Numbers 13:6 - Of the tribe of Judah, Caleb the son of Jephunneh.

Generated Verse: Numbers 13:6

What does "Numbers 13:6" mean?


Numbers 13 describes Moses sending twelve spies, one from each tribe of Israel, to scout out the land of Canaan before the Israelites attempted to conquer it. Verse 6, "Of the tribe of Judah, Caleb the son of Jephunneh," simply identifies:

Caleb: The name of one of the spies.
Tribe of Judah: The tribe to which Caleb belonged. This is a significant detail because the tribe of Judah was a prominent and important tribe in Israel. It's the tribe from which King David and eventually Jesus would descend.
Jephunneh: The name of Caleb's father. This lineage helps to further identify which Caleb is being discussed.

In the context of the story, this verse serves a few key purposes:

Identification: It clarifies exactly which individual is being referenced.
Representation: It emphasizes that each tribe had a representative in the scouting mission. This meant that the report on Canaan, whatever it was, would be delivered with the authority and consensus of each major component of the nation of Israel.
Foreshadowing: Caleb is a central figure in this narrative. Unlike most of the other spies, he would return and argue that the Israelites should move forward immediately and confidently, believing that God would help them take the land. This verse, therefore, introduces us to a significant character and foreshadows his future role.

Essentially, this verse is part of the meticulous record-keeping within the Bible, establishing the identities of those involved in pivotal events. It's a small but important detail that sets the stage for the larger narrative of the spies' report and its consequences for the Israelites.

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