Numbers 13

1 (13-2) And there the Lord spoke to Moses, saying.

2 (13-3) Send men to view the land of Chanaan, which I will give to the children of Israel, one of every tribe, of the rulers.

3 (13-4) Moses did what the Lord had commanded, sending from the desert of Pharan, principal men, whose names are these:

4 (13-5) Of the tribe of Ruben, Sammua the son of Zechur.

5 (13-6) Of the tribe of Simeon, Saphat the son of Huri.

6 (13-7) Of the tribe of Juda, Caleb the son of Jephone.

7 (13-8) Of the tribe of Issachar, Igal the son of Joseph.

8 (13-9) Of the tribe of Ephraim, Osee the son of Nun.

9 (13-10) Of the tribe of Benjamin, Phalti the son of Raphu.

10 (13-11) Of the tribe of Zabulon, Geddiel the son of Sodi.

11 (13-12) Of the tribe of Joseph, of the sceptre of Manasses, Gaddi the son of Susi.

12 (13-13) Of the tribe of Dan, Ammiel the son of Gemalli.

13 (13-14) Of the tribe of Aser, Sthur the son of Michael.

14 (13-15) Of the tribe of Nephtali, Nahabi the son of Vapsi.

15 (13-16) Of the tribe of Gad, Guel the son of Machi.

16 (13-17) These are the names of the men, whom Moses sent to view the land: and he called Osee the son of Nun, Josue.

17 (13-18) And Moses sent them to view the land of Chanaan, and said to them: Go you up by the south side. And when you shall come to the mountains,

18 (13-19) View the land, of what sort it is, and the people that are the inhabitants thereof, whether they be strong or weak: few in number or many:

19 (13-20) The land itself, whether it be good or bad: what manner of cities, walled or without walls:

20 (13-21) The ground, fat or barren, woody or without trees. Be of good courage, and bring us of the fruits of the land. Now it was the time when the firstripe grapes are fit to be eaten.

21 (13-22) And when they were gone up, they viewed the land from the desert of Sin, unto Rohob as you enter into Emath.

22 (13-23) And they went up at the south side, and came to Hebron, where were Achiman and Sisai and Tholmai the sons of Enac. For Hebron was built seven years before Tanis the city of Egypt.

23 (13-24) And forward as far as the torrent of the cluster of grapes, they cut off a branch with its cluster of grapes, which two men carried upon a lever. They took also of the pomegranates and of the figs of that place:

24 (13-25) Which was called Nehelescol, that is to say, the torrent of the cluster of grapes, because from thence the children of Israel had carried a cluster of grapes.

25 (13-26) And they that went to spy out the land returned after forty days, having gone round all the country,

26 (13-27) And came to Moses and Aaron and to all the assembly of the children of Israel to the desert of Pharan, which is in Cades. And speaking to them and to all the multitude, they shewed them the fruits of the land:

27 (13-28) And they related and said: We came into the land to which thou sentest us, which in very deed floweth with milk and honey as may be known by these fruits:

28 (13-29) But it hath very strong inhabitants, and the cities are great and walled. We saw there the race of Enac.

29 (13-30) Amalec dwelleth in the south, the Hethite and the Jebusite and the Amorrhite in the mountains: but the Chanaanite abideth by the sea and near the streams of the Jordan.

30 (13-31) In the mean time Caleb, to still the murmuring of the people that rose against Moses, said: Let us go up and possess the land, for we shall be able to conquer it.

31 (13-32) But the others, that had been with him, said: No, we are not able to go up to this people, because they are stronger than we.

32 (13-33) And they spoke ill of the land, which they had viewed, before the children of Israel, saying: The land which we have viewed, devoureth its inhabitants: the people, that we beheld are of a tall stature.

33 (13-34) There we saw certain monsters of the sons of Enac, of the giant kind: in comparison of whom, we seemed like locusts.

Numbers 13 Commentary

Chapter 13

Twelve men sent to search the land of Canaan, Their instructions. (1-20) Their proceedings. (21-25) Their account of the land. (26-33)

Verses 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 revelation. We walk by sight not by faith. Moses gave the spies this charge, Be of good courage. It was not only a great undertaking they were put upon, which required good management and resolution; but a great trust was reposed in them, which required that they should be faithful. Courage in such circumstances can only spring from strong faith, which Caleb and Joshua alone possessed.

Verses 21-25 The searchers of the land brought a bunch of grapes with them, and other fruits, as proofs of the goodness of the country; which was to Israel both the earnest and the specimen of all the fruits of Canaan. Such are the present comforts we have in communion with God, foretastes of the fulness of joy we expect in the heavenly Canaan. We may see by them what heaven is.

Verses 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 this temptation, for putting confidence in the judgment of men, when they had the word of God to trust in. Though they had found the land as good as God had said, yet they would not believe it to be as sure as he had said, but despaired of having it, though Eternal Truth had engaged it to them. This was the representation of the evil spies. Caleb, however, encouraged them to go forward, though seconded by Joshua only. He does not say, Let us go up and conquer it; but, Let us go and possess it. Difficulties that are in the way of salvation, dwindle and vanish before a lively, active faith in the power and promise of God. All things are possible, if they are promised, to him that believes; but carnal sense and carnal professors are not to be trusted. Unbelief overlooks the promises and power of God, magnifies every danger and difficulty, and fills the heart with discouragement. May the Lord help us to believe! we shall then find all things possible.

Chapter Summary

INTRODUCTION TO NUMBERS 13

In this chapter an order is given by the Lord, to send twelve men into the land of Canaan, to search and spy it, and which was accordingly executed, Nu 13:1-3; and the names of the twelve persons are given, Nu 13:4-16; the instructions they received from Moses, what part of the land they should enter into first, and what observations they should make on it, Nu 13:17-20; which they attended to, and on their return brought some of the fruit of the land with them, Nu 13:21-26; and gave an account of it, that it was a very fruitful land, but the inhabitants mighty, and their cities walled, Nu 13:27-29; which threw the people into confusion, but that they were stilled by Caleb, one of the spies, who encouraged them, Nu 13:30; but all the rest, excepting Joshua, brought an ill report of it, as not to be subdued and conquered by them, Nu 13:31-33.