16. These are the spies Moses sent to explore the land. He changed the name of Hoshea son of Nun to Joshua.
17. When Moses sent them out, he said to them, “Go north from here into the southern part of the land of Canaan and then on into the hill country.
18. Find out what kind of country it is, how many people live there, and how strong they are.
19. Find out whether the land is good or bad and whether the people live in open towns or in fortified cities.
20. Find out whether the soil is fertile and whether the land is wooded. And be sure to bring back some of the fruit that grows there.” (It was the season when grapes were beginning to ripen.)