²¹ So they went up and explored the land from the Desert of Zin^(A) as far as Rehob,^(B) toward Lebo Hamath.^{(C) 22} They went up through the Negev and came to Hebron,^(D) where Ahiman, Sheshai and Talmai,^(E) the descendants of Anak,^(F) lived. (Hebron had been built seven years before Zoan in Egypt.)^{(G) 23} When they reached the Valley of Eshkol,^[a](H) they cut off a branch bearing a single cluster of grapes. Two of them carried it on a pole between them, along with some pomegranates^(I) and figs.^{(J) 24} That place was called the Valley of Eshkol because of the cluster of grapes the Israelites cut off there. ²⁵ At the end of forty days^(K) they returned from exploring the land.^(L)

Report on the Exploration

²⁶ They came back to Moses and Aaron and the whole Israelite community at Kadesh^(M) in the Desert of Paran.^(N) There they reported to them^(O) and to the whole assembly and showed them the fruit of the land.^{(P) 27} They gave Moses this account: “We went into the land to which you sent us, and it does flow with milk and honey!^(Q) Here is its fruit.^{(R) 28} But the people who live there are powerful, and the cities are fortified and very large.^(S) We even saw descendants of Anak^(T) there.^{(U) 29} The Amalekites^(V) live in the Negev; the Hittites,^(W) Jebusites^(X) and Amorites^(Y) live in the hill country;^(Z) and the Canaanites^(AA) live near the sea and along the Jordan.^(AB)”

³⁰ Then Caleb^(AC) silenced the people before Moses and said, “We should go up and take possession of the land, for we can certainly do it.”

³¹ But the men who had gone up with him said, “We can’t attack those people; they are stronger than we are.”^{(AD) 32} And they spread among the Israelites a bad report^(AE) about the land they had explored. They said, “The land we explored devours^(AF) those living in it. All the people we saw there are of great size.^(AG)

²⁸ At the end of every three years, bring all the tithes^(A) of that year’s produce and store it in your towns,^{(B) 29} so that the Levites (who have no allotment^(C) or inheritance^(D) of their own) and the foreigners,^(E) the fatherless and the widows who live in your towns may come and eat and be satisfied,^(F) and so that the Lord your God may bless^(G) you in all the work of your hands.

¹² When you have finished setting aside a tenth^(A) of all your produce in the third year, the year of the tithe,^(B) you shall give it to the Levite, the foreigner, the fatherless and the widow, so that they may eat in your towns and be satisfied. ¹³ Then say to the Lord your God: “I have removed from my house the sacred portion and have given it to the Levite, the foreigner, the fatherless and the widow, according to all you commanded. I have not turned aside from your commands nor have I forgotten any of them.^{(C) 14} I have not eaten any of the sacred portion while I was in mourning, nor have I removed any of it while I was unclean,^(D) nor have I offered any of it to the dead. I have obeyed the Lord my God; I have done everything you commanded me. ¹⁵ Look down from heaven,^(E) your holy dwelling place, and bless^(F) your people Israel and the land you have given us as you promised on oath to our ancestors, a land flowing with milk and honey.”