The reason I have gone back in time here and am in the book of numbers, is that first I want you to see a little history on Joshua, so that you can see and understand a bit about his leadership style. He was not the same sort of leader as Moses was.

I want to see and understand what he was facing or what obstacles he encountered, because remember, they were going in to take the promised land. A lot of people, including myself, have struggled with the idea of “taking” anything. We’ve grown up with the connotation that to take what we want is a bad thing. But, I’ve discovered a different way of thinking on this matter, and I’d like to show you it, because I’m finding it here in this study as well, and I had never recognized it in these passages before.

Canaan = “lowland”

1) the 4th son of Ham and the progenitor of the Phoenicians and of the various nations who peopled the seacoast of Palestine

2) merchant, trader

The first thing I’m noticing is that this is a lowland area. So its not like they are trying to capture a mountain fortress. God has not made this “promised land” something that is unattainable and out of reach.

Now, in all of these questions he sent them to find answers to, I see 5W’s and an H. The majority question here was “What?” But, answering that question would enable Moses to understand “How,” “When,” and “Where” to move the people of Israel to, particularly if they needed to attack to take the land. Additionally, he wanted to know conditions; “Who” the people were; in other words, who or what were they facing, and what was their strength?

Zin = “flat”

Rehob = “broad place”

Hamath = “fortress”

Hebron = “association”

Ahiman = “my brother is a gift”

Sheshai = “noble”

Talmai = “furrowed”

1) one of the 3 sons of the giant Anak who were slain by the men of Judah

Anak = “neck”

1) progenitor of a family, or tribe of the giant people in Canaan

Zoan = “place of departure”

1) an ancient city of lower Egypt called Tanis by the Greeks; located on the eastern bank of the Tanitic branch of the Nile; the capital of the Shepherd dynasty, built 7 years after Hebron and existing before Abraham and the dwelling place of the Pharaoh at the time of the exodus

a) modern ‘San’

Egypt = “land of the Copts”

1) a country at the northeastern section of Africa, adjacent to Palestine, and through which the Nile flows.

So essentially, they discovered a flat, broad place that was likened unto a fortress. This place was in an association where “my brother is a gift.” This association was with giants; considered noble and of furrowed neck. This association was initiated seven years before the place of departure in the land of Copts.

Seven was the expression of the highest power, the greatest conceivable fullness of force. It is the number of expressed fullness, or completeness. (The number 7 is made up of two significant numbers, each also suggestive of completeness – 3, the number of God (the trinity) and 4, the number of the Spirit.)

The fact that there is a footnote about this number in the verse, speaks of a situation that was preordained. In other words, the spies were supposed to see these challenges. This was orchestrated in advance. There were supposed to be obstacles with which to test their faith and understanding of the God they claimed to serve.

Now these were the names of the twelve spies that Moses sent to spy out the promised land. However, there was one more thing that Moses did before these spies embarked.

Num 13:16 These [are] the names of the men which Moses sent to spy out the land. And Moses called Oshea the son of Nun Jehoshua.

Moses = “drawn”

1) the prophet and lawgiver, leader of the exodus

Hosea or Hoshea or Oshea = “salvation”

1) family name of Joshua, the son of Nun

Nun = “fish” or “posterity”

1) father of Joshua the successor of Moses

Joshua or Jehoshua = “Jehovah is salvation”

1) son of Nun of the tribe of Ephraim and successor to Moses as the leader of the children of Israel; led the conquest of Canaan

That “and” signifies an important change, but it was done after he chose the tribes, so I’m added the those name meanings again at the end here in reference to significance of order.

This entire name thing reads sort of like a poem. This is what I see from the meanings of their names…and the punctuation is mine and subjective.

What I found most interesting in this poem of names, aside from the entire thing; is that when the question of “Who is like God?” comes up, apparently, the answer from the majority of the tribes is “Wrestling.” In other words, the question is an issue of faith, and the majority of the people (it appears) as represented by these 12, are wrestling with their faith. It says a lot, but I will expound on it later on.

We are continuing with the names of the twelve spies to see if their names tell us anything about why 10 came back with a bad report, and only 2 had a good report.

