inhabitants were afraid.
Historical Background
The twelve spies traveled as far north as the region around Lake Merom and were absent about six weeks. Joshua’s two spies found refuge with Rahab and learned of the fear produced by Israel’s reported victories.
Scripture References
Related Figures
Historical Bible Dictionaries
Easton's Bible Dictionary
When the Israelites reached Kadesh for the first time, and were encamped there, Moses selected twelve spies from among the chiefs of the divisions of the tribes, and sent them forth to spy the land of Canaan (Num. 13), and to bring back to him a report of its actual condition. They at once proceeded on their important errand, and went through the land as far north as the district round Lake Merom. After about six weeks’ absence they returned. Their report was very discouraging, and the people were greatly alarmed, and in a rebellious spirit proposed to elect a new leader and return to Egypt. Only two of the spies, Caleb and Joshua, showed themselves on this occasion stout-hearted and faithful. All their appeals and remonstrances were in vain. Moses announced that as a punishment for their rebellion they must now wander in the wilderness till a new generation should arise which would go up and posses the land. The spies had been forty days absent on their expedition, and for each day the Israelites were to be wanderers for a year in the desert. (See ESHCOL.) Two spies were sent by Joshua “secretly” i.e., unknown to the people (Josh. 2:1), “to view the land and Jericho” after the death of Moses, and just before the tribes under his leadership were about to cross the Jordan. They learned from Rahab (q.v.), in whose house they found a hiding-place, that terror had fallen on all the inhabitants of the land because of the great things they had heard that Jehovah had done for them (Ex. 15:14-16; comp. 23:27; Deut. 2:25; 11:25). As the result of their mission they reported: “Truly Jehovah hath delivered into our hands all the land; for even all the inhabitants of the country do faint because of us.”