Numbers 13:20 WEB

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 13:17-20

Are not all these enquiries, in a spiritual sense, suited to the awakened soul? questions concerning that upper and brighter world, of which the promised land was a type? And when, by faith in lively exercise, we are enabled to believe what GOD hath said of the joys which he hath prepared for them that love him; are not these things similar to the spies going up to search the land?-Reader! may it be your happiness and mine, to live by faith, in the full assurance of those everlasting realities,... 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

Alexander MacLaren

Alexander MacLaren's Expositions of Holy Scripture - Numbers 13:17-33

Numbers AFRAID OF GIANTS Num_13:17 - Num_13:33 . We stand here on the edge of the Promised Land. The discussion of the true site of Kadesh need not concern us now. Wherever it was, the wanderers had the end of their desert journey within sight; one bold push forward, and their feet would tread on their inheritance. But, as is so often the case, courage oozed out at the decisive moment, and cowardice, disguised as prudence, called for ‘further information,’-that cuckoo-cry of the... 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

Peter Pett

Peter Pett's Commentary on the Bible - Numbers 13:17-25

2). The Venture Into Canaan (Numbers 13:17-25 ). The scouts then went out in accordance with Moses’ command, investigated the land and returned. This can be outlined as follows: a The scouts sent out to spy the land (Numbers 13:17). b The land to be thoroughly investigated for its goodness (Numbers 13:18-20 a). c It was the time of firstripe grapes (Numbers 13:20 b). d They search the land up to Rehob and Labo of Hamath (Numbers 13:21). d They ascend by the South and come to Hebron... read more