What did the spies report about the Canaanites and Israel's ability to take the land?
The spies returned with a horrible report: Israel could never take the land. They said the Canaanites were as big as grasshoppers and there was no way to drive them out. The spies concluded Israel was unable to conquer or displace the Canaanites despite God's promise to drive them out.
Les explains that one man from each tribe went into the land for forty days and came back with a horrible report. They said, “We can never do it,” and “No way can we take out those Canaanites,” claiming the Canaanites were as big as grasshoppers and that there was no way to drive them out. God had told them He would drive the Canaanites out, using hornets to chase them, and all Israel had to do was move in and take what was there. Instead, Israel wept and wailed and had their first Tisha B'Av.