שופטים, פרק א׳, פסוק כ״ג

The preparation to conquer the city of Bethel began not with a direct military assault, but with a calculated intelligence operation designed to prepare the ground for the upcoming campaign [מצודת ציון, ביאור שטיינזלץ]. Rather than advancing the entire army immediately, the tribe of Joseph sent a specialized squad of scouts ahead to survey the area [רש״י, מלבי״ם].

There is a distinct difference between this type of mission and traditional espionage. While a spy typically searches for vulnerabilities in enemy defenses to plan an attack, these scouts were tasked with finding an optimal physical location. Because the main military camp had not yet approached the area, the scouts did not enter the city itself. Instead, they surveyed the surrounding borders and terrain to locate a strategic and convenient site to establish their camp, anticipating a prolonged siege that would keep them stationed there for many days [מלבי״ם].

Positioning themselves outside the city, the scouts functioned as hidden observers waiting to see if anyone would exit. Direct visibility of the city's entryways was blocked, likely because thick gardens and orchards surrounded the walls and completely concealed the gates [רד״ק].

To ensure geographical clarity, the ancient name of the area, Luz, is recorded. This historical detail distinguishes this specific location from another city also named Bethel, which was situated near Ai in the territory of the tribe of Benjamin [מלבי״ם]. Furthermore, Luz may not have been the exact same settlement as the newly conquered Bethel, but rather a distinct, independent town located immediately adjacent to it [ביאור שטיינזלץ].