Spies

2 definitions found

From The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48 [gcide]:

  Spy \Spy\, n.; pl. {Spies} (sp[imac]z). [See {Spy}, v., and cf.
     {Espy}, n.]
     1. One who keeps a constant watch of the conduct of others.
        "These wretched spies of wit." --Dryden.
        [1913 Webster]
  


     2. (Mil.) A person sent secretly into an enemy's camp,
        territory, or fortifications, to inspect his works,
        ascertain his strength, movements, or designs, and to
        communicate such intelligence to the proper officer.
        [1913 Webster]
  
     {Spy money}, money paid to a spy; the reward for private or
        secret intelligence regarding the enemy.
  
     {Spy Wednesday} (Eccl.), the Wednesday immediately preceding
        the festival of Easter; -- so called in allusion to the
        betrayal of Christ by Judas Iscariot.
        [1913 Webster]
  
     Syn: See {Emissary}, and {Scout}.
          [1913 Webster]

From Easton's 1897 Bible Dictionary [easton]:

  Spies
     When the Israelites reached Kadesh for the first time, and were
     encamped there, Moses selected twelve spies from among the
     chiefs of the divisions of the tribes, and sent them forth to
     spy the land of Canaan (Num. 13), and to bring back to him a
     report of its actual condition. They at once proceeded on their
     important errand, and went through the land as far north as the
     district round Lake Merom. After about six weeks' absence they
     returned. Their report was very discouraging, and the people
     were greatly alarmed, and in a rebellious spirit proposed to
     elect a new leader and return to Egypt. Only two of the spies,
     Caleb and Joshua, showed themselves on this occasion
     stout-hearted and faithful. All their appeals and remonstrances
     were in vain. Moses announced that as a punishment for their
     rebellion they must now wander in the wilderness till a new
     generation should arise which would go up and posses the land.
     The spies had been forty days absent on their expedition, and
     for each day the Israelites were to be wanderers for a year in
     the desert. (See {ESHCOL}.)
     
       Two spies were sent by Joshua "secretly" i.e., unknown to the
     people (Josh. 2:1), "to view the land and Jericho" after the
     death of Moses, and just before the tribes under his leadership
     were about to cross the Jordan. They learned from Rahab (q.v.),
     in whose house they found a hiding-place, that terror had fallen
     on all the inhabitants of the land because of the great things
     they had heard that Jehovah had done for them (Ex. 15:14-16;
     comp. 23:27; Deut. 2:25; 11:25). As the result of their mission
     they reported: "Truly Jehovah hath delivered into our hands all
     the land; for even all the inhabitants of the country do faint
     because of us."