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Arno Clemens Gaebelein

Arno Gaebelein's Annotated Bible - Numbers 13:1-33

4. At Kadesh-Barnea and Israel’s Unbelief CHAPTER 13 1. The command to search out the land (Numbers 13:1-3 ) 2. The names of the spies (Numbers 13:4-16 ) 3. Directions given (Numbers 13:17-20 ) 4. Their explorations (Numbers 13:21-25 ) 5. The report they brought (Numbers 13:26-33 ) The crisis is reached with this chapter. The events of the preceding chapters are the prelude to the complete failure and disaster. To understand the situation we must consult Deuteronomy 1:21-24 . Moses... read more

L.M. Grant

L. M. Grant's Commentary on the Bible - Numbers 13:1-33

SPIES SENT TO CANAAN (vs.1-25) As Israel drew nearer to Canaan, God instructed Moses to send a man from each of the 12 tribes to spy out the land Canaan (vs.1-2). If we compare this to Deuteronomy 1:22-23 we shall see that the children of Israel had first come to Moses, desiring that they should send men to search out the land and bring back advice as to what way Israel should take to enter the land and what cities should be their first object of attack. Notice in this scripture that there... read more

James Gray

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 13:3-16

The HOLY GHOST hath been pleased to mention by name, the persons who went on this embassy. But observe with what particular attention Joshua is mentioned, and his name changed. The addition of the first syllable of the glorious name of JEHOVAH, to Hosea, is no doubt meant in great honor. If the Reader will consult Jeremiah 22:28 . he will find an instance where the taking off this first syllable was intended in disgrace. Coniah's original name was Jeconiah, See 2 Kings 24:8-15 . But the HOLY... 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

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