Numbers 13:2

“Send thou men, etc.] Which is rather a permission than a command; so Jarchi interprets it, “send men according to thy mind, I do not command thee, but if thou pleasest send;” this he observed was agreeable to Moses, and to the Israelites, and therefore granted it, or allowed them to take their own way, and which issued badly, as it always does, when men are left to their own counsel: that they may search the land of Canaan, which I give unto the children of Israel; called the land of Canaan, though it consisted of seven nations, from the principal of them; this God had given in promise to the children of Israel, and had now brought them to the borders of it; nay, had given them orders to go…”

“A ruler - A comparison of the list with that of Numbers 13:1 :5 following shows that they were not the princes of the tribes, but heads of houses or families Numbers 12:4. Of the names here given those of Joshua and Caleb alone are otherwise known to us. return to 'Top of Page'”

“A ruler - A person of wisdom and authority. Numbers 13:8”

“Send thou: Num 32:8; Deu 1:22-25; Josh. 2:1-24 of every: Num 1:4, Num 34:18 a ruler: Num 11:16; Exo 18:25; Deu 1:15 Numbers 13:3”