Joseph = “Jehovah has added”

1) the eldest son of Jacob by Rachel

Manasseh = “causing to forget”

1) the eldest son of Joseph and progenitor of the tribe of Manasseh

Gaddi = “my fortune”

1) the son of Susi, spy from the tribe of Manasseh sent by Moses to spy out the land of Canaan

Susi = “my horse”

1) father of Gaddi, the spy for the tribe of Manasseh

Dan = “a judge”

1) the 5th son of Jacob, the 1st of Bilhah, Rachel’s handmaid

Ammiel = “my kinsman is God”

1) the spy from the tribe of Dan who perished in the plague for his evil report

Gemalli = “camel driver”

1) the father of Ammiel, the Danite spy

Asher = “happy”

1) son of Jacob and Zilpah

Sethur = “hidden”

1) son of Michael, the spy from the tribe of Asher

Michael = “who is like God”

1) one of, the chief, or the first archangel who is described as the one who stands in time of conflict for the children of Israel

2) an Asherite, father of Sethur, one of the 12 spies of Israel

Naphtali = “wrestling”

1) the 5th son of Jacob and the 2nd by Bilhah the handmaid of Rachel

Nahbi = “hidden”

1) son of Vophsi, a Naphtalite, and one of the 12 spies sent to spy out the promised land

Vophsi = “rich”

1) father of Nahbi, the man chosen as the spy for Naphtali

Gad = “troop”

1) seventh son of Jacob by Zilpah, Leah’s handmaid, and full brother of Asher.

Geuel = “majesty of God”

1) the Gadite chosen to spy out the land, son of Machi

Machi = “decrease”

1) father of Geuel the Gadite who was one of the 12 spies of Israel

The first thing I want to do, is look at the names of all the twelve that were called to this mission of spying out the land, because I think that their names may reveal something about their mindset, and why it was that the majority only saw things that were too great to overcome.

Num 13:4  And these [were] their names: of the tribe of Reuben, Shammua the son of Zaccur.

Reuben = “behold a son”

1) the eldest son of Jacob by Leah

Shammua = “renowned”

1) son of Zaccur and the spy from the tribe of Reuben

Zaccur or Zacchur = “mindful”

1) father of Shammua, the Reubenite spy

Num 13:5  Of the tribe of Simeon, Shaphat the son of Hori.

Simeon or Shimeon = “heard”

1) the 2nd son of Jacob by his wife Leah and progenitor of the tribe of Simeon

Shaphat = “judged” or “he hath judged”

1) son of Hori and the prince of Simeon chosen to spy out the promised land

Hori = “cave dweller”

1) a Simeonite, father of Shaphat

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

Judah = “praised”

1) the son of Jacob by Leah

2) the tribe descended from Judah the son of Jacob

Caleb = “dog”

1) the godly son of Jephunneh and the faithful spy who reported the Promised Land favourably and urged its capture

Jephunneh = “He will be facing”

1) a Kenezite and father of Caleb the spy from the tribe of Judah

Num 13:7  Of the tribe of Issachar, Igal the son of Joseph.

Issachar = “there is recompense”

1) the 9th son of Jacob and the 5th by Leah his first wife and the progenitor of a tribe by his name

 Igal or Igeal = “He redeems”

1) son of Joseph and a spy from the tribe of Issachar

Joseph = “Jehovah has added”

1) the eldest son of Jacob by Rachel

2) father of Igal, who represented the tribe of Issachar among the spies

Num 13:8  Of the tribe of Ephraim, Oshea the son of Nun.

Ephraim = “double ash-heap: I shall be doubly fruitful”

1) second son of Joseph, blessed by him and given preference over first son, Manasseh

Hosea or Hoshea or Oshea = “salvation”

1) family name of Joshua, the son of Nun

 Nun = “fish” or “posterity”

1) father of Joshua the successor of Moses

Joshua or Jehoshua = “Jehovah is salvation”

1) son of Nun of the tribe of Ephraim and successor to Moses as the leader of the children of Israel; led the conquest of Canaan

Num 13:9  Of the tribe of Benjamin, Palti the son of Raphu.

Benjamin = “son of the right hand”

1) Jacob’s and Rachel’s youngest son, Joseph’s full brother

Palti or Phalti = “my deliverance”

1) son of Raphu, the spy chosen from the tribe of Benjamin

Raphu = “healed”

1) father of Palti, the spy from the tribe of Benjamin

Num 13:10  Of the tribe of Zebulun, Gaddiel the son of Sodi.

Zebulun = “exalted”

1) the 10th of the sons of Jacob, 6th and last of Leah; progenitor of Zebulun

Gaddiel = “God is my fortune”

1) the spy from the tribe of Zebulun sent by Moses to spy out the land of Canaan

Sodi = “acquaintance”

1) father of Gaddiel, the spy selected from the tribe of Zebulun

Now, because Joshua’s story starts back in numbers, at least, this is the first place we start to see him; then I have to there and see exactly what was happening.