23. Sent to descry Beth-el. That is, they reconnoitered thoroughly before venturing an attack, to find the best way to conquer it. A historical note is added that the former name of the city was Luz. After conquering the town the Hebrews renamed it Bethel in honor of the experience of Jacob there (see on 22). The new town evidently was not on the same spot as the old, for in the book of Joshua the two cities are described as different, though adjoining, places (Joshua 16:2). The town was originally in the territory of Benjamin but in close proximity to the border of Ephraim (Joshua 18:13, 21, 22).