Numbers 13:17-33

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Numbers 13:1-20

Here we have, I. Orders given to send spies to search out the land of Canaan. It is here said, God directed Moses to send them (Num. 13:1; 2), but it appears by the repetition of the story afterwards (Deut. 1:22) that the motion came originally from the people; they came to Moses, and said, We will send men before us; and it was the fruit of their unbelief. They would not take God's word that it was a good land, and that he would, without fail, put them in possession of it. They could not... read more

Matthew Henry

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Numbers 13:21-25

We have here a short account of the survey which the spies made of the promised land. 1. They went quite through it, from Zin in the south, to Rehob, near Hamath, in the north, Num. 13:21. See Num. 34:3; 8. It is probable that they did not go altogether in a body, lest they should be suspected and taken up, which there would be the more danger of if the Canaanites knew (and one would think they could not but know) how near the Israelites were to them; but they divided themselves into several... read more

Matthew Henry

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Numbers 13:26-33

It is a wonder how the people of Israel had patience to stay forty days for the return of their spies, when they were just ready to enter Canaan, under all the assurances of success they could have from the divine power, and a constant series of miracles that had hitherto attended them; but they distrusted God's power and promise, and were willing to be held in suspense by their own counsels, rather than be brought to a certainty by God's covenant. How much do we stand in our own light by our... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Numbers 13:17

And Moses sent them to spy out the land of Canaan ,.... He sent them from Kadeshbarnea, as Caleb affirms, Joshua 14:7 , and said unto them, go ye up this way southward ; pointing as it were with his finger which way they should go, even up such a hill southward; and which, as Aben Ezra observes, was not the south of the camp, but the south of the land of Canaan; and who further observes, that it is well known that Egypt, from whence the Israelites now came, was to the south of the... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Numbers 13:18

And see the land what it is , and the people that dwelleth therein ,.... The situation and condition of the country, and the nature, temper, disposition, and constitution of the inhabitants, by which it might be judged whether it was a desirable thing to possess it, and whether it was practicable to subdue and take it: whether they be strong or weak, few or many ; whether able-bodied men fit for war, and of spirit, strength, and courage, or feeble and pusillanimous, weak and... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Numbers 13:19

And what the land is that they dwell in, whether it be good or bad ,.... Whether the air is good, the climate temperate, and the earth well watered, and has good convenience of springs, fountains, and rivers, and so wholesome or healthful; or otherwise, which is the first thing they were directed to observe, though here put in the second place: and what cities they be they dwell in, whether in tents or strong holds ; whether in tents, as the Israelites now lived, and as the... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Numbers 13:20

And what the land is , whether it be fat or lean ,.... That is, what the soil of it is, whether it be rich and fertile, or whether it be poor and barren, which would be seen by the fruits it produced, this being now the fruitful season of the year; and so the Targum of Jonathan,"and what is the praise of the land, whether its fruits are fat or lean;'plump and full, rich and juicy, or otherwise, as their grapes, olives, &c.; whether it was a land flowing with milk and honey, Exodus... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Numbers 13:21

So they went up and searched the land ,.... Went up the mountains as they were directed, and passed through the whole land; diligently inquired into everything material belonging to it, according to their instructions, and made their observations on it, and on the inhabitants, and their habitations: from the wilderness of Zin unto Rehob, as men come to Hamath ; this wilderness, from whence they went, seems to be the same with the wilderness of Paran, called Zin; perhaps from the... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Numbers 13:22

And they ascended by the south ,.... When they returned, after they had searched the land, then they came into the south country again, which was in their way to Kadesh, where the camp of Israel remained; they are said to ascend, because of the hill country they again came to; for their coming to Hebron, and carrying a cluster of grapes from that place, not far from thence, was upon their return: and came unto Hebron ; which was in the hill country of Judea, in the tribe of Judah... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Numbers 13:23

And they came unto the brook of Eshcol ,.... Or "valley of Eshcol" F21 נחל "vallem", Pagninus, Junius & Tremellius, Piscator, Drusius. , which is here so called by anticipation from the following circumstance; and perhaps had not this name given it, until the children of Israel were possessed of the land, and then they called it so, in memory of what was done here at this time; it was not far from Hebron, as may be concluded from thence; and so Jerom, relating the travels of... read more

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