And the Lord's anger was kindled, the same time ,.... Against the spies that brought the ill report, and against all the people that were disheartened and murmured upon it, and which, above all things, was to be dreaded now: and he sware, saying ; as follows. read more
Surely none of the men that came up out of Egypt, from twenty years old and upwards ,.... See Numbers 14:28 . shall see the land which I sware unto Abraham, unto Isaac, and unto Jacob ; the land of Canaan, which at various times he sware to give to them, and to their posterity: because they have not wholly followed me ; the laws which he prescribed them, the directions he gave them, and particularly the orders they had to go up and possess the land at once, Deuteronomy 1:21 . read more
Save Caleb the son of Jephunneh the Kenezite, and Joshua the son of Nun ,.... See Numbers 14:30 , whether Caleb or Jephunneh is called the Kenezite is not so easy to determine; the latter rather seems to be most correct, for that Caleb should be called so from Kenaz the father of Othniel, who is said to be Caleb's brother seems not to be agreeable; since it is not likely that they were his own brothers, or Caleb would not have given his daughter to him; besides Jephunneh and not Kenaz is... read more
And the Lord's anger was kindled against Israel ,.... For murmuring against the report of the spies: and he made them wander in the wilderness forty years ; for though it was but about thirty eight years from that time that they were in the wilderness, the round number of forty is given; and besides it includes the time of their first coming into it, which being reckoned, makes the complete number, within a few months: Kadesh, from whence the spies were sent, and whither they returned,... read more
And, behold, ye are risen up in your fathers' stead ,.... Succeeded them in their families, of which they were now the heads; and in their substance, their flocks, and herds; and he suggests also, in their manners amid evil dispositions: an increase of sinful men ; this new generation was greatly increased, for when the number was taken, as it was but a little before this time, they were pretty near the same number as of those that came out of Egypt; but then they were not only an... read more
For if ye turn away from after him ,.... From following him in the way of his commandments, from attending his word, worship, and ordinances, and from walking after him, who went before them in a pillar of cloud and fire, as it is suggested they would, should they stop short here and not go over Jordan into the land of Canaan: he will yet again leave them in the wilderness ; as he did at the time of the affair of the spies, when they were ordered to turn and get into the wilderness by... read more
And they came near unto him ,.... The heads of the tribes of Gad and Reuben came a little nearer to Moses, having something more to say unto him, in order to explain their meaning, and in doing which they used some degree of freedom and boldness with him, see Genesis 44:18 . and said, we will build sheepfolds here for our cattle, and cities for our little ones not build new ones, but repair the old ones; for there were cities enough in the country, as before named, and no doubt... read more
But we ourselves will go ready armed before the children of Israel ,.... This they said to free themselves from the charge of cowardice, and that they did not mean to sit still while their brethren went to war; they were willing to put on their armour, and be ready to meet the enemy upon the borders of the land, and engage with them, and to expose their lives in favour of their brethren: until we have brought them unto their place ; to the land of Canaan, the place designed for them, and... read more
We will not return unto our houses ,.... In the cities built or repaired by them, or to their families, and their substance, their flocks and their herds; all which they should leave behind them, and never think of returning to them: until the children of Israel have inherited every man his inheritance ; until all the tribes were settled in their respective places, and every family and everyone in them had their portion assigned them; and accordingly they did not return until the land... read more
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John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Numbers 32:9
For when they went up unto the valley of Eshcol ,.... That is, when they went up the hill, for they were bid to go up into the mountain, and proceeded on into the country, until they came to the valley or brook, of Eshcol, so called from the cluster of grapes they there cut down, and brought along with them, Numbers 13:17 . and saw the land ; searching it for the space of forty days: they discouraged the heart of the children of Israel ; by telling them that there were giants in... read more