(29) The land of the south.—Better, of the south country, or the Negeb. See Genesis 36:12, and also Numbers 13:17 of this Num. and Note.The mountains.—See Genesis 10:15-16, and Numbers 13:17 of this Num. and Note.The Canaanites.—See Genesis 10:15-18; Genesis 13:7, and Notes. read more
A Land Flowing with Milk and Honey Numbers 13:27 The idea suggested is, that the true disciples of the Lord Jesus are expected to show to the world some illustration of the heavenly country to which they are journeying. In a sense they have been there, and have come back. But in what sense? I. The idea with many persons is, that the future condition of man is so completely different from this, that it is out of the question to attempt to form a conception of it. Heaven, they think, is... read more
THE SPIES AND THEIR REPORTNumbers 13:1-33; Numbers 14:1-10Two narratives at least appear to be united in the thirteenth and fourteenth chapters. From Numbers 13:17; Numbers 13:22-23, we learn that the spies were despatched by way of the south, and that they went to Hebron and a little beyond, as far as the valley of Eshcol. But Numbers 13:21 states that they spied out the land from the wilderness of Zin, south of the Dead Sea, to the entering in of Hamath. The latter statement implies that they... read more
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
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
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
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
Here we have the report of the spies; and a very sinful one it was. They could not but own the fruitfulness of the land, for the grapes, and pomegranates, and figs, manifested what it was. But when they magnified the power of the enemy, whom Israel, when upheld by the arm of Omnipotence, had so often subdued, and whom GOD had promised to drive out from before them, what a wretched proof do they afford of unbelief, of impatience, disobedience, and distrust! But stop Reader, in the perusal of... read more
26-33 We may wonder that the people of Israel staid forty days for the return of their spies, when they were ready to enter Canaan, under all the assurances of success they could have from the Divine power, and the miracles that had hitherto attended them. But they distrusted God's power and promise. How much we stand in our own light by our unbelief! At length the messengers returned; but the greater part discouraged the people from going forward to Canaan. Justly are the Israelites left to... read more
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John Dummelow's Commentary on the Bible - Numbers 13:1-33
The Sending of the Spies and their Report8. Oshea] RV ’Hoshea,’ meaning ’help’ or ’salvation.’ Joshua, or Jehoshua (Numbers 13:16), means ’Jehovah is my help’: see on Exodus 17:9.17. Southward] RV by (RM ’into’) the South’: lit. ’into the Negeb’: see on Genesis 12:9. The spies, however, really went northward on this occasion, first through the Negeb, and then through the mountainous district lying N. of it, here called ’the mountain,’ afterwards the ’hill-country of Judah,’ to the W. of the... read more