Numbers 13:2 WEB

James Gray's Concise Bible Commentary - Numbers 13:1-33

CRISIS AT KADESH - BARNEA The unbelief exhibited at Kadesh-barnea, and the divine comment on it invest the transaction with great significance. The people had faith to sprinkle the blood of atonement (Exodus 12:28 ), and to come out of Egypt (type of the world), but had not faith to enter their Canaan rest. Therefore, though redeemed, they “grieved” Jehovah for forty years. (Compare the chapters of this lesson with Deuteronomy 1:19-40 ; Deuteronomy 1 Corinthians 10:1-5 ; Hebrews 3:12-19 ;... read more

Joseph Parker

The People's Bible by Joseph Parker - Numbers 13:1-33

Irreligious Fears Numbers 13:0 , Num 14:1-25 God gives no speculative commands. When he said "Send thou men, that they may search the land of Canaan, which I give unto the children of Israel," he meant that the land of Canaan was to be given to Israel whatever difficulties or delays might occur in the process of acquisition. There is no if in the commandments of Heaven that may mean either of two courses or either of two ways. God says, You shall have this, if you are faithful. But the if... read more

Robert Hawker

Hawker's Poor Man's Commentary - Numbers 13:1-2

If we compare those verses with Deuteronomy 1:19-23 , we shall discover that, though as in this place it is said, that the LORD spake unto Moses concerning those spies, going to search the land, yet the thought originated in some of the people. The LORD himself had spied out the land for them long before, and declared it to be a good land, and had promised it to their fathers; but notwithstanding this, they chose to see it for themselves, and did not wish altogether to trust to the LORD. See... read more

Matthew Henry

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on the Bible - Numbers 13:1-20

1-20 A memorable and melancholy history is related in this and the following chapter, of the turning back of Israel from the borders of Canaan, and the sentencing them to wander and perish in the wilderness, for their unbelief and murmuring. It appears, Deuteronomy 1:22, that the motion to search out the land came from the people. They had a better opinion of their own policy than of God's wisdom. Thus we ruin ourselves by believing the reports and representations of sense rather than Divine... read more

Frank Binford Hole

F. B. Hole's Old and New Testament Commentary - Numbers 13:1-35

Num_13:1 Num_16:35 . At the opening of chapter 13 we find the people had moved northward and were camped on the confines of the Promised Land. From that spot, by the commandment of the Lord, a leading man from each tribe, except the tribe of Levi, was sent to search out the land they were to enter. This command evidently had a twofold bearing. In the first place, it was to act as an encouragement and incentive to the people by allowing their representatives to see for themselves the excellence... read more

Paul E. Kretzmann

The Popular Commentary by Paul E. Kretzmann - Numbers 13:1-20

The Sending of the Spies v. 1. And the Lord spake unto Moses, saying, v. 2. Send thou men that they may search the land of Canaan, explore and inspect it from every angle, which I give unto the children of Israel; of every tribe of their fathers shall ye send a man, every one a ruler among them. The men were not to be identical with the princes of the tribes, as named Numbers 1:5-Nehemiah :, but they were, nevertheless, to be notable for ability and leadership. v. 3. And Moses, by the... read more

Johann Peter Lange

Lange's Commentary on the Holy Scriptures: Critical, Doctrinal and Homiletical - Numbers 13:1-33

THIRD SECTIONThe Fall of the Old Generation in the Wilderness of Paran. The Spies. The Despondency, the Stubbornness and the JudgmentNumbers 13:1 to Numbers 14:45In this section we read the history of Israel in the wilderness in the narrower sense, the tragic history of their first cardinal and temporary rejection. God never rejected His entire people, though He did reject single generations of the nation in a conditional sense. This first time one generation died in the wilderness; another... read more

Frederick Brotherton Meyer

F.B. Meyer's 'Through the Bible' Commentary - Numbers 13:1-20

the Spies Sent to Canaan Numbers 12:16 ; Numbers 13:1-20 By comparing the opening verses with Deuteronomy 1:19-22 , it appears that the suggestion about the spies emanated from the people, and that their proposal was graciously acquiesced in by God. But let us remember that it is a profound mistake to spy out or criticize the land or lot into which we are being led. We are almost certain to see the difficulties apart from the grace, and they sometimes appear to be insurmountable. It is... read more

G. Campbell Morgan

G. Campbell Morgan's Exposition on the Whole Bible - Numbers 13:1-33

Here we have another story of failure. It is closely associated with the movement of the people toward the promised land. The hour had come in which they should go forward. In this account in Numbers it is stated sending the spies was in obedience to the divine command. However, a comparison of this with the reference to the matter in the first chapter of Deuteronomy will show that the command followed the people's determination to do this very thing. This was in itself an act of suspicion and... read more

James Nisbet

James Nisbet's Church Pulpit Commentary - Numbers 13:2

THE DIVINE AND HUMAN PARTNERSHIP‘Search the land which I give.’ Numbers 13:2 I. The divine and human partnership.—The Israelites had now reached the very border of the Promised Land. But, before actually entering in, Moses, like a prudent leader, sent out twelve men—one man from each tribe—to see what manner of land it was, and to report as to the strength and military prowess of the peoples they would have to dispossess. Moses did this, the account says, at the direct bidding of God. Notice... read more