Definition: And they went and came to Moses, and to Aaron, and to all the congregation of the children of Israel, unto the wilderness of Paran, to Kadesh; and brought back word unto them, and unto all the congregation, and shewed them the fruit of the land.
Explanation: Okay, let’s break down this verse from Numbers 13:26. It’s a really significant passage about a group of spies traveling into enemy territory! Here's a simplified explanation: Basically, it means: “They went into the land of Canaan (which is now Israel) and returned with information about how rich and bountiful the land was.” Let’s unpack it word-by-word to understand the meaning: "And they went and came..." : This describes a group of people – spies, likely leading a small delegation. They were traveling. "...to Moses, and Aaron, and all the congregation of the children of Israel..." : This tells us who they were going with. They were accompanying leaders like Moses (the leader of the Israelites), and they were part of the whole group of people who were following them. "...unto the wilderness of Paran..." : “Paran” is a place in ancient Israel, often translated as “the borderlands” or “the outskirts.” It was a relatively remote area – think of it like a boundary line. "...to Kadesh..." : This is the name of a place in the Sinai Peninsula – a very important and strategically significant location near Mount Sinai where God gave the Law to Moses. It’s where they were going to be revealed. "And brought back word unto them, and unto all the congregation, and shewed them the fruit of the land." : This is the key part. They went into the land, and returned with a report – they found that the land was incredibly fertile and abundant. They showed everyone – all the Israelites – what the land looked like, what crops grew, and how much it had to offer. What's the significance? This story is important because it shows: God’s Blessing: It highlights God’s blessing on His people, because He allows them to explore and understand His creation. The Importance of Knowledge: It demonstrates that God wants his people to know about Him and His land, even if they need to learn from others. Trusting the Leaders: It shows that the leaders were trustworthy enough to go into a potentially dangerous place (the enemy territory) in order to get information for the good of the community. In short, it’s a story about God revealing His blessings and allowing his people to learn about the land through observation. --- Do you want me to: Explain this verse further? Connect it to a specific biblical story or theme?