Philo's Version of the Biblical Episode of the Spies

Philo's version of the episode of the spies contains many modifications. In particular, he stresses Moses' role as general. It is Moses' idea, rather than God's or the Israelites', to send spies. Independently questioning God's promise, Moses tells the spies that it would be foolish to risk conquering the land if it is poor. He appoints an even number of spies because he stresses the importance of unanimity. Philo does not give the names of the spies because he wishes to keep the focus on Moses. He omits Moses' instruction to take from the fruit of the land because he is aware that his non-Jewish audience might regard this as theft. He avoids mentioning the exaggerations that the spies reported since such exaggerations would be viewed with skepticism by his non-Jewish readers. Philo's Moses is silent in the face of the spies' report because Philo felt ambivalent about stifling a majority, though he has indignation for the masses. Philo omits the dialogue between Moses and God in which God threatens to annihilate the Israelites because this would make Moses appear to be more merciful than God.