Michael מִיכָאֵל
A spy from the tribe of Asher.
Who is Michael in the Bible?
Michael was one of the twelve spies sent by Moses to scout the land of Canaan, chosen as the representative from the tribe of Asher (Numbers 13:13). Along with the other spies, he spent forty days exploring the land and observing its inhabitants and cities (Numbers 13:17-20). When the spies returned, Michael joined ten others in giving a discouraging report that emphasized the strength of Canaan's inhabitants and fortified cities, contrasting with Caleb and Joshua's call to trust God (Numbers 13:30-33). His negative report contributed to the Israelites' rebellion against the Lord, resulting in a forty-year delay before the next generation could enter the promised land, making him a cautionary figure in Israel's wilderness journey.
Biography
Michael is mentioned in the book of Numbers as one of the twelve spies sent by Moses to explore the land of Canaan (Num.13.13). He was chosen as the representative from the tribe of Asher. Along with the other spies, Michael was instructed to assess the land, its inhabitants, and its cities (Num.13.17-20). After forty days, the spies returned with their report, acknowledging the land's fruitfulness but emphasizing the strength of its inhabitants and fortified cities (Num.13.25-29). While Caleb and Joshua encouraged the people to trust in the Lord and take possession of the land, the other ten spies, including Michael, gave a discouraging report that instilled fear in the Israelites (Num.13.30-33). As a result, the people rebelled against Moses and the Lord, leading to a forty-year delay in entering the Promised Land (Num.14).
Family
In Scripture
1 biblical bookNumbers 1 verse
- Numbers 13:13
"from the tribe of Asher, Sethur son of Michael;"
Names & Aliases
| Form | Language | Script | Transliteration | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Named | Hebrew | מִיכָאֵל | miykāʾēl | Mikael , the name of an archangel and of nine Israelites |