John Calvin Commentary Numbers 13:2

"Send thou men, that they may spy out the land of Canaan, which I give unto the children of Israel: of every tribe of their fathers shall ye send a man, every one a prince among them." — Numbers 13:2 (ASV)

Of every tribe of their fathers shall you send a man. If all had been taken from one tribe, or from any single portion of the people, their faithfulness might have been suspected by the others. God, therefore, intended for each tribe to be assured by its own witness, so that their report might be more unquestionable. All cause for jealousy was also to be removed, to prevent any tribe, if it had been overlooked, from objecting to the messengers, whom it supposed to have been chosen as a slight to it. This, then, was the advantage of the equal distribution, to prevent any sinister suspicion or offense from disturbing the unanimity of the whole people.

Secondly, it was required that they should be men of personal dignity, since God commanded that prominent men should be chosen, whose testimony would carry greater authority. For it would have been easy to discredit obscure individuals.

Since, however, both precautions were unsuccessful, it appears from this that there is no counsel so wise and beneficial that it cannot be perverted by the wickedness of humankind. Thus, this excellent providence of God made the people all the more inexcusable. At the same time, God has reminded us once for all by this example that, even if those who seemed to be like pillars may totter and stumble, or even fall altogether, our minds must still be supported by faith, so that we do not give way.

Their names are listed, in perpetual remembrance of their ignominy, except for two, Joshua and Caleb. For it was just that their crime should be handed down to all ages, and that the infamy of their perfidiousness should never be erased, since they endeavored, as much as they could, to nullify the promise and the grace of God.

Moses gave the name Jehoshua to the son of Nun in the spirit of prophecy, as a foreshadowing of the exalted role to which he was destined. Ambition is so rash that men are often disappointed in the outcome when they invent titles of honor on their own initiative. However, Moses was not motivated by blind affection to change the name Oshea to Jehoshua; instead, God directed his tongue and mind to commend in this way, beforehand, the one who⁴⁹ was to be the future instrument of their preservation. Still, it cannot be inferred with certainty from this passage at what time the new name was given to him. It is not specified that he was called Jehoshua at the time he was sent out; indeed, it is probable that he had been previously distinguished in this way, namely, from the period when he had been associated with Moses as his companion and assistant in all important matters.

⁴⁹ “Afin que ce nom d’honneur servist a l’authoriser;” in order that this name of honor might serve to give him authority. — Fr